Nobody has mentioned it so I will, experience with stout recoiling rifles has taught me to use a recoil shield like a Magnum.Past for zeroing or load work up. Get right down to really reducing your discomfort take some extra strength tylenol or Aleve a half hour before you shoot. It does help. Try them. ..mb
I have used a Recoil Shield myself for years now. Shooting steel butt plated M70's, hard rubber Marlin 444 and 45-70's, and similar make shooting way more fun. Takes a few seconds to slip it on and off. I have a 1/2" one that seems to grip just about any butt real well and allows me to shoot about anything as much as my retinas can stand.
