Shotgun recoil - does it beat you up?

[Tman]

I put the factory recoil pad on my shotgun, but I was wondering if there was anything else which would decrease the recoil (BTW I'm getting instructions from a qualified instructor). Different recoil pads, REACTOR pads in the Browning vests (does it fit a Beretta vest?). Do you get bruised after shooting a hundred or so rounds?

 

[HSMITH]

Nope. Something is amiss here or you are one bruise magnet.

I can shoot a full box of 25 3.5" 12gauge high velocity on the pattern board without more than a couple red lines in the pocket of my shoulder.

What loads and what gun and what are you shooting at?

 

[mete]

There are two things , recoil energy and apparent recoil. The first is dependent on the powder and shot charge and weight of gun. You can change that by using lighter load or heavier gun, or using an auto. The second is what recoil you feel ,this depends on your sensitivity to recoil and how the gun fits. A poorly fitting gun will make it feel much worse. Correct this by modifying the stock or having a cutom stock made. Good recoil pads help too. If you are a new shooter learn to handle recoil by starting with very light loads and working up to heavy ones.

 

[TrapperReady]

Tman - I'm assuming that you are shooting clays based on the part about the instructor and the vest. If that is correct, what kind of shells are you shooting (ie. how much shot, velocity and/or dram equiv., etc...) and what kind of gun are you shooting (auto, O/U, pump, etc...)?

There are a number of different things to try. Here are some generalizations, and we can discuss specifics based on your answers to the above questions.

1) Use the lightest load possible for the task. If you are target shooting, I would try 1 oz light target loads. I know that Winchester makes some very light loads which really limit recoil. If you are shooting an autoloader (especially a Benelli) the light loads may not have enough oomph to cycle the action reliably.

2) Make sure that your form is good on the gun mount. The shotgun should be pulled firmly into the pocket and your elbow extended roughly parallel with the ground. If there is any room for movement, it will hit harder. On the other hand, resist the tendency to have a death-grip. I believe Dave McCracken suggests a grip as if you were holding a small bird you didn't want to have escape. That accurately describes the type of pressure I exert with my hands.

If you are doing the two things above, and are still getting whacked, then something is amiss. It may be poor gun fit, or some quirck with your form. Either way, you want to get it addressed before you start to get beat up enough to develop bad habits (flinching) or a dislike for the sport.

Also, it would be useful for us to know exactly what type of shooting you are doing. If it is clays, what kind (trap, skeet, sporting)?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

My mossberg has a buttcuff , GR sights, and flashlight mounted on it, and I pretty much shoot low recoil buck exclusively.


It only takes a couple rounds where my form isn't right for a bruise to start, and once it starts, any shooting, even that with proper form makes it larger.


Recoil only really bothers me when it starts hurting, but it doesn't seem to make me shoot less accurately. (i've shot my best groups from guns that phstically hurt to fire.)

 

[ArMa]

you could get your barrel ported

 

[BerettaNut92]

Took a two day shotgun class. My shoulder didn't hurt, but my arms were sore from holding the shotgun at low ready all the time, and scanning w/ one hand while loading with the other.

It made me feel better that the big beefy buff guys were as sore as I was.

 

[45R]

Try starting off with lighter loads. The work you way up. Your instructor should be able to critque your form.

 

[Sgt]

Sore? No. Bruised? Yes. At least until you get used to it....shouldn't take but a couple weeks. If you are still getting beat up after that, consider having the fit of your gun checked. You may not be mounting your shotgun correctly, but your instructor should be taking care of teaching you how. My brother was 11 when he started shooting 100 rds of 12 gauge a week and never had a problem....of course Dad had the stock lopped off to fit him too.

Good Luck, Sgt

 

[Tman]

Ooops.
Sorry, should have said I was sore, but wanted to prevent bruising. I just started out recently and my form ain't so good (but will be working on it diligently). A couple of wrong whacks would do the trick. BTW, excellent advice which I will print out. BTW, would purchasing a vest with a shoulder pad be a worthwhile investment or a waste of money?

 

[Smoke]

SOmething is not right.....and like others have said, check form first.

Pads, vests, etc are short term answers ( and not very effective ones).

I have shot 300+ rounds of 00 & slugs at a shotgun course. (over 3 days) with no bruising or soreness. Have also shot 500+ rounds in a Dove field in about 3 days with out a problem.

Some people bruise easier than others, but if you are becoming sore and bruised work on form and practice, practice, practice.

 

[PJR]

There is definitely something wrong if you are being bruised after 100 rounds. It is either gun fit, stance or mount. Yesterday I shot 150 rounds from a 6.5lb, 12 gauge sxs (no recoil pad) and another 100 from a heavy trap gun. I was feeling it by the end of the day but I think the hot weather did more to bring on fatigue than recoil.

I shoot with a Browning vest with a Reactor pad. I don't know how much they reduce recoil but I lost the pad once and shot without it and didn't notice much difference despite Browning's claims. A PAST vest I had once was much better for reducing recoil but I couldn't get the gun properly mounted when shooting low gun games.

Mention this to your instructor. He should be able to provide some advice on reducing recoil.

Paul

 

[Soap]

Not at all. I FINALLY learned proper mounting techniques in my late teen years. This pretty much solved the problem, recoil pad or no. Now, the only thing that can get me good is a bunch of shots in weird positions like rollover prone, 3.5" mags after a while, or reallyreallyreally poor shotgun to body fit.

 

[Bruce626]

Just do a search here and on the referenced TFL threads for Dave McC's advice on mounting, recoil, etc. try 'em out, then get back to us. Believe me, you are not the first guy to find pain in shotguns, but there is a lot of help here if you'll just search the archives.

 

[chetrogers]

is there something online that shows correct form for shooting a shotgun?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Chet, the threads on Proper Mounting Technique and Heavier Loads should help you.

Lighter loads, heavier shotguns, barrel mods, better pads,good fit, etc, can all help, but without good form they're useless.

Shotgunning's like sex, if it hurts you're doing something wrong.

 

[AJ Dual]

Threads...

I did a search in Shotguns on Proper Mounting Technique and the only hit I got was this thread.

Any links?

I shoot trap with a Remingron 870 Express magnum Winchester normal velocity AA target loads in 7 1/2 1-1/8 oz, I wear a Browning vest with a reactar gel-pad as well, and while I no longer bruise, it still beats me up, less and less as I get used to it, but from what everyone seems to be saying, it shouldn't happen at all.

I agree it has to be my mounting and stance at fault, since I can hold it lower and it feels fine, but shoot lousy, or hold high, and beat my collar bone but shoot well.

 

[TrapperReady]

Tman - At the top of the Shotguns section on THR, there is a floated topic labelled "Link to Old TFL Threads...". This is a gold-mine of good information and discussions. If you click on it, there is thread called "Proper Mounting Technique".

Or you can just click here for the same thing:

Proper Mounting Technique (from TFL)

 

[45auto]

When the shooting season starts each year I will be a little sore for a couple of days, perhaps a slight bruise. After that no problem unless I shoot a lot more shells than normal.

All good advice and not much to add other than most standard stocks can be adjusted to fit most people. They may be uglier when you done, but they can fit. Custom if you can't stand the looks.

Andrew: Your collar bone should never hurt from shooting.
You might be a good candidate for a monte carlo stock and/or one of those adjustable recoil pads that you can make all sorts of adjustments ie, up, down, etc. Perhaps then you could mount lower and still keep your head erect if you wish.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Andrew, my guess is you've got a long neck, and have to drop your face a bit to cheek the stock.

A Monte Carlo stock will help. So will leaning into the gun a bit more, and switching to 1 oz loads may do the trick by itself. Walk before running...

 

[Brer Bear]

I was beaten and bruised in the very beginning, until I learned the perfect form (for me that is) & added a little weight to the firearm itself.

Stance: Weak side foot forward pointed toward target w/bent knee, strong side foot one step back at 90 deg. forward lean,

shotgun stock tucked tight into shoulder with strong side elbow held at horizontal