light 20 ga load

[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 ?

 

[rcmodel]

If you can't find it in a load book, don't do it.
I see no Green Dot loads at all using less then 14.0 grains.

Just glancing through the Alliant load book looks like they show some 3/4 oz loads that use 14.0 Green Dot. Might try that for less recoil.


But getting hit in the cheek sounds more like a gun fit problem then a load problem anyway.

If he is big for his age, maybe the youth stock is just too short for him?
Might try a slip-on recoil pad for added length and see if that changes anything.

rc

 

[Bruno2]

Thanks RC I will look into the stock bending .

Any other advice on load data or gun fitting ?

 

[Bruno2]

I found some slower loads that are only supposed to reach 1100 fps , but , they require win super handicap powder and nobody in town has any . I ordered some and it will take about two weeks to get here so I will keep everyone posted . I also got a slip on recoil pad for the butstock to see if the offset will help his cheek any , if not than I may take the factory recoil pad off the buttstock to see if shortening the LOP helps any .