Recoil Aversion

[kaiservontexas]

How do you break somebody that is recoil averse? I have never encountered an individual, especially male, that is recoil averse. He is not gun averse. He enjoys shooting (not into like we are), but I have to get him capable of handling calibers above .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO, which the largest caliber he has fired to date is 5.56x45mm M855 NATO rounds. Oh, he has no problems with handguns; so, this is a long arm issue.

I had to coax him into shooting my M4 build, which worked beautifully to my great happiness. I just have to ask because this was never an issue for me as a little kid with grandpa. I took to the .30-06 like a duck to water. Advice? I need him able to handle 20-12 gauge and .30 rifles.

[backwoodschemist]

I'd try taking him trap or skeet shooting preferably with a remmy semi. The trap shooting is to keep his mind focused on something besides recoil. The Remington because it's gas operated and soft recoiling.

Try not to let him shoot more than two boxes of shells the first time out.

Make sure that he doesn't have a medical issue with his neck/shoulder first. I've met two recoil sensitive men, both had medical problems. (one neck, one shoulder)

BTW, Bench press/military press work helps tremendously with perceived recoil. The stronger the shooter the less recoil will bother. (just my own observation) I'll bet Groovy Mike can bench a truck.


BWC

[Groovy Mike]

This guy has been bruised and is afraid it will hurt (again).

EASE him into it over a long long time. Let him shoot 7.62x39 (with a pad). Then maybe 6 or 7 shooting sessions later forget the pad. Eventually move up to 308, etc. - use recoil pads and light loads. There is nothing to be gained by causing pain.

If you shoot big bores like 12 gauge, etc. rock with the recoil in a standing position do not attempt to lean into it from the bench or prone position. Stand with nothing behind you, hold the stock firmly against your shoulder and let it push you back while your feet stay in place. Just let the recoil sway your upper body like a sapling. Don't fight it.

I'm good firing just about anything up to and including 50 BMG, but NOT if I have to sit at a bench and punish my shoulder. Shooting for recreation is after all supposed to be fun

And yes, I bought another 375 H&H last week

[bbkaren]

I don't know all that much about long guns in general, but I found that when we put a pistol grip on our 12 guage, it made a world of difference in my ability to handle the recoil. I was able to really snug it into my shoulder.

Without it, for whatever reason, the angle I had to hold the shotgun hurt my right wrist; so when I fired, the recoil was awful, and would form a big welt on my shoulder.

With the pistol grip, I dread it no more.

[Race Bannon]

It may be that the shooter just wants to shoot lighter/smaller calibers, and that's fine. Recoil aversion is a psychological barrier that the individual can over come. In my experience there are several factors. One is the stories that the recoil wil tear your arm off ( usually associated with some macho BS). The second is aversion to noise and muzzel blast. A suprising amount of this can be mitigated by shooting glasses and double ear protection (plugs and muffs). The third is lack of confidence, this is difficult to overcome, but there are ways, one is reduced recoil loads (factory or handloads) the next is don't make the person "center of attraction" with an audience watching and commenting. Care should be taken with scoped rifles as getting hit by the scope during recoil is a confidence breakers. If the shooter is relaxed and confident, recoil is not a problem.

[Groovy Mike]

It may be that the shooter just wants to shoot lighter/smaller calibers, and that's fine. Recoil aversion is a psychological barrier that the individual can over come. In my experience there are several factors. One is the stories that the recoil wil tear your arm off ( usually associated with some macho BS). The second is aversion to noise and muzzel blast. A suprising amount of this can be mitigated by shooting glasses and double ear protection (plugs and muffs). The third is lack of confidence, this is difficult to overcome, but there are ways, one is reduced recoil loads (factory or handloads) the next is don't make the person "center of attraction" with an audience watching and commenting. Care should be taken with scoped rifles as getting hit by the scope during recoil is a confidence breakers. If the shooter is relaxed and confident, recoil is not a problem.

Good advice. Avoid scope eye! And hearing protection is a must. It is so ingrained in me that I didn't even think of it as a factor for new shooters.....

[Joe]

It's been said, but there is value to confirmation:

Eye protection
Plugs and muffs

Start with a .22 Shoot it a lot.
Constant encouragement and "you're doing GREAT!"
Several SESSIONS of .22.
Work into the conversation how most folks greatly exaggerate recoil.

Then shoot .22 LR in an AR platform - borrow or buy a Ceienr or some such kit.
Shoot a lot.

Then go to .223

My wife was trained poorly (by ME - long before I knew better, long before we married) - started her out on a 12 gauge with 3" 00Buck.... She probably weighed 120 soaking wet......not good.

Then I reinforced it by doing it AGAIN a couple years later.
It's amazing she every trusted me again.....

I finally bought her her own 20 gauge and she shot a lot of trap loads out of it until she got comfortable.

She can now shoot anything - I saw her go through a box of 300 WinMag one morning and not flinch.
Her "Baby" is a 30-06.

[kaiservontexas]

It is lack of experience so it is psychological. He grew up shooting .22 in the boy scouts. He wants to hunt. In Texas that means .30 rifle. He did not mind the .223, but for that I'll have to get him to buy the ammo to expend.

[rme49]

Length of trigger pull may be an issue for him.

I find that when I shoot a longarm with too long of a length of pull the recoil is much more uncomfortable. When it is too long I have trouble keeping the butt pad in the pocket and it slams my shoulder where it shouldn't and it is painful.

When I cut down the LOP on my Remington 870 it got alot more comfortable. I can shoot my Mosin Nagant M44 with the hard butt plate without a problem because it has a LOP that fits me well.

[kaiservontexas]

I was thinking of using the M44. Millions of Russians, and other people, have learned to use it as their first firearm. It leaves an impression. But it is simple, no optic, nothing fancy about it, and can take a beating as proven through all the wars the rifle type has fought.

It really is a lack of experience with arms. He thought the M4 middy was going to be some super bad rifle. He fired it, and that myth was quickly dispelled. Hollywood et al have put way to much hype into arms.

I do not want to say short because that would be wrong. He ain't 6 foot like me. I would say 5'10". I do not think LOP would be an issue at that height. My fiance is 5' and fired my Pre-64 model 70 .30-06 no problem. Then again she was raised around arms.