Recoil Shield Recommendations for Shoulder

[rifleriley]

I shot my first high power competition yesterday and my shoulder area is achy from the recoil. What shoulder pad do you recommend? I was researching on Midway, Sportsmans, Cabelas, ect, but there are so many options. I did upwards of 75-80 rounds with a .308 and 155.5 grain. Thank you!

 

[BadDogPSD]

A muzzle brake or suppressor helps a lot. What kind of recoil pad do you have on your rifle?

 

[Kickin45]

.308 although not a large caliber, will still provide some healthy kick. There are a lot of determining factors. Weight of the gun, type of gun, barrel length, proper form, your body build and weight, bullet grain, speed of follow up shots etc. Typically most off the shelf rifles don’t have the greatest buttpads. I’ve never used one, but the name I hear the most is Limbsaver.
Welcome to the boards and happy shooting

 

[1moaoff]

Position in shoulder and shape can be just as important as a softer pad. Softer pads can make it more comfortable but a correct fit can make a rifle feel totally different.

 

[rifleriley]

A muzzle brake or suppressor helps a lot. What kind of recoil pad do you have on your rifle?

I'll look into those as well as if they are excepted at matches. I just have the stock pad that came on the gun. Are they easy to remove and replace?

 

[rifleriley]

Position in shoulder and shape can be just as important as a softer pad. Softer pads can make it more comfortable but a correct fit can make a rifle feel totally different.

Is there a trick to finding the right spot or is it just trial and error in finding what leaves you less sore?

 

[rifleriley]

.308 although not a large caliber, will still provide some healthy kick. There are a lot of determining factors. Weight of the gun, type of gun, barrel length, proper form, your body build and weight, bullet grain, speed of follow up shots etc. Typically most off the shelf rifles don’t have the greatest buttpads. I’ve never used one, but the name I hear the most is Limbsaver.
Welcome to the boards and happy shooting

Wow, a lot does go into that! Not what I was expecting. I'll check out Limbsaver!
Thank you

 

[Precision Underground]

Is there a trick to finding the right spot or is it just trial and error in finding what leaves you less sore?

I’d say a relaxed shoulder is as or more important than the position. If your shoulder is tense and pressing into the rifle the recoil goes “into” it and bounces off. Your shoulder is absorbing all of the recoil. If you are pulling with your bicep into a relaxed shoulder the recoil goes through your shoulder and is distributed through your body. IOW allow your whole body to take the recoil and not just your shoulder.

 

[perttime]

Don't know your skill level....
One basic thing is that the stock needs to be pretty firmly seated in that "pocket" in your shoulder. If the rifle can move freely, through air, soft clothing or soft tissue, it picks up speed to thump you. It is better when there's firm resistance from the first.

What rifle do you have?

 

[308pirate]

Riley, first of all forget any mention of suppressors or muzzle brakes. Neither is allowed by NRA highpower rifle rules.

Second, I'm assuming by the number of rounds, caliber and bullet weight that you were shooting a mid range prone match? Is that correct? And if so, were you shooting prone with a sling or F class with a bipod?

If you were shooting with a sling, were you wearing a proper shooting coat? Do you have a local shooter that can give you some basic position and technique coaching?

Does the rifle you used have any adjustments in the stock?

These issues are so hard to diagnose and assist on the internet. Particularly when most of the people on this site have never shot the sport you're doing. Their advice, while well intentioned, might not be too helpful.

At the end of the day, if you are brand new to shooting centerfire rifles, there will be some very minor soreness from lying in prone and from the recoil. Your body has to adjust to it all. However, you should not be in pain.

 

[MarinePMI]

JMTCW, but if you're shooting an OEM stock....replace the buttpad with a limbsaver (or some other sorbothane based recoil pad). It will make a MAJOR difference in the perception of recoil. I had a Rem 700 308 (26" bbl) that with the OEM buttpad, kicked like a mule. I changed the buttpad to a Limbsaver and it was like shooting an entirely different rifle.

 

[rifleriley]

Riley, first of all forget any mention of suppressors or muzzle brakes. Neither is allowed by NRA highpower rifle rules.

Second, I'm assuming by the number of rounds, caliber and bullet weight that you were shooting a mid range prone match? Is that correct? And if so, were you shooting prone with a sling or F class with a bipod?

If you were shooting with a sling, were you wearing a proper shooting coat? Do you have a local shooter that can give you some basic position and technique coaching?

Does the rifle you used have any adjustments in the stock?

These issues are so hard to diagnose and assist on the internet. Particularly when most of the people on this site have never shot the sport you're doing. Their advice, while well intentioned, might not be too helpful.

At the end of the day, if you are brand new to shooting centerfire rifles, there will be some very minor soreness from lying in prone and from the recoil. Your body has to adjust to it all. However, you should not be in pain.

Riley, first of all forget any mention of suppressors or muzzle brakes. Neither is allowed by NRA highpower rifle rules.

Second, I'm assuming by the number of rounds, caliber and bullet weight that you were shooting a mid range prone match? Is that correct? And if so, were you shooting prone with a sling or F class with a bipod?

If you were shooting with a sling, were you wearing a proper shooting coat? Do you have a local shooter that can give you some basic position and technique coaching?

Does the rifle you used have any adjustments in the stock?

These issues are so hard to diagnose and assist on the internet. Particularly when most of the people on this site have never shot the sport you're doing. Their advice, while well intentioned, might not be too helpful.

At the end of the day, if you are brand new to shooting centerfire rifles, there will be some very minor soreness from lying in prone and from the recoil. Your body has to adjust to it all. However, you should not be in pain.

I need to be compliant for the NRA High Power Matches so those options are out.
Yes, I was shooting a 300, 600, 800 yard match and I was shooting F-class with a bipod.
The rifle doesn't have any adjustments. I'm not in pain but it's just a little achy. I was wondering if recoil shields help like the PAST Field Recoil Pad Shield on Midway?

 

[nfngun]

LIMBSAVER! You'll be able to shoot in a t shirt and won't fee a thing.

 

[Diver160651]

F-class a lot of those guys are free-recoiling

 

[ShtrRdy]

The PAST Recoil Shield does work. That's certainly a possibility if you can fit it into your position.

Even though the .308 is a moderate recoil cartridge I think it packs a pretty good punch. If you are tensed up while firing that can aggravate the felt recoil.

 

[SmileMaker]

https://www.buffaloarms.com/kick-killer-shoulder-harness-pad-right-hand-act2900-r

This makes shooting my 45-110 (ballard #7) & 12 gauge slug gun a more enjoyable experience.

 

[Centuriator]

Put the best brake on your rifle that you can afford, and you will be amazed at the difference it will make in recoil.

 

[MarinePMI]

Put the best brake on your rifle that you can afford, and you will be amazed at the difference it will make in recoil.

Ummm, did you read the thread?

 

[308pirate]

Put the best brake on your rifle that you can afford, and you will be amazed at the difference it will make in recoil.

WTF

 

[Velocity Chad]

Limbsaver or pachmayer decelerator are definitely a big help. I have had issues with limbsaver pads sticking to the carpet in my gun safe on a couple rifles for some reason though. Never had an issue with the pachmayers.

 

[Alaskashooter]

Limbsaver. Or find a PRS/NRL type match and get a muzzle break ?. All joking aside limbsaver will greatly reduce the soreness.

 

[memilanuk]

F-class a lot of those guys are free-recoiling

Kinda like the PRS guys, eh?

 

[memilanuk]

I need to be compliant for the NRA High Power Matches so those options are out.
Yes, I was shooting a 300, 600, 800 yard match and I was shooting F-class with a bipod.
The rifle doesn't have any adjustments. I'm not in pain but it's just a little achy. I was wondering if recoil shields help like the PAST Field Recoil Pad Shield on Midway?

Riley,

The PAST recoil pads do help some... and the LimbSavr pads, whether slip-on or 'grind-to-fit' can help a great deal as well.

Bumping up the weight of the gun can make a pretty noticeable difference; I'm assuming you're shooting F/TR, if so, use *all* of the weight limit if you can possibly do so. Options include drilling a hole in the butt stock under the recoil pad (when you have that nice new LimbSavr installed! ) and filling it with a mix of lead shot and five minute epoxy. Just make sure you don't go *over* the weight limit (18.18 lbs, or 8.25 kg) - leave a little wiggle room for if you decide to change something down the road, like the scope or bipod. Adding weight is generally easier than *removing* it!

Finally, another option that is becoming more popular with the folks running the 200+ gn bulletes loaded *hot* is to have a hydraulic recoil dampener installed:

http://hartshooting.com/radsystems/radsystem2a.html

Spendy, but it definitely takes the bite out of the 200s!

Good luck!

 

[Diver160651]

Kinda like the PRS guys, eh?

Not all..

 

[...]

1) harden the fuck up
2) add weight to the rifle
3) pull the rifle tighter into your shoulder.

80 rds of .308 should not be beating you up..... especially out of a heavy match rifle

 

[RajunKajun59]

Give the Pachmeyer or Limbsaver a try. Depending on your stock, if you need to adjust the LOP try the Manners or Mcmillian spacers with those pads.

What ever Magpul uses on their Hunter Stock (about 1" thick recoil pad) and a longer LOP, helped my 06 greatly even before I swapped to a sendero contoured barrel with a break.. Now I can run 40-50 shots and not feel a thing as opposed to 5 shots and a big bruise.

 

[brianf]

when i was shooting fclass the 300 wsm was "hot".
i know i dropped points here and there because i couldnt shoot anything heavier than 190gr at the MV needed.
my shooting buddy could, but the extra recoil was a little more than i could handle to stay 100%.
we all have our limits.

 

[Codiekfx400]

1) harden the fuck up
2) add weight to the rifle
3) pull the rifle tighter into your shoulder.

80 rds of .308 should not be beating you up..... especially out of a heavy match rifle

Dude did you see the op’s picture looks to be a young female probably 110 lbs soaking wet. ?

 

[...]

Dude did you see the op’s picture looks to be a young female probably 110 lbs soaking wet. ?

..........and.......?

 

[misterc01]

1) harden the fuck up
2) add weight to the rifle
3) pull the rifle tighter into your shoulder.

80 rds of .308 should not be beating you up..... especially out of a heavy match rifle

1. Foul language is NOT a way to influence a discussion.
2. Shooting over two days - over 130 rounds.
3. It needs to go into correct lace - do you mean pocket? On top? On bicep? or - be specific. I have seen al three mentined.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I shot my first high power competition yesterday and my shoulder area is achy from the recoil. What shoulder pad do you recommend? I was researching on Midway, Sportsmans, Cabelas, ect, but there are so many options. I did upwards of 75-80 rounds with a .308 and 155.5 grain. Thank you!

Nothing your going to put on your shoulder to wear is going to help much. If you do not what to put up with the noise of a break an can't get a can fast enough or at all your out is a LimbSaver recoil pad. They can be installed quickly an will tame most guns. I had one on a std pencil barreled 300wm an 210grs from a R-700, would shoot 50-80 rds at a time with no ill effects.