Do you gents pad your 'butts, or not ? I absolutely do.

[OneClick]

After seeing a handful of  (younger by 35 years) gents wince and start flinching after popping off their levers and larger AR's,   I offered up one of my slip-on thick gooey recoil pads I had on my 45-70.  I'm not built like non-human  Dwayne "The Rock".    They popped a couple shots.  "OMG" . . It's was like they were in high school again and it was a  "SHE SAID YES !"  moment. Or something close.  I kinda recall that day in high school, 1972, and these guys were having that moment. 

I have a variety of gooey-thick pads, most with either cartridge loops, pouches,  a combo, or a gooey heel-only.  These semi-tame  even my absolutely  brutal 458 Win Mag with its 70 lbs of recoil hit.  Luckily I left it with a lifer'  friend up north for his grizzly issues. He thinks  I'm just so generous, but I have my own girly-man issues with that gun.  BTW: My circa '71 A5 12ga  w/slugs recoils at 30#, my 308 at 20#, my 45-70 440gr hardcasts at 40#.  They all feel like a hard shove now and not a bone explosion.  Ok, you won't need a pad for a 5# hit 5.56, but guys with  450 BM may like a pad. (20# -ish).  Note the Ruger bolt  has a 20rd mag stuffed in there,  just in case it's a grab&go from a rabid squirrel, zombie, etc attack .  

I didn't need a pad in high school for my A5, nor that 308 in pic.  Hard plastic was quite manly, steel even more manly yet.    

[Garufa]

As a general rule I do not approve of Nancy Pads but they sure are nice on some platforms for extended shooting sessions.

Do not leave those slip-ons on wood stocks. Just put them on when in use or you’ll mess the finish up.

Edited 8 hours ago by Garufa

[Choatecav]

If I am target shooting, I occasionally do but only to give the rifle a longer length of pull.  At 6' 7" I need more length of pull.

That said, I do like having it for comfort when I am shooting my Sharps '74 in 45-70.

[TN_Raven]

At my age, I’m past being concerned if I don’t look manly enough by using a pad when I’m shooting. I’d rather protect my shoulder and be able to get out to the range whenever I can vs. having to take a pass because I’m too sore, or doing long term damage. As @Garufa says, a lot depends on the platform, and I’ll add proper technique goes a long way.

My M14 in 7.62mm/.308 has a real punch. I came up with a pad I can wear on my shoulder using an elbow pad and old elastic belt. It’s thin enough that I can get the stock seated properly, but thick enough to take the edge off the recoil. In the winter when I’m shooting with a sweater on, I don’t really need it, but in warm weather with just a t-shirt on, it really helps.

Edited 5 hours ago by TN_Raven

[krunchnik]

I have 2 that I use a shoulder pad for-

30-30 and my .308 all for range use-

Usually when I am at the range it's not unusual to run maybe 30 rounds of each-

My shoulders have tears and are not up to a lot of abuse-

[leroy]

If I'm shooting a hard kicker ( 30 naught six n up ) from the bench or prone I'll use a sissy bag. There are several guys that make em.  I've got a couple that are about 9 by 6 by 2 inches thick.  East ta carry n help alot with shooting from a rest .  I never liked the padded ones that go on your shoulder.

Example here.   https://lafayetteshooters.com/protektor-model-small-pillow-bag/

leroy

Edited 6 hours ago by leroy

[OneClick]

I suppose we all have our niche use, or not..  Being a reloader and caster,  I shoot a LOT. . perhaps 300x rounds of big-bore a month. Back in the day I bought (cheap) a LOT of kegs of powder, primer, cases,  so my shots are in the .05 to .10 cents per for big bores..  Less if I account for my 2,000 lbs of free scrap lead I smelted for my 'bores.  In my case,  I have zero thoughts of stock finish, LOL,  that ship sailed a looong time ago.  That black 308 is a Rem model 660, bought new in 1969, now  painted with 98 cent/can of Krylon flat black from Home Depot.   Used wood epoxy putty to fill the gouges.

 The Marlins are 35 years old,  have replacement stocks, and are now Tung oiled  "pieces of wood in the back".   A few thousand rounds through each, and  mostly using the stock to keep brush &  limbs from my legs.  Sort of pathetic I suppose.  

My sold Pedersoli Sharps "Pride of the Plains" was a different matter.  THAT was a thing of beauty,  never to be insulted with a $13  girly pad.  I wore  my Palma comp harness pad.  Even I won't stoop that low. 

[monkeylizard]

I have one for my Mosin 1891/30 that I almost never shoot but am happy to have the pad when I do. Only my O/U 12ga. for sporting clays would have me wishing for one on the rare occasion I go in the blazing hot summer. In fall/winter I can wear a thick enough jacket that I don't wish for the pad. Clays are generally the only time I'm going through enough shots in short enough time to make my shoulder hurt.

[Alleycat72]

Im not really sure what I just read.