Am I holding my shotgun wrong?

[jkgts1]

Okay I have been shooting rifles for a while now but my first shooting a shotgun. When I shoot my rifles I usually rest my cheek bone right on the stock, so I have the same position everytime. When I do this with the shotgun it hurts my cheek bone when I fire. When I position this way the sights line up perfect for me, but hurts my cheek too much. I haven't seen any shotguns with padded cheek rest. So, any advice for me?

Thanks

[ghettoshecky]

I'm not claiming to be an expert or what not, but from my experience leaning into the shotgun with a little hunch in your back tends to help in control. good luck and have fun.

[Rugerman]

What I do is not put my cheek bone on the stock but my actual cheek (the flesh/meat part) From there I learn my head in so that the sights line up.

Don't forget to learn forward alittle too, that helps with the recoil a bit.

[CSACANNONEER]

More info. What type of scattergun? What type of loads? What type of shooting are you doing? There's going to be a big difference between shooting 3" slugs out of a single shot while using rests on a bench and shooting 2 3/4" AA Ultra-Lites from a semi-auto.

You problem may be as simple as the stock not fitting you properly. I know that I don't ever want to shoot an 870 with one of those metal LEO folding stocks. Every one I've ever seen would slice my face open if I rested my cheek on the stock and, that's the only way that I can get a good sight picture with one.

[jkgts1]

I shoot a 870 with synthetic stock, 12 gauge, #7 1/2 shot. I just use standard bird shot from Wally World. I have just been shooting trap lately. The gun seems to fit me well, the site lines up fine with my head positioned comfortably, but its the recoil that just hurts my cheek. Its funny I hear alot of people say that the recoil hurts their shoulder (most likely because the stock is not positioned right in the shoulder), but my shoulder is fine.

[guimus]

After 2 or 3 rounds of trap my cheek starts to get a little beat up too...I may just put something soft on it.

[CSACANNONEER]

I shoot a 870 with synthetic stock, 12 gauge, #7 1/2 shot. I just use standard bird shot from Wally World. I have just been shooting trap lately. The gun seems to fit me well, the site lines up fine with my head positioned comfortably, but its the recoil that just hurts my cheek. Its funny I hear alot of people say that the recoil hurts their shoulder (most likely because the stock is not positioned right in the shoulder), but my shoulder is fine.

You should ask around at the trap range. I'd ask others if you could shoulder their guns to compare the way they fit you. I bet there's another stock out there that will fit you better. Or, maybe, you could try to find a barrel with a higher rib.

[damon1272]

I shoot much like you. There are a few things that you could be doing that is increasing the recoil to your cheek. The first thing is it probably hurts more when you miss and this would indicate that you are lifting your head slightly. This gives the shotgun room to move and get a run into your face. Secondy for trap you may look at shooting a lighter load. More like a #71/2 7/8 ounce load rather than a 1 1/8 ounce load. The hunting load beat the crap out of you over a hundred rounds or so. I would also look to add a r4ecoil reducer like a Dead Mule or look to houge for a new recoil reducing stock. For the most part you are shooting too heavy of a load and probably lifting your head ever so slightly.

[11Z50]

Google "cheek eze". Brownell's has them in stock.

[WolfMansDad]

Generally, the cheekbone does not contact the stock. With shotgunning, your cheek is a little higher off the stock than with a rifle, and your right elbow (for a right-handed shooter) is tucked in lower.

It's not usually possible to diagnose your hold and gun fit over the internet. You're better off getting someone knowledgeable to observe you while you shoot or shoulder the gun.

[XDshooter]

I have the same problem with my 870 express.

What happens is that the stock is too short for me, I am 6'4", so I have to put my cheek bone directly on the stock to get a good sight picture.

A longer stock would place the sight picture higher, thus allowing me to raise my cheek off the stock.

[cobra198]

I have been told that when you are shooting shotguns you are not supposed to lower your head onto the stock. You are supposed to bring the shotgun way up to your face instead of leaning down into it, while keeping your elbow way up in the air). My cheek used to hurt after just a few shots, but now I go out and shoot 3 or 4 boxes and im ok! It also improved my score when I started doing this. Give it a try!

[socalguns]

I knew I read about cheekbone smack before

http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.shotgun-stock-fitting.html

A Common Problem:
One of the biggest problems with stocks made today is the comb of the stock is really high and people have to scrunch down into these stocks to get on target. While at first you may think a lot of wood has to be removed to correct this generally not, you can sand this area down by hand and keep checking this for fit until it is very comfortable to shoot, a telltale sign of this problem is you keep getting smacked on the cheekbone with the stock.