First shotgun experience

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dmxx99

Moderator
I shot my Remington 870 12 gauge for the first time ever with 2 3/4 1 ounce slugs out of a 18 inch barrel I shot 10 slugs.That was all I had but 50 would be my limit the recoil was like getting punched in the shoulder by a big goon even though I held it right and leaned into the shot with one foot out I feel sore in the shoulder.But I was accurate with it at 30 feet I put perfect groupings with it.It was a fun gun to shoot though even though the recoil was more than I thought and ever experienced.I handled the recoil well but it kicked hard enough for my shoulder to be sore after only 10 slugs.
 
"...the recoil was like getting punched in the shoulder by a big goon..."
Why do you think they call them slugs? :D
 
If you want to get punched by an even bigger goon shoot some 3" turkey loads with 2 ounces of #6 shot.Them shells will knock your hat in the creek:D
 
I had the biggest caliber,loudest,and heaviest kicking gun at the range at the time.The guy next to me had either a 308 or a 300 Winchester magnum bolt action rifle.I felt out of place there because everyone else had .223 and 308 rifles and I was the only one there with a 12 gauge slug gun.
3 inch slugs are out of the question I could barely comfortably handle 2 3/4 slugs anything more I will put on a better recoil pad than the stock Remington 870 rubber pad.I am 6 foot 1 and weigh 205 lbs so my weight and height did help absorb some of the recoil but it still was a wild experience.
 
try shooting slugs when your left arm is still wrecked from a car accident and hand won't grip the fore stock well...:eek: I suggest working your way up learning grip and such. Start with the hundred count bricks of soft loads. Then up to full power "game loads". I am not well versed in dram equivalent etc. but My winchester "bulker" box is a 2 1/2 DR. EQ. and Winchester super "X" is 2 3/4. I also have a box of remington express long range that claim 1220 fps.
All 3 are 20 gauge so it may differ for 12 gauge.

As for the noise... shotguns "BOOM" while rifles "BANG"... I am 3 miles from the WMA and during general gun I can tell who is lighting off rifles or shotguns...
both sound about the same volume at 3 miles but one is a crack and the other is still thunder...
Brent
 
One more point of note... I prefer to hold the gun tight as you stated but I let my body recoil with the gun during practice to mitigate the shoulder punch. For a tactical use I do resist the recoil more so as to be back on target faster.
Brent
 
I had a similar experience shooting my Mossy 500. Damn thing nearly wrecked my shoulder. I tried rapid firing to condition myself to not fear the recoil. Didn't work. My shoulder stayed bruised for two weeks after.
 
If the gun doesn't fit right, it's going to hurt - period. There are plenty of videos, etc., showing tiny folks shooting big caliber gun that fit them properly and they shot with great accuracy and no pain.
 
heres a life lesson. I shot my 870 with 3 1/2" magnums with only a pistol grip. the next day I bought more 3/ 12"s and a proper stock. OUCH! chalk that up to a life lesson
 
Holding the gun tight to the shoulder is right. But I disagree with leaning into the gun. You're in effect trying to stop the gun from recoiling in that position. As someone mentioned earlier you need to stand pretty straight and let the movement of your body take some of the recoil.
Try finding some 2-1/2" target loads to start out with, 2-3/4" if not. Work you way up.
Shooting those slugs will never be a walk in the park, but they shouldn't take your shoulder of either.
 
I replaced my OEM Buttpad with a Limbsaver one and it made a huge difference. My first day of shooting a few rounds of buck left my shoulder feeling pretty numb. Next time (with the new buttpad) I shot more with no shoulder stiffness at all the next day.
 
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