Any suggestions. Want a little insurance for my shoulder replacement.

What?

223 has almost no recoil.

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I use a PAST shoulder pad when firing my .458 Mag bolt gun. Wouldn't fire it without it.

Muzzle brake?

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Muzzle brake can significantly reduce felt recoil. There are tons of choices.

This thread discusses a few and provides links to other info. Have you tried the M4-72 Muzzle device?

Relative to other centerfire cartridges, the 5.56 has less recoil. But for a shoulder requiring additional protection from recoil there's ways to mitigate what recoil there is.

Here's my wife shooting one of my rifles with no muzzle device. She's a small girl with poor rifle form. As you can see the rifle pushes her around quite a bit.


Here she is shooting with a muzzle brake.


Combined with a some kind of stock or shoulder pad would be great protection.

Welcome to the forum.

You could try using a motorcycle riding jacket shoulder armor.

Icon D3O Evo Pro X Shoulder Armor - Cycle Gear

Limb saver recoil pads for collapsible stocks claim 50% reduction in felt recoil. Have one a .308 that is pretty effective.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I know it's heresy to say on a firearms board, but for about six months AFTER you complete rehab for your joint replacement, STOP SHOOTING.

After those six months (or longer, if needed) are over, 1) then get a recoil pad for the buttstock, 2) a PAST (or equivalent) pad for your clothing and 3) pay a gunsmith to properly install a high quality muzzle break. Then, start with small round counts and gradually work your way back up.

Seriously, you don't want to have to have it re-done in a year or two, so give it a rest from the battering of shooting until you are fully healed.

Good luck with the surgery.

How about something like this? Thought about using one after I has some work done on my shoulder. Instead I learned to shoot left handed.

Agreed... Not worth re-injuring your shoulder. Stock up on ammo for a while and then have some fun. If you don't reload your own ...now would be a great time to learn and start!
Good Luck and Happy Healing!

Who says he has not waited already and just wants a little more protection just in case?

My opinion is to change out your stock to a stock that has a nice rubber buttpad integrated into it. Magpul MOE is a great place to start and you can even buy a thicker pad if you feel the need.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

Has anyone here ever shot a Mosin Nagant ? Those rifles kick like 3 donkeys! I own 2 of them, with nothing but a steel plate on the end of the stock. Every time my son shoots them he uses a 2" rubber pad made by UTG.

It's really rude of you who gave this gentleman grief for his question. You don't know his life, and his struggles. I had hip surgery back in the end of 2013, and it took nearly 2.5 years to fully heal. An unusual condition for sure. To assume your experiences are the same as his is a very ignorant thing.

Please just answer the question, and wish him well in his recovery. Be a decent human and just be helpfull and supportive.

I have three PAST pads in different thicknesses. The thickest makes even the big boomers tolerable, even if not enjoyable, off the bench.

All good suggestions above. If you are inclined to do a lot of benchrest shooting, a Caldwell Lead Sled would be good to have. Perhaps downsize to a M & P 15-22 for a while?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The AR feels like a BB gun after doing a couple of mag-dumps on a M12AK. There's plenty of options for pads. I added one simply to better hold a mag pouch that carries the battery to my night scope.

Get clearance from your doctor. The B.I.L. got a new hip then a new knee on the same leg early this year. He still needs a push walker outside and cane inside to get around. Don't rush it if you're not up to it. It can take years to fully grow back enough bone to capture replacements. A recoil can tear new tissue.

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Si vis pacem para bellum.

My 9mm Kel tec sub 2000 carbine. AFTER I figured out how to sight it w/o the protruding buffer bumping off my ear muff. (Just use an earplug on that side)

Man, don't stop shooting. Get a .22!!!! I load my 30-06 bolt gun with rounds that are only a little heavier than a .22.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Since you want to be deliberately argumentative, go back and read the post. If he has already had the surgery and completed rehab, then the three points I suggested he follow AFTER completing rehab would still be just as applicable.

pistol caliber carbine.

I originally purchased a PAST Magnum recoil pad. Recoil was still brutal with the .458, especially when firing 505gr bullets. Ended up purchasing a PAST Super Magnum pad and that did the trick.

I collect milsurps and have 10 Mosins among other Mausers, Enfields and Swiss rifles. The Mosins kick like hell for sure.
I use a PAST pad also. Works really well.

Or shoot opposite-hand. Ambidexterity can be a useful skill...

The problem with the AR is that most rubber pads are very hard, solid rubber. They offer little to no recoil compensation.

The muzzle brake is a good idea.

Also, work on your stance. Square up to the target, shorten the stock and move it closer in toward the middle of your chest. Lean forward with a more aggressive lean and allow your body to soak up the recoil. This will take the recoil off your shoulder and put it more toward the mass of your torso.

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Freedom isn't free.

I'm not being deliberately argumentative, I'm just taking from your post that you seem to be lecturing the OP and others how to rehab their shoulders when it comes to shooting. So stop shooting for awhile after a shoulder injury to let it heal? Brilliant advice.

Anyway, I find the thicker rubber pads on some AR15 stocks to be pretty useful. The larger Magpul butt pad works pretty well if you ask me, much better than the thin pad they normally put on. I use the thicker butt pads more for LOP adjustment than actual recoil lessening, but it the thicker pads do seem to help recoil a bit if needed.

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Still carrying my S&W 642