Has any one installed a Kick Eze recoil pad before that they had to grind to fit? Is it hard to do and how does it come out appearance wise?

Kick-Eez pads are no harder to fit than any other brand. They do grind a little differently. Some advocate freezing the pad before grinding. I use water on the pad while grinding to help cut and improve the appearance. They will usually look as good or better than Pachmyers when you're done.

BTW, have you fitted a recoil pad before?

I did a kick eze . I used a fresh 50 grit sand belt. Let the belt or disc cut the material, dont push with any pressure against your sander when you get close to finish size.

I havent tried the freeze it idea . that might work good , though I didnt have any problems with the kick eze . It actually cut real easy.

No I've never fit a pad before and I thought you did it by hand, but it sounds like you use a belt sander.

quote:

Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:
No I've never fit a pad before and I thought you did it by hand, but it sounds like you use a belt sander.

Actually a large diameter disc sander is better.

I used a belt sander 6x48 because that's what I had. Then I mounted the pad and masked off the wood with some painters tape and used a sanding block by hand. I still got a small step between the soft pad and hard backer.

kickeze is the hardest to install RIGHT, and the easist to tear.

the limbsaver is easier on both, and a better pad for recoil

jeffe

The current issue of Rifle magazine (Jan 06) has a nice step by step guide on how to install a recoil pad.

I'll have to check the magazine out. Nice job Rich. So, the Kick Eze pad does come with a hard spacer in between the soft pad and the stock?

I had a gunsmith install a Kick-Eez and the bottom butt end was made into a point, instead of rounded. I promptly tore the corner off. I took it to another gunsmith to install a new Kick-Eez; he said he had never seen one tear.

P.S. The new (hopefully good) installation is $40.

Yep the spacer is kinda easy to sand.

quote:

Originally posted by Dthfrmbv:
I'll have to check the magazine out. Nice job Rich. So, the Kick Eze pad does come with a hard spacer in between the soft pad and the stock?

When getting close to the final grind with sandpaper, I spray my sand paper with WD-40 and it gives it a smooth finish on the Kick-Eze pad. I have fitted over 30 KE pads over the past 10 years and this trick works great. I finish with 400-600 grit sand paper. Another tip is when the original holes are slighty off, take a wooden golf tee and tap it in the original hole and work it smooth and center punch and drill another hole for proper spacing!

Finally--a real use for golf tees.