There has been a progressive reduction in the maximum permitted loads in Interna- tional and domestic clay pigeon shooting competition in recent years because of concerns about recoil. The first reduction was made by UIT (the International Shoot- ing Union - the body which controls Olym- pic clay pigeon shooting) in 1976. Others followed in 1989 and 1993. Similar initia- tives have been made by domestic clay pi- geon shooting associations. I use 24 gram loads by choice now for nearly all my shot- gun shooting. I have also moved over to softer recoiling rifle rounds (for example I have moved from 300 Win Mag to 300 WSM)


Excessive recoil can lead to flinching - a sudden muscle tension or spasm in antici- pation of recoil - and to neck and shoulder problems (especially in those who shoot a great deal). Any professional shooting in- structor will have heard clients complaining of recoil on hundreds of occasions: a sig- nificant part of my instructional work in- volves altering firearms or technique to reduce recoil in one way or another. Cartridge makers are especially conscious of the potential problem of recoil (and the market demand for low recoiling car- tridges) and have developed cartridges which allow for high velocities but rela- tively low felt recoil. This is achieved by various means which include, careful pro- pellant and primer selection and develop- ment, the introduction of shock absorbing base wads, compressing plastic wads, and, not least, by the fashion for reduced car- tridge payload.


Gun designers are well aware of the prob- lem of recoil too. There has been much ex- perimentation to reduce the actual and felt recoil of firearms in recent years. The trend in the military has been towards much smaller cartridges for rifles. The .303 and .308 have now been replaced with the much softer shooting, 5.56mm. Shotgun manufacturers have experimented with


bore size and bore geometry as a means of reducing felt recoil. The softest shooting shotguns in my experience are gas oper- ated semi-automatics. I am also a believer in wider than average bore dimensions – tightly bored gun and tightly choked guns seem to recoil more. Many products have been marketed over the years as a means to reduce felt recoil. These include recoil pads, muzzle brakes, barrel porting, mercury and mechanical 'recoil' reducers, lengthened forcing cones (the funnel like constriction which leads from the bore of a shotgun to the main bore), the back boring of barrel (widening the bore size), pneumatic, sprung or hy- draulic telescopic stock conversions, and padded cheek pieces. Some of these de- vices have a negligible effect (mercury re- coil reducers); some are well proven (e.g. recoil pads made of modern shock absorb- ing materials).


The commonest causes of excessive felt recoil are poor mounting technique, poor stock design and/or fit and unsuitable car- tridge-gun combinations as noted. The sim- plest cures are light loaded, light payload, cartridges and the fitting of one of the modern high-tech polymer pads such as the Kick-Eez. If you shoot clays or pigeons consider a gas-operated semi-automatic if all else fails.


It is only common sense to keep recoil to a minimum. With a suitable gun, we are all capable of firing thousands of shots a year without discomfort or harm (my annual average is about 20,000). Do not ignore recoil though. If you do suffer there is a reason. Check that your technique is sound. Make sure that your gun fit is o.k. (not to short a stock, not too high or low in the comb, and not too angled). Make sure that the gun and cartridge combination are suitable. If you are firing 1 oz. loads in a 6lb 20 bore it will kick.


www.positiveshooting.com Michael Yardly I Shoot and Fish E-Zine December 2011 58


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