If you have acess to a life preserver/jackyou can put it on and it will help alot. I saw a guywearing one at the range one time and started doing it when I was sighting my mossberg 835 shoulder tenderizer as I called it.1-2" of foam padding takes alot of impact.I actually traded that mbin for an 870 w/thumbhole stock and you wouldn't belive how much that thumbhole stock helps...if your interested in buying a new butt stock.