i am cheap. and i make no bones about it. it is just the way i have to be,. that being said, there are some things that i have to make exceptions for. quality trumps cheap by a substantial amount at times, and when that happens, if i can find a way to swing it, i will go for quality. with my experience, the best recoil pad that i have tried anyway, is a Sims Laboratory "Limbsaver" recoil pad. they are reasonably priced, and soak up GOBS of recoil. i think you would be hard pressed to find a recoil pad that is a lot better than these. plus, they make one that will screw right on to your gun, no gunsmith needed. now, if you have to have the gun shortened, in order for the gun to fit you, then you will need the gunsmith, and a "Limbsaver" grind to fit pad. i did have to do that with my 300 magnum. the stock had been to long since the day i got it. but i did not want to cut it down. i finally thought, this is dumb, so i took it to a smith, and paid the man. it made a huge difference in shooting that gun. if you want to shoot a long gun well, it NEEDS to fit you correctly!