Most painful recoil I've ever had from a rifle I've shot was a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. It had a scope on it that put the face in a position so that the top side of the scope hit me in the cheekbone.

Stock shape/fit is pretty important as far as percieved recoil. I've shot several 300 mags (win,weatherby) and they don't bother me at all.

Some people will never learn!



Just do a few compression tests on different materials especially those found in factory synthetic stocks. You will see that different materials "Give" under different loads. Now it depends on the configuration (design) of the stock also. The long thin-walled hollow sythetic stocks (from the recoil lug to the butt of the stock) w/ a relatively soft plastic consistency will certainly give quite abit under stress.



Let me break it down to plain english for you: If you were to take say five different synthetic stocks & some different types of wood stocks and cut them in-two exactly where the recoil lug rest. Then place them into a compressive stress machine (We used to use them for concrete analysis), and start to compress them well, you would notice a big difference in which stock was "softer" or which "gave" more. You will notice that the plastic factory stocks will be kind-of springy and the wood is very stiff.



Notice I didn't say all synthetic stocks. Some of today's aftermarket and custom stocks are very sturdy and dont have much "give."



Remember, we are talking about rifles of the same or very similar weights. Not ultra lights or light weights. Imagine shooting a light-weight RUM w/o a muzzle brake WOW , I think I would rather try that one w/ a synthetic than a wood stock (Probably a Limb Saver pad too )



Maybe one day when you have alittle more experience w/ different stock designs you will learn something about this concept. Until then, Good Luck and God Bless.



Reloader