ORIGINAL: AZBear
Go with the laminated stock and limbsaver recoil pad. The stock will do a great deal taming the kick (weight added) and the Limbsaver will take care of the rest. If it's plastic...your just asking for more kick and its not worth the trade off in weight.
laminated stock is beautiful and realy looks good ..but all of my rifles and muzzleloaders have S/S barrels and synthetic stocks ..yes i ordered the LIMBSAVER but the S/S ENCORE has a big barrel and is heavy as it is ..