from what i have read recoil pads are making huge leaps forward in doing what they were intended to do. of the 2 major new players, pachmayr decelerator and sims. which one seems to be the best at its intended purpose, reducing felt recoil?

In my opinion after using both, the Sims is the better of the two at reducing recoil.

I never tried a pachmayr but i put a simms on my ruger 308 and shot it over the summer with just a t-shirt on and recoil was nothing. Not even the slightest bit of sore shoulder from firing 50 plus rounds.

I my opinion they work great but the thicker pad takes a little getting used to (i would have to assume that i lengthens your length of draw)

I got sims on my guns and they work great

I also installed a Simms on my 300 Win., and the difference in felt recoil was night and day! I was shocked that the change made as much difference as it did!
I haven't shot any gun with a pachmyer to compare!

My grandpas gun has a pachmayr and I don't like it as much as Sims. I bought a limbsaver and I think it works much better. The slip-on does reduce length of pull, but all slip-ons do.

I have used both and like the Sims better. Actually just got a new Simms for Christmas for my Encore. Can't wait to try it out, seeing as how the recoil on the gun is very little to begin with

I put a decelerator on my marlin .45-70 and saw a difference. But not as much as I expected.I wish I had used a simms though.