How Do You Shoulder Your Rifle?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,



I grew up shooting slug guns. Though I knew some folks who put the butt on the shoulder or the shoulder joint, I personally found it more comfortable to shoulder in position number two on the diagram. Lots of meat to absorb recoil.

I fairly recently asked about the shorter stock on the M4 carbine, and was told that it's current policy to shoot from position number three on the chart, closer to the chest. I was further told that it helps absorb recoil and provides additional weapon control.

Taking the butt extender/recoil pad off my SKS, I found that this is true: Though I don't consider the 7.62x39mm to be a hard kicker in the first place, I found that shooting from this position, the sights hardly jumped from the target, allowing follow-up shots to be made very quickly.

I can see additional benefits with regard to body armor: Shooting from this position exposes less of the side and more of the stronger front to the target - you're more squared off, sorta' like isosceles vs Weaver.

So how do you shoot your rifle, and why?

Josh <><

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Wow, good poll. The answer is #3 - I hold them bad boys in as close to the centerline as I can, as I have dislocated my right shoulder on multiple occasions playing sports.

 

[bdg146]

To be honest, I have no idea. I've never thought about it. I just shoulder it. I suspect I'm somewhere around position 2 (definitely not 1).

Would one run the risk of a broken collarbone if shooting a particularly strong caliber in position 3? That bone is easily broken, and if you get the right amount of force in the right direction, it'll break.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

I used to have a Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine, and shooting prone, I had it rested against my collarbone. I could definitely feel it flexing with the recoil - very interesting sensation.

I am a recoil junkie, if you've not guessed

Josh <><

 

[oneounceload]

If position 2 is the pocket of your shoulder, that is where I place it and my shotguns

 

[SHvar]

3, I remember being taught that when you place your arm in position to hold a rifle or shotgun the pocket naturally created at the inside of the shoulder on the chest was created by god to shoulder a rifle. Keep in mind Im not religious at all. But this postion take the pressure off the shoulder, and joint where 1 and 2 are located.

 

[NickEllis]

Depends on the rifle. My .375.... looks more like 2. You're right though that the centerline hold keeps one squared up more, and most of the tactical games shooters I've seen are using this more and more.

 

[jpwilly]

3, I remember being taught that when you place your arm in position to hold a rifle or shotgun the pocket naturally created at the inside of the shoulder on the chest was created by god to shoulder a rifle. Keep in mind Im not religious at all. But this postion take the pressure off the shoulder, and joint where 1 and 2 are located.

We're thinking the same thing but I'm going with #2 as being "the pocket" God created. As we know man made the rifle to fit man...God created the metal and wood and gave us the brains to make it happen.

 

[dispatch55126]

I put mine in the shoulder pocket, which would be #2. The reason current doctrine puts the butt closer toward centerline is Army currently teaches to fire with your shoulders more squared to the target. This takes advantage of the body armor. Pointing your shoulder to the target or some angle thereof exposes your armpit/side of the armor which is the weakest point. It has nothing to do with recoil.

 

[jpwilly]

^^^ the 5.56 doesn't have any recoil!

 

[BunnyPuncher]

Position 3. Pec is a large muscle that can take the abuse of a metal butt plate and battle rifle calibers (at least for a while).

Edit: I was just poking around in the sore spot on my shoulder and it seems it is somewhere between 2 & 3. So I'll call it 2.5

I'm still trying to figure out how #1 would work for anything above a .223

 

[jim in Anchorage]

First of all,that fellow needs more meat on his bones to shoot anything. # 3 looks down right painful.

 

[Publius1688]

Position #2, with anything carrying recoil. For plinking 22LR, #1.
Great poll!

 

[FlyinBryan]

3 while standing.

2 prone

 

[sarduy]

voted Other = 2.5

 

[.38 Special]

I voted #2 but yeah, 2.5 looks about right. I've been playing with my .416 Rigby lately and I'm pretty sure #1 would cause physical damage.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Other, 1.5

 

[Coal Dragger]

Either position 2 or 3 depending on the position I am shooting. I like the rifle to be as close to my centerline as possible as I find it makes my cheek weld more consistent thus making how my eye addresses the sights or optics more consistent.

 

[jojo200517]

I voted other. I'd say around 1.5 or so most of the time. Depends on what i'm shooting, and how it feels. I always just hold the weapon where its comfortable. I'd say about the same place with shotguns and stuff to. After you learn to shoot mag 3 inch buckshot loads and slugs out of a 12 gauge pump with no pad on the folding stock rifle recoil just doesn't bother ya any more. Especially those squirrel rounds like the .223.

 

[lions]

I looked at it and decided on 2.5, looks like I'm not alone. I think that is about where my pocket is. I went ahead and voted 2 because I assumed that was supposed to represent the pocket.

 

[Maverick223]

Somewhere btw 2 & 2.5 for me...never really thought of it, I just put it where it feels "right". One thing about it you will know it (and have time to think about) if you shoulder the wrong rifle the wrong way. I recently shot a 12Ga. pretty poorly when a buddy threw up a "clay" (old tin can IIRC) too low and I [expecting it to go higher shot anyway before getting the butt squared away properly (shot from the "almost ready" position). Despite the moderate recoil of no. 7.5 shot...I had plenty of time to think about the next "clay" for the next couple of days.

 

[gga357]

voted 3 but have tto say more like 2.5.

 

[blackops]

2 is the best place. Right in the pocket. 1 is injury prone and 3 is suspect of right to left movement from recoil in turn not being as accurate.

 

[CoRoMo]

#2 looks like it is right on the medial edge of the rotator cuff. That is exactly where I shoulder my stock, and it tends to be painful after enough shooting.

I went shooting yesterday and have a bit of a bruise there.

 

[RP88]

somewhere around #2. It feels more natural.