Help! Trying to reducd recoil for a small framed woman

gobigorgohome

gobigorgohome

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My girlfriend got lucky and won a Benelli Nova .20ga youth at a fundraiser dinner this spring. I finally got her out shooting it and she did great (knocked her first 8 of 10 clays down, not bad for her first time ever shooting a shotgun)! The 2 3/4" target loads were fine, but when I switched her to some 3" black cloud, she said the recoil was almost too much and that at most, she could do 10 or so shots and them be done for the day.

I know come fall the extra layers of clothing will help, but is there any way to help take down the recoil? Would a ported choke like a patternmaster make any difference at all? Or maybe a limb saver (so long as it doesn't change the LOP)?

Thanks for the input CGN!
 
A ported choke will not reduce recoil. A gell pad inside her shooting jacket may help with recoil to the shoulder but if she's taking it to the face then it won't help at all. The only effective way to reduce recoil is to use a lighter shell or add weight to the gun... or both.

BTW, gell recoil pads for your jacket are available from several makers such as Beretta and can be found in lots of different sporting goods stores or even some gun club shops.
 
PAST recoil pad, limbsaver as already mentioned, there are mercury filled recoil reducers that can be installed inside the butt as well. Otherwise make sure she has her cheek SOLID on that comb- that is the one biggest mistake I see women- or anyone else for that matter- make. Convince her that the recoil will pull the stock off her cheek or the alternative is getting slapped in the jaw.
 
shoot more of the lighter load - as the shooter learns to control the shotgun move up the loads (but if she is shooting 80% with target loads why change?)
 
gobigorgohome said:
My girlfriend got lucky and won a Benelli Nova .20ga youth at a fundraiser dinner this spring. I finally got her out shooting it and she did great (knocked her first 8 of 10 clays down, not bad for her first time ever shooting a shotgun)! The 2 3/4" target loads were fine, but when I switched her to some 3" black cloud, she said the recoil was almost too much and that at most, she could do 10 or so shots and them be done for the day.

I know come fall the extra layers of clothing will help, but is there any way to help take down the recoil? Would a ported choke like a patternmaster make any difference at all? Or maybe a limb saver (so long as it doesn't change the LOP)?

Thanks for the input CGN!
Click to expand...

The answer to her problem is in your first paragraph. Why would you switch her to 3" Black Clouds? To shoot clays????

Recoil is a function of weight of the gun, weight of the ejecta and the speed that ejecta is accelerated to. Physics.

It can be mitigated by the action of a semi, by limbsaver type pads and by ensuring proper fit. But one way or another, it's happening. The only way to add a Limbsaver and not change the LOP is to cut the stock. The Limbsaver needs room to work.

Save the 3" heavier loads for when she is actually hunting, when the adrenaline rush masks the recoil hit.
 
Raising the comb will increase recoil . If the Nova comes with shims make sure they are installed correctly with cast taking the recoil away from her face . A recoil reducer will help but will likely be expensive and must be installed correctly or it will not work and may cause damage to the firearm . I use to install them in trap guns . As mentioned shoot lots with light loads and only switch over to a heavier load for game . Muscle has memory so likely she will have a flinch already .
 
One issue that hasn't been mentioned is that a lot of 20 g shotguns have more felt recoil than a 12 g because they are smaller and lighter to start with. Has she tried a 12g? Another thing I have noticed is that women generally have a hard time holding up the forestock of a heavier shotgun and have a tendency to lean back to compensate. This throws the whole "gun fit" scenario out the window. Also, why would you think 3" shells would be better? Stick to light target loads until you get the problem figured out. No point in developing a flinch too.
 
All good points, bdft, but weight has been mentioned as a factor. As soon as the thread got started. Recoil is so easy and everyone is talking about it like it’s some giant mystery as to why it’s happening at uncomfortable levels.

It amazes me everyone is off talking about combs and fit and mercury filled recoil reducers when the OP has the answer staring him in the face! Why is he having her shoot 3” Black Clouds. She liked the 2 3/4” target loads. Go back to that. Problem solved at no cost.
 
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