[nico]

I put a few dozen rounds through my .270win M77 this past weekend (my first time firing a centerfire rifle) and the recoil is a little more than I'd like for recreational shooting. Since the PAST Recoil Shield and the Pachmayr Decelerator are about the same price, I figure I'll buy one first, and if necessary, then buy the other. My question is, which pad would be a better first step to reducing felt recoil? So far, I'm leaning toward the Decelerator since it would be more practical for hunting and would have a smaller (if any) effect on the LOP (I'm only 5', so any added LOP is a bad thing). Thanks :)

[deputy tom]

Past recoil shield.Put it on under a sweatshirt and nobody knows.SHH.tom.

[Beetle Bailey]

I actually really like the PAST recoil shield. I stopped shooting 8mm Mauser because of the recoil but with the PAST pad, I can shoot it all day and not feel the pain. While I haven't gotten around to buying another 8mm Mauser rifle, I think with the PAST, you can use it for many rifles you shoot so you don't have to keep buying decelerators for each rifle.

Disadvantages of the PAST? You mentioned LOP already and also when you wear the PAST, it's a little harder to properly shoulder the rifle if you aren't already used to it. When not using the PAST, I like to place the butt of the rifle in between the chest muscle and side of the shoulder muscle in a little "pocket" pressed firmly in. Since that's how I learned it, when using PAST, I naturally shoulder it in close proximity to where it should be. But if you start out using PAST, it take a bit more attention to properly shoulder the rifle since there isn't a "pocket" for your rifle butt to nestle into. Not a serious problem IMHO. HTH.

[nico]

thanks for the replies. Are you guys using the heart shaped pad (Mag-Plus) or the kidney shaped one (Mag)?

[Beetle Bailey]

Errr. . .don't have it with me, but IINM it is the kidney shaped (mag) one. It's not the super-strength one, but one powerlevel down from the maximum. Usually I just use a shooting jacket to better shoulder the rifle, but if I am doing extra shooting, I want to use the PAST. The last thing I want is shoulder problems down the road, so for anything .30 cal and above, I always use something. The one I use is plenty tough enough for 8mm Mauser (no need to flinch, even after 50 rounds :) ) as it slowly bends from the repeated pounding but regains it's shape at the end of the day. If the ergonomics of using the PAST are good for you, I'd say go with it. If not, you have other options ;) .

[Preacherman]

Both are excellent choices (although I'd also recommend looking into alternatives to the Decelerator, such as Kick-Eez (http://www.kickeez.net/) or LimbSaver (http://www.limbsaver.com/limbsaver/home.aspx).

The choice really comes down to a question of application. Are you able to guarantee that whenever you need to use the rifle, the PAST recoil shield will be available? If you are, then this is a perfectly viable option. However, if you might end up using the rifle without much prior planning, and you haven't packed the shield, then this might be a problem. For this reason, I tend to favor putting a decent recoil pad on the rifle, so that it's always available.

[kimbernut]

The Past pad is a permanent fixture in my range bag. I'd never considered myself recoil sensitive 'til I test fired a .300 Win. Mag. for a friend. As far as hunting goes the adrenaline and seasonal clothing usually takes care of it along with the fact that unless you're hunting varmints you're not likely to fire enough shots to need a pad.

Edit: Ditto Preacherman on the Kick-eez/Limbsaver. I'd check them out closely before going with the Pachmayr.

[Jaywalker]

The advantage of an installed recoil pad is that the 'smith can adjust the pull length to anything you want. Around here, the 'smith puts his kids through private school installing them; they aren't cheap. The Decelerator is a good pad, though it probably doesn't reduce the felt recoil as much as the newer whiz-bang materials, such as Kick-Eez. The disadvantage of the installed pad is that you can only put it on one rifle; you need another for each other rifle(s). The PAST pad goes on you in lieu of the rifle, so you can wear it with any rifle you shoot. Sometimes I get a piece of a cheap closed-cell backpacking sleeping pad and use it; it takes up very little space in the gun box.

Jaywalker

[redneck2]

I have a Decelerator on my 1895 Marlin, .45-70. We can shoot dozens of shots with no problems...405s over 50 grains of Varget at about 1,750. I was very pleasantly suprised at how well it works. Maybe in the range of a 12 ga with high brass field loads.

Haven't tried the PAST yet, but I'm going to have a 7 mag for 1,000yard shooting so I may get one

[MeekandMild]

One more vote for the PAST pad. It lengthens the LOP less than a heavy topcoat and you can use it with any rifle as it attaches to you instead of the gun. It has made my maximum comfortable recoil tolerance go up significantly. :D

[carpettbaggerr]

http://www.limbsaver.com/limbsaver/firearms/images/phs.jpg


Gotta get me a "clip-deresonater"

[Sactown]

I just bought a Limb Saver for my 8mm Mauser. It's great. Makes the 8mm feel like a .308, I can shoot it all day now.