I use a PAST shoulder pad at the range with most rifles. It serves two purposes. It adds the space of cold weather hunting clothes and certainly helps reduce sharp recoil. My heavy kickers all have Pachmayr Decelerator or Limbsaver pads. The .257 Roberts and 7x57 need none. The old .300 Weatherby is a handful but gets the job done on elk. Seldom need to fire a barrage at game with it.

I’ll stick with the .300 Wby, 7mm Wby, and .35 Whelen as long as I can. I’ve got two 7x57’s that I’m working up for deer and will switch to them when I can’t hack the recoil. I’ll be 74 this elk season.

Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.