recoil pad hard or soft?

[manhoer]

how is your accuracy affected if you have a soft recoil pad or a hard pad.I have a savage f/tr with a very hard pad and I'm black and blue after a day at the range.will my accuracy suffer if I switch to a softer recoil pad?or do I just have to suffer.

 

[TheSnake]

I am no expert on this question but I beleive if you are taking punishment behind a rifle, it would be very difficult to master shooting off the bench. The more you shoot it, the harder it is to control your minds reaction to the recoil. If you can't enjoy it, what's the point? Just my opinion.

 

[timeout]

how is your accuracy affected if you have a soft recoil pad or a hard pad.I have a savage f/tr with a very hard pad and I'm black and blue after a day at the range.will my accuracy suffer if I switch to a softer recoil pad?or do I just have to suffer.

Not sure what cal. you are shooting, but I have never found it enjoyable to have my shoulder beat up when at the range. I would install a muzzle brake or buy a caliber with less recoil. I doubt you will ever master a gun that is inflicting that much pain. JMO. Good Luck!

 

[Immike]

You have a few options. If your pull is long you may be laying on the rifle alittle also. A shoulder pad is one way to go, cabelas has a good one that i keep in my shooting bag for emergencies. Another way is have a good bench shooter teach you free recoil. If you are taking that kind of beating then your vision will get blurry and you will struggle to aim. Also try pushing forward on the wrist with your thumb to absorb the initial shock. I use the thumb method with good results on my heavy magnum.

PS : I have a similar problem when I lay straight behind a rifle and am forced to lay at an angle to get it on my shoulder . My form is the same as the picture in the nra rule book with the ankles crossed.

 

[manhoer]

thanks guys I am only shooting a .308 and I'm shooting prone in f class so I can't use a muzzle brake . I have long arms so I may try a adjustable but plate.you are right though it's no fun to shoot ,well that's a lie its still fun but painful.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

A softer pad won't change a thing. I've shot both ways, and there is no difference. An adjustable butt will help by getting the pad positioned correctly in reference to your shoulder.

I would, however, suggest that you take a good, hard look at your technique. Black and blue come from either not touching the pad with your shoulder at firing (semi-free recoil), or getting the butt into the wrong part of your shoulder. There is a vein in your shoulder that rides around the collar bone. If you smack that one, you'll bruise up.

I know that everyone speaks of good tracking and being able to watch the trace when shooting, but there are times when it is better to let the rifle do what the rifle does. Just saying...

 

[Taildrag15X]

how is your accuracy affected if you have a soft recoil pad or a hard pad.I have a savage f/tr with a very hard pad and I'm black and blue after a day at the range.will my accuracy suffer if I switch to a softer recoil pad?or do I just have to suffer.

Wear a recoil pad or a like the us High Power guys a jacket, they even have elbow pads....

 

[manhoer]

THANKS TO EVERYONE for all the advice.