Shoulder tension: yes or no?

[Quoheleth]

I'm a sissified wuss. Most rifles I shoot at .22 rimfire. Occassionally, I bust out the AR, but 9 times out of 10, it's .22LR. I've gotten used to shooting them with fairly relaxed shoulder muscles - not tensing up in anticipation of recoil.

I'm going to man up this week and go to the range with a buddy to shoot some bigger centerfires - a .270, a .30-06 and Mosin 7.62x54R - in preparation for deer season & hog season. Hey - it's early, but gives us a chance to beat the rush. It's been so long since I've done it, I've forgotten -- tense, or not tense the shoulder muscles? Is the recoil more noticed if one tenses up or if one stays relaxed?

Thanks,
Q

 

[scythefwd]

Here is what I do when I fire full powered center fire rifles (and shotgun slugs). I spread my feet about a foot apart, and lean into the shot. I keep my arms fairly relaxed. I pull the buttstock into my pect (I shoot elbow down, not out with my firing hand). There isn't much pocket to pull into when I do that, but I get the butt about as close to the shoulder as possible. If it is a big belted magnum, I will tense my pect a little. I am not the most accurate shooter, I don't have great fine motor control nor do I have a very steady hold. I haven't since I had some unpleasant reactions to a series of vaccinations (that also caused me to lose all bladder restraint if it meant I had to hold it for more than a minute). Luckily, the only thing still jacked up about me is my inability to hold anything steady. I do hit where I am aiming 99% of the time when using field rests, but my technique is not optimal. I am sure there are many here that will be able to tell you what is wrong with my form. Using this form though, I have found that I have yet to meet a rifle that is unpleasant to fire

 

[chuwee81]

well, i found that if you braced your upper body too much, it'll be painful. I found out when shooting it with my shooting hand elbow tucked down (but free floating not resting the elbow on the bench) and let my upper body move following the recoil, that it wasn;t so bad. But when you try to be that accurate and stiffen up your upper body, yea, that was painful.
I think i've heard," don't fight the recoil" or something like that.
just my observation.
Of course spending 15 bux for mosin specific rubber butt pad helps.

EDIT: i remembered shooting my pastor's deer rifle in 30.06 once and broke the scope with my forehead. I was 150 lbs at the time and never fired a rifle before.

 

[wad]

Weight lifting...work out...get some meat on them bones

 

[GunnerShotz]

Muscles fatigue (get tired)!

You want to place the butt of the rifle in the pocket of your shoulder as firmly as you can with the least muscle tension possible. This increases accuracy and reduces recoil with repeated firing.

 

[Max C.]

Keep the rifle tight but don't tense your chest muscles unduly. Also let your body recoil a bit with the rifle. If you're super tight you're going to kill yourself.

 

[jpwilly]

Get a slip on recoil pad for either the rifle or you and ENJOY.

 

[chevyforlife21]

dont hold a death grip on the gun just shoot it youll be fine

 

[scythefwd]

chevyforlife21,
Good point. It is amazing how many people I tell to pull the rifle/shotgun firmly into their chest and I can see them shake from the effort they are putting into it.

 

[General Geoff]

This is why I like using a sling. Proper sling usage pulls the rifle to your shoulder firmly and with little or no muscle tension. Win-win