My wife (5'-2" and 110 pounds) recently purchased a single shot H&R 20 gauge with no recoil pad. The gun fits her well now, but has a little too much recoil for her liking. She wanted to purchase something inexpensive because she was unsure if she would like shooting clays and upland birds.
Should I purchase a recoil pad for the stock or for her shoulder?
I am a longtime shotgunner but have not had recoil issues in the past. So I am unschooled in what to purchase.
Maybe cutting the stock down and adding a good recoil pad on the stock is the way to go?
Good recoil pads are a great help. Limbsaver has a good one. The single shot guns are probably the heaviest recoiling. A vest with a pad does not hurt. Remember in cold weather, there will be a coat involved. This will not only offer some additional relief from recoil, but will also affect the length of pull.
If she progresses, it may beehoove you to introduce her to a gas operated gun.
They sell the slip on ones at most sporting goods location (Walmart etc.) I have two of them and have rotated them on different guns with good results. Currently one is being used on an old commercial mauser in 7mm Rem Mag by a new shooter, seems he likes the 7mm more than the .30-06 now!
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I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.
The slip on is a good idea. Limbsaver makes one as well. There are other good ones, I'm just going by experience on this one. Cross Hair shot a heavy load in my Wingmaster & liked it. LimbSaver : Products : Slip-On Recoil Pad
They make a pad for women it is called the heraean shield look it up online. and you can use it with rifles or shotguns and you don't need more than one so you save money.
Ugh, I've always hated single shot 20 gauges. They kick more than any rifle I've ever owned, and have probably turned more people off to shooting shotguns than anything else.
We found a recoil pad at Midwest USA that hooks around a bra strap that isn't too bad. If that doesn't do the trick we're going to install a limbsaver pad on the stock.
I have shot the gun and didn't think it kicked to bad, but then again I shoot a 10 gauge side-by-side for goose hunting. I also shoot an 870 3 1/2" sometimes for geese. Between those two, I'm surprised I can feel anything at all with my shoulder.
Anyway, thanks again for the input. She seems to think that between the two pads she will be able to handle the recoil just fine.
Also her stance may be wrong. If she shoots right handed have her practice bringing the shotgun up to her shoulder and getting it into the pocket between her collar bone and shoulder. Make sure she is keeping it tight against her shoulder. No space in between. She should be leaning forward slightly with her left knee bent and slightly forward her right leg supporting. You should be able to shove the shotgun back when she is holding it in position with out her falling over or stepping back at all. Making sure the shotgun is UNLOADED first.
This will alievate some of the perceived recoil as well as a good shoulder pad or butt pad.
Im not saying you did this. Just have to say it.
Nothing pissses me off more than seeing someone hand a shotgun to someone without telling them how to stand first. I dont find the videos that show that funny in the least.
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It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
Her stance is fair, not great but fair. Being small she has a tendancy to not lean into the gun. She does lean into it just not as far as I would like to see. But she will only take just so much direction from me before I feel in danger from a gunshot. So, I tend to let her learn at her own pace.
She has had firearm safety training and she is a shooter of 20+ years (rifles). She is an accomplished hunter of antelope and deer, she just hadn't tried her had at wingshooting. She owns a .243 and two .22lr rifles and a .357 mag pistol. I figured that having shot the .243 she should have a fair idea of what recoil can do. But she says the 20 gauge has the most severe recoil of any gun she has shot. I don't doubt her for a second.
Anyway, we have a handle on this, I think. We purchased a small pad to go under her shirt (around the bra strap) and she claims that this pad at least doesn't leave her bruised after 5 shots.
I am also going to put a Limbsaver pad on the stock. I'll have to cut the stock down a little, but that's OK. My gunsmith will cut it down and install the pad for about $60.
Thanks you so much for all the options and experience. This site is a valuable tool.
Put your head between her shoulder and the shotgun butt....Seriously, single-shot shotguns, regardless of gauge, always kick like a mule. Your wife is about the same size as my wife and my buddy's, and they were looking for a shotgun to shoot. Try a youth model 870 in 20 ga. Should be just about right for her.
Seriously, do we have to be this way? I appreciate everyones advice, but this is somewhat harsh. Don't you think?
If we are going to start being A**holes, I can play that way also.
Come on man, lighten up!!! Read my whole post.. Single shot shotguns, in my opinion, are for people who enjoy getting hurt. The best way to discourage someone from shooting, is to give them a single shot shotgun, and I don't care what guage. Many years ago, and I've addressed this before, I had a young shooter going with me to hunt ducks/geese on Lake Ontario. His dad bought him a nice new H&R 12 guage single shot, and this kid couldn't hit the water with it. He was terrified of the kick, and I tried it, and just couldn't believe it.I gave him my Winchester 1200 to try and in no time, he was hitting golden eyes with it. The kid never used that gun when he was with me, as I had a Winchester 1400 that wasn't doing anything. And as the others said, we joke around here quite a bit, so you better get a thicker skin.
