R.A.D. system

[greyspider56]

I'm going to have a .284 built for f class open and have been doing research for components. The question I have is I've seen a lot of rifles using the RAD. Will this caliber be tough to handle without it? I don't want to feel beat up after a days shooting.

thanks
Mike

 

[dthomas]

I don't have a rad on my 284 and I don't have any discomfort after a match. Rifle has a butt pad from trapdude.com and works great. I bought the rifle used and it was on it, I had never heard of it before that but really like it.

 

[JLT]

If your build will be close to the 22 pound weight limit, you don't need a RAD and you won't feel beat up after 3 relays at the end of the day unless you are sensitive to recoil. I have a 17 pound .280 AI that is not at all objectionable to shoot, and this round generates more recoil than a .284.

If this is a question of desirable, and not so much of need, see if you can test drive a rifle with a RAD when you're at a match and judge for yourself. The system does a nice job, and you will feel the difference at the end of the day. I have a RAD on one of my rifles. When I put the Dasher barrel on it, I just smile.

 

[Tod Hendricks]

As the others stated, a RAD is not necessary on a 22lb FOpen 284.

Recoil mitigation is not the only benefit, I feel the RAD can reduce or minimize gun handling errors or maybe a better description is gun handling inconsistencies. Just my opinion. I have them on all my Open rifles.

 

[F Class John]

As the others stated, a RAD is not necessary on a 22lb FOpen 284.

Recoil mitigation is not the only benefit, I feel the RAD can reduce or minimize gun handling errors or maybe a better description is gun handling inconsistencies. Just my opinion. I have them on all my Open rifles.

This ^^^^^

 

[Dkk37058]

I’m not that big of a man and have a 284 F class panda with a McMillan Kestros stock that weighs 19 # without a Rad and it’s not that bad to to shoot in matches

 

[whatwind?]

Here is another option, I use it plus a healthy pad for my magnum

GC15R GraCoil | GRACO Corporation

The GraCoil for rifles has the same features as the original GraCoil for shotguns. Its features include an adjustable pad plate, adjustable tension setting ...

graco-corp.com

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Like Tod said, it isn't about the recoil per se. I will add that there is a detrimental effect mentally to being shaken lightly, repeatedly over an entire day or series of days. It is fatiguing.

I use a RAD to reduce fatigue. Reducing the effect of recoil pad pressure inconsistency is an added benefit.

 

[bulaman]

It may not be necessary, but I have one on my 20 lb 284 and love it.

 

[Terry]

I have a RAD om my McMillan stocked F Open rifle. Love it! It greatly reduces shooter fatigue.

 

[Sandstorm]

Can you exchange a 3 way Masterclass with a RAD system on a Kestros.
What exactly is involved. ( Or do you have to start with a fresh build. ? )

 

[F Class John]

Can you exchange a 3 way Masterclass with a RAD system on a Kestros.
What exactly is involved. ( Or do you have to start with a fresh build. ? )

I can't remember if the 3 way is affected specifically but the adjustable cheek piece I know when I ordered both mine they said it couldn't be retrofitted so you have to order it with the RAD to begin with but you lose some of the cheekpiece functionality. It has to do with available space inside the stock.

 

[Terry]

Carol Lance did mine. He would know.

 

[memilanuk]

I can't remember if the 3 way is affected specifically but the adjustable cheek piece I know when I ordered both mine they said it couldn't be retrofitted so you have to order it with the RAD to begin with but you lose some of the cheekpiece functionality. It has to do with available space inside the stock.

Can't speak to the Kestros, specifically, but my understanding is that the 'normal' McM adjustable cheek piece setup with the two posts that extend down into the stock was what caused problems. The rear post sticks down far enough that it would intersect with the pocket necessary for the RAD system.

When the McM XIT first came out, I know I (and I'm pretty sure others were as well) was ecstatic - finally a decent stock that had a real cheek piece that I could rest my head on normally, like when I shot Palma. Little did I realize - though we all figured it out pretty quickly - that resting that 20 lb bowling ball on the back of the stock was not at all compatible with the 'light' hold most people find necessary for consistent accuracy. Most people I know with an XIT (and I'm assuming the Kestros as well) either have the cheekpiece all the way down and over (away) to where it's more of a touch reference, than actual support. As such, it doesn't *need* 3" long support posts - they simply aren't used. Hell, a number of shooters remove the cheek piece entirely, for various reasons.

Most of the installs I've seen done that didn't come from the factory had that rear post shortened up so that it doesn't interfere with the RAD buffer system. Problem solved.

I know I, and others, tried communicating that to Kelly McMillan, but they were against that approach for reasons I was never really clear on. So they flipped the whole setup upside down, with the posts sticking *up* into the cheek piece. I have one stock like that... and frankly I hate that setup. But that's the way it came, so...

 

[Terry]

My Kestros has a RAD. Mine does not have an adjustable cheek piece.

 

[Bill Clifton]

Can you take the adjustable check piece off of a Kestros and install a RAD?

Recovering from my 4th neck surgery and I had been wondering that because I have mine adjusted down and over I don't rest my cheek on the stock anyway so I would never miss the adjustable cheek riser.