Shotgun Forum banner
  • Whether you're a greenhorn or a seasoned veteran, your collection's next piece is at Bass Pro Shops. Shop Now.

    Advertisement
1 - 20 of 47 Posts

SBE3

· Registered
Joined
·
127 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
The title seems quite random but bear with me :lol:

This is what 50 rounds do to my shoulder from a semi auto. Nothing hard hitting just regular 2 3/4" 1200 fps size 8.

Image


I do not feel pain or flinch, but by bedtime my shoulder looks like this then it becomes darker and for a week I look like I got beaten up. It has been the case my whole life and I did not care much because I did not shoot regularly, now that I do it's beginning to annoy me as I'm virtually bruised all the time since by the time the previous bruising starts disappearing I'd have shot again.

In the past an instructor told me that no gun will ever fit because the area where my pectorals meet the shoulder is bulging and rounded due to bodybuilding. I took it for granted and stopped looking for answers, but now I'm trying to revisit it again because of the new frequency with which I shoot.

Any suggestions, or random ridiculing of this weird problem, are very welcome :mrgreen:
 
SBE3,

First, I am not sure I would go to that instructor again. No matter how massive your pecs are, there are many many great shooters out there who have chests that are larger than you, female shooters, and they can get guns to fit them well.

It is always tough to diagnose these things without seeing the gun, and how you shoot, but in looking at the bruising it looks like you are not seating the gun in the correct location. It should not be hitting your upper arm. I would also make sure you have firmly seated the gun into your shoulder pocket. If you are pulling the trigger and the gun is not firmly seated, or even floating an bit off of your shoulder, it can build up some serious momentum and cause bruising.

I would look for another instructor to work with you on gun fit, and correctly mounting the gun. He/She should be able to identify if the stock needs to be altered to fit you.
 
First, whoever told you that is wrong. Really wrong. Find another qualified instructor to help get you started ASAP.

Next, suck the gun into your shoulder pocket like you mean it. That bruising is from improper positioning, and not enough 'snug' going on....you're giving the gun a running start do to speak.

Good luck, and know it's not going to be like this.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thanks a lot both of you. Regarding the location, I believe the bruising on the arm is what I would describe as "spill over" since I'm not sure of the correct term. The gun rests where you see the main bruising on the pectoral and the trauma somehow spreads to the arm :shock: . I never thought about how snug I grip it though, and will certainly pay attention next time and pull it harder into my shoulder. This needs to be resolved because people at the pool and beginning to think I have a skin disease :mrgreen:
 
It's quite possible that you are holding the gun incorrectly or too loosely, but a heavy semi-auto with a good recoil pad and moderate 1 ounce loads would likely cure most of that. You could also use one of those recoil shields that you strap on or include inside a shooting vest.

I'll bet that your problem is just a combination of several things that could be cured or changed with just a bit of effort.
 
You are mounting the gun too far out on your shoulder, too near your armpit.

You are probably mounting the gun way out there because if you mounted it farther in, the bottom, pointed, "toe" of the recoil pad would make contact with your shoulder way before the top "heel" of the recoil pad.

Solution: Mount your gun farther in from your arm pit. Correct the "pitch" on the stock so that the whole recoil pad, top to bottom, makes simultaneous contact with your shoulder ad you finish your gun mount. (Pitch is the angle formed by the recoil pad and the rib, approximately 90 degrees.)

This pitch correction may require the stock to be recut to the right angle with the rib but first, you can try putting washers on the top recoil pad attachment screw between the stock and the recoil pad to see if you can correct the pitch that way.

Still, the goal is to create the pitch so the whole pad makes simultaneous contact with your "shoulder pocket," which is the slight indentation in your shoulder inside of the shoulder joint. (Your shoulder pocket is easier to identify when you raise your upper arm so it is parallel with the ground.)

And, if you are shooting without a shooting vest that ha a good, thin and flexible (ideally Sorbothane) pad in the shoulder area, you are experiencing more felt recoil than you have to.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Ulysses said:
You could also use one of those recoil shields that you strap on or include inside a shooting vest.
Another excellent suggestion. Actually I have one laying somewhere that I used when I shot heavy rifle calibres. Worth a try {hs#
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Rollin Oswald said:
And, if you are shooting without a shooting vest that ha a good, thin and flexible (ideally Sorbothane) pad in the shoulder area, you are experiencing more felt recoil than you have to.
Indeed. Just my T-shirt and nothing else. I should try to explore padding indeed, then if it doesn't work I would go into the more complicated actions you've just described. Appreciate the input.
 
You need to re-read everything Rollin Oswald posted up there and then do exactly what he tells you.

You don't necessarily need to ditch your instructor, if he actually knows how to shoot and can teach (not the same thing). However like others have said, he has no understanding of how to fit a gun, so ignore his advice on that subject.

Find someone else to do your gun fitting. Florida has several good ones, I would imagine.
 
SBE3 said:
Rollin Oswald said:
And, if you are shooting without a shooting vest that ha a good, thin and flexible (ideally Sorbothane) pad in the shoulder area, you are experiencing more felt recoil than you have to.
Indeed. Just my T-shirt and nothing else. I should try to explore padding indeed, then if it doesn't work I would go into the more complicated actions you've just described. Appreciate the input.
Padding is a supplement to, not a substitute of, a properly fitted gun. Get the gun fitted FIRST.

I never cease to be amazed at how new shooters come here for advice, get it from experts, then deliberately ignore it. :roll:
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Sobrepuesta said:
I never cease to be amazed at how new shooters come here for advice, get it from experts, then deliberately ignore it. :roll:
No one is ignoring anything, that's working your way from the easiest procedures up. Have one on me {P^
 
I'll throw my 2 cents in...I have several Beretta and Remington Semis in both 12 and 20. Older models that had the original hard plastic butt plate on them. They bruised my shoulder too. Once I had pads put on them...no more problems. Do you have pads on your semi?
 
You are a muscular guy and this bruising is in no way normal.
Please see your doctor and discuss an evaluation for a bleeding disorder (like Von Willebrand's disease); at a minimum a platelet count and bleeding time test
http://www.healthline.com/health/bleeding-time#uses2
If you are taking a NSAID or Aspirin, stop them until seeing your doctor.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Drew Hause said:
If you are taking a NSAID or Aspirin, stop them until seeing your doctor.
I take Aspirin daily as a preventative measure based on doctor's advice many years ago because my family has history of strokes.

I'm glad I posted this because another gentleman pointed out the possibility of a blood vessels problem, and I will certainly explore this area thoroughly. Will call the doctor first thing in the morning.

Thank you all. You were a huge help.
 
Drew Hause said:
You are a muscular guy and this bruising is in no way normal.
Please see your doctor and discuss an evaluation for a bleeding disorder (like Von Willebrand's disease); at a minimum a platelet count and bleeding time test
http://www.healthline.com/health/bleeding-time#uses2
If you are taking a NSAID or Aspirin, stop them until seeing your doctor.
Agree 100%. The extent of your bruising after only 50 rounds is by no means normal. All the advise given is great, but internal bleeding is part of a larger issue.
 
Sir,
It definitely has nothing to do with your pectorals protruding, because I've lost about 70 lbs and gained some muscles and the pattern of bruising (just like you but a lot less) is just the same for me, knowing how it happens could help solving it.
It happens only whenever I take a sudden quick shot without having much time to mount it correctly, usually hunting, causing a skin region to be twisted, folded and trapped between the buttstock and your muscles, which upon firing causes blood capillaries to be hurt by the recoil.
I think you might be mounting the gun quickly and shoot, or the buttstock isn't firmly placed against your shoulder.
I believe you should ensure that the gun is firmly placed against your shoulder before firing.

Best wishes.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Maxwedge said:
Agree 100%. The extent of your bruising after only 50 rounds is by no means normal. All the advise given is great, but internal bleeding is part of a larger issue.
Dang! If it wasn't too late I'd have called the doctor now. I'll get this checked asap!!
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Mostafa said:
Best wishes.
Thanks a lot. A very good possibility indeed. Will see a doctor just to be sure there isn't a problem, then will try your advice and see if it's a culprit. Just want to congratulate you on your amazing weight loss. It takes a ton of discipline to do that {hs#
 
1 - 20 of 47 Posts