My name is Tonic Kid, SASS #70340, and I am a cowboy action shooter. First of all, let me say, I am not one of the top shooters in the USA, or a world champion. However, being competitive is my nature, and I enjoy shooting as fast as I can. A good friend of mine named Brother King wrote about how he purchased Ken Rucker’s Old West Buster recoil system by Speedbump Stockworks for his TTN shotgun and how wonderful it was.
Initially, I had no interest in the recoil system, mainly due to the price. Placing a recoil system that costs almost as much as the gun did not make a whole lot of sense to me being the level of shooter I am. Let me explain. I have two kids, run my own business, travel with a Southern Gospel singing group and there is always some activity going on. I don’t have time to practice my shooting, my vision is not as good as it use to be, and my hands don’t work as well as they use to. As I mentioned, initially, I had no serious interest in the recoil system.
Then something Brother King told me about the system really appealed to me. He told me due to the reduced recoil with the Old West Buster system he was not having as many shoulder problems. I myself have degenerative discs in my neck which lead to neck, back and shoulder pain. I also have a partial tear in my rotator cuff in my right shoulder. Due to the constant recoil of the shotgun, usually at a two day shooting match, by day two, my back is out of alignment hurting, my neck is hurting, and my shoulder is hurting. (I don’t even attempt to shoot shotgun side matches.) So, I have to take pain medication at the end of the shooting day and see a doctor, and or, chiropractor when I get back from the shooting event. It is a vicious and costly cycle. So, less pain and damage to my body was appealing, along with not having to pay a doctor or chiropractor.
But, I wanted to try an Old West Buster system already installed on a shotgun. I made contact with Miss Cubbie, AKA Carolyn Rucker at Speedbump Stockworks in regards to trying one of the shotguns, but they are in San Antonio, TX and I was in Norman, OK, so logistics was a problem. Carolyn asked me if I knew Goatneck Clem. I had met Goatneck on several occasions, and shot with him before. Carolyn asked me if I was going to shoot at LandRun in Oklahoma City in a couple of weeks. I told her I was, and she informed me Goatneck was going to be there and had Old West Buster systems on all of his shotguns. She also informed me if I liked the system, I could give my stock to Goatneck and he would deliver it to her. She also said she would deliver the completed stock to me at a match two weeks later.
At LandRun I contacted Goatneck about shooting one of his shotguns. He was more than willing to allow me to do so. The shotgun I shot was an SKB, which is considerably lighter than the TTN I shoot, so I knew there would be more recoil. I shot the shotgun with the shells I compete with, not someone else’s light loads. I could not believe how much LESS recoil there was. I was impressed immediately. Goatneck measured the length of pull I needed and took my stock. I was very concerned about not getting my stock back by the next match. I do not have a back up shotgun. At the next match, Miss Cubbie delivered my stock as promised. I put the Old West Buster to the test. I shot the shotgun side matches repeatedly. The next day, I had no pain in my neck, back, or shoulder and my follow up shots with my shotgun were also faster.
I cannot speak more highly of Ken and Carolyn Rucker at Speedbump Stockworks and the Old West Buster recoil system. It works, and the customer service you receive is the best. If you are thinking about having a system installed on your shotgun, stop thinking and do it. You will not be disappointed.
