Recoil Pad Choice - Avoiding Deformation

[South Pender]

I have a high-grade rifle in excellent condition on which I'd like to change the recoil pad. It currently has an ugly European Wegu ventilated pad. I'd like to replace this with a red non-ventilated pad to simulate those on the English best rifles of the past. I want to make sure it won't deform and go out-of-shape when standing the rifle on its butt on a hard surface over long periods of time (as some pads do).

The most obvious choice appearance-wise at the moment seems to be the Pachmayr Decelerator Old English pad, but I'd be interested in knowing how well they retain their shape when the gun is stored over time on its butt against a hard surface. The original Silvers pads, found on many high-end British rifles, were/are very hard, with no give, but would undoubtedly keep their shape over time. New England Custom Guns have one as well that might work.

What would you all recommend for a pad that will look good, but most importantly, won't deform and lose its shape over time?

 

[GWY]

One of my hunting rifles had a Pachmayr decelerator put on almost 20 years ago. It has not deformed in shape or “hardened”. It’s stored vertical in my gun vault

 

[akajun]

some pads use to come with a small polished pin that you placed in one of the screw holes to keep pressure off of the pad when it was in the safe. That or store bore down.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

some pads use to come with a small polished pin that you placed in one of the screw holes to keep pressure off of the pad when it was in the safe. That or store bore down.

This is a good idea anyway, especially for anyone that leaves the bore wet when stored. I've seen a bunch of gummed up triggers because of this.

 

[drover]

some pads use to come with a small polished pin that you placed in one of the screw holes to keep pressure off of the pad when it was in the safe. That or store bore down.

Some of the Pachmyer trap pads had a hard rubber tipped insert that slipped into the screw hole on the pad, it kept the pad from having the weight of the firearm on the pad.
The easy answer is to just store your firearms muzzle down.

drover

 

[AlNyhus]

Check out the Delfiero recoil pads.

 

[South Pender]

All good suggestions, guys, thanks. I'll check out the Delfiero pads.

 

[Ggmac]

I store almost all with the butt up , muzzle down . It does two things doing it this way . One is letting oils and cleaning solutions flow down the bore / barrel ( not into the wood ) and two it saves the recoil pad from compression flats .

 

[moondog]

I store almost all with the butt up , muzzle down . It does two things doing it this way . One is letting oils and cleaning solutions flow down the bore / barrel ( not into the wood ) and two it saves the recoil pad from compression flats .

I do the same, barrel down On my 26lb ELR
rigs to take the weight off the pad.