Wife having hard time shouldering shotgun

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zhyla

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Taking the wife shooting for the first time later today. Mainly want to get her familiar with pistols but figured a couple shots with the shotgun (20" 590) would be a good idea.

She can't seem to get comfortable with it. She's tall (5'10") and has decent upper body strength. The biggest problem is where she wants to put the stock leaves a large gap between her cheek and the stock. I guess she's got a really long neck. We're about the same height, I wasn't expecting the stock fit to be an issue.

Any advice? Until she can hold it comfortably I'm not going to have her shoot it.
 
Sounds like she might be leaning back to hold it up.

Have her lean into it with a more aggressive stance.

That should put her head down where it needs to be.
No matter how tall she is.

rc
 
The stock's probably too long, making her lean back and getting her head out of position, a short stock like the Hogue 12" would probably help a great deal but would she be shooting the shotgun enough to make it worthwhile to get one?
 
that is a problem just about every woman I have handed a long gun to has had.. rather than shouldering the gun and leaning into it, they shoulder it and lean away.. has little to do with the length of the gun and more to do with her unfamiliarity with it... I recommend you demonstrate it step by step and include the importance of a "cheek weld."


The Stock must be PULLED into the shoulder, weight shifted onto the toes/front portion of the front foot, and face down on the stock...

On another note, make sure she is shouldering it on the correct spot on the shoulder, often the problem is that she (the new shooter) has the fun shouldered on the outside portion of the shoulder. This will HURT LIKE HELL when she pulls the trigger and lead to the stance you describe...

A properly shouldered shotgun/rifle should be positioned between the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles... Between these two muscle groups is the"pocket" to aim for... so to speak.
 
You also might try try going to your local club where she can try a variety of guns to find something that suits her better than what you have. Her height and stature might require something different. Without watching her as she shoots, it is merely guess work as to why she is having difficulties
 
Also, be sure that her support hand is positioned appropriately as I have also seen people reach too far forward with their support hand and the result is the same, the leaned back stature.
 
Actually, your off hand SHOULD be as far forward as possible - it allows you to swing with your upper body and not just your arms (see some of the books on English game bird shooting and target shooting). In no case should you be leaning backwards - that is a sign of improper stock fit (which, as has been mentioned umpteen times, is more than LOP) - ensuring proper eye dominance (women are notorious for off hand and switching dominance), is crucial as is getting proper cast, drop, pitch, etc.......
 
Stock length is critical for women, and any other comparably sized two-legged person.
If you want her to be comfortable & effective with it, shorten the stock.

My wife does not like my full-length-stocked coachguns, but she'll cheerfully shoot hers (shortened to fit).

This is an area that few men understand in trying to successfully introduce women to hard-kicking long guns of any type.
Make the stock fit HER, don't just hand her your gun, say "Here ya go, honey!", and expect good results if she's smaller than you. :)
Height isn't the only factor, trigger reach/arms length needs to be taken into account.

Denis
 
Place the butt in the inside crook of her elbow and see if she can EASILY reach the trigger fully. If not cut it off. The stock.

Buy low recoil, low noise rounds.

Nose over toes.

Weight on the balls of the feet.

Weak foot just a little forward.

The first shot should not be aimed. Do NOT let her take time to pull the trigger. Do as above and as soon as the gun levels off, have her shoot. If she thinks about it (she has seen how they kick) she will get sloppy and it will hurt. Think about shouldering the 12 gauge when that first squirrel ran down the branch. What kick?!

I have seen dozens and dozens of ladies and young folk get beat up by the shotgun rather than being taught to control the shotgun.
 
What gauge is the gun? A 12? I am 5'5" 120lbs woman, and I would never shoot a 12 gauge. All of my SGs are 20 gauge and both of my pumps have youth stocks. Dunhams has an awesome sale on a Remington 870 20 gauge Youth pump SG for $279.00 and a $30 mail in rebate.
 
What gauge is the gun? A 12? I am 5'5" 120lbs woman, and I would never shoot a 12 gauge. All of my SGs are 20 gauge and both of my pumps have youth stocks. Dunhams has an awesome sale on a Remington 870 20 gauge Youth pump SG for $279.00 and a $30 mail in rebate.
Click to expand...

Of the women I shoot sporting clays with, the youngest is in her 50's, the oldest about 70, the tallest about 5'5" and they ALL shoot 12 gauges - nice Brownings or Kreighoffs that weigh 8-9 pounds - their guns fit and they have no issues
 
My wife is 4'9" she wanted a single shot 20 ga. THats what we got her, target loads were ok, slugs? "no f^$#$$ way" after she fired one. That was befor I got her a shortened, hollow stock to fit her. I added weight (bb's) to slow down the recoil. That's why the hollow stock. Fits her perfectly(although very heavy to reduce recoil), She can bring it to bear in half a heartbeat, and slugs don't bother her any more(as much). A smaller person tends to migrate to smaller guns(WRONG) I try to steer them to something heavier while keeping at smaller than a full size, as to fit there hands and build. The look on there face as you try to convince them that the smaller gun in the same caliber is going to hurt to fire. (It's smaller, it's my size, you're a moron)
 
Jon - right way to go by adding weight - been preaching fit and weight for recoil reduction for years...some folks just don't get it, some do.........

Heavy gun that fits, with light loads equals least recoil, both ACTUAL and PERCEIVED
 
Heavy barrel on the 590 reduces recoil ( both types ) waaaaaaaaay
more than ported regular type 590 barrel....adding weight wins again.
 
Krris, of the thousands of ladies who shoot cowboy, the 12 gauge pump is the preferred or go to weapon. As I have stated before, they (most times the husband) will pick up a 20 gauge dounle. Ouch! Most change after someone sees their face when they are pulling the trigger. Or load them down.
 
I shoot a 20 SxS, (clays, not cowboy), and I have downloaded to 3/4 oz - what a difference over even the 7/8! MUCH softer shooting - my SxS has a wood stock with no pad.......just reload your basic 7/8oz target load and drop the shot to 3/4 oz. Works great.
 
Nobody 5'10" tall, including the woman in the OP's question, needs a 12" LOP stock.
Unless she is wearing body armor!!

It would beat someone that tall unmercifully!!

rc
 
oneounceload

I don't have much *meat* on me, and even a 20 gauge can be a little much at times. I also know a lot of older guys switching to 20 gauges after shooting years with their 12's. To each their own, whatever works best.
 
Any advice? Until she can hold it comfortably I'm not going to have her shoot it.
Click to expand...

Either buy a shotgun instruction video or pay a shooting coach (it will help you both)

The stuff you read here is worth just what you paid for it.
 
Nobody 5'10" tall, including the woman in the OP's question, needs a 12" LOP stock.
Unless she is wearing body armor!!

It would beat someone that tall unmercifully!!
Click to expand...

How so? I've seen plenty of folks much taller than 5'10" who loved their 12" stocks, it's not just a matter of LOP but making it more positive to pump by bringing the forend in closer and also reducing eventual fatigue by not having as much weight hanging out there in front of you.

Regular length stocks are great for wingshooting but they're just too long for most people for ground level shooting, body armor or no.
 
Too many think that scrunching up on a stock is correct - not even close. 14 inches is generally close enough for most folks of smaller stature, while 14-1/2 or 14-7/8 works well for folks over 6 feet
 
A lesson from a qualified instructor is worth a ton of written advice. Spouses should NOT teach spouses.

Failing that, have her read the floater on Proper Mounting Techniques. Ask any questions you want if that doesn't help......
 
Just wanted to belatedly say thanks for a ll the responses. One thing I gad forgotten completely is reduced recoil rounds. Are there some that are lighter than bulk birdshot?

I think whoever said she doesn't know how to shoulder a long gun is quite insightful. I didn't start with a shotgun, I started w/ a .22 and an SKS. There's a lot going on with holding a long gun that I kind of take for granted.
 
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