Shotgun recoil reduction ideas

[enfieldspares]

I am 6' 4" and quite wide. All of my "point and shoot" guns have long stocks. Yet none has a length of pull of greater than 15 5/8" to centre on a double trigger side by side. I was fitted by Ken Davies at Holland & Holland and then a decade later (folk get fat yet at the same time faces get thinner) by Nathan Dudley. If the OP is passing J21 or the M1 in Leicestershire (that's the M1/M69 Interchange) he is welcome to meet me at Normanton Shooting Ground to try one of my guns. He might even decide to book a lesson with one of their instructors!

 

[gonzo]

Only a clay shooter here.
I use 28gm carts in all but my SBS guns.
In those I use 21gm because of the recoil. It's not the shoulder that hurts, but the trigger finger. When I move to the rear trigger, the recoil caused the front trigger to hit the knuckle of my finger. That hurts after the first few shots!

 

[Mike1979]

I am 6' 4" and quite wide. All of my "point and shoot" guns have long stocks. Yet none has a length of pull of greater than 15 5/8" to centre on a double trigger side by side. I was fitted by Ken Davies at Holland & Holland and then a decade later (folk get fat yet at the same time faces get thinner) by Nathan Dudley. If the OP is passing J21 or the M1 in Leicestershire (that's the M1/M69 Interchange) he is welcome to meet me at Normanton Shooting Ground to try one of my guns. He might even decide to book a lesson with one of their instructors!

Really appreciate the offer. Not an area I am generally passing but if things change I may take you up on the offer

 

[Heym SR20]

Recoil is really a function of the weight of shot, powder used, stock fit and how you hold the gun.

Drop down to a lighter cartridge and make the stock fit correctly. Put you off hand further out on the fore end and hold firmly and this takes a lot of the recoil.

But a stock that does not fit will smack you around all day long.

 

[Mike1979]

Recoil is really a function of the weight of shot, powder used, stock fit and how you hold the gun.

Drop down to a lighter cartridge and make the stock fit correctly. Put you off hand further out on the fore end and hold firmly and this takes a lot of the recoil.

But a stock that does not fit will smack you around all day long.

Agreed and I think its poor gun fit. In some respects I knew the outcome of this post would be to buy a decent gun that fits...but good to hear it from others

 

[WalkedUp]

Christ, that’s an enormous LOP for someone at your height.

Yes, I can tie my shoe laces without bending over and have been blessed with an ‘elegant’ neck

 

[McKenzie]

I am very light for fieldsports: 80kg at 6’1” with barely a scrap of fat. Because of athletics I look like a shaved gibbon, consequently I found that a longer LoP was necessary to get a good gun fit. Circa 16” for all my guns for the last 15 years. I have never suffered from felt recoil issues despite shooting some heavy days, circa 500 x 32gram, and back to back days. It is boring but I would suggest that gun fit is the first place to look.

I’m 6’2” & very long arms (I can’t buy clothes to fit) & use a sbs with a 16 1/8” lop fitted to me. I always use 28gms on the clays & usually 30gms for game. I could certainly shoot 125 clays without issue. However I’ve also shot with guns that don’t fit & 10 shots with that would hurt.

 

[McKenzie]

I am very light for fieldsports: 80kg at 6’1” with barely a scrap of fat. Because of athletics I look like a shaved gibbon, consequently I found that a longer LoP was necessary to get a good gun fit. Circa 16” for all my guns for the last 15 years. I have never suffered from felt recoil issues despite shooting some heavy days, circa 500 x 32gram, and back to back days. It is boring but I would suggest that gun fit is the first place to look.

That doesn’t seem crazy light to me. I’m 6’2” & 89 kg, partly due to being on steroids & that qualifies me as being obese according to BMI. Optimal for me feels about 84kg.

 

[WalkedUp]

That doesn’t seem crazy light to me. I’m 6’2” & 89 kg, partly due to being on steroids & that qualifies me as being obese according to BMI. Optimal for me feels about 84kg.

For day to day life it is a good fighting weight, however for fieldsports it probably puts me within the 10th percentile of BMI amongst our kin. Having a bit of ballast is no bad thing for shooting.

 

[MAH]

after some suggestions from those who have fitted a recoil reducer pad to their shotguns.

I have a Remington 1100 shotgun with a Cutts compensator on it.
The SA action consumes some of the recoil and the compensator reduces it a bit more.
I wouldn't like to guess a % but the end result feels more like a shove, than a jolt.
Comfortable, even in a T shirt.

M.
M

 

[Rhodesianjess]

I have a Remington 1100 shotgun with a Cutts compensator on it.
The SA action consumes some of the recoil and the compensator reduces it a bit more.
I wouldn't like to guess a % but the end result feels more like a shove, than a jolt.
Comfortable, even in a T shirt.

M.
MView attachment 429108

I used to have the exact same gun, people next to you at skeet layouts have normally developed a twitch after a round actually had one chap complaining about the noise putting him off

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, Why do you need HV Carts ?? no wonder your bruised, All i use now is 7.5 28g , My O/U is 6.5llb , I just use more choke, As for gun fit i can go 14.5 inch in summer and 14.1/4 in winter, If your of slight build like me then you need to look at different stock pads or get to a good gunsmith

 

[Nickb]

So....before we start I'm of slight build (more meat on a butchers pencil) so I feel recoil maybe more then those who are of normal build.

After a couple of weekends where I have been shooting 150+ crows I feel like someone has given my shoulder a severe bashing. I appreciate that using Pigeon HV 32gram cartridges probably doesnt really help but after some suggestions from those who have fitted a recoil reducer pad to their shotguns. I dont mind the aesthetic aspect so much as comfort so happy with a slip over pad or similar.

I have an O/U which has much more felt recoil than the Winchester SXP but the SXP is old and battered and having a few issues so trying to use the O/U as much as I can.

Experience and advice well received ...buy lighter cartridges and a semi auto are not welcome comments though as the bank balance will not appreciate that

My advice , stop being a fanny and get on with it

 

[jall55]

Save your money Mike - it surely cant fit that bad if you are shooting the numbers you are

Dont be frightened of really dropping the weight in the cartridges as Enfield Spares says - Pattern is key when decoying
When the corvids are on and you sit still 15 -25 yards is the real sweet spot

 

[Nickb]

When the corvids are on and you sit still 15 -25 yards is the real sweet spot

Yep I like them in nice and close so I can dust them

 

[jall55]

Yep I like them in nice and close so I can dust them

Yes - dont give them chance to get away !

 

[Mike1979]

Hello, Why do you need HV Carts ?? no wonder your bruised, All i use now is 7.5 28g , My O/U is 6.5llb , I just use more choke, As for gun fit i can go 14.5 inch in summer and 14.1/4 in winter, If your of slight build like me then you need to look at different stock pads or get to a good gunsmith

I have HV as I'M a plonker...nothing more then that LOP I reckon is 16" for me

 

[Mike1979]

My advice , stop being a fanny and get on with it

Ta...most helpful

 

[Mike1979]

Save your money Mike - it surely cant fit that bad if you are shooting the numbers you are

Dont be frightened of really dropping the weight in the cartridges as Enfield Spares says - Pattern is key when decoying
When the corvids are on and you sit still 15 -25 yards is the real sweet spot

I put the ATI stock back on and managed 85 on Saturday with much less of an issue Ironically the buggers were almost to close with a few 5 yard jackdaws

 

[Nickb]

a few 5 yard jackdaws

I had the same problem the other day too , had to adjust the decoys a bit further out