Points To Think About When You Shop For A Recoil Pad
The recoil from a rifle is nothing that you should take lightly, and you'll be fully aware of this fact if you've ever sustained a recoil-related injury. While certain gun handling techniques can help you to better manage your firearm's recoil in the future, there are various accessories that can also play a helping hand. One popular accessory is a recoil pad, which you can buy at any firearms store that carries rifle accessories. This simple pad goes on the butt of your rifle, creating a layer of padding between the firearm and your body. Here are some points to think about when you shop for a recoil pad.
Thickness
You'll see recoil pads in several different thicknesses. Some offer just a bit of protection, while others have a large amount of padding that can play a key role in reducing recoil. It's useful to consider what type of firearm you'll be equipping with your new recoil pad. A small-caliber rifle that produces only a slight degree of recoil can be a good candidate for a thin recoil pad. If you have a higher-caliber firearm that produces a lot of recoil each time you pull the trigger, you'll want to choose a pad that is on the thicker side.
Material
Rifle recoil pads are available in many different materials, each of which can offer a different look. The material doesn't necessarily affect the performance of the recoil pad, but you'll want to choose an accessory that complements the look of your firearm. For example, some recoil pads are covered in brown leather. This material can be a good visual fit on a traditional-looking rifle that has a wooden stock. If you have a tactical-style rifle that is matte black, you'll likely favor a sleek-looking black neoprene recoil pad.
Mount Vs. Slip-On
Most rifle recoil pads belong to one of two categories — they either mount to the butt of the firearm with hardware, or they simply slip on. There are some advantages to each of these designs. When you mount a recoil pad with hardware, you don't want to worry about it falling off when you're hunting or otherwise carrying your rifle. Slip-on pads are quicker to put into place, which means that you can easily change them from one firearm to another as often as you'd like.
For more information on recoil pads, contact a gun store near you.