Why does a shotgun recoil

Thanks to the restriction of a limited atmosphere in the barrel, this sudden energy then builds up pressure. This pressure seeks out the path of least resistance, pushing the projectile bullet or shot, depending on the type of gun used through the barrel of the gun and out the forward end muzzle. This sudden release of pressure causes the entire length of the gun to move backward and into the shoulder of the person firing the gun.

The amount of powder and constriction of the barrel determine how much kick or recoil is experienced. It is a misconception that the amount of report noise the gun makes determines how much recoil it actually has.

The sound of a gun has more to do with barrel length than charge. Also, the closer the end of the barrel is to your ears, the louder the gun seems. From a safety standpoint, you should always wear eye and ear protection on the range. Over time, your hearing can be permanently damaged if not properly shielded from the report of gunfire. So how do you take the kick out of recoil? Remember, as in any other shooting event, repetition results in accurate and precise shots.

First, shooting a gun that does not fit you is a step in the wrong direction. Although it may seem that smaller-gauge guns will have lighter recoil, this is not true; guns that weigh less will have even more felt recoil. You need to be able to properly shoulder the gun comfortably in the crease of your shoulder, located below the clavicle collarbone and directly opposite the shoulder blade.

This area is located between two major muscles known as the pectoralis major and the deltoid muscle. Improperly shouldering the gun outside of these areas accentuates the amount of recoil you feel.

Think of your body as the shock absorber on a car and the gun being fired as a bump in the road. I am tired of getting a bruised cheek from a shotgun. Q: I took up shooting with my boyfriend 18 months ago. I started with a Miroku Sporter but found the recoil too painful and suffered recoil bruises to my lower shoulder.

I now use a semi-auto which has helped a little, but I would like to go back to the over-and-under. Would it stop the bruising if I had it fitted with a recoil pad? Not all butt pads are created equal. Some are hard as hockey pucks and provide little recoil reduction. The gel pad-and comb-in Benelli's ComforTech stock is also effective.

Recoil pads are especially welcome in the T-shirt weather of teal and early goose seasons. Later in the year, when you're bundled in five layers, you're already wearing a recoil pad. This is one of those features that some people find helpful, others worthless.

Vents cut in the barrel channel expanding gases upward to counter muzzle rise. I believe it works to an extent, but it can also annoy your partners in the blind, as it directs muzzle blast outward. Gun fit. Although manufacturers don't advertise stock spacers and shims as recoil reducers, that's exactly what they are.

A gun that fits won't kick you as badly. If the stock is too long or too short, if the drop is too much or not enough, or if the cast is wrong, your gun will kick harder. You can add weight to thefront end of a pump or auto, which also will curb muzzle climb, with a recoilreducer that replaces the plug or magazine cap. The Graco ;graco-corp. This small-bore scout rifle is the author's constant companion. From early tackdriving muzzleloaders to today's long-range game getters, these rifles have earned their reputations for hitting where hunters aim.