HUNTING TIPS - SHOOTING WATERFOWL - RECOIL
Wayne Leek of Remington Arms Company has divided recoil into 2 functions (1) action of the shot moving forward and the gun’s reaction moving rearward. (2) The action of the gun against the shooter’s shoulder and the shooters reaction to the shot. Mr. Leek feels that shooters that hold the shotgun tight against the shoulder with hands gripped tight around the gun experience more recoil than shooters that hold the gun rather loosely and absorb more recoil with their hands and arms. The gun moves back more gradually, spreading out the recoil. This is the principal of gas-operated shotguns; the recoil forces are spread over a longer period of time. Recoil affects the shooter by momentarily jarring his head off the stock and the fore-end hand pulling the barrel downwards. This takes the shooter off target for the following shot. Grant Ilseng, shooting instructor, feels the sensation of recoil is magnified by the sudden explosion of the shot being fires close to the shooter's face. For this reason he says ear-protection not only will protect hearing but also reduces flinching due to noise. Earplugs such as “Lee Sonic” block most of the gun blast but do not block normal sounds. Bob Brister in his book “Shotgunning” writes that the comb of the stock and the balance of the shotgun will make a difference in the “kick” of the shot. If a shotgun is perfectly balanced, the recoil will go straight back and appear relatively mild. The same gun balanced so that its barrel jumps upward with the shot will whack the shooter a sharp blow to the chops. Have your gun checked for balance. Any good gunsmith can balance it.
The first rule of holes: If you are in one, stop digging.
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