Any serious Trap Shooters out there?

[GiesJ]

Just wondering if anyone else is into Trap shooting. I'm struggling with a problem and thought I would ask here: I continue to bruise my cheek when shooting light target loads in my trap gun. any ideas? I've had other experienced shooters watch me and they cannot find any problems with my form or keeping my head down. I'm just about ready to sell my gear. Any ideas?

jason

 

[The patriot]

I dont know anything about trap and skeet, so dont laugh too hard at my answer.

Maybe you can try putting some sort of a soft cheek piece on the buttstock.

Maybe a soft leather lace up job, or even a thick cotton cloth?

I told ya not to laugh... :-laf

What is the material that the buttstock is made of? Seems to me that a highly glossy wood stock would be more prone to this.

Some of those guns are pricey, but if yours aint, try refinishing the buttstock in an oiled military type of finish.

I'm not even sure if I understand the problem you have, it's hard to explain things on the puter.



Eric

 

[GiesJ]

patriot-

that's not a bad answer at all - in fact someone at the club last night suggested a similiar product - a foam like cheek piece that sticks onto the stock where I mount the gun. I'm going to play with the recoil pad angle, height and some other things but keep the ideas coming. Also, I plan on trying the mercury reducer that many shooters throw in the butt stock...

 

[gonehuntingagain]

You could get the cheek piece made of sorbothane rubber, they are nice and soft. However, this may change your point of impact because your head will be lifted according to the thickness of the pad you put on.

You might find a gunsmith in your area that can fit the gun to you. This in itself may help your problem.

Another option would be to have the barrel or barrels ported to reduce recoil.



Also, what type of shotgun is it? If it is an over-under, my limited experience with them is that the kick like a mule, even with target loads. Maybe you could try some of the other members shotguns to see how you like them. I bought my Dad a Benelli M1 super 90, and he absolutely loves it for trap.



Just my . 00000002 cents worth.

 

[LSMITH]

Gies, pick your head up, you are crawling up the stock and leaning over onto it for it to hit you. Remember, to mount a shotgun properly it touches your FACE and THEN slides back to your SHOULDER. If you are humched over creepin' up the stock my guess is your scores have fallen a tad too.....



I was a serious trap shooter at one time, then to skeet and sporting I went... .

 

[Philsram]

Any seriuos trap shooter out there

I am not a seroius trap shooter but I saw a video that you would love. These guys baited a squirrel onto a trap thrower and let him go.



click on this link www.rock103.com and click on the twisted vids.



Happy shooting PW

 

[RBSOB]

GiesJ, I shoot several hundred rounds per week, 12ga. mostly and mostly skeet but some trap and sporting. My own reloads, tailored to whatever game we're shooting. I've helped several people start in shotgun sports. Sounds to me like your gun doesn't "fit" well or not mounting properly. I'd also bet you are of thin build or at least have a "thin" facial build,like me. Most often a bruised cheek is the result of "lite" or no contact of your face with the gun comb, not caused by too firm contact! When the gun recoils, even with lite loads, it closes whatever gap there may be with an unpleasant whack, thus the bruise! Is it a field stocked gun? Try others for fit, most shotgunners are happy to help out a new-shooter. Most trap specific guns have very High combs and thus insure firm contact. I use a product called CheekEZ on one of my guns, it is a firm foam pad applied to the comb to improve cheek to comb contact as much as cushion the blow. You should see some of these around any trap or skeet field and find them in mags. , very inexpensive. Don't give up on the game yet, there are solutions! Hope I can help, Jim G.

 

[GiesJ]

Thanks for everyone's input - I'm shooting a Remington 3200 with 32" barrells and light target loads. I average a couple hundered rounds a week and Yes, I'm built pretty thin with long arms and neck. I have had several members at the club watch me shoot and cannot find anything wrong with my form, how I mount the gun or how I stay on it when shooting. I have been told that it is quite possible that I need the heel of the gun increased to put a bit of an angle on the recoil pad. I am going to play with that a bit and see if it helps. I love to shoot but three days later my face is still tender and lumpy...

 

[LSMITH]

If your physique and/or clothing has not changed drastically recently the gun is not the problem, providing it fit you before it started knocking you in the cheek... ... ... .



Something changed for a gun that had not been hitting you to start hitting you. Find out what changed. Hardware solutions to software problems can be very expensive and put you months behind.



I am not trying to be a know-it-all or a jerk, but I have been there and done this before, got a T-shirt set AND a sweater type of been there and done that. I also know a couple of guys that have been there too, the potential to damage your scoring is pretty large at this point. Couple hundred rounds a week and a 3200 means you are dead serious about the game, just trying to warn you of the hazards.

 

[NETim]

I'm sort thin too and I get whapped in the cheek a little even with an 1100. I started shooting an 11-87 a few years back that has an adjustable comb on it. I have set up the comb so that the leading edge of the comb is twisted out away from my face a little. That way when the gun recoils, it recoils away from my face. This seems to help. Adjustable combs are a wonderful thing IMHO.



Of course, this idea is patented so you can't use it.



I've never shot a 3200 so I don't know how thick the comb is on one. The combs on 1100's are on the thin side, so that doesn't help with recoil.



Many trapshooters lube the comb of their shotgun with Vaseline or dry talc powder so that it slips past their cheek.



I also shoot 1 oz loads a lot. They are death on 16 yard targets and recoil is reduced quite a bit.



A thin Sorbothane pad on the comb may help some too.



Good luck,



Tim

 

[RonaldLarson]

Yup

Shot trap and skeet competitively. Used a Winchester 101 over/under which was fit to me. If you are mounting and sighting properly, the cheek should get sore. There ain't any better way to put it! Remember, also, that your forestock arm should be held with your index finger pointing straight down the barrel. This forces the butt stock into your sight plane more securely. I shot 175 rounds weekly and the old cheek quit complaining.

Next, concentrate on shifting your feet positions with each station. Station one requires a slight left- foot- out stance, then each progressive station becomes more parallel to the house, untill station four. At four and five, shift your right foot ahead slightly. This compensates for bird flight direction and reduces the need to flex your midsection, which slows response.

Great fun, is it not?!

Ron

 

[RBSOB]

GiesJ, keep us posted on your progress. I may have misunderstood your situation. Are you are relatively new shooter discovering a bruised cheek or an experienced trap shooter suddenly finding a new problem, as LSMITH indicated? A 3200 with 32" barrels and an adjustable butt pad sure sounds like a Trap gun! A recent change in mounting, due to a change from heavy winter clothing to lite summer-wear can certainly affect cheek\comb contact! I think you are on the right track with the adjustable butt-pad. I would lower the pad [drop the heel] also, thereby raising the comb\contact and shoot a few rounds this week-end. See if your scores and your sore cheek don't improve! Use the same loads as before, for now, making only one change at a time. Then try a comb pad such as a Cheek EZ. I second the opinion on 1 oz. loads, I load 1 oz. of 7 1\2s to about 1300 f. p. s. for all trap yardages. Good Shootin' this week-end and let us know! Jim G.

 

[GiesJ]

A thanks for everyone’s continued help. I took the weekend off from shooting and did a little fishing. I have a small lump in my cheek that bothers me for several days after I shoot.

Your help has made me realize that several months ago I shot and did not have any ill effects - because of the winter months and lots more clothes! I'm trying to track down a good stock fitter/gunsmith to get the length of pull increased and possibly put an adjustable pad on their as well. It's a good start. thanks again for everyone's help,

j