30-06 and the 300WSM Revisited

[YoteSmoker]

"The thin and hard factory recoil pads from Ruger are not that good." That's an understatement. Especially the old red bricks that came on the Tang safety model 77s.

Limbsaver, Kick-eez, and Pachmeyer are all good designs that certainly reduce recoil but I dont know if by 50% realistically. Adding thickness to an already padded gun or even not yet padded will increase the length of pull with the added thickness and most likely wont fit into your shoulder pocket correctly adding to recoil issues only this time out on your bicep leaving bruises in addition to your gun not being supported correctly, not being able to throw your gun up quickly or properly (combined with a thick hunting coat), and your finger pad not being anywhere close to where it needs to be on the trigger.

Solution: Know your length of pull. Remove the pre-existing pad or plate. If more length will be added, get stock cut down to compensate for added thickness and take off another quarter inch to compensate for your hunting jacket. Install pad. Don't worry be happy.

 

[Big Squeeze]

"The thin and hard factory recoil pads from Ruger are not that good." That's an understatement. Especially the old red bricks that came on the Tang safety model 77s.

Limbsaver, Kick-eez, and Pachmeyer are all good designs that certainly reduce recoil but I dont know if by 50% realistically. Adding thickness to an already padded gun or even not yet padded will increase the length of pull with the added thickness and most likely wont fit into your shoulder pocket correctly adding to recoil issues only this time out on your bicep leaving bruises in addition to your gun not being supported correctly, not being able to throw your gun up quickly or properly (combined with a thick hunting coat), and your finger pad not being anywhere close to where it needs to be on the trigger.

Solution: Know your length of pull. Remove the pre-existing pad or plate. If more length will be added, get stock cut down to compensate for added thickness and take off another quarter inch to compensate for your hunting jacket. Install pad. Don't worry be happy.

..............................Limbsaver slip ons may not work for everyone, but it is the cheapest and the least inconvienent way to address recoil. It was perfect for me because my compact`s LOP without the Limbsaver on was only 12.5 inches to begin with. The Limbsaver slip on adds an inch. I have fired other rifles with longer LOP`s + the slip on added and found myself doing some neck stretching. Assuming the scope can be moved back towards the shooter to accomodate the extra LOP with enough mounting tube length and the rifle still can be shouldered easily, the slip on is a good and convenient solution.

And yes, compared to the poor choice for a recoil pad that Ruger uses, my felt recoil was reduced by 50% using the Limbsaver. Turned my 300 WSM into more of a puddycat, while still having great shouldering and handling speed.

 

[YoteSmoker]

The 12.5" LOP is something I don't like and I think Ruger should market the compact as a youth model. That would be more realistic. I can definitely see how a thicker pad would make it a lot more tolerable and bring it up to where it needs to be.

 

[Big Squeeze]

The 12.5" LOP is something I don't like and I think Ruger should market the compact as a youth model. That would be more realistic. I can definitely see how a thicker pad would make it a lot more tolerable and bring it up to where it needs to be.

..........Even with my size; 6'3" @ 240 lbs, my Frontier, regardless of its smaller dimensions, handles like a gem! You don`t need to be smaller to have one of these! Although its dimensions are more for the smaller shooters, the Frontier nevertheless, is a great compact for the bigger boys who choose to own one. Although its size is great, but because of recoil, I don`t think the 300 WSM in a compact Frontier, would have made a suitable youth rifle. Other chamberings would.

I happen to like having my cake while eating it too. I get 26" 30`06 AI performance from a 300 WSM 16.5" tube. Same concept applies with my 20" .375 Ruger Alaskan. 24" to 25" barreled 375 H&H ballistics from only a 20" tube; maybe even a fraction better with my reloads.....................Great performances and great carrying, speed and handling in both!

 

[FOTIS]

One of my favorite rifles I have ever handled was a Sako 308 mannlicher style, 20" barrel carbine!. Man what a diamond! I should have bought it, but I was a young USAF Sergeant in Germany, What did I know?