View Full Version : Cheek Padding?
Yesterday I shot my 30-06 for the first time in well over 25 years. I’ve been reluctant to shoot it due to recoil as I remember wearing my fathers padded shooting jacket when I shot it at the age of 15. After shooting it, I have to wonder why I waited so long to shoot it. What a kick in the pants it was to shoot it again. ½ - inch group at 50 yards with iron sights? I can’t get groups like that with any other rifle I own with iron sights. Not even close.
Now to my question. When shooting it, the recoil shot thru my cheekbone and felt like a jarring toothache on the other side of my face. It went away quickly, but I am wondering if anyone makes a padded cheek piece that would slip onto the stock. Below is a photo of what it looks like now.
http://www.pbase.com/wingspar/image/140810496/original.jpg
Guess I could have done some searches before posting, but I did find some at Midway that looked ok, but lots of negative reviews in that some of them changes your line of sight, and some may not allow the bolt to be removed while the cheek pad is on, but that may not be that big of a deal. I found these at Midway (http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=cheek+pad) and the Midway one for $19.95 looks like the best bet, but it’s hard to tell from those photos and reviews and it’s out of stock till October. If anyone has any personal experience with these or others not listed at Midway and even photos on your gun, that would be very helpful.
Check out this one...I have one for my M1A & it's 1st rate.
http://www.cheeknstock.com/
The pad wraps around the stock & secures with velcro on itself. It's custom fitted to the dimensions of your stock & I had them make a cutout for the rear sling mount.
http://m14forum.com/users/pburkott/a...side-img-3254/
If anything, I would look at the kick eez brand instead of a stock pouch. But after reading below, that may add to the problem if it applies. I see what appears to be a sporterized 1903A3? It is a possibility that the monte carlo cheekpiece is causing you to press your cheek onto the stock more than necessary to obtain proper cheekweld/sight alignment.
Try this, close your eyes, shoulder the rifle so you are comfortable, THEN open your eyes and see the orientation of your cheekweld and sight alignment. If you feel like you have to press your cheek down or cant your head, then that stock may not be the best choice.
If anything, I would look at the kick eez brand instead of a stock pouch. But after reading below, that may add to the problem if it applies. I see what appears to be a sporterized 1903A3? It is a possibility that the monte carlo cheekpiece is causing you to press your cheek onto the stock more than necessary to obtain proper cheekweld/sight alignment.
Try this, close your eyes, shoulder the rifle so you are comfortable, THEN open your eyes and see the orientation of your cheekweld and sight alignment. If you feel like you have to press your cheek down or cant your head, then that stock may not be the best choice.
I think you may have a point there. I do have to cant my head to get a good sight picture, and very slightly press my cheek down on the stock. Maybe a cheek pad may not be a good choice then. I supposed I could make something out of foam and cloth that I could attach with anything that will hold it to try it out and see what happens before buying something.
Yes, it is a sporterized 1903-A3. My father bought it for me in 1961 when I was 15. I put the stock on in 1973. The majority of the shooting with this gun was prior to 1973. I shot it the other day for the first time in over 25 years. I forgot what a blast this gun is to shoot, and now I want to make it comfortable to shoot.
Most monte carlo stocks are intended for scope use, so the irons would cause you to alter cheekweld to get a good position. Remember, your dimensions may have changed from 25 years ago.
1-Maybe rework the comb to lower it by 1/8-3/16"(check the side portion as well)(try to maintain the forward cant on the comb, helps with felt pressure on the cheek during recoil)
2-Install another stock with lower comb.
3-Look at Hodgdon's site for H4895 reduced loads. You would be surprised on how mild you can reload the 06 and any rifle that uses H4895.
4-Remington and maybe others offer reduced recoil rounds if you don't reload.
I appreciate your posts. I wish I had another stock to try out as it looks like a padded cheek rest may not work with this stock. I probably bought this stock based on looks rather than functionality. I will never put a scope on this rifle, so if I want to enjoy shooting it, I think I may have to look at other stock options. As I said earlier, I could probably make something out of foam and materials I have laying around to see whether cheek padding would help or not.
I don’t reload. Right now I’m shooting military ball that a friend of my fathers bought for me when I got the gun in 1961. If I’m reading the cases right, it was made in 1952. Recoil isn’t a factor, it’s that the recoil travels thru my bones in my cheek to the other side of my face, and after 3 or so rounds it feels like a toothache on the other side of my face that goes away fast, but a little unpleasant. This gun is a lot more fun to shoot than my shotgun, which I don’t really enjoy shooting.
No worries. I would say the best option is to take some sand paper to the stock comb, easy day.
Yeah, a padded cheek rest isn't going to work like you want unless you drop the comb or scope the rifle.
Off topic but if that is '52 vintage ammo, it may have corrosive primers. Clean that barrel!
Off topic but if that is '52 vintage ammo, it may have corrosive primers. Clean that barrel!
Yes, it is off topic, but it has me wondering. Looks like I misread the case or I have others than from 1952. Here is a photo of one of the cases in case it tells you anything. Looks like this one was from 1953 if I’m reading it correctly. Guess I’d better clean the barrel just in case, tho I’ve shot over 350 rounds of this ammo since 1961 with no problems.
Does anyone know what these markings mean?
http://www.pbase.com/wingspar/image/151480472/original.jpg
You're ok-linked it on section here.
http://www.odcmp.org/1101/USGI.pdf
Yes, it is off topic, but it has me wondering. Looks like I misread the case or I have others than from 1952. Here is a photo of one of the cases in case it tells you anything. Looks like this one was from 1953 if I’m reading it correctly. Guess I’d better clean the barrel just in case, tho I’ve shot over 350 rounds of this ammo since 1961 with no problems.
Does anyone know what these markings mean?
http://www.pbase.com/wingspar/image/151480472/original.jpg
You're ok-linked it on section here.
http://www.odcmp.org/1101/USGI.pdf
Excellent information. Thank you. :)
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