Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Flip flop recoil pad

Shaved 5oz off by using a flip flop recoil pad. Seems the only company making an aftermarket fiberglass stock for the Ruger 77/22 Hornet is MPI. Didn't want to spend a whole lot on a fiberglass stock at this time so I looked at ways to lighten the factory walnut stock.

Factory walnut stock with factory recoil pad --31oz

Factory recoil pad is a tad over 3oz.

Finished 1/2" thick flip flop pad --1/2 oz

Cut .25" off butt stock and bored 3 holes 3" deep with 1" forstner bit. Also filed/reshaped top of forearm/barrel channel.

Original LOP is 13.75", a bit too long with a thick winter coat on. New LOP is a tad below 13 3/8" and balances better. Weight of stock after is 26oz. Overall weight with Weaver 2.5-7x28 scope, low rings, 6rds in magazine and sling is a tad over 6.5lbs ready to go.

The flip flop foam is so easy to shape. Cost is $2 at Wallyworld and I got a size 13 so I have enough material for future installs. I'll see how durable the flip flop pad is after a year of use.







[img]http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/jmsdad/4sale/forsale030.jpg[/img]

That actually looks pretty good!

Yeh, those Hornets are real kickers

I'm getting me a purple pair. Seriously, it looks a lot better than I expected. Ken

the owner of packmayr is crying now

Excellent job. I've used several pair on various rifle projects after learning about it here and have been more then satisfied with the results.

What did you use to glue it on?

I saw one done in lime green on a pretty nice piece of walnut. Kind of soured me on the idea.

I'll have to put this on my "Why in hell would anyone do that?" list. I suppose that this is a good solution if you want to re-pad a rifle every year or so, but I'm more inclined to use more durable materials. Do you put cheap tires on your wife's car, too?

Do you put cheap tires on your wife's car, too?

On her car, yes. On my truck, no.

1. Ounces.

Easiest/cheapest way to drop a couple on a ultra light weight. Consider the expense of fluting a barrel to drop the equivalent amount of weight.

2. Money (again)

Five bucks DIY vs $100.00 Professional install. I know, apples to oranges but you get the point.

3. Because it works within limits. Perhaps not a good idea on a .458 Win where a Limbsaver might be a better choice. With the .30-06 and below class of kickers, it is mainly GTG depending on personal tolerances.


Would not do it on a classic walnut and blued steel pre-64 M70 or Savage 99 but on a M700/Brown Precision? Have not regretted it.

I was flinching badly with the factory Ruger pad. The flip flop pad tamed the recoil down to a more manageable level. I'm installing a flip flop pad on the next hard kicking rifle---a ruger 10/22 with a rework stock.

$2 tube of Loctite 5min epoxy.

I could have used Shoe Goo.

I've used plastic welder, super glue, arrow fletching glue...whatever I have on hand. I've always used them on lightweight projects.

As to why...they cost nothing, they are easy to work with, they weigh nothing, and in most cases I think they tame recoil as good if not better then pads made for the job. As to durability, they've always held up fine, hell they are made to take at least a couple of thousand steps on your average Wal-mart shopper, and what's that 300-400lbs?

Just finished my first flip flop pad tonight. I'm not the handiest guy in the world but it saved me $70 and I've seen worse for sure.

Got a chuckle out of that one. If they can survive the pounding of the woman in front of me at the supermarket (her butt was twice as wide as the shopping cart) they should handle a little recoil.

OK, I guess pride of ownership doesn't play here. Just like most of America these days, we strive with all our might to achieve mediocrity. People have sold out our country by buying foreign made cars to save a buck at the expense of our economy. The Unions have buried American industry in socialism. And gunsmiths have been replaced by Wal-Mart because half measures are now acceptable. After all, who gives a [bleep] about America if I can save a buck and make ME happy. Sorry guys, when our country is in so much trouble, it disturbs me that my fellow gun owners seem to be going the same direction as the social progressives. If I offended anyone here, my apologies. If I stimulated thought and self examination, then welcome back "America".

CAFR,
Not offended. I can't speak for the motivation of others but sometimes the cost of a gunsmith to install a pad doesn't make sense. My big game rifles have quality pads, professionally installed. But I have some old .22's that aren't worth much but make fun plinkers and they had slippery plastic butt plates. The flip flop pad adds a little length, very little weight and is non-slip. I doesn't make sense to me to pay a gunsmith to install a pad on a $50 rifle.

Thats right boys everytime you fipflop pad a rifle Chairman Mao and Nikita Kruschev gets thier wings. Every single missed used flip flop is another goose step towards communist enslavement.



STFU

Dude, i've spent literally about $10k on american firearms stuff and local gunsmiths over the last 2 years. And now you've got a problem with not paying a smith $70 to install a pad i can do myself for $2? Give me a freaking break. I also drive an american car (always have) and pay more than my fair share of taxes.