I understand the formulas, but there is more to it than that. Once upon a time, about 1962, I shot my friends Remington 721 .30-06, no scope, no pad, hotly loaded 180s, and it actually was punishing. I wanted no more after a lcouple of shots.

A good many years ago, I bought a nice FN built Mauser .30-06 with a trim custom stock with a Neidner butt plate. I figured on a nice pad. To my surprise, it just is not bad with 180 Superformance ammo, even in shirt sleeves. Stock design, fit, cheek weld, and etc. have to also come into the equation in non mathematical ways. Jack

"Do not blame Caesar, blame the people...who have...rejoiced in their loss of freedom....Blame the people who hail him when he speaks of the 'new, wonderful, good, society'...to mean ,..living fatly at the expense of the industrious." Cicero