I went out to Hot Wells shooting range today with my .22-250 and the lever gun. It was great fun. I shot a few OK groups with my rifle and managed a dead-center bullseye at 100yd with the iron sighted .30-30. But shooting the darn thing sucked. I guess I never really noticed the recoil because I've shot it 4 times at game and a few times on paper a while back. But after today's 8 shots I was done.

The recoil isn't bad actually. It's perfect for the light weight rifle and caliber that it's in. But I'm a skinny guy and, here's where I think the discomfort comes from, the rifle has a hard plastic buttplate. I'm not someone who complains about recoil (I say after complaining about recoil); on Thursday I shot quite a bit of .30-06 150gr from a bolt gun and an autoloader and had zero complaints.

So a few minutes ago I got onto google and searched it. The Pachmayr "pre-fit" ones for Winchester Model 1894 is no longer made. I went to the Lyman site and browsed their different models. I figure replacing the buttplate is better and more aesthetic and convenient than putting one of those rather obtrusive slip-on ones.

Here are the ones I'm thinking about:
DP500 Ultra Lite pad
500B Presentation pad (I think this would be the best fit, both economically and aesthetically; pun intended.)
F250 Lightweight pad

I'm not totally sure how the sizing on these works. Of course I'll measure the stock on the rifle before purchasing, but can anyone that has experience with any of these pads chime in? Or any other recommendations for replacing the pad on this Winchester 94 clone?

Thanks in advance. I dunno which of the two aforementioned rifles will see action tomorrow in Comfort for axis, but I may make a post in Exotic Hunting about it detailing what happens.

...uhhh a strap on PAST Pad would much mo less spendy for use at the range, and can also be worn comfortably in the field over ot under your regular hunting clothes if needed...Just Sayin' 'cause I am already there shooting any thing over a 270's max max loads regardless of the brand or style of recoil pad on guns that net less than 7 1/2 - 8'ish lbs all up. Old Age is a planned excursion in making do with things you took for granted at your age.
Ron

Even the "pre-fit" models will likely require some final fitting to get a professional look. Wood stocks from that era will vary in size from one gun to the next but are reasonably close to each other. Usually its nothing more than a little grinding or sanding to get the exact fit.

The PAST recoil shield is very effective for shooting off the bench. Cost is minimal and you won't have modify a rifle to avoid punishment.

Another vote for PAST. A simple, inexpensive and effective solution to your problem.

Have a PAST Shield I use with some rifles from the bench, agree with the others. One other point about the PAST Shield it is not attached to the gun so can be used with any shoulder fired gun.

It’s just a 30-30.

Only time I ever needed Kotex type feminine pads was when the good Dr's at Baylor Dallas, Hurt, Fuqua, Ware and King, and 2 other residents took 9+ hours to cut a line around my waist from about 1 1/2"s from my navel to about the same distance to my spine around the right side to access the bottom of the kidney sac, ureatha and upper bladder to remove about 3/4's lb of scar tissue from the inside of the tubing and reconstruct all of the affected water works plumbing from the gang beating I took in Dec 1961. The nurse's were going thru about a dozen+ Kotex every 3 hours sopping up the fluid loss from the incision and it took about a week + for the incision to seal...and Kotex was the preferred brand too and PTL I got a big juicy Demerol shot prior to the cleanup drill that included all new bedding every time too. I was woking my way thru the 12-14 units of glucose every 12-18 hours trying to fill a 5 gallon jug under the bed at the same time, so it had to come out somewhere since all my interior plumbing was blocked with 300+ stitchs and plastic coated wire forms the plumbing was sewn tight around.

Using a Kotex is lots more easy to take than Demerol is for me these days, after the addiction withdrawal symptoms subsided and I now can use them for just Plavix induced common everyday blood loss events from the usual home accidents that I am living with.
Ron

I have the PAST pad too. I bought two prefit pads for my Marlin 336 and the fit wasn’t even close on both. I then read this is common with 336’s and I think I read it is the same with 94’s. It’s been awhile. So I bought a pachmayr grind to fit pad and had Larry Pockrus install it.

The name Hot Wells brings back some incredibly good memories. When I was a kid in the 60’s there was no gun range there but Hot Wells was THE place to go swimming. They had a huge pool. I grew up about fifteen minutes from there.

Indeed it is. But like I said, I'm skinny and don't have proprietary padding LOL so the plastic plate hurts. Not the amount of recoil, but the material.

Thanks everyone for the recommendation of the PAST thing. I will look into that and let y'all know which way I go.

You need to learn to snub your rifle up to you, lean into the rifle and relax a bit, so your shoulder moves with the recoil, rather than hitting your shoulder. Work on your technique.

Thanks for the help everyone