re-pad and brake
Dear Shooter:
It's virtually impossible to instal a new recoil pad on an existing stock unless you use Brownells pad jig - and then it is not a perfect fit - close but not perfect.
I install my pads when I'm making a new stock and then you have a perfect fit - but there are guys that do a fabulous job with the jigs!
As to a muzzle-brake, I'd NEVER do it. Yes, you can do it, but you had better have good ear protection on! I don't mean this in a demeaning way at all, but I tell my customers that if a good recoil pad doesn't solve the recoil problem - go to a lighter caliber! We are OVERGUNNED in this country; if dinosaurs roamed the planet a well placed bullet out of a 30-30 would kill any of them - and probably a 54 cal muzzle-loader (a real one with round ball and not some "plastic packed in line junk)!
I know, that's opinionated, but I'm old and set in my ways!