Trap: how do you guys do it?

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oneguy

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Went trap shooting for the first time yesterday with a couple guys. We were using 12g target loads.

We shot 200 clays between the 3 of us and I have to admit...my shoulder is a little tender today...lol

I really enjoyed it, but would like to find a way to make it a little less punishing.

Softer pad? 16g/20g?
 
What type of gun and loads were you using?

Proper stance, a gun that fits, lighter 12 gauge loads, a heavier gun, a proper recoil pad, padded shooting vest all contribute to reducing the impact of felt recoil. Years of practice help too. ;)
 
All the things Clay said. Google "evoshield" shirts for your quickest and dirtiest solution.....

2-300 rounds with my 12g with the shirt, and it's like nothing happened, without, sometimes a visible bruise.

GGG
 
Nothing like a well-fitted gun and a good pad to minimize recoil. Consistent mounting of the gun to keep it in the pocket of the shoulder, not on top of the shoulder muscle, helps too.
2 3/4 dram, 1 1/8 oz. Trap loads have roughly 10% less recoil than 3 dram equivalent. High velocity loads are utterly unnecessary for Trap.
And of course, a heavier gun for absorbs recoil.
 
A well fitting gun and proper form helps immensely. My shoulder use to get sore after 25 shots when shooting my 870 in a t-shirt. Now, with my Browning XT, I'll shoot 300 shells a day and not feel it in the same shirt because the gun fits so much better. A semi auto will definitely recoil less as well. Try a vest or padded shirt if you're still having trouble.

You also build up an immunity to it once you've shot thousands of shots a year.
 
As stated above gun fit is essential to reduced felt recoil along with a combination of many elements such as proper gun mount, stance, follow through at the shot, a recoil pad with good absorption such as a decelerator pad, padded shoulder vest or shirt etc. Personally I don't shoot trap any longer without a dedicated trap gun and I want a gun to be no less than 8 pounds in weight. As well high velocity or handicap loads are completely unecessary. I shoot 1oz 1200 fps loads(labeled light load on box) when I can get them and when I can't 1 1/8oz 1145fps (2 3/4 dram) loads. As well there is conditioning. Even I notice after each winter off it takes a couple outings for the shoulder to become conditioned to repetitive shooting.

I have a little rule I live by: Proper gun fit = target hit, improper gun fit = shooter hit!!
 
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I suspect from your description you have a combination of too light a gun and too heavy a load and not used to shooting that much. Most Sundays I shoot 4-5 rounds(100-125 targets), always through a slide-action, never get sore. Most competitions will shoot 100, 200 or 400 targets, shooting 100 every week keeps you use to that volume, so competition day doesn't feel weird.

Like Spank & myself, most target shooters these days are shooting 1oz loads in 12ga. 1Oz of #8@1200fps will break targets on the 27yrd line with authority if you do your part. Be aware of some 7/8oz loads however, most of the commercial stuff is pushing 1350fps and generally will have as much recoil as the "handicap" trap loads do.
 
All the previous advice plus semi. The down side to a semi is you may need to use a shell catcher so your ejected hulls are not hitting the person to your right. A simple rubber band will do in a pinch. Like the blue ones you find on bunches of asparagus.
 
As others mentioned, a good fitting gun will make a huge difference. I started with a semi, but it didn't quite fit right, and slapped me in the face quite a bit. Moving up to a Browning XT Trap over/under made shooting enjoyable and more consistent.
 
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I only load 7/8 oz shells, occasionally I shoot factory loads (1 oz), both at 1200 fps. Out of a 7.5 lb over/under those are real pussycats, not much recoil at all. I still wear a padded vest, just the same. All my shotguns have recoil pads of one type or another.
Some will say "the more lead in the air, the better" and I agree with that sentiment. It's why I don't shoot 3/4 oz loads..
I can get away with shooting heavier loads out of a semi, there's less recoil to begin with. My shooting suffers if I shoot anything over 1 oz out of an o/u in any appreciable quantity.
As for 20 gauge, be careful of gun weight, it's often less than a 12. For an apples to apples comparison of how much recoil a given load generates, look at velocity vs. payload weight. Any shell that gives you 1200 fps with 7/8 oz of shot produces the same amount of recoil, 12 or 20 gauge alike. Some say that "powder X kicks less than powder Y". I'm not a believer in that train of thought.
 
"Some say that "powder X kicks less than powder Y". I'm not a believer in that train of thought." Basic Physics proved this wrong years ago, but some still don't trust basic physics. Speed and weight of ejecta/weight of resistance = level of recoil.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
All the things Clay said. Google "evoshield" shirts for your quickest and dirtiest solution.....

2-300 rounds with my 12g with the shirt, and it's like nothing happened, without, sometimes a visible bruise.

GGG
Click to expand...

I have googled Evoshield and Shooter Shield looks interesting but I can/t figure out where to see or buy one. Does anybody close to you sell them, where did you buy yours?
 
14.99 it seems from midway, I'm sure otherplaces sell em too
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