I don't know what kind or what its made of but the recoil pad on the New FN Model 70 Featherweight takes a lot of the recoil out.
I have the FN Featherweight in 270 Win which felt recoil is less then my Post -64 Model 70 Featherweight in 257 Roberts.
You might try and find one of the newer recoil pads and install it.
Now having said, I believe that recoil can be handled by proper position, (the way you hold the rifle).
I have a Standard Weight Model 70 in 375 H&H and have gotten where I can handle that quite well. Shooting from the bench wont cut it, set up straight, keep you head upright and straight, hold the rifle tight, and roll with the recoil would help with any gun.
Another Option. When I use to shoot a lot of Trap and Skeet, I put a Edwards Recoil Reducer in the stock. It worked quite well, in fact it worked too well in my Over and Under Ithica 12 gage, That gun used the recoil of the first barrel to cock the second barrel. The Edwards Recoil Reducer worked so good, it wouldn't allow the second barrel to cock. That wouldnt be a problem in a bolt action rifle.