[Deer Hunter]

I was sitting around the house today, enjoying the freedom and relaxation time just after christmas, when I still have time off to spend at home and do nothing. Well, I was looking over at my little ammo box I keep next to my radio and thought, "Hell, I'll go through a couple of those 3" number 4 turkey shots that I got for Christmas. They couldn't kick anymore than my 3" steel loads." Wow, I must be shotgun-stupid or something.

I own a Stoeger Coach gun in 12 gauge, chambered in 3" (can take 2.75"). Well, I love just going out and putting a box of 2.75" number 6 shot through it, hitting various targets and having a blast. I received 30 3" number 4 buck (turkey load) for christmas from my dad, and have been a bit afraid of it so far. I decided to shoot some, just to see how bad the kick was. The gun I'm shooting it out of only weighs 6.5 pounds. My dad also bought me a "recoil pad" for it, but he didn't pay 3 dollars for it and it doesn't help a damned bit. Call me a wuss, but after 4 rounds through the barrels (warmed up on some 3" steel shot beforehand), my shoulder was feeling it. Good thing I only brought four shells with me to try out, because if I had more I'd be one very sore guy tomorrow morning.

I've been looking up some top-quality recoil pads, and I've got my eye on a Limbsaver pad. I've heard some good things from them, can anyone else tell me anything about them?

[doubleaes2]

Limbsaver all the way man. I have one on my Mossy 500 and I love it. Soft, comfortable and it sticks to your shoulder.

[Deer Hunter]

Thanks for the reply. How much kick would you say is taken out when you installed the recoil pad? Is it really 50% like they advertise?

[Preacherman]

I posted on recoil pads here (http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2124540&postcount=37) - hope it helps. Both Limbsaver and Kick-Eez should reduce felt recoil by up to 50%, while the Pachmayr Decelerator (older technology) will reduce it by 30-40% (both comparisons are to a hard buttplate).

[doubleaes2]

I would say yes. The recoild impulse does not seem as sharp. I'm not recoil shy, but I do like to shoot my 12 gauge. Mostly buckshot at old appliances and such. I no longer feel sore after a day of killing mutant zombie washing machines.

[Deer Hunter]

Thanks, I guess it'll be much better than the cheap one I have on the butt of the gun right now. It's rubber, yes, but very hard, near plastic rubber.

My gun's buttplate measured five inches, should I buy the large version of the Limbsaver recoil pad? The sizes are as follows.

Small 4 5/8" x 1 1/2"
Medium 5" x 1 5/8"
Large 5 1/4" x 1 3/4"

Should I get the Large, just to make sure it fits, or would a Medium work?

[Deer Hunter]

A guy on another forum says that the Limbsavers are very nice, but a Shooter's Friend from Cabela's takes the cake.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0009277221946a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=Shooter%27s+Friend&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.22&Go.x=20&Go.y=0&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=Shooter%27s+Friend&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jsp

Long link, eh?

From the ad, it says that it takes 70% of the recoil out! Now, that's a pretty bold statement. Anyone seen these before?