I've just given up! The best recoil pad I've ever used for my big kickers would have to be the Kick Eeze one. Last night I just picked up my .375 out of the safe and found a tiny split at the toe. This is the 'third' one to do it? It's a real pity (and waste of money) as they seem to absorb recoil the best. Is there anyway to 'treat' the pad to prevent them from doing this? Has anyone else experienced this or should I have just learned after the first pad?

Many thanks,

Adrian

I have seen them ground so the recoil pad is rounded at the top and bottom so I think it would have no corners to split.

I like the kick ease too.

I've been using a Pachmayer decelerator on my 500 nitro for about 3 years with no problems. I think 3 dead Kick eeze pads speak for themselves.

If you want more cushion out of the Decelerator, cut out the webbing on the back of the pad before you install it.

quote:

Originally posted by Bitterroot:
If you want more cushion out of the Decelerator, cut out the webbing on the back of the pad before you install it.

Good idea. Thanks.

Cut out the webbing? Sounds like to me that would give a big bore a 1 inch running start at your shoulder!

My problem with the kickeze is they don't take to sharp rocks and just chunk off, and they are a little tough to grind to perfection. Gooey stuff they are..I still like the old Silvers pads. I have a tough shoulder, but dammit I have a tender cheekbone..

That's the best way to describe it Ray. They literally just 'chunk off.' They appear to begin with a small tear horizontally across the pad at the toe. On the last rifle I described I only noticed the tear on this one after I took it out of the safe. This rifle also has never seen use in the field. I've only used it at the range. I think I'll stick to pachmeyer from now on. Limbsavers for me appear to absorb a little more recoil but lose out on aesthetics. Thanks for the replies to this post.

Cheers,

Adrian.

If your guns are heavy, try storing them in the safe with the barrel down. This will improve the life of any butt pad.

You're right, nothing absorbs recoil like the Kick Eez. My first few ripped pretty bad and maybe they just aren't tough enough for hard core field use... but I've had really good results with my last few by simply following the directions they provide and really rounding the corners. They've lasted through one safari each and a lot of local use in the field on both my .460 and .416.

There's no question that they don't last as long as some others but in the grand scheme they're a pretty cheap part to replace.

For competition shotguns there's nothing better.

On the .375 I carry the most I'm trying a Limbsaver (because someone gave it to me ;-) but it's gotten all sticky... almost like gum. It's always covered with grass and sticks. What a pain.

Decelerators are quite tough for how much recoil they absorb but they don't take the sting out of really big guns out like Kick Eez.

Kyler

quote:

Originally posted by Gatsby26:
That's the best way to describe it Ray. They literally just 'chunk off.' They appear to begin with a small tear horizontally across the pad at the toe. On the last rifle I described I only noticed the tear on this one after I took it out of the safe. This rifle also has never seen use in the field. I've only used it at the range. I think I'll stick to pachmeyer from now on. Limbsavers for me appear to absorb a little more recoil but lose out on aesthetics. Thanks for the replies to this post.

Cheers,

Adrian.

It's the reason I went w/ Pac.Dec. on all my rifles, including the 404j.

Has anyone tried leather covering a Kick-eez pad to improve its serviceability???

I've cut the webbing out of the decelerator pad and next weekend I'll give my 375 a work out to see if there is any comparable difference in felt recoil. By the way can I ask those who have rounded the edges off of their Kick Eeze pads, have you found this to prevent the pads from splitting/tearing? Many thanks in advance.

Adrian.

I just got one for my 45-120 which should be done this week. I'll let you know how it feels.

Thanks Tyler ,

Did/are you having the edges chamfered/ground?

Cheers,

Adrian.

Try the Pachmayer XLT......no problems as with the Kick Eeze and better recoil absorption.

Thanks Blair,

I'll chase that one up!

Cheers,

Adrian.

I won't be hunting a lot with this gun...I'll probably leave the edges as is, relatively sharp. However it has to be ground down a ton to fit the H&R butt, so it might turn out ground smooth on the edges.

Don't know about Kick Eeze, but I love the Limbsavers. I must admit the biggest I have is the 416 Taylor and it tames it real good as it does on the 375 H & H and Ruger #1 450/400.

I have Kickeez on .416 Rigby, .375, .338, Turkey Gun and three other guns. The first one I used did not have the edges rounded (as set forth in the instructions) and it was torn by the guncase zipper. No problems since with all edges rounded.

I do think the Decelerator is more durable so if that is most important to you choose that one.

I've only ever used the Pachmayer Pads but have had to replace a number of them as they tend to perish after a few years where I live. They start to melt and its like black sikaflex - sticks to everything and won't come off. Bloody nuisance really - might try storing my rifles upside down as suggested to get the weight off the pads.

Cheers.

GG

I wonder if having the pad covered with leather would be a solution? Just a thought.

RIPEASE

use limbsaver grind to fits...

and if someonie decries that they are ugly, while in the same post says an f990 whiteline... well, they just don't know what FUGLY is

would be tough to "properly" leather cover one, but doable

LIMBSAVER .. might be a hair lighter, lasts 10x longer, and not quite as fugly when ground

couple of things:

First I had the Bell & Carlson issue recoil pad on my M70 375 H&H. Recoil with this hard rubber pad is downright painfull & sharp. Sore shoulder after 6-8 rounds, not a lot of fun. However I just put on a Kick-Eze with a big change in "shootability. Sure recoil still exists but without pain & "sharpness". Problem now is ammo cost as I shoot far more at each outing.

Second, as far as durabilty of these softer pads, so what! Heck cheapest factory ammo for 375 H&H is $50+/- and other big bores far far more. Recoil pad installed is $80+, far less if you do it yourself. Compared to what these pads do to the "shootability" of the big bores paying $30-40 a year in recoil pad maintenance is hardly a real concern.

Pete A.

I install Kick-Eez magnum recoil pads onto every heavy recoiling rifle I own.

They are the best recoil pad on the market.

Well after a couple days of shooting the 45-120, I must say the Kick-Eez performs very, very well. The gun kicks, but no pain at all. I left the edges sharp, and they are holding up so far, but it hasn't done much.

good info here. thanks for posting