Recoil pads

[jlangton]

Over the weekend I picked up a Mossberg 500 12 gauge and this thing has terrible recoil even using 2 3/4" shells-I'm sure it has alot to do with the OEM solid rubber recoil pad. This is in comparison to my dad's 870 Wingmaster that has the original Remington recoil pad. My shoulder is killing me after going through a box of shells yesterday to check functionality,so I'm gonna need to get something to soften it up a bit. I see lots of listings for "prefit" recoil pads for Mossberg 500 series shotguns-is there one that's better than the others,or just one that'll reduce it to something similar to what I'm used to?
JL

 

[Snarlingiron]

Boy, I sure hope you are able to get some opinions on this.

Just kidding.

I like the Limbsaver series. They are real soft and work as advertised.

A buddy of mine likes Pachmayer Decelarator, as do a number of other folks on this board.

Both are available from Brownells, Midway, or dozens of others and either would be a good choice.

You should have no trouble finding a good pre-fit for a Mossberg 500.

With all that said, painful recoil is usually the result of bad fit, or bad technique.

Not saying that is the issue for you, but more often than not it is the case. Lots of us are more sensitive to recoil than others. I guess I am kind of an insensitive lummox when it comes to recoil. It just doesn't seem to bother me that much, although I do have Limbsavers on 2 of my shotguns. The over / under that I have been shooting lately just has a plain 1/4" rubber pad, but doesn't bother me at all. I usually fire 100 or so rounds through it on the weekends.

Just thinking out loud here. Maybe it is conditioning as much as anything else. When you regularly shoot a lot (I shoot most weekends), maybe you just become used to it. The shoulder and pectoral muscles get conditioned and hardened so that it doesn't bother you anymore.

Yeah, that's the ticket...just shoot more.

 

[jlangton]

I had thought about fit and gun weight since this Mossberg is synthetic stock vs the wood stock of the old 870. The gun weights are surprisingly close to each other,and pull length is also very close between the two-IMO the Mossberg actually feels like it fits me better. I've shot hundreds of shells through the 870,and it never bothers me a bit. Looks like the original Remington recoil pad is alot like the Decelerator pad..might just have to grab that one and try it.
JL

 

[PTK]

I was bothered by shotgun recoil for the first time by my 870 - I bought a limbsaver, and the problem vanished.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Its not fitting you right----with a gun that fits, you won't hardly notice recoil---even if it has a hard butt plate.

 

[PTK]

Its not fitting you right----with a gun that fits, you won't hardly notice recoil---even if it has a hard butt plate.

I still have trouble believing this, even though so many people hold it to be true.

 

[Claude Clay]

fit is paramont.........till arthritis visits ua.
have a tailor sew a PAST recoil shield on the inside of an old vest. anyone who notices it will likely want one also. good luck

 

[chas08]

.........till arthritis visits ya.

I have guns with both styles, limbsaver and decelerator. The difference is to close to call. Both are excellent products. Proper fit is the most important recoil reducer. I have never been very recoil conscious, and for the most part, I'm still not. I never feel the recoil or for that matter, hear the shot when shooting doves, ducks or geese. I get an ache in the joint after the day is done that can last for hours or days. The only two things that cures this symptom is two Aleves or a tall glass of scotch.

 

[Snarlingiron]

Man what a bummer. You have to go out and shoot doves, ducks or geese all day, and then you have to go home and have a tall glass of Scotch.

What a rotten way to spend a day.

 

[chas08]

I know, it's a dirty job, but someones got to do it.

 

[jlangton]

Installed a limbsaver pad made for the Mossberg,and now,no problems with recoil at all. Length of pull is identical to the original configuration,so fitament is the same,and now there's no issue with recoil at all. I went through a box of Remington 3" Magnum BB shot yesterday,and a box of Reminton 2.75" #4 shot, and not a single issue with recoil discomfort. The recoil pad just works.
JL