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What Are the Long-Term Effects of Recoil?

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Recoil?

By Recoil No Comments

Hunting or shooting for sport, while fun, can have long-term adverse effects on your body. The recoil from shotguns may be significant. Additionally, the repetitive, one-sided movements can also put a strain on your body.

Recoil can cause a lot of negative effects on your body. So, how do you take care of these issues, and more importantly, how do you prevent these injuries in the first place? Using a high-quality recoil pad with a dampener can help reduce and redistribute the recoil energy. Some of the most common recoil injuries include neck pain, cheek slapping, and headaches.

If you’re interested in preventing shotgun recoil effects, we’ll go over common injuries you should watch out for. Additionally, we’ll explain how to treat and prevent shotgun injuries and pain. This article is also a great resource if you want to better understand the pain problems that can be associated with gun recoil.

Why Does Recoil Cause Pain?

While most people realize that shotgun recoil may cause bruising, some people may not be aware of the long-term effects of recoil. Shooting requires the repetition of the same muscles over and over again. This can lead to posture, muscle, and alignment issues. The force of the recoil also affects the body, particularly over a period of time. Repetitive recoils may cause pain in more than just the shoulder area. You may also experience wrist, back, and elbow pain.

These effects may also be exasperated by improper form while shooting. For example, if you misalign your foot, it may cause you knee or back pain. If your problem is with your shoulder, then you may experience issues with your neck. It’s a good idea to get the root cause of the injury in order to prevent any pain.

What Are the Most Common Long-Term Effects of Recoil?

If you don’t have an adequate pad to dampen the effects of recoil, you’ll likely see some long-term injuries that are more than just light bruising. People who shoot often will likely experience some of these long-term effects if proper precautions aren’t taken.

Some of the most common shotgun recoil effects are tissue damage to the shoulder and other types of shoulder trauma. Other common injuries are pinched nerves in the neck and back as well as overall stiffness and spinal pain.

What Treatments Are Available to Help With the Effects of Recoil?

There are some treatments available to help with the pain and rehabilitation of long-lasting injuries due to recoil. Generally, surgery and medication are only for the most severe cases. Instead, you’ll likely focus on rehabilitation and physical therapy.

A physical therapist may provide realignment through manual adjustments. Additionally, you may go through specific exercises designed for muscle activation. The right treatment plan will be specific to your specific pains and injuries. Ultimately, at the end of the day, physical therapy and rest might be suggested by your doctor.

You’ll also need to consider getting to the root of the problem by reevaluating your form. If you’re new to shooting a shotgun, you should always familiarize yourself with the proper shooting stance and technique. If you don’t have the proper form down, you risk pain and injury from the recoil.

Another way to help reduce pain from recoil is to improve your core strength. Strengthening your core is an important exercise to prevent back pain and spasms. With more core strength and stability you’ll also be able to better control the effects of the recoil.

When should you see a health professional about your pain?

It’s hard to know when you should see someone about your pain during shooting. If you feel pain persistently throughout the entire activity or you have lingering pain after shooting, then you should consider seeing a professional. They can help you with clearing up any problematic health or alignment issues.

How Can You Prevent Pain and Injury During Shooting?

Though there are treatments and exercises you can do to help with pain from shotgun recoil effects, it’s always better to prevent issues before they arise. If your shotgun doesn’t have a recoil pad, you’ll likely deal with pain and long-term issues from consistent recoil use. Similarly, generic rubber recoil pads don’t provide the same advantages and shock absorption capabilities as FalconStrike products.

If you’re a beginner, you may want to take lessons to learn the proper form. Having the wrong form while you shoot is a surefire way to make yourself uncomfortable and set up for long-term issues. Someone with experience can help you nail the right form right away so that you don’t deal with misalignment or unnecessary stress on certain body parts.

To prevent injury or long-term issues, you should invest in a quality recoil pad. Our recoil pads work by using a hydraulic fluid that is able to contort the pad around the shooter’s shoulder. Instead of a metal or wood forcing itself into your shoulder with considerable force, you’ll have a cushion to prevent bruising.

In addition, the elastic bladder and energy conversion dampener work to reduce and redistribute the force from the recoil across the point of contact. In this way, the recoil pad works to soften the blow to reduce any initial pain, which will allow you to shoot for longer periods of time with more accuracy. Using this type of pad will also help you to avoid the long-term effects of recoil, as it will redistribute the force around a greater surface area. You’ll be able to better avoid shoulder trauma and lasting pain in this area.

The effects of recoil may be long-lasting and painful if you don’t take the proper precautions. You should always make sure that you are using the proper form and investing in high-quality products, like our FalconStrike recoil pads. These innovative pads work to reduce the recoil, so you won’t suffer from harmful long-term effects. Additionally, they can also improve your performance and endurance. If you’re interested in recoil pads that actually work and improve your shot, then take a look at our custom and multi-fit options.

Reduce the effects of recoil at your next sporting clays outing with the FalconStrike Hydraulic Recoil Pad! 

  • Hydraulic Custom-Fit Recoil Pad

    $179.99
Clays, Trap, Skeet Shooting

Clays, Trap, Skeet

By Shooting Tips No Comments

There are three popular shotgun sports–clays, trap, and skeet. These sports test a shooter’s ability to hit moving targets. Though all three options simulate bird hunting, there are differences between each one.

Sporting clays are unique from the group as the sport most closely resembles real hunting with targets flying in a variety of angles and directions. If you’re interested in learning more about these sports, we’ll explain in more detail about sporting clays, the differences between the three shotgun sports, and why having adequate recoil pads are a necessary part of your game.

History of Sporting Clays

Sporting clays are a kind of clay bird shooting, which has its origins in England. During this time, British shooting schools replaced live pigeons with clay targets. The goal was to create a sport that accurately replicated the conditions of real-life hunting.

By the late 1980s, the US caught onto this type of sport and began to hold competitive events. Sporting clays continue to be a popular sport among shotgun enthusiasts, as it mimics real-life bird and upland hunting. Much of the following around clay shooting has come from the National Sporting Clays Association. 

The Difference Between Clays, Trap, and Skeet

There are a few differences between clays, trap, and skeet shooting. Though all three sports originated as simulated bird hunting, they have become distinctive from each other.

Trap shooting involves attempting to hit targets moving away from the shooter. The height of each target remains the same. However, the targets move through the air at various angles. Skeet shooting developed out of trap shooting, as shooters noticed that trap didn’t follow bird movement patterns. The purpose of skeet shooting is to hit two crossing targets that have been shot through separate machines.

Sporting clays is the most realistic to bird hunting out of the three sports. With clay shooting, there will be a variety of angles and speeds. While one target may fly towards the shooter, the next one may launch away from them.

All three sports can be performed with various types of shotguns. However, it’s important to have good recoil pads so you don’t deal with the effects of recoil, such as soreness and slippage. Also, for these sports, you’ll want recoil pads to help with improved accuracy, as the lack of slippage and extra comfort the pads provide are helpful when you’re firing multiple rounds.

Sporting Clay Courses

People often refer to sporting clays as “golf with a shotgun” due to the sport’s course. A typical course may have 12, 15, or 20 stations. At each station, the shooter will navigate a varied selection of targets from different machines to best simulate real hunting conditions.

To perform your best, you’re going to need the best equipment! Our high-quality recoil pads are made with safety and comfort in mind. Take a look at our shop and find the right recoil pad to help with your game.

Common-Trap-Shooting-Mistakes-and-How-to-Avoid-Them

Common Trap Shooting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

By Shooting Tips No Comments

Looking to enhance your performance in trap shooting? It’s crucial to understand that even seemingly minor errors can affect your results. To ensure you excel, familiarizing yourself with potential pitfalls is essential.

Whether you’re a novice in trap shooting or frequently struggle to hit targets, acquiring knowledge about the fundamentals and the reasons behind occasional mishaps is paramount. This blog will delve into prevalent errors, such as improper foot placement and inadequate follow-through. Additionally, we’ll provide practical techniques for rectifying and preventing these mistakes, empowering you to step onto the field with confidence and elevate your accuracy.

Foot Placement

In trap shooting, you’ll need your body’s full range of motion to hit the desired targets. Your foot placement affects your ability to rotate your body to see the target clearly and take the shot. If you don’t align and place your feet properly, you are more likely to miss the shot. Improper foot placement can also cause imbalance, which will affect the shot.

In order to avoid improper foot placement, you should place your feet about shoulder-width apart. You’ll want to make sure that you have room to rotate your body comfortably, so place your feet accordingly to ensure you have enough space for the follow-through.

Shooting too Late

A common mistake that people make is shooting too late. Instead of picking up the target close by, people wait until the target is far away to aim and shoot. This is especially common among new shooters, as the target appears more fast-moving when it’s close, so they wait until it’s farther away to aim. However, this is not a good idea and won’t lead to better accuracy.

To avoid making this mistake, shooters should try intensely focusing on the target right away. Shooters should focus hard on the target so it will be easier to shoot. Also, being aggressive may be a way to counteract this mistake, as you should not wait too long before firing the gun.

Flinching

An inevitable part of shooting is the recoil. This force pushes back onto the shooter and can cause a lot of problems, namely flinching. When a shooter flinches, the accuracy of the shot is likely to be poor.

If you want to avoid flinching, there are a few different things you can try to minimize and get rid of the flinch for good. One of the best ways to minimize flinching is to lessen the effects of recoil. Having the proper gear is a good starting point for this reduction. Shooting vests with built-in pads help to reduce any pain or discomfort you may feel from recoil. You should also consider purchasing the right recoil pads.

Some pads use springs or coils to minimize the effect recoil has on the body. However, these types of pads are not the most effective ones on the market. Our recoil pads are designed with the same technology found on aircraft landing gear, which significantly reduces the effects of recoil.

The recoil pads will help reduce flinching, as the recoil force will convert to heat that is spread throughout the shoulder area. You won’t have to worry about the pain or soreness that comes with recoil. However, you should also take care to address any mental blocks that may still cause flinching. Focusing on the target and the correct techniques, along with using the proper gear, is the best way to overcome flinching altogether.

Follow-Through

Another common mistake that trap shooters make is a lack of follow-through. If it seems like you’ve done everything else right when taking a shot, but you keep missing the target, it could be a problem with your follow-through.

Luckily, this mistake comes with a quick fix. The next time you go to shoot, try to overemphasize the follow-through by at least an extra second or until you see the target fall.

Safety Procedures

It’s crucial to follow all of the safety procedures in trap shooting. Not doing so may result in severe consequences. Proper safety starts with wearing protection for your ears and eyes. You should always wear earplugs or earmuffs to the range. There are various products on the market that cater to different needs. You could opt for simple and cheap ear plugs or you could go with amplified ear muffs to better hear those around you. You’ll also need to pick up lenses to protect your eyes from any dust, accidental ricochets, or target shards.

Distractions

If you’re just starting out in the sport, you may be unaware of the proper etiquette that is encouraged on the course. One of the most important etiquette rules on the trap shooting course is to refrain from distracting other shooters. It’s common courtesy to leave your phones turned off or left behind in the car. In the same way, you should also avoid making any noise when it’s not your turn so you don’t distract the other shooters.

Another way that people commonly cause distractions on the trap shooting course is by bending down to pick up shells. A simple way to avoid doing this is to carry a shell pouch or a shooting vest. That way, you’ll have your shells handy and have a place to store empties.

There are many small details that go into successful trap shooting. If you’re just starting out in the sport or you want to improve your skills, avoiding the most common mistakes is a good place to start. Poor technique and flinching are two of the most common reasons for poor accuracy. To reduce flinching, you can purchase the best recoil pads on the market to ensure you remain comfortable and relaxed throughout the entire shooting session. Check out our shop to find the right recoil pads before heading to the trap shooting course.

Recoil

Recoil

By Recoil No Comments

Recoil is an unavoidable part of firing a shotgun. For some people, the recoil may be so severe that it affects their shooting abilities. The effects may include discomfort and pain, which can decrease your overall stamina. Recoil can also affect a shooter’s accuracy.

For those shooters looking to perform their best, finding high-quality recoil pads is essential to controlling these effects. We’ll dive deeper into how recoil may affect your accuracy and why recoil pads can be a solution.

How Does Recoil Affect Your Accuracy?

If you want to understand how recoil affects a shooter’s accuracy, you’ll need to understand the basics of recoil. No matter what kind of shotgun you possess, you’ll have to find a way to deal with its physical effects. What is recoil, and why is it an unavoidable part of shooting?

Recoil happens during the mechanical function of firing a gun. According to Newton’s third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. With this physics law, guns predictably have great force redirected back into the shoulder of the shooter once the weapon is fired.

Though you may not be fazed by the pain or discomfort other people might feel from the recoil, you’ll still have to deal with its effects in terms of shooting accuracy. Because some guns have greater recoil, it will be more difficult to control your aim. If you can’t control your aim, your shooting accuracy will drastically decrease, and you won’t perform as well.

Why Is FalconStrike the Best on the Market?

If you’re looking for the best products on the market that can help curtail recoil, you should consider our recoil reduction system. Our recoil pads work a bit differently than others on the market, which might make use of rubber, coils, springs, metal plates, or hollows.

Our pads use hydraulic fluid to shape around the form of your body. When combined with an expandable elastic bladder, the energy received from the recoil will spread out over a larger surface area. Furthermore, the energy conversion dampener converts recoil energy into heat, which is then distributed around the initial point of contact.

People who want to step up their game need to invest in the very best recoil pads to improve their accuracy and shooting endurance. When dealing with the oftentimes strong effects of recoil, people may struggle with their performance, as the force from the recoil of the gun often makes it difficult for the shooter to control their aim toward a target due to fatique. When using a high-quality recoil pad that can reduce the impact of force on the body, a shooter will have greater control over the outcome of the shots. If you haven’t found the right recoil pad yet for your gun, you should check out the options in our shop.

Essentials for Comfort and Safety When Shooting Clays, Trap, and Skeet

Essentials for Comfort and Safety When Shooting Clays, Trap, and Skeet

By Shooting Tips No Comments

Are you looking to make your shooting experience more enjoyable? There are a few absolutely necessary items you need for clays, trap, and skeet shooting, like a gun, eye protection, and earplugs. However, there are also a lot of other essentials, like recoil pads and shell pouches to make your time at the range more productive and comfortable.

Whether you’re just starting out as a beginner or you have some experience with shooting clays, trap, and skeet, you’ll need to find the right gear to perform your best. The best gear and apparel will allow you to move freely, handle the gun easily, and protect yourself from the effects of recoil. We’ll go over some of the top essentials you should consider for your next day on the shooting course.

Eye Protection

One of the most important essentials you’ll need for target shooting is protective eyewear. During target shooting, there is a lot of different debris flying around your face, such as powder dust, target shards, and even ricochets. Glasses can also help to shield your eyes from the sun. However, you should take care to avoid dark-colored lenses, as they make it harder to spot the target.

Rose and orange-tinted glasses work well. You may also want to consider a hat for target shooting. Baseball caps work well to keep the sun out of your eyes and protect your face.

Hearing Protection

Besides eye protection, the other area of your body you’ll want to protect is your ears. Having some kind of hearing protection is essential, without it you’ll risk damaging your hearing. Foam earplugs will do an adequate job. You could also invest in ear muffs to wear in addition to ear plugs. The high-quality ones may feature an amplification system, where quieter noises are amplified while the loud ones are muffled.

Gloves

While you’re out shooting many rounds, your hands will start to experience discomfort from the friction of handling the forearm, comb, and grip of your gun. They can also protect your hands from dreary weather, such as cold temperatures or rain, so you can remain comfortable and perform your best.

Lightweight and Stretchy Clothing

It’s also important to choose clothing that won’t interfere with your shooting performance. Clothing that is too tight will restrict your movements and may affect the outcome of your shooting. On the flip side, if your shirt is too loose and baggy, you risk it catching while mounting your gun.

Vests

If you’re looking for a practical addition to your shooting wardrobe, a shooting vest is helpful for any type of target shooting sport. Shooting vests have helpful features, such as pockets designed to carry shells and glasses. Some shooting vests even come with pads on the shoulder to help soften the force of recoil.

Recoil Pads

Recoil pads are an essential part of your shooting gear. Without a high-quality recoil pad, your overall performance will suffer, as the effects of recoil include a decrease in accuracy. Recoil pads help to reduce the force of recoil, which causes flinching. With a reduction in flinching during your shooting, you’ll improve the accuracy of your shots.

Plus, it will help to reduce pain and soreness, which will allow you to spend more time on the course. For those shooters looking to spend long periods of time on the course, making things comfortable for yourself is crucial. Even if you don’t think the pain will bother you, consistent shooting practices may lead to long-term injury or soreness over time. Recoil pads can help spread the force of impact over a larger surface area, so you aren’t left with bruises or pain.

Shell Pouches

During trap and skeet shooting, you’ll need to carry shells with you from each station. Having a shell pouch makes this aspect of trap and skeet shooting simple and convenient. Most shell pouches will have dividers so you can organize your shells, extra cartridges, and spent shells separately.

Range Bags

Carrying your gear around the trap, skeet, or sporting clays course can be tiring—unless you have a golf cart. But if you end up walking—you’ll want something that can hold all of your gear while you walk to the fields and around the course. You’ll want to find a range bag that accommodates all of your gear, apparel, and items you may need or want while on the course.

Why Are Gear and Apparel Important for Target Shooting?

Target shooting is all about precision and accuracy. If you’re uncomfortable or don’t have the right gear, you likely won’t be at the top of your game. Without the right gear, not only will you have to deal with safety issues concerning your eyes and ears, but you’ll also have to deal with the effects of recoil. Luckily, there are a lot of great products out there that don’t cost a fortune and can significantly help protect you and improve your performance.

Having the best products for your target shooting is essential if you want to do your best out on the field. If you’re looking to improve your performance in target shooting sports, like trap, skeet, or sporting clays,  you should consider our recoil pads. Recoil is one of the most common reasons why shooters might be dealing with accuracy issues or stamina issues, as it may cause pain and flinching. Our hydraulic fluid energy-dampening system makes our pads stand out from the competition. You’ll enjoy more comfort and better control over your shots. Check out the products in our shop to find the recoil pad that’s right for you.

The Art of Trap Shooting: Techniques and Tips for Hitting More Targets

By Shooting Tips No Comments

Many people throughout the US enjoy participating in shooting sports. In particular, trap shooting is a fun activity to show off your shooting skills at moving targets. Though experienced shooters may make the sport look simple and easy, there are a lot of small details that determine the outcome of shots.

If you’re new to trap shooting, you may not be aware of all the finer intricacies that play a role in shooting accuracy. Some of the dynamics you need to know about before heading to the course include stance, grip, and follow-through. We’ll explain these details more in-depth, so you can begin a successful target-shooting session. We’ll also go over some of the most helpful tips for improving your accuracy if you’re looking to take your skills to the next level.

The Techniques Used in Trap Shooting

When you think about shooting a gun, you probably think mainly about your upper body. However, when trap shooting, you’ll want to consider your posture and stance, as they both play a role in how effective you’ll be on the course. You’ll also need to consider your grip and follow through in order to have the best results.

Proper Stance

Having the proper stance is essential to accuracy. It can help you to see the target more clearly, mount your gun properly, and have a greater sense of stability. What is the right stance for trap shooting? If you’re right-handed, you’ll need to rotate your body slightly to the right.

By doing this move, your body will be able to swing to the right side more easily and you’re more likely to mount your gun correctly. In addition to these benefits, this rotated stance also gives the shooter a straightened perspective, which allows the shooter to see the target better.

You’ll also want to open your stance up and keep your feet at least shoulder-width apart. This footwork will give you greater stability compared to a closed-off stance.

Grip

Having a proper grip when shooting a gun is necessary, as it allows you to have greater control over it. You’ll want to make sure you grip the gun firmly so you still have enough control. Those just starting out in shooting may make the mistake of gripping too tightly. A too-tight grip will lead to rigid muscles and stiff arms, which makes it difficult to freely move.

Follow-Through (Use your animal)

The most important tool you have when you are trap shooting is your own instinct, which is your inner animal. Your animal is your natural instinct that lets you catch a ball at just the right moment, which way to turn when you are at a busy intersection, and when you are doing something that requires a lot of focus, but you’re not necessarily actively thinking about it. Your laser eyesight will help you follow through, and after you’ve practiced with trapshooting a little bit longer, you’ll nail your target with perfect consistency almost every time.

Tips for Improving Accuracy

Getting these techniques down for trap shooting takes time and practice. If you’re a beginner or just want to improve your existing skills, trying out a few simple tips may help improve your accuracy. You may not think about all of the little details that go into precise shooting. However, preparing yourself as much as possible is one of the most surefire ways to improve your accuracy.

Keep a Focused Mindset

Having the right attitude may seem like a small inconsequential part of shooting, but it makes a big difference. Shooters need to maintain focus and concentration in order to perfect their skills. A good way to practice concentration is to clear your mind of outside distractions. If you’re thinking about other things not related to the target, your mind will probably not be focused enough to have consistent accuracy.

Consider the Weather

Though having the perfect weather for a day of trap shooting is preferred, it’s not always realistic. When you’re out on the course, you’ll have to deal with wind and other weather conditions. You should try to remain as focused on the target as possible to ensure accuracy in not ideal weather conditions.

Using the Correct Choke

You’ll need to think about using the right choke for your course. If you’re shooting at the station closest to the targets, you might want to consider an improved cylinder choke. However, if you’re farther back from the target, you’ll want to consider switching to a modified choke.

Provide a resource link here.

Use the Right Gear

The accuracy during your time on the course may be affected by the gear you choose to use. You’ll want to use gear that assists in your safety and comfort. When your gear isn’t effective, and you’re wearing restrictive clothing, following proper techniques is difficult. Some of the gear you should consider picking up before heading out for trap shooting include protective eyewear, glasses, recoil pads, and vests. Ultimately, the right accessories will depend on your personal preferences.

Part of selecting the right gear might include picking out recoil pads. The effects of recoil have the potential to negatively affect your trap shooting. Significant recoil may cause the shooter to flinch, which could affect accuracy. Additionally, many people experience pain and soreness from recoil, which means that they take fewer shots per session. Our recoil pads help mitigate the effects of recoil by converting the energy into heat, which is then spread out over the point of contact.

Trap shooting is a fun sport that requires a bit of knowledge and practice to get right. If you’re just starting out in this sport, you’ll want to learn the proper techniques so that shooting correctly becomes muscle memory. For shooters who are looking to level up their skills, it’s a good idea to take a look at the finer details of the shot, such as recoil. Having the best recoil pads on the market is an excellent way of improving your accuracy. Check out the recoil pads in our shop if you want to improve your trap shooting accuracy.

Gun Safety & Etiquette When You’re Clay Shooting

By Shooting Tips No Comments

Of all aspects of shooting, safety is the most important part of the sport. When you are clay shooting at a club or shooting with friends, safety starts with etiquette and respect. When you go to a club, introduce yourself to the manager, employees, and other members. Make sure that you ask about their shooting rules and any etiquette that is specific to that club. Not only does this help you feel comfortable with the club, but it also helps other shooters get to know and feel a little bit more comfortable with you. Let’s take a look at some other rules that will help you promote a safe clay shooting experience.

Make sure that you have the right shot size

Always ask about the rules that are particular to the club. Many ranges will allow shooters to have 7-½, 8, or 9 as the allowable sizes used when clay shooting and a certain maximum allowable muzzle velocity. The reason for this rule is often that parts of the shot can exit the shooting area if other shots and velocities are used. When a clay pigeon is launched, it is moving at about 42 miles per hour. If you are shooting a 12 gauge, you are going to be fine if you go with something between 1200 and 1300 feet per second.

Ask about the commands that people in the club use for releasing a clay pigeon

Load, pull, and shoot, from post to post, is how the clay shooting regimen typically goes. This gives the person time to load their gun safely, give the command to release the clay pigeon (“pull,” “yeah,” ‘go,” etc.). Then, there is a brief pause where the person at the next shooting post gets ready to shoot. When you visit a new shooting club, meet the person who releases the clay pigeon and ask a few questions about their shooting routine. If you’re on a self-serve course, take a practice lead.  It’s also best to watch a round of shooting before you assume a shooting post. This will let you get familiar with the body language that club regulars are used to. This article also has beneficial information that will make your shooting experience better and safer.

Always know where you are pointing your muzzle

Most shooting clubs will have their rules posted on their website, but many clubs will state where you can point your muzzle. For most clubs, the safe muzzle directions will be downrange. Do not walk the shooting line or change posts with a loaded gun. When you are not shooting, make sure that it is obvious to others that your gun is not loaded. Also, do not talk on the shooting line. This can distract other shooters and the person releasing the clay pigeons. When walking with your gun, open the break, point the barrel down with the stock facing backwards.

Know nuances about the “one-in-the-gun” rule

Many clubs have a rule about having one shell in the gun at any given time. In some situations, shooters might like to use an over/under gun. If you see other shooters with different variations on this rule, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask about how many shots you are allowed to take while it’s your turn to shoot.

Be aware of what you are doing with your empty shells

Some shooters will invest in a shell catcher for their semi-automatic shotgun. This will keep the shells from hitting people next to you. If you are using a pump action shotgun, you should consider ejecting your spent shell casings softly. Pick up your empty shells. Many shooting posts will have magnets, so you can safely place your empty cartridges until you are done shooting.

Be exceptionally aware of other shooters on busy days at the club

On busy days, most of the posts will be occupied by shooters and there will be others who are waiting for their turn. Make sure that you are ready to go when it’s your time. Also, don’t take frequent breaks while you are shooting. A very important rule to follow is where to walk if you need to change shooting posts. If you are changing posts, such as moving from post 1 to post 5, always walk behind the shooting line.

Remember that politeness and thoughtfulness are universal

When you join a new shooting club, are shooting with different people for the first time, or are just new to the sport, getting to know other shooters and club members goes a long way. You might get to know some people and they will become your shooting companion. You will get to know the rhythm of the shooting line and enjoy a productive shooting session every time you go to the club.

The Difference Between 12 Gauge and 20 Gauge

By Shooting Tips No Comments

These two different shotgun gauges are the most common and popular among hunters and clay shooters. There are also 10, 16, 28, and .410 bores common in the arsenals of different shooters. “Gauge” refers to the bore diameter of the shotgun. The gauge of the shotgun impacts multiple factors when shooting, ranging from accuracy to the amount of recoil experienced by the shooter.

What’s the key difference between a 12 gauge shell and a 20 gauge shell?

At the end of the day, the main difference between gauge sizes is the number of BBs, which is often called the projectile or shot. A 12 gauge shell will typically have one to one and one eighth ounces of shot, while a 20 gauge shell will have about ⅞ ounces of shot. For hunting, the 12 gauge shell offers a wider shot for birds, better patterns for waterfowl, and more weight when shooting turkey. For clay shooting, the 12 gauge and its wider spread might be a more suitable option for someone who wants to break more clay pigeons.

How much recoil does a 12 gauge shotgun have vs a 20 gauge?

The shooting experience and the type of shell used in a shotgun will directly impact the amount of recoil. For target and clay shooting, a 12 gauge produces about 18 ft-lbs of recoil. When hunting waterfowl, you will experience about 33 ft-lbs of recoil because the shotgun load is slightly different for that hunting experience.

A 20-gauge shooter will experience about 11 ft-lbs of recoil for target shooting and about 19 ft-lbs of recoil for shooting waterfowl. In the rare occurrence someone is using a 10-gauge for target shooting, they will experience about 47 ft-lbs of recoil.

Which is the better gauge for clay shooting?

Many new shooters start with a 20 gauge because it has less recoil. Over time, many shooters transition over to a 12 gauge because of the wider spread and better odds of hitting the clay pigeon. Most shooters will use #8 shots and a tighter choke, letting them take advantage of the wider spread and greater number of pellets.

Should recoil be a factor when selecting your gauge?

Most new shooters will think about recoil when selecting their ideal shotgun gauge. That being said, recoil can easily be reduced by adding a recoil pad from Falcon Strike®. With a potential for 80% recoil reduction, your recoil from a 12 gauge shotgun will be only slightly more than that of a 20 gauge without a recoil pad. A new shooter can easily get acclimated to the 12 gauge and not have to transition over to a different gun later in their shooting career.

In addition to thinking about gauge size, a shooting instructor can help you choose the right type of gauge for clay shooting based upon your height, weight, shooting experience and other personal preferences.

How to Improve with Sporting Clays

Choosing the Right Type of Gun For Clay Shooting

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Clay target shooting is a popular sport that requires precision, accuracy, and the right equipment. The most important piece of equipment for clay target shooting is the shotgun; you need something that is accurate, comfortable, and absorbs recoil nicely. Let’s answer some questions about choosing the right shotgun for target shooting.

Which Gauge Is Best?

“Gauge” refers to the bore diameter of the shotgun, which determines the size of the shell that it can shoot. The most common gauges for clay target shooting are 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and 28 gauge.

The 12 gauge is the most popular choice for clay target shooting, as it offers the most power and versatility. It is also the most common gauge for competitive shooting events. However, some shooters may prefer a smaller gauge, such as the 20 gauge or 28 gauge, for a lighter recoil and improved handling. Some seasoned shooters might opt for a .410 gauge, which makes hitting the clay pigeon a little bit more difficult.

Should You Use a Longer or Shorter Barrel?

The length of the shotgun barrel is another important consideration. Longer barrels tend to be more accurate and offer a smoother swing, while shorter barrels are more maneuverable and easier to handle. The most common barrel lengths for clay target shooting are between 26 and 32 inches. As a rule of thumb, shorter barrels will be better for skeet shooting and you will enjoy better accuracy with clay shooting with a longer barrel. Add a source on this one.

Should You Use a Tighter Choke For Clay Shooting?

The choke is the constriction at the end of the shotgun barrel that affects the spread of the shot. A tighter choke will result in a narrower pattern, while a looser choke will result in a wider pattern. The right choke depends on the type of shooting you’ll be doing and the distance of the targets.

For trap shooting, which involves shooting at targets that are moving away from the shooter, a tighter choke is typically used. For skeet shooting, which involves shooting at targets that are crossing in front of the shooter, a looser choke may be preferred.

Make Sure Your Shotgun Has an Appropriate Length of Pull and a Good Recoil Pad

Make sure that your shotgun has an appropriate length of pull and a good recoil pad. Length of pull is essentially the measure of whether or not the gun’s size is a good fit for the shooter. If the length of pull is correct, the shooter’s support hand will be about one and a half inches away from their nose. Perfect length of pull depends upon the shooter and cannot be truly gauged unless they pick up a shotgun and actually inspect the gun for how it feels. Some shooting coaches and gun sellers will actually place cardboard spacers on the gun. Before the gun is sold, a shorter stock can be added and other changes can be made to the gun.

The stock is the part of the shotgun that the shooter holds. It’s important to choose a stock that fits the shooter well, as this can affect accuracy and comfort. A good stock should allow for a comfortable grip and proper alignment of the shooter’s eye with the shotgun’s sight.

A recoil pad from Falcon Strike® will also make your clay shooting experience more enjoyable, let you shoot with more accuracy, and let you spend more time on the shooting range.

Which Action is Best for Clay Shooting?

Shotguns come in several different types of actions, including break-action, pump-action, and semi-automatic. The action determines how the shotgun is loaded and fired. For clay target shooting, a break-action shotgun is a popular choice, as it offers a consistent and reliable performance with two-shots.

Is a Heavier or Lighter Shotgun Better?

The weight of the shotgun is also an important consideration. A heavier shotgun can help absorb recoil and provide a smoother swing, but it can also be more difficult to handle. A lighter shotgun is easier to handle, but may produce more recoil.

Finding the Right Shotgun for Clay Shooting

If you are looking for a shotgun that will make clay shooting exciting, go with a 12 gauge over/under gun. The heavier gauge will mean a heavier gun to help absorb recoil, enhance your accuracy, and let you get a second shot in.

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