Question on Hip Shootin'

[The Arapaho Kid]

I have a question.  Is it leagal to "hip shoot" a shotgun...as in not shouldering it?  My shotgun "Mule" beats my shoulder to hamburger every time I use it.  I snug it in tight, but I still end up with a big bruise that runs almost to my elbow.  I've seen pictures of guys, CAS shooters, hip shooting shotguns and I'm wondering if this is legal?  If anyone has the knowledge on this...lemme know.

[Will Ketchum]

Everyplace I have shot it is.  Some worry about putting shots over the burm but with a shotgun that is less of a concern.  It is pretty easy to get good at shooting the shotgun from the hip.  Many have had shoulder surgery and are unable at least for a time to shoot from the shoulder.

I am wondering what type of loads you are shooting that are beating you so bad? Have you tried the Winchester low recoil loads sometimes called feather lites?

What type of shotgun are you shooting?  you might consider putting a recoil reducer in the butt stock.  It makes a big difference.

Will Ketchum

[The Arapaho Kid]

My scattergun is a Baikal Russian made "Coachgun" called the "Bounty Hunter".  12 ga, 20 inch barrels, visable, but non working hammers and dual triggers.  The ammo I was using on my first shoot was hunting ammo, not target.  I didn't know what to get when I got it, so I just got three boxes of shells.  I know shotguns kick, but mine really packs a wallop!

Someone told me to take the butt plate off and if there was a hole in the shoulder stock I should fill that with shot and that would take some of the wallop out of it.  There was and I did.  I filled it with steel BB's.  I don't know if filling that hole with shot will "de-wallop" it, or not?  I am considering getting one of those slip on rubber recoil pads and I also have a shoulder recoil pad that I can wear under my shirt.

All I know is I gotta tame that scattergun down!

[Delmonico]

How much shot was in the shells and what was the drahm eqv.?  Try something with one oz and not more than 2 3/4 to 3 drahm eqv.   Lead #9 will do a lot more that the steel BB's.  One thing also, that short a barrels reduces weight some and also increases muzzle flip.  Some time just for fun see if someone will let you try one with about 26 to 28 inches of barrel, bet it will make a big differance since it seems like you don't have a real tough shoulder.  (Don't let that concern you, seen many a macho type fool themselves tryin' to shoot more gun than their body will allow, myself, no proplem from the shoulder, but in hand, I got problems)

If that don't help, stop by sometime I think I  got some 3 1/2 inch #4 buckshot and a single-shot 10 gauge, a session with that will make yers seem tame.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

AK, Del speaks the truth. When you look at the box, there should be either a dram equiv. or if they're following the newer specs a speed listed. Get ones marked 2 3/4 dram or less if marked in dram equiv. or around 1145 or less if marked as speed. Shot load of 1 oz. or 7/8ths. The AA low recoil/low noise are marked, I believe as min. dram equiv. and the shot load is marked as 26 grams. The part number for them is AA12FL8. A coach type gun is somewhat lighter than a longer barreled one, except for the TTN 1878's and I believe the Chinese '99's. Also remember to tuck that scatter gun up tight and lean into it. If you leave it loose on the shoulder or have some space there it'll thump you worse. For the recoil shy, those AA's are the way to go, or if you roll your own keep the LUP down around 6,000 to 6,500. In speed, between 1045 to 1145fps. Put lead in that stock, steel is lighter than lead. My single shot rifle is lighter than it should be for the caliber, so I put some 38-55 bullets in the stock to weigh it down some more. Hope this helps you some..............Buck

[Will Ketchum]

I have heard bad things about putting shot in the butt for extra weight.  If I remember right it has something to with it's corroding and then causing swelling which can spilt the stock.  I would get one of the Mercury suppressors Or at least out the shot into something to keep it from corroding.

Even the lighter field loads can give you a battering over 6 stages or so.. Try those low recoil trap loads  mentioned above.

Will Ketchum

[Delmonico]

Heck I ain't shot a 12 in so many years I ferget they now have 7/8 oz loads.  For light recoil in 1 oz loads I always like PB by DuPont (now IMR)  Some really nice lab tested 1 oz, for 1 1/8 oz IMR 7625 was always great.  Both powders are somewhat negleted by todays reloaders who want the gun cleaner when done than when they started.  They often take a little more powder and are a little dirtier burnin' than the newer powders, but if I still shot 12 gauge both these and IMR 4756 would be in the loadin' room.

[The Arapaho Kid]

I just emptied the shot I placed in the stock of my scattergun and weighed it.  It came to just a shade over 4 ounces.  I used standard steel BB gun BB's.  I don't understand how 4 ounces could effect the recoil of that gun in any way    I'm gonna go the "cheap route" with this.  I'll get a rubber, slip on, recoil pad for the butt stock and I now have a shoulder worn recoil pad that I can wear under my shirt and it won't be seen.
I'm also gonna start hip shootin' as long as the clubs up in this area say it's ok.  I may miss a few targets...but....I'll still have fun slingin' lead!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I agree with Will. One of those suppressors should work wonders.

[The Arapaho Kid]

I agree with Will. One of those suppressors should work wonders.

I think I'll take Mule down to the gun shop tomorrow and check into getting one of those attached.  It might cost a couple of bucks, but if it takes the wallop out if it....thass good!

[El Peludo]

A-Rap-Aho, I got to say that I think that Baikal is a thumper in and of itself.  I have one, and I've only used it a few times, because it hits much harder than either my Rossi - my usual match shootgun - or my '97.  I ain't recoil sensitive - aware, yes, but not sensitive, and I just don't care that much for it.  That said, all of the things you have been told could help.  Lots of folks swear by those mercury recoil reducers, and a "magnum" Past Recoil Shield fastened inside of your shirt will definitely take some of the sting out of the gun; I use one when I'm bench shooting.  Also, as we get older, we tend to bruise easier than when we were youngsters; I often do, now, where I never used to.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

You ain't just a whistlin' Dixie there , brother. I bruise a heck of a lot easier than I used to.......Buck

[Delmonico]

On note on the lead shot in the stock.  It is never meant to just add weight, but it is a poor mans version of the mercury surpressor that dates way back.  You use #8 or #9 shot and leave enough room for it to move, it then trys to stay in place when the gun recoils.  It the hits the stock and absorbs some of the recoil, just like the mercury does.  About 3/4 to 7/8 full is right.  Did this on my H&R single shot 10 gauge I used to use a lot.  A couple of boxes of 2 1/4 oz lead or 54 #4 Buckshot pellets, will batter the shot so bad ya can't get it back in when you tear the gun down for maintance.

If you have never fired a #4 Buckshot with 54, 0.24 pellets out of a 9 1/2 pound 10 gauge you are missing a ride better that any at Disney world.  It is right on that ragged edge of not really being a lot of fun.

(PS if yer wonderin' the #4 Buck was not used for sky bustin' geese, there were problems it was used to solve and it did quite nice on feral dogs that thought they owned our place.)

[The Arapaho Kid]

I measured the depth of the hole in the butt stock.  It's exactly 4 and a quarter inches deep.  Next I measured a full load of BB's in it.  That came to just a shade over 4 ounces.  So I had no way to measure how many BB's were in an inch after being put in the hole, I did it by weight.  I tossed in three ounces of standard BB gun BB's.  There is about an inch from the top of the BB's to the end of the hole.  they will rattle around in there.  Is this what I wanted to accomplish?

[Delmonico]

Try it and see, fine lead shot will do a better job, steel BB's don't take up as much space, weigh less and bonce.   It's dead weight that works with either this or the mercury supressor. 

[Lou Graham]

Hey Kid, did you check the length of pull?  If you add a pad, it will increase and you may need to cut the stock down some.
The other pards are right, the short barrels make for nasty recoil.

How much do you love that shotgun?  If it ain't a lot, start lookin' around for one that suits you better.  Only shotgun I ever sold was that nasty Russkie coach gun.  Beat me to death no matter what I tried.  Shotguns are personal.  Some of them just ain't a match for proper fit without major expense for modification.  On the new Russkie coach guns, it ain't usually worth it to go to that kind of expense.  Just trade/sell and find another shotgun that works better for you.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Lou:  Plan A is...I will try BP shot shells, or Winchester AA Featherlights and a rubber slip on recoil pad and that recoil pad I wear under my shirt.  If that doesn't work, then I go to Plan B and that is getting one of those murcury recoil reducers installed in the gun.  If Plan B doesn't work I go to Plan C and that is getting another scattergun.  I'm open for suggestions on Plan C!

[Missouri Marshal]

I have a Baikal and I love it, went through 2 Stogers and give up on them.  The length of pull on the Baikal was a little short so I added a pachmier recoil pad and I don't even notice the recoil when I shoot it, course all I shoot are trap/skeet loads, usually 7/8oz #7 1/2.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

To really get the effect you want from that home-grown supressor, use LEAD shot instead of steel B-Bs.  Makes a difference!

[The Arapaho Kid]

Advise taken and understood on lead shot as opposed to steel BB's.  So then what size shot should I use? 8? 9?....smaller...bigger??