kids and recoil

[Bruno2]

My 12 yr old is just started a schoolastic clay target program at the gun club . He has a 20 ga 1187 youth model . I have a 366 Hornady reloader that Is set up for 20 ga . I have got him started learning how to use it and getting him familiar with reloading his own shotshells . I do keep a close eye on him while he is using it to insure that the shells are being reloaded properly and not a chance of a double charge . He knows the rules of a squib and what it takes to get a stuck wad out . He hasnt hit a squib yet and thats great .

My question is this I have him loading 7/8 oz of shot , 14gr (the bushing really drops 13.7 gr) of green dot , a win WAA20 wad and or the cb equivalent , win 209 primer , AA hull . This load is supposed to get about 1155 fps and it was the lightest load I could find in my book . He has been complaining about how hard the gun is hitting his cheek . He went through about 2 boxes of shells yesterday and towards the end his scores were dropping off some and I think he was getting flinchy from the recoil . I have been looking for a lighter 7/8 oz load and have not been able to find one using the green dot . What would happen if I reduced the powder charge about a full grain down to around 13 gr ?

 

[hammerklavier]

I, too, would complain if the gun slapped me in the face every time I fired it. I would check out his form, does he have good cheek weld? Is the gun's LOP right for him? Is he too stiff?

Might also try out various factory loads for comparison.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I've seen reduced-recoil loads for 20 gauge that use 3/4 pz of shot with velocities under 1100 fps. That should cut the recoil down to 28 gauge levels or below. Don't know the formula for reloading, but here's one source for them:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=995610

I'm sure you could find them in many other places, too.

 

[Virginian]

Gun fit. I'd say he needs more pitch. My flyweight daughters never had a problem with 7/8 ounces at 1250 FPS, after I shimmed the recoil pad for the youngest one. I noticed she was flinching, and she didn't want to complain because her sister was shooting fine.

 

[goose2]

Getting a softer less recoil load will help but the bottom line is it masks the gun not fitting properly. Get someone who knows what there doing and get it fixed now before he grows to hate sore cheeks.