- Recoil Pads
Q: Why would I need an aftermarket recoil pad? The one that came on the gun should be adequate otherwise the manufacturer would not have sold it to me.
A: The correct recoil pad can actually improve your shooting. Both in comfort and scores. The wrong choice could make the opposite true. With the broadest selection, Pachmayr recoil pads give you the correct choice, regardless of the type of shooting you do.
Q: Why should I buy a Pachmayr recoil pad rather than one of your competition?
A: Our recoil pads are made of rubber which has many benefits over the competitions'.
Others use either Noserex or Sorbothane which are much more difficult to grind than rubber. These others also have a much lower melting point than rubber. Sorbothane melts at 150°, which the interior of a car can easily reach particularly in summer months.
Remember: a pad which feels soft to the touch will also bottom out much quicker under recoil than a pad which is designed to give gradually such as the Pachmayr patented side core "XX" pattern.
Q: How do I determine which pad I need for my application?
A: You will need to think about what you need the pad to do for you. Think about the face shape, core design and face texture which will benefit you the most.
Q: How do I select the proper face shape?
A: The recoil pad faces are shaped to provide a contour designed to work with the face texture for optimum performance. Sporting clays pads are domed to prevent hanging up on the shoulder. Trap pads have a large pronounced curve to help position the pad on the shoulder firmly in exactly the same location every time. Field pads provide a combination of convex and concave shapes designed as a compromise for fast mounting and positive control.
Q: Does core design really matter if I select a soft pad?
A: Material softness is only part of the recoil absorbing formula. A solid soft pad does not absorb recoil like a design with cores. The core design enhances recoil absorption and maintains the pad’s stability when under recoil.
A core design that is not stable will collapse at too fast a rate causing undue pain and fatigue to the shooter. A core design that is too stiff to collapse under light recoil is almost of no use at all. Due to the design, the pad will not deflect the recoil forces.
The Side Core design with the XXXX configuration is the ultimate in recoil absorption because of the "shock absorbing" effect offered by the compressing "X" pattern. These pads have a solid base and are the best choice for those who may prefer a soft sided pad, particularly for collar bone sensitivity.
The Bottom Core design is softer in the middle and has firmer sides to absorb the sharpest recoil. A classic appearance and availability in Decelerator material makes this design the most popular and most copied Pachmayr design.
Q: How important is face texture?
A: A shooter should choose the face texture of a recoil pad based on the anticipated need or usage. Pachmayr pad face textures are placed in three classifications, light, medium and heavy. These descriptions refer to the amount of "bite" the pad gets into the shoulder when firing.
A lighter face texture is desirable for the quick mount. If the position is not right, minor shifts can be done without removing the gun butt from the shoulder. A heavy texture should be chosen when small pad movements on the shoulder can cause a target to be lost, or where recoil is such that movement can cause injury to the shooter.
Light face textures include Leather and Ribbed.
Medium face textures include Line Checkered, Screen and Stippled.
Heavy face textures include Basket Weave, Grooved and Pigeon.
Q: Will the pad thickness be important?
A: Pad thickness can be important as this will affect the length of pull. If the pad that came on the gun originally is the proper thickness for you, select a pad where the thickness is similar. If you need additional length to obtain the proper length of pull, we recommend the addition of Stock Spacers which are available in three styles, Black (.25"), White (.06") and Black and White (.25"). You can add up to 1" in length with these.
Q: Do you have any simple recommendations for a given application?
A: Below is a basic recommendation listed in order of recoil absorption from lowest to highest:
RIFLE:
Varmint/Low Recoil:
RP200, RP250, 500B, F250, DP200, DP500
Big Game/Medium Recoil:
F325, D750B
Dangerous Game/Heavy Recoil:
F990, XLT
SHOTGUN: (listed in order of increased recoil absorption)
Sporting Clays:
DP200, S250, S325, 752B, SC100, D752B
Skeet:
DP200, S250, S325, 752B, SC100, D752B
Trap:
D550, T550, T660, XLT
Upland Bird:
S250, S325, 752B, SC100, D752B
Q: The hole spacing is different between the pad I just purchased and the pad that was originally on my gun. What do I do?
A: The hole spacing will vary from model to model. We are unable to provide all possible variations in all pads. We recommend filling your existing screw holes in your stock with a wooden dowel rod and drilling new holes.
Q: I have a curved stock, can I still put a recoil pad on it?
A: Yes, but the stock must be trimmed flat first.
Q: I have a Pachmayr recoil pad on my shotgun. How do I keep them looking their best?
A: The best product to maintain the appearance of the pads is Armor All.