i shot a 21! but my shoulder is sore (recoil question)

[dghboy315]

well yesterday i finally broke 20. my four rounds went 17, 17, 17, 21. i'm super happy.

but, my shoulder really became sore. it probably didn't help that the day before i shot slugs to test my new 18 inch barrel.

i need a new recoil pad for my 870 express, but what should i get?

i did use the search function, but there is not much info on what model recoil pad to get. slip-on? replacement pad? which is the best one for my situation?

also, i don't want to customize too much because this gun is also my HD gun and i will be taking it to a Blackwater tactical shotgun course.

can i do it myself or should i take it to a gun smith?

 

[schapman43]

What barrel did you go with?

Let us know how Blackwater is, I plan on going next March for the Pistol/Carbine class and then the 3 day shotgun course.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Congrats!! What ammo are you using?

More than a New,Improved pad, work on your form. Software,not hardware, is the problem here.

 

[dghboy315]

schapman43,
i got a used 18.5" smooth bore remington barrel w/ bead front sight for HD. i bought it in the high road classified section and the seller said he got the barrel from vang comp.

i will definately give a report about BW. i'm attending the june pistol/shotgun course.


Dave M,
i was using Winchester AA Xtra-Lite Target Load (2 3/4 dr. eq., 1 oz., 7 1/2 shot). as for the slugs, i was using an assortment 2 /3/4 slugs i got from galyans. i bought every kind they had, but i didn't even get to the 3" loads.

i'm sure i have to improve my form for better recoil absorbtion, but i would also like a better recoil pad. i've been shooting a lot and during the BW course i'm going to be shooting at least 500 rnds of bird shot, 25 rnds of slugs, and 25 rounds of OO buck in 2 days. i'm sure the most veteran shooter would feel that.

any advice?

 

[sm]

Gun fit and form attribute to percieved recoil.

With an unloaded gun practicing these - repetitions of mounting the gun using a gun that fits and proper form will go a long way in getting the form ingrained, and building stamina. If one gets tired , the form gets sloppy and then the recoil hits, causing flinching, which in turn causes more bad form and more recoil.

That said ,I prefer to radius the heel , toe and inside (area toward chest) the recoil pad. Besides alleviating hanging up, any "sharp" edges are removed.

A Gunsmith is best for this with proper tools and equipement. This can be done to a factory recoil pad.

Aftermarket, I prefer the Deacellator. IIRC they make one already designed as a bolt on for the 870.

Many recoil pads have to be "fitted" to buttstock, better to pay a gunsmith, for the knowledge, input, advice, tools and equipement...they are set up proper for this.

One thought might be seek advice of BW. I betcha someone could advise via email/phone any suggestions. Might be a thought to allow BW to fit one for you - if they do such a service. This allows you to learn from experienced folks the role of the shotgun in a defensive use, what works , what does not, for the task at hand.

Hey 444, El T , Correia, Denny Hansen, Al...others that have attended schools...what say you folks?

 

[Dave McCracken]

A couple things...

Son's little 5 lb, 9 oz NEF single is unpleasant with its butt plate and a standard 1 1/8 oz trap load. With the oversized pad from my 870 TB screwed on but not trimmed to fit the wood, it has plenty of surface area to spread the push out. Looks funny, but effective.

The slugs may be the culprit. For some reason, they seem to kick harder than shot loads of equal weight and speed. Work up to them.

Also, make sure you're still behind your shotgun, not along side of it. That Medieval Archer stance tends to keep creeping back on some folks. The back can work as a spring to reduce recoil, but works best behind the shotgun.

The slipons can work, but either they tend to slip right off again or take two men and a boy to install.

Any klutz can install a pad. The hard part is making it fit the wood and the shooter. I like the Decellerator also.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Son's little 5 lb, 9 oz NEF single is unpleasant with its butt plate and a standard 1 1/8 oz trap load. With the oversized pad from my 870 TB screwed on but not trimmed to fit the wood, it has plenty of surface area to spread the push out. Looks funny, but effective.

I also have (had, actually, as I just sold it on Friday) one of the NEF Pardners in 12 gauge. I had a Pachmyer slip-on recoil pad on it, and it worked like a charm! I found it extremely easy to get onto the gun, and it greatly reduced the percieved recoil over the factory hard plastic plate.

 

[Dave McCracken]

WK, I bet it did. This stock had been lopped off quite short before Son's hormones kicked in. I've kept it as an occasional loaner for kids at the range.

Pachmyer always has good stuff.

 

[Correia]

No school sm, so far I'm self taught on the shotgun.

I'm going to have to say that proper form is the #1 thing towards not getting banged up. Followed by #2 fit, and #3 recoil pad. All three help, but having a good snug weld on that gun is the single most important. There is some good advice above.

I did something like 25 rounds of buckshot in somewhere around 15 seconds a while back. Now no recoil pad, fit, or form was going to keep that from making me a touch sore.

Don't worry though, once you manage to kill all of the nerve endings in your shoulder then you won't feel a thing.

 

[sm]

Correia,

No school here either, self taught, some mentors and rds downrange. I have to agree with your 3 rules, I just put gun fit ahead of proper weld on the gun.

As a rule , not recoil sensitive. Run 100 rds of slugs/buckshot tho' in an afternoon ...Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd is a fitting tune to listen to coming home

One lesson I learned, and here is a tip: Never ever use a weedeater at the club before you shoot. Them vibrations stay with you for a bit , and it is more difficult to properly mount the gun and hit anything...even with a shotgun...try a handgun...that will educate you.

"Honey, Steve says I can't weedeat the yard before going to the range...."

 

[kudu]

sm, that goes for chainsaws as well. Ppppuuullll! Target lost, option. :banghead:

 

[Correia]

I don't know about the weed eater, but I can agree 100% on the chainsaw. I ran a chainsaw one Friday afternoon for about 6 hours, cutting up a bunch of old trees. Shot IDPA the next day. Holy moly, if the target was more than 10 feet away it was pretty darn safe.

 

[sm]

I learned about the chainsaw as a kid.

We worked our tails off and had aching backs and sore knees "trimming and edging"...before the invent of the weed eater. Never had a problem shooting after taking care weeds and edging using old methods. Progress...I wonder sometimes.

So...I'm going to be smart ( I thought) at the range I'm asked " you wanna chainsaw or weedeat". Grinning I reply "weedeat". I learned to read that old man's "smirk" from that day forward. He watched me shoot and then after all said and done, back on the porch..." BTW you notice I don't attempt to shoot after doing cleanup around here...chainsaws, weedeaters, tractors and such ain't condusive to hitting anything".

So the old man and would I do stuff like make coffee, tea and Gatorade, fix sandwiches or do the BBQ ...when there was some serious fun after a clean up day. Besides - new members need to know how to do some things , especially the younger bunch.

Lot easier to watch the gals practice on the range in shorts and all while flipping burgers too.

Older I get the more I realize the older bunch ain't stupid...there is a reason why they do things they way they do.

I also learned to shoot not wearing a shirt ( if allowed) and use the shaving talc on my cheek and recoil pad. Low gun , gun to face, and I have a great cheek weld. while folks were getting hung up and the shirt stuck to body in wrinkles and all making the recoil use that wrinkle to hurt more...not me.

I did drop low 7 once...boy did I lose my concentration, Lady I was shooting with and helping with lessons..." Oh really it works?" ...pretended she was gonna take off her T shirt...she really had me going for a moment...we had the whole range to ourselves...What low 7? My concentration went totally out the window.

 

[Hawk]

I must be getting too old.

When I read the thread title I thought you shot a Winchester model 21 and got a sore shoulder. And here I was all ready to offer to take it off your hands even up for a nice modern semi-auto with recoil reduction gizmos.

Oh well. No stealin' a model 21 for me

Congrats on the 21.