First time shooting clays: questions

[BBroadside]

Yesterday I just took advantage of a $15 90-minute course for absolute beginners at shotgunning. Hitherto I had only fired a shotgun with slugs, rifle-like at a paper target. Actually I've never shot at a moving target at all. So shooting the orange pigeons was quite a blast, and I was quite pleased to hit almost half of them.

First problem: my shoulder had a noticeable mark on it, red vertical lines which I assume are broken capillaries. Is this because
(a) I was holding the shotgun wrong (i.e. not in the pocket - they are located on my shoulder sort of above the center of my bicep - draw a line parallel to my armbone, from mid-bicep upwards and you hit the bruise), or
(b) I am new to the sport, while experienced shotgunners don't bruise as easily because their bodies adjust?

Second problem: my hearing hasn't quite recovered in my right ear. No pain or tinnitus, it's just that everything to my right is oddly quiet. My right ear was the one that the earplug went into the furthest - it was practically buried in there and took some tugging to get it out. My ears never rang, and the actual shooting sound was surprisingly quiet; I think I just stuffed in the earplug (Silencio) too far (although I didn't feel like I was pushing very hard). My guess it that I squished some wax around and need to use one of the earwax removal kits; the earplug looked complete when I pulled it out so I don't think there's part of it still in there. Is this a known problem with some kinds of earplugs?

I've used plugs lots before (usually combined with muffs), shooting pistols or in factories, but never had this problem.

 

[homers]

Welcome to shooting the clays!

Regarding your bruise, (1) was the gun a 12 or 20? (2)what shells did you use? (3) How many shells did you shoot? Some bruising can happen especially if you are not holding the gun firmly in the pocket, using a 12 gauge or shooting a lot. You can get a recoil pad if it becomes a bother.

Regarding your ears. Try a different brand or type of plug. You might want to use both in ear plugs and over ear muffs.

 

[BBroadside]

Oh, I overlooked a lot of the specific, huh?

I was shooting a Browning 20-gauge over-under. I think that means it was a Citori. Handled beautifully.

I don't remember if there was a butt pad though I meant to look. They said we were shooting #7, and I also meant to look for more specifics there, like whether it was 2.75" or what.

 

[1KPerDay]

A lot of O/Us are very light, and many don't have buttpads. They do kick a bit.

 

[HIcarry]

I agree with your assessment of the possible cause of your hearing difficulties...you may want to get some ear wax removal product and try that. I've seen folks who made dramatic improvements in their "deafness" after removing large amounts of dried, impacted cerumen (ear wax).

 

[BBroadside]

Yes, I think you're right HIcarry. That was about the strangest feeling I can think of recently, but after the drops and the warm water, and a little bit of headshaking, my right-side hearing is now much better! If I ever get a gun for clays I think I'll get a nice butt-pad and/or a shooting coat, since I may well be shooting 12-gauge.

On the whole I'm glad I tried it!

 

[Jim Watson]

I saw a guy try out trapshooting with a lightweight field O/U with hard buttplate, shooting in shirtsleeves. There was blood on his shirt when he quit. Lots more clay pigeons than quail or doves flying.

Proper gun mount, recoil pad, and padded shirt or vest all help. Most target shotguns are rather heavy, you aren't carrying them far and it moderates recoil and smooths the swing. A gas operated automatic is much softer to shoot than an O/U, even if it is not as stylish.

 

[redneck2]

A few rounds don't hurt. A lot of rounds do, even trap loads. Also depends on the individual. I take meds for heart problems (Plavix among others). I bruise if I just bump against something.

I suspect most of the "macho men" that post the "I love recoil" threads live in their mom's basement. Hard to get bruised shooting a gun in a Playstation no matter what the caliber.

 

[1milesniper]

glad to see you shooting clays!!! i coach a trap team, and many of the youth are novice to shotgunning. shotgunning clays is a bit rough at the beginning, your hold is probably causing the discomfort assuming your useing a light trap load in that 20. try to use more grip (not tons ) on your trigger hand, you may be supprised how much less fatigue you will feel. and yes clays does take body possition to hit consistant and to absorb the recoil correctly. and there is a certian amount of conditioning, usually what your see with beginners is the first time out they may shoot very well, but almost always thier scores will fall of drastically the next time out or so. shotgunning is a game of instinct, not mathmatical calculations like we do with tatical rifle. keep your brain at bay and crush the birds.!

 

[AirplaneDoc]

I've got a bt-99 for trap, good recoil pad etc. Since I don't shoot year round, just one season (about 3 months) My shoulder is usually a bit tender the first couple of weeks. Rememeber, you are shooting 50 rounds (in trap), its a bit different than hunting.

Its a lot of fun, I got into trap by accident, someone I knew was on a team, and needed a sub at the last minute. There is probably a team at your local club that is "new guys" or at least similiar is skill level. Go join up for fall season. My advice is try and find some teammates that are equal or slightly better than you are. That provides you enough competition and drive to get better, but not so much that you loose interest because you are far behind.

I was lucky had a guy on my team that could shoot 49 or 50 each time out. He had been on a team where the competition for the team to shoot perfect was so great, it took the fun out of shooting for him. So, he put together the team that I was eventually on, and got more enjoyment working with us and helping us improve, than he did on his previous teams here you had to shoot perfect.

The most important thing is keep it fun. I only shoot 1 of 3 seasons here, because for me, going longer, it becomes something I "have" to go do. I occasionally fill in for someone, but then it is on my terms, I can always say no. I move to other shooting sports the rest of the year.