OUCH!!!! First Shotgun Experience

[Spot77]

Got to go trap shooting for the first time today....what a blast! (no pun intended, really!)

And it was actually the first time ever firing a shotgun.

I did horribly the first two rounds, but started to figure it out some for the second two rounds where my score improved significantly.

Question: How many rounds do most people normally shoot? I shot four rounds (100 shots total) and I'm wondering what kind of damage to expect to my cheek and shoulder!

I was shooting 12 gauge, 2 3/4' shells, 1 ounce (I think) and um.....whatever the "8" stands for (I shot the first 50 with 7 1/2 loads)

Can't wait to go again (well....I can wait....at least until my shoulder feels better)

Much respect to the guys that trap and skeet shoot well and often. It's a lot more difficult than I had imagined.

I blame my new addiction on Dave McCracken since he got my brother hooked on it first.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Spot, I deny wrongdoing. Have we met? And who's your bro?...

100 rounds is easy for a veteran trap shooter, but new shotgunners haven't optimized their form and feel more kick.

Check with me after New Year's and maybe I can give you some input face to face.

Meanwhile, stick to less rounds fired per session.

 

[Spot77]

Dave,

No we haven't met, but Norton (my brother) speaks highly of you and said you guys had a great time when you went.


I was taking some pointers from him and another fellow who was there today who seemed to be a regular.

I have some pre-existing shoulder conditions (dislocated in 91'; never healed right, and a rotator injury from going to the gym a few months ago), so I'm a little paranoid about causing more problems.

Do you think I'd enjoy it as much with 16 or 20 gauge instead of a 12 gauge?

I probably should've stopped at 3 rounds today, but my third round was such an improvement that I wanted to see if I had actually improved, or just had a streak of good luck.

 

[DragonRider]

Take it easy and brace the shotgun into your shoulder. Thats the biggest mistake I made when I was a new shooter. You are in the middle of a group and the pace seems fast with the rest of your squad shooting one right after the other. Take a breath and go at your pace and make sure your ready before calling PULL.

I would love to try to plan a THR day at the PG shooting center and meet some shooters on the other side of the Potomac.

Good Luck

John

 

[Norton]

For what it's worth, I'm feeling those 4 rounds tonight as well.

My new 870 performed flawlessly today on it's shakedown cruise, but methinks that compared to the Beretta rental gun and Dave McCracken's "Frankenstein" 870, it has a bit more bite.

I also should have stopped after 3 rounds, but after going 3 for 3 on the first three shots on that round and completely dusting a bunch, I was feeling pretty full of myself.

I'll give it a couple more trips to PG and see how I get used to the kick and then see if I need a different recoil pad.

 

[TrapperReady]

Shotgunning is addictive.

Like any addictive activity, it's very easy to overdo things. You are having fun, and the enthusiasm, adrenaline and such make you do more than you should.

The flipside is that most addictive activities have some form of "hangover". With me, a sore shoulder and a tweaked lower back the next day is sometimes the result.

I'd say "Take it easy and try to stop before you start feeling the effects."

But I won't. Didn't work with beer in college. Doesn't work with a case of shells and a couple boxes of targets.

Instead, I'll say "Congrats!" and "Have fun!".

Shoot the lightest loads (2 3/4 dram, an ounce or less if possible) you can, and focus on form. If that doesn't work, Ibuprofen and an ice-pack works well.

In fact, the older I get, the more I realize the true value of Ibuprofen and ice.

 

[Spot77]

Ibuprofen has long been my friend, but I don't think it'll help the bleeding under the skin or the big black bruise on my cheek.

I was pulling it in as tight as I could.....maybe that's part of the problem; maybe I was pulling in too tight.

I'd probably feel a lot better had I discovered the proper form a little sooner. Even with some coaching it took me a while to really understand.

Yes, I'm the slow learner of the family

"Stupid is as stupid does".....

 

[TrapperReady]

Spot77 - Do you shoot rifles much? I ask this because rifle shooters often lean their heads hard over into the stock. Do this with a shotgun, and the recoil can drive the top edge of the comb into your cheek.

With regards to fit and form, you want to keep your head erect. Bring the gun up to the shoulder and face, but don't lean your head down onto the stock. There are a number of inexpensive ways to slightly modify the stock fit, either with shims between the stock and pad or layers of moleskin along the comb, that can aid you in your quest for pain-free shooting.

What kind of gun were you shooting? I've got quite a few, and one O/U in particular can deliver a beating (complete with bruising and facial bleeding), unless I'm using custom extra-light handloads. If you have any opportunity to try different kinds of guns, a gas-operated auto should be the lightest kicking. Also, remember that the weight of the gun helps ameliorate recoil. A heavy gun can be a good thing, unless you are using it for hunting and have to tote it after a fast moving dog for an afternoon.

 

[Spot77]

Good points!

I shoot my SKS semi-regularly with no problems, and I know that's completely different, hence the problems finding the right spot on my face/shoulder.

I'm not sure of the exact model I was shooting, but it was a single shot Beretta that felt pretty light to me. Maybe a little lighter than a Mossberg 500? That's the only other shotgun I've ever really held.

You hit the nail on the head; I was leaning my head onto the stock. During the 3rd round I hoisted the gun a little higher up on my shoulder and saw a significant improvement in my score. But by that time I was already pretty abused from the first two rounds.

I'm SO looking forward to going again though!

 

[sm]

sniff ...sniff... Is that Ben-Gay I smell ?
NO offense, I'm really grinning, kinda like scrapped knuckles have no pain when that new "birthed" small block gets fired up for the first time.

Great points already: Gun fit, nose over toes, and this is why I suggest mounting the gun in repetitions at home for stamina. It also re-enforces that important dealie called gun to face ( proper mounting).

Gonna date me but want a little know "trick" that helps?...figures.

Dry shaving stick. In the shaving dept look for a "dry shaving powder" it comes in a round dispenser much like deordorant though smaller. Or Imagine chapstick but ~ 2 " tall. Now what you do is "dial" the powder, apply to shooting cheek. Cheek better "slides" with recoil instead of sticking to stock. I think mine was made by Remington Shaving ( I know, but hey just worked out that way...besides I was shooting Winchester and Brownings at the time).

I'm serious it helps, works for rifles too. Proper gun fit and technique has no substitute. Repetitions really do help. No harm if one learns another tool for the tool box tho'.

 

[Norton]

Trapper,

You are so right about shotgunning being addictive. I think that for the next time out, I'll limit myself to 2 or 3 rounds....probably best to just take three boxes of ammo.

I got to talking to the RO about sporting clays.....sounds interesting....think I'll wait awhile and get the trap thing going a bit better

 

[Dave McCracken]

I hope everyone reads this thread, there's lots of good info here.

Spot, instead of going down a gauge size or two, get the super light shells like the 7/8 oz stuff.These will ease things until your form improves, you get the fit tweaked, and you're used to the kick.

Also, if you're built to the same scale as your Bro, that Beretta is an inch or three too short.

And, I'm committed elsewhere this weekend, but the following Sunday let's get together for some trap and Shotgun 101 Live.

Norton, adding some weight to that field gun will cut the bite. So will a stock that fits, the standard one is a bit short for one of your altitude.

And all, let's think about a PGC getogether in the Spring. With notice, I'm sure we could get them to open up the wobble trap. I may get to PGC tonight, I'll ask.

 

[PJR]

Adding my two cents to the already good advice. If a gun is bruising or cutting your face either it doesn't fit, your aren't holding correctly or some combination of the two.

Get professional help. Find an instructor who can show you the basics and follow the advice.

My main clays guns will slap my face if I haven't mounted correctly or am crawling the stock like a rifle shooter.

Recoil reduction can become an obsession. As a first step, consider a lighter load. I like a one ounce load at 1200fps for everything that clay target shooting has to offer and can shoot it practically forever.

Paul

 

[Norton]

Dave,

Spot would be considered a big boy by most standards, but he's not venturing into the land of the giants like me.....but you're right, that Beretta is a bit too short for either of us.

Is the best way to lengthen that 870 stock to use shims? Or would a slip on pad that gives a 1/2" extra be the easiest? Does someone make an off the shelf "custom" stock for the 870?

PJR:

If my experience is any indicator, the face bite issue is almost self-correcting. After my first trip out and my jaw being sore the next day I figured out NOT to mount the gun like that again Sort of like the old bit about the doctor saying, "Does it hurt when you do that?"
Patient says, "Yes, it does." Doctor says, "Well, then don't do that."

 

[Dave McCracken]

Norton, I've a slip on pad around here someplace. We'll put it on that 870 over the other one and see how that does for you.

A couple spacers will do the same thing, but first lessee how much you need.

PJR, bad form IS self correcting to some degree. Once we have thr fit more or less right, form will adapt and improve.

 

[anapex]

Just out of curiousity since I know you're in my area Spot, where'd ya go for your rounds?

 

[Norton]

Anapex,

We were at the PG County range in Glen Dale....out past Greenbelt on 193. Right across from DuVal HS

 

[Spot77]

Yup. What Norton said.

nice place, and nice people.

 

[anapex]

Well if you guys go again and wouldn't mind having a tag along I'd like to get out sometime here. The most I get to shoot clays are on my parents farmland in PA.

 

[Fish]

How much does a round cost at PG Trap? I've been shooting at Berwyn Rod and Gun Club, which charges $2 a round (but has a hefty membership fee...). I wouldn't mind trying out skeet or sporting clays, though, which you can't shoot at Berwyn.

Fish.
token newbie

 

[Dave McCracken]

Guys, sounds like we could get together sometime. I'll probably be shooting again a week from Sunday. I'll be glad of some company...

Fish, $4 for trap and skeet, others up from there.

 

[anapex]

Two Sundays from now sounds like a good time. Just don't yell at me when you see I'm not shooting a big 4 gun Dave

 

[Dave McCracken]

Anapex, I tend not to yell at folks holding ANY shotguns, Big 4 pumps or otherwise. We'll do this PROBABLY on the 11th, repeated at intervals afterwards...