OUCH!!! What am I doing wrong?

[Russsty]

I bought a used F.I.E.SxS 20ga. and went shooting skeet with a couple of my friends the other day. I repeatedly got smacked in the nose with my thumb from the recoil. I shoot lefthanded and the knuckle of my thumb lines up just right with the bridge of my nose and when I shoot SMACK...I now flinch and miss most shots. Is it me or the stock configuration? I shoot rifles quite often and don't have this problem. Can I do anything to help or trade it off..I've been wanting a O/U for quite a while but don't want this to happen when I buy one. What should I look for as far as fit when I'm groping one. I also have a Winchester 1200 and I've noticed on the SxS I really have to get a closer cheek weld than on the 1200. Would a vented rib O/U help me hold my head up rather than being all scrunched up on the stock and receiver?

 

[CWL]

I was taught to shoot shotguns with my trigger thumb held on the same side as the fingers. In your case, you keep the thumb on the left side of the stock instead of wrapped around the top of the gun. THis will keep your thumb out of the way of your nose or eyes. With very little practice, you will find that you do not need this thumb to hold/control your shotgun at all since you are operating it with both hands.

 

[Dave McCracken]

It's hard to diagnose without seeing you shoot but here goes...

With your shotgun PROVEN TO BE EMPTY,mount and note the distance between beezer and thumb. There should be about two fingers distance between them. If not,add a slip on recoil pad,shim or other method of lengthening the stock and try again.

Also, switch to the lightest load you can find. Oz loads in light 20s will tear you a new one.

And, I've a hunch that you're standing 90 degrees to the target line, and shooting like a rifleman does offhand. Get more behind the gun, standing square to the place where you want to break the bird. You may have other form probs, so I suggest reading the pertinents in the 101 series and the floater thread on Proper Mounting Techniques.

Finally, shooting with that thumb not wrapped around means it'll sooner or later be directly behind the safety and lever when you uncork a heavy load. Trust me, you do not want to do this.

As for trying other shotguns,let's get you shooting effectively and comfortably with what you have, FIRST.

HTH...