With regard to age, the biggest issue that concerns me about recoil is not shoulder pain or bruises, but eye issues. Specifically, retinal detachment potential. That's a problem that runs in my family. I've already had some amount of detachment, though not enough to cause loss of eye sight ...yet.
Perhaps a thread indeed is needed again. Yes we have visited retinal detachment before, then again our membership and experience knowledge base has increased as well.
Recoil Pads
To me this is saying "something is not right, and needs adjustment". Recoil emcompasses a LOT of factors, and affects the human body in more than one way.
Yes - Shotgunning is
Art and Science - Like shotgunning, shooting in general -
One learns the correct basic fundamentals - and continues to practice these.- Plaxco
The Art and Sciences still practice the correct basic fundamentals - and continue to practice these as well.
Recoil is an interesting study, from the physics involved to how each individual shooter perceives recoil. Variables.
Preacherman is one good example of a member here whom has undergone serious anatomical and physiological changes. He has a wealth of experience in Real Life encounters, Huge amout of hours , time and money invested in training. He shot the best time in time Shotgun drills.
He cannot do those guages anymore, especially not in the loadings and round counts. It will cause more permanent damage - period.
Preacherman also before his accident and since the accident has worked with Many folks with a variety of Physical Limitations. I have as well.
I just get chided for my Practical Take on matters from folks.
Now I have worked with folks with retinal concerns , along with other Limitations from Arthritis, to broken backs, broken necks, loss of fingers, loss of limb, to loss of use of one eye.
I harp a LOT about gun fit to shooter. Gun Fit emcompasses a LOT of factors as well.
Bob Brister underwent retinal detachment for some that didn't know, I read with intent interest everything Brister wrote about shotgunning - including how he dealt with , recovered, and his suggestions in regard to retinal detachments - and other Limitations he shared knowledge of.
Semi-Auto changes the recoil curve. Recoil is going to happen, is determined by physics for sure. The Recoil Curve is present - just how the Recoil is
presented to shooter differs.
Factors include,as we have disussed before:
- Rule of 96s [weight of gun :: Payload]
- Gun Fit
- Proper training, lessons of correct basic fundamentals.
- Physical attributes of shooter.
Hence the reason I go on about Wood Stocks to new shooters, or shooters whom have been away from shotgunning for a bit.
Get the gun to fit , learn the correct basic fundamentals from lessons and training. Get this ingrained and ingrained - Solid!
Now...later on, after more monies has been spent on tweaking the gun fit, training, lessons, range fees, ammo - than the price paid for the shotgun originally...
Then - get the synthetic stock or whatever you want. You now know EXACTLY what dimensions will fit you. Dimensions for Clay games, hunting, 3 gun, HD or whatever...and with or without hunting clothes, or vest.
Since the Synthetic stock from factory severly limit how one tweaks gun fit - one is better informed on 1) what gun from factory has the "closest" dimensions 2) Options, including aftermarket options.
Not a good idea to learn with a crutches - lose them crutches, and where will that put you ?- Mentor & Elders of mine.
Gas gun in 28 ga is really hard to beat for clay games like skeet and short course 5 stand, sporting clays and small game for Retinal Detached Prone - or Recovering shotgunners.
Mark has since moved away. 5'8, 145# sopping wet, though older than me, strong as an ox for his size. Physically fit and stamina...I mean he may not look it, he was tough.
Excelled in Skeet, anything with a shotgun. Rifle and Handgun too. I'm talking 375 Double guns and big Bore handguns.
Murphy is cruel bastard.
Work related injury. Detached a retina, messed up his lower spine , his neck, weak hand wrist.
I just brought Chicken Fried Steak to the Hospital, I had to cut his portions, feed him, and bring his mug near enough so he could sip thru a straw.
Guns were not his first priority at the moment. His eyes said it all...especially when the Docs flat said "You may not ever be able to shoot again...time will tell if you will walk normal again".
Finally home...you can forget any and all of his HD weapons. I loaned him my Beretta 21 to keep on his person. Tip up bbl meant he did not have to rack a slide, and the recoil was tame enough. I worked with his Drs on this btw..."Mark, this is for self defense only...you have shot two mags, that is it. Do NOT shoot for any other reason".
I/we made other security arrangements. Like a compressed air (marine horn) to blast a help signal to neighbors...I/ we were concerned about fire, and him not getting out by himself in time.
Time allows him to move up to a .22 handgun , permission to shoot .22 shorts ,from a H&R 999. His new HD gun, shorts for plinking, LR for defense.
Mark made progress, he worked hard at PT, pained me to him with tears of pain - he was going to beat this situation.
I/we gained permission to shoot a .410 in a 1100...primer only. Had to start with the basics, no recoil allowed. WE had to tweak the gun fit, and this gun had fit before.
"You can shoot 3 doves , and 3 doves only. I got Mark in a spot, got him fixed, and he took 3 doves. His eyes said it all. He has not ever forgotten that dove hunt.
WE finally progressed to the 28 ga. Now mark had all these really fine shotguns, some real expensive, some custom guns...
He did not have 1100 in 28 ga, he bought a used one. Later, permisson to use his O/U...with milder loads at first. It hurt, back to the 1100 in 28 ga.
His 1100s , the .410, 20 ga he had won and the 28 ga he bought were his guns to use. 20ga was now the HD gun, only time he was supposed to shoot that gun was in fear of life. He could not shoot any of his Sigs, 1911s, not even allowed to use his BHP.
Beretta Tip up in .380 was his CCW gun. Recoil the main Reason.
His back up Bedside gun was an Old Colt wheel gun in 32...Recoil again limited him and prevented his K frames.
Mark is able to use a O/U in 28 ga now. His 20ga 1100 is his hunting / HD gun.
We did not mind one bit when with a smirk Mark Hollered "Need someone to come help me with this 4 point I shot...being a Cripple and all..."
He was trying not to give us a hard time...'supervising'.
" I could get spoiled with this shooting and supervising others stuff...".
I won't type our replies...Mark laughed so hard , thought he'd hurt himself.
Regards,
Steve
