Recoil pads - Kickeez or other recommendations?

[Jessie]

Hi all,

I'm looking to get an after market recoil pad for my 12 gauge and also to replace the factory one on my Howa 30-06 which has just about turned to stone and cracked off now.

Kickeez (and the other brands) make some pretty big claims for the effectiveness of their recoil pads - Figures like 50% less felt recoil or 90% shock absorption and so on...

My LGS doesn't stock them so I would have to buy one before they'd order it in. Obviously would like to have some idea of what I'm getting though before committing though as they aren't exactly cheap.

Feedback from people shooting with them would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[subatom]

I've shot a pair of .308s with and without after market recoil pads, I don't know about "less" recoil, but does take the pain out of it a bit I reckon.

[Blackened]

I don't know about "less" recoil, but does take the pain out of it a bit I reckon.

Bingo.

Recoil pad obviously does nothing to reduce recoil itself - The same amount of energy is still driving the rifle backwards regardless of what's attached to the end of it.

A soft pad definitely does make shooting more pleasurable though, recoil or not.

Shoot a .30 cal with a metal butt plate, then shoot one with a 1" soft rubber pad.

The rifle with the soft pad will feel like a dream compared to the steel one.

[Berper]

They really do make a big improvement.

However you want to word it - less recoil, shock absorption, whatever - I've shot them on a few different calibres and they make shooting all of them better.

[RealNick]

If your current pads need replacing it's a no brainer.

Obviously it can't be any worse than a factory pad. You might as well spend the money on something nice and soft instead of on a factory pad which is less pleasant to shoot.

[butiwanna]

It sounds like your on the borderline with handling the recoil your dealing with at the moment, if that's the case then adding a wussy pad will definitely make a big difference for you.

Limbsaver, Kickeez, Pachmayr... They're all good.

I say go for it.

[Lorgar]

I have a Limbsaver on my .308. It made it easier to shoot than my .243 which didn't have one at the time.

They definitely work.

[Rumpig69]

Limbsaver over kickeez any time.

[Grrzrr]

Can't speak for the Kick-Eez either way, but the Limbsaver pads are definitely effective.

Turning a .308 down to a .243 like Lorgar said feels about right to me also.