Face Bruising from Stock?

[valleyguy]

Hi all,

First, let me say that I love shooting clays. Very new to this aspect of gun ownership, and I only own a Hawk 982 (Chinese clone of 870 HD), but I've been through about 200 or so clays now, and am having a good time of it.

However, one issue that keeps getting me is that I keep getting a bruise on my face from recoil when shooting clays. The stock on my shotgun is great, probably the stock that most fits me in terms of pull out of all of my guns, yet the kick when my cheek is welded right and my eye is directly over the barrel is giving me a pretty good bruise in the jaw every time I shoot it properly (and hit the clay). End result -- a knot on my jawline by the end of 75 clays.

Any solutions for this that don't require swapping out the stock? I really like the stock otherwise, and I'm just wondering if there's any commercial product or cheap workaround (like gaffer taping some foam on there) to get rid of this issue. I'm sure others here must deal with it as well.

[rayra]

yeah, develop some muscle and better skill at holding your shotgun properly, and mounting to your shoulder properly so that your girp is not so weak your shotgun can smack you in the face like that.
Seriously. If you are bruising your face, you're doing it wrong. Or you're a hemophiliac.

[jamesob]

keep it off your face.

[valleyguy]

So it sounds like I just need to hold it tighter into the shoulder?

I'm 6'2" 220, and not all that fat, so muscle isn't the problem. The recoil just seems to jar it a bit at that angle, and my stock is also a bit narrow where the cheek makes contact. My shoulder isn't even sore after 100 rounds, so clearly I'm getting used to the recoil (and my face isn't as banged up in that one point of contact at my jaw).

I was under the impression you're supposed to keep cheek weld, with eye over the barrel -- not correct?

[garion]

are you shooting 3" or 3 1/2" magnums?

[Timberwolf]

If you're 6'2" and reasonably built and you are getting cheek slap the chances are pretty good your shotgun is a little too short for you. Most weapons are built for the avg. person, about 5"10'. Try putting a slip on recoil pad in the shotgun and see if that cures the problem. If it does just add spacers.

[Omega13device]

After 100 rounds of clays with a 12 gauge my shoulder is sore but not my cheek. Sounds like maybe you're not pressing the butt firmly into your shoulder. Cheek weld yes, but but your cheek isn't what's holding the shotgun against your shoulder.

[bowfin]

DO NOT lift your face up off the stock.
DO keep the stock firmly against the shoulder.

The other fixes might involve getting the stock to fit you better. Try a slip on recoil pad as first suggested as a quick experiment.

If that doesn't fix the problem, find a gun shop or gunsmith who can get some stock measurements for you, as you might need something other than an average stock.

Life is too short to fool around for years missing targets and getting whacked in the face because one didn't spend a few bucks getting a shotgun he could shoot. My uncle is an avid hunter, but for years he was renowned as a lousy shot on prairie chickens, pheasants, turkey, waterfowl, you name it. He finally bit the bullet and bought a new shotgun, and I cajoled him into taking it to a gunsmith and getting the stock cut to fit him. Voila, his field shooting improved immensely, to where he was one of the better shots in the duck blind.

Sporting Clays is an even more challenging form of shooting, so find someone at the range who can help you out.

Good Luck!

[randy]

If you live in the LA area there is a guy that fits stocks at Oaktree once a month. He does it while you wait.

[mvpatriot]

I'm beat up right now from a couple hundred rounds at Prado shooting clays!

[Gryff]

My FAL would give me a swollen cheek whenever I shot NRA High-Power matches with it.

[Joe_13]

Face slap is caused by poor gun fit. Or a improper mount.
Minor adjustments to the angle of the stock can help.
Also cheek pads are available that can stick onto the top of your stock. That always helps. But keep in mind it will raise your point of impact (by raising your line of sight),..

and don't listen to Jamesob... Keep your stock firm on your face.

[CSACANNONEER]

After 100 rounds of clays with a 12 gauge my shoulder is sore but not my cheek. Sounds like maybe you're not pressing the butt firmly into your shoulder. Cheek weld yes, but but your cheek isn't what's holding the shotgun against your shoulder.

Then you are probably not shouldering your gun properly or, you need to have it custom fit to you. Maybe, both.

[M. Sage]

I've heard that if your shotgun stock's LOP feels comfortable, it's probably too short.

Though you might just be holding it too loose and/or low in the shoulder. Keep your face firmly on the stock, too.

[lehn20]

Faceslap is improper stance IMO.