I have a Sako AV 30-06 with the original hard orange color recoil pad. The pad has since gotten harder with age and i shot a box of ammo today and it just pounded my shoulder. Will it degrade the value of the rifle if i put an aftermarket pad on it? I don't like slip on pads because most change length of pull. Does anyone know who makes a pad for an AV or a pad that will fit that can be ground?

From a collector stand point it will lower the value of the rifle.

A grind to fit pad will have to be put on & you need to cut the old one off.

Most pad have 2 screws in the rubber pad holding it on. Find the tiny holes in the exiting pad, out a phillips screw driver thru the holes and unscrew the pad. measure the width and length of the butt of the stock, and get a decelerator pad that will grind to that size. Attach the new pad, and grind it to fit the butt. They are easy to do. I've done several dozen, and never messed one up.

never heard of having to cut the old one off, unless it's a wooden shotgun butt pad made on the gun.

A little grease on the shaft of that screwdriver will make the task easier.

Do as others have said regarding replacing the pad with a grind to fit model. Just make sure you select one with the same thickness as the original Sako pad. That way the LOP will remain the same and you won't have to cut the wood on the stock. If you ever decide to sell the gun you can easily replace the new pad with the original Sako pad.

Not much collector value for and AV in 06(it's probably the most common chambering), so go ahead and change it. You can always put the original back if you want.

Please show me where the screw holes are? They are glued on, I have had many Sako's over the years & the factory pads are glued. I see no screw holes, do you?

quote:

Originally posted by Wookie316:
Please show me where the screw holes are? They are glued on, I have had many Sako's over the years & the factory pads are glued. I see no screw holes, do you?

As Wookie said. This looks just like mine and i cannot see any holes for screws. I'm not new to rifles or installing a new pad etc. I just don't want to cut the pad off if i'm going to hurt the rifle in any way. This rifle was my uncles that passed so i will not sell the gun but i don't want to do somthing that down the road that will make me say idiot! I understand if you have several 5-10k guns you may not see much value in a gun like this, however i am a working man with kids and 1500 is an expensive rifle to me at the moment and i like to keep my rifles in great shape. I'm just looking for a solution to a hard glued on pad. Do they make a descent slip on that is thin but still works ok?

Take a screw driver and poke around for the holes. The are cut with a razor blade and seal back up so they done show. About an inch in from each end. Never seen one glued on. I have several sako's. All screwed on.
You won't devalue the rifle as long as you don't shorten the wood on the stock. But as said, as long as you don't cut way short, won't matter on the Sako's.

Thanks, i'll look closer. I wouldn't think it would be glued either but they are one off on their sights and such so who knows.

Were it me I'd invest in a recoil shield (worn on the shoulder) as I doubt you will feel the recoil in the field.

I like to buy nice sakos - i wouldn't buy one with a different pad as so many are done badly. My 308 AII classic had a different pad but the stock was untouched and I was able to get a new red pad on fleabay.

quote:

Originally posted by Chief Engineer:
A little grease on the shaft of that screwdriver will make the task easier.

As with other "delicate" lubrication needs, I suggest the use of Vasoline. It is colorless, relatively easily removed, and has so many other uses (like lubing the toggle and cam on my Lee priming tool!)

I've had a couple of Sakos that I updated with Decelerator pads, and they were all screwed on. The holes are virtually invisible, but you can find them easily with the tip of the screwdriver (always been a Phillips tip on the ones I've done). Keep the old pad if you ever want to sell the gun, but it doesn't sound like you will ever want to do that.

Making the gun more pleasant to shoot will increase its value TO YOU, and that's what really matters. By the way, Pachmayr makes the Decelerator pad in a reddish colour that looks quite similar to the hard rubber Sako pad. Making this change is something that you will not regret. Good luck.

John