It has been decades since I bought a recoil pad and I know somethings have changed regarding compositions on the market now. What are your pad preferences for a field use gun?
Pachmyr are very nice modern, recoil reducing pads of many varieties. See Brownell's or Midway Sports. Some people like to put "vintage" reproduction pads on their vintage shotguns. Two that come to mind that are used frequently are a Hawkins replica which I like and a Silvers replica which I think is just a heavy piece of rubber...not particularly recoil reducing, but vintage in appearance.
For a modern field gun I would definitely go with a Pachmyr...I have 3 guns with them in place. One thing to consider is the desired length of pull. If you want a short length, you might go to Galazan for their 1/2" pad.
If you really want recoil reduction get a Kick-EEZ. Soft, but long lasting rubber compound called Sorbothane. Other pads will look better on a vintage gun, but I've yet to see one that absorbs recoil better.
https://kickeezproducts.com/shop/SRH
Jerry,
Most of my SxS's come with the stock checkered butt or the hard plates, and I leave them alone because they work for me. The two OU's that I have, I've switched out the stock hard rubber ones for the Pachmyr black sporting pads with the rounded insert at the top. Done correctly, they look very nice in my opinion as they have a nice textured finish.
Karl
if the weight of the recoil pad affecting the balance of the gun is an issue I have found the Cervellati pads from Italy are a good option. They are more difficult to shape with than the hard rubber Pachmayr because they are softer but the weight savings on the but of the gun is outstanding. About a third of what hard rubber weighs for the same thickness
https://www.hastingsdistribution.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=33
The Hastings products look great, especially the solid red pad that looks like the London Guns Pad.
For modern pads. I like kick-eez or decelorator old english pads from both a recoil absorption and ease of installation standpoint. Limbsaver pads have great recoil absorbtion, but they dont grind as well.
For vintage style pads, the silver style pad is a perfect do anything pad for most any application. I like the ones that CSMC offers at $50 price point . They geind and butf very well and are offered in orange and red.
Galco and Kevins have a velcro leather pad with an oh so cushy insert inside. The limbsavers I had got sticky over time to the point they picked up leaves and debris. I second the Pachmeyer decelerator in old english! Steve
I wouldn't want to count the number of different brands and shapes I've gone thru in the last two decades but over the past couple years I've been replacing everything with a two different Pachmayr pads. In particular a black 1/2" thick that is big enough to grid to fit anything. Brownells has a great selection with descriptions and #'s but not wonderful prices. I've been able to do some 'net shopping and get what I wanted for a substantial price reduction. By planning ahead I've found ebay to be a real source for need/price solutions.
I've come to not care for the mushy kinda pads at all. Besides being a PITA to grind they just don't do anything for me that I need. And they're all much thicker than what I have any use for these days.
JMO of course.
have another day
Dr.WtS
For field use, where I'm not really interested in any cushioning effect, my choice is the Pachmayr Old English. It has a nice simulated leather texture and comes in a variety of sizes, thicknesses, and I think black and brown colors. It looks good and protects the buttstock.
Except for clay target work, I avoid the soft, sticky, clothes-grabbing Decelerator and Kick-Eez type pads. They can be tricky to grind if you haven't done it before.
Someone above said the Silvers type pads are just a big chunk of heavy, hard orange rubber. It's hard to argue with that, but they can look very good.
If one needs recoil reduction, the Hawkins-type reproductions as noted above are a nice choice. Though made of a firmer, non-tacky rubber, they nonetheless have a bit of flex and can add a nice touch to that old Smith or Fox.