Dutch,

Most Merkels I know of don't come with recoil pads for a good reason.

It allows you to put your preferred choice on AND more importantly
get the LOP correct.

I think the factory did a good thing not fitting recoil pads so take
it as a positive not a negative.

After all, you pay for the pad and it's fitting from the factory even
if you throw it away.

500 Nitro