Cheek slap

[Spinner]

This weekend I shot another 2 rounds of trap and for part of the first one I borrowed my friends Winchester 101 Pigeon grade. To get the proper alignment of beads I had the gun shoved up real tight under my cheek and after 10 targets my cheek was starting to get a bit tenderised.

I finished the round with my gun and shot another round with my gun and by the end of it my cheek was feeling a bit fragile. I came home with some swelling and after taking arnica the swelling subsided a bit and a faint bruise has appeared on my cheek.

I get the impression the damage was done by the borrowed gun and then aggravated by my own gun. I've never had cheek slap before so unless I've changed something about how I mount the gun I'm guessing it was caused by the borrowed shotgun .... which suggests it a fit thing.

So, cheek slap is due to poor gun fit? Or is it due to poor form? Anything that can be done to reduce it?

I get the feeling I'm less likely to be able to convince my wife to try it if I come home all bruised up .... beside which I don't really enjoy getting thumped. I guess its an excellent way to start developing a flinch.

Spinner

 

[mete]

Yes a good way to flinch. It should fit you so that you are putting your cheek on the stock but not 'real tight'....The best thing for a shotgun is to have a stock made for you. For some of us this is very critical....A poorly fitting gun will make it harder to hit the target , will magnify recoil, may cause bruises, and make the whole process unpleasant.

 

[sm]

mete

nailed it !

I agree...hence all the harping about gun fit, gun goes to face as sliding into pocket. NOT "face to gun"

Spinner, glad to hear you are getting some trigger time in and learning some good stuff. I appreciate the sharing, the questions...we all learn from each other. Thanks. !

 

[GunnySkox]

I've got the same problem. If I really get "down" on the stock, and have it real tight to my shoulder, I generally end up punching myself in the mouth. Though kicking my own @$$ isn't fun, most of the time, when I do "scrunch up" around the stock (which really pulls it tight to my shoulder, so I can lean forward and bend my knees a little bit, and almost not feel the recoil) I usually kick the clay's butt, too.

~Slam_Fire
"I just punched myself in the mouth!"
"Yeah, that'll do it."

 

[Spinner]

Sounds like I'll stick to my gun and leave my friend's gun alone .... it obviously fits him, but it doesn't fit me.

It was interesting to me that there wasn't a huge difference in the way the two guns felt when mounted .... apart from the increased pressure on my face. Obviously, it doesn't take much of a change in stock dimensions to make a big difference in fit .... and cheek slap.

Spinner

PS the bruise is fading but I've already been asked twice if I'm the victim of spousal abuse

 

[45auto]

If someone put a gun to your head and forced you to shoot the Winchester again, I'd say put less pressure against the stock and a little bit of vasoline under your cheek bone would help during the "pounding" you were taking.

Don't buy that gun.

As mentioned, stock fit is key. The amount of drop at the heel can greatly affect( increase) the cheek slap for certain people. Not to mention comb width, weight of gun, etc, etc.

 

[sm]

Spinner

Did I share this tip with you? <looks both ways> pssst...now don't tell anyone...okay?

Dry shaving powder.

Yes the dry shaving powder that comes in a dispenser like deordorant. Twist it up and apply to cheek, keeps the stock from grabbing the face, allows the gun to "slide to face" in mounting. Re-apply as necessary. Unlike talc, this won't blow an dgetinto eyes. The one in my range bag is made by Remington - the Shaver folks. I have used on my hands...but hush...don't tell anyone...