Kids and "hot loads"

[Shell Shucker]

Dove season is here and a lot of Dads are showing up at the skeet range with their young sons. The gun of choice seems to be the 870 Express or a Mossberg, both in 12 ga. The load of choice is either the bulk pack 3 dram (1200 fps) 1 1/8 oz load or the "heavy dove" 3 1/4 dram (1250 fps) 1 1/8 oz load. These shells "kick like a mule" especially when fired out of light weight pumps. I want to see these kids return as regular shooters. A couple of experiences of "getting the hell beat out of them" may lead to disinterest. Watching these kids being slammed unnecessarly makes my shoulder ache!

Most of the "regulars" are doing everything they can to reduce recoil.

Come on Dad; spend an extra buck or two and buy them some light target loads. I'd like to see them back next year and eventually as regulars.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Not to get into a gauge war here, but 20 ga. is plenty for dove. I am an assistant scoutmaster and have never heard anyone at the clay range at camp complain about recoil from a pump 20 with a recoil pad.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Amen. Light loads are effective and common these days.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

it doesn't pay to subject new shooters of any age to heavy recoil....

 

[WuzYoungOnceToo]

There are so many products available these days for reducing felt recoil that there's no reason why most kids who are ready for a 12 ga. to begin with (which may be the real issue here) can't shoot even heavy dove loads without getting their shoulders beat up. I've already praised the recoil-reducing Knoxx SpecOps stock elsewhere in this forum, but I'll do it again. Not only does it do a good job of reducing recoil, it is also adjustable, which is a great value add for a youngster trying to shoot an adult-sized pumper like a 500 or 870.

Of course, if you don't want to shell out ~$150 for the SpecOps you can go with a good recoil pad, like the very effective line of Sims LimbSavers. In fact, I think you can even find a LimbSaver that you could mount on the SpecOps stock, which I'm betting would combine to reduce the thump from heavy dove loads to a gentle push. Hell...I might give that a try myself ;-)

Failing that, yeah...the lighter loads (or smaller gauge gun) are a good alternative.