Limbsaver recoil pads getting sticky (2024)

6x6 elk said:

The safe is in the basement, no sunlight and coolest and driest spot in the house. Nice even temps year round. Heat and sunlight are not the factor.No chemicals or oils applied to pad to cause it to break down.

Click to expand...

^^^^^ This is my situation as well ^^^^^
All of my Limbsavers were ground to fit on custom rifles. Some of the pads actually look like they are disintegrating. Some readily stick to the carpet in the safe. For now, I put a small piece of waxed paper between the pad and the carpet just so that the carpet doesn't get embedded into the pad.

Pulpwood said:

I had one i put on my daughters Winchester compact did the same thing. It ruined the bottom carpetbagging of my safe before I was aware

Click to expand...

LimbSave or Kick-Eez used to provide a tool that consisted of a stud about 1/8th inch in diameter and about 1 1/2 inches long, that was molded into a piece of rubber that was 3/4 of an inch thick and 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The stud part would be inserted into the screw holle that holds the recoil pad onto the buttstock and the entire rifle rested on that tool taking pressure off of the recoil pad and placing it on the tool. It would be simple enough to make one out of a piece of dowel, a nail and some blue to hold the stud in place. And.....I agree this ought not be to be necessary, however this is the hand that has been dealt.

Also I have at least six or seven rifles with Kick-Eez recoil pads that are close to ten-years old and not issues as of yet.

This happens not just with the limbsaver pads, but with a whole host of synthetic / rubber based materials made in China, usually when they're about 5 or 6 years old. YMMV. I've had this happen with everything from hard plastic knife handles, to plastic Bluetooth speakers, "rubber" recoil pads and grips (not Pachmayer or Hogue, and my one Kick-Eez is still good), to tool handles. Has nothing to do with where the item was stored.

They can send you a new one, but a few years from now you'll be in the same boat.

This really works, and seems to prevent it from happening again: get some denatured alcohol, but even plain rubbing alcohol will work. Use a t-shirt or other good finished cotton/linen shirt or rag that won't leave lint, because of the sticky rubber. A square piece of high-thread count cotton sheet is perfect (just cut it from the bottom of the bed, your wife will never miss it! ). Painters rags used for applying stain are already the right size and texture.

Don't use anything like a red shop towel; you want something tightly woven and "finished" that will hold up to hard scrubbing on a rubbery, sticky surface without leaving any of itself behind.

Soak the cloth in alcohol and start rubbing the item, working small sections at a time, keeping the cloth liberally wet with alcohol. If you try to do the whole item at once it makes a mess, and makes it harder to know when you're done.

Periodically dry your hands on a separate towel, wait a minute or two for any alcohol to evaporate off the surface, and recheck the small sections you've done for tackiness. You'll know when you're done.

Let us know how this works for you. I think you'll salvage it fine using this method.

6x6 elk said:

I have several rifles that have limb saver recoil pads on them, and a couple of them are starting to get sticky. They are actually starting to stick to the bottom of the gun safe. Is there anything I can do to stop them from deteriorating? Thank you

Click to expand...

Mine did the same on a model 7. Gravel agency (Remington warranty agent in Canada) replaced it no charge. Exact fit. Pad never exposed to heat, etc. Don't know if the new one will be any better.

6x6 elk said:

Not that big of a deal for one of them, but one is a grinder fit that I had to have a gunsmith do for me. I hate to have to pay for him to regrind another pad. Probably not a big deal to do by myself, but it is on a nice rifle and I hate to scratch up the stock

Click to expand...

Buy the slip on version.