doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com So, my shoulder is starting to feel better...

Here's the thing; I don't shoot Sporting Clays much, but a while back I shot a 100 round of Sporting Clays with a sweet 16g Fox AE and light 2.5" loads.
I had a ton of fun that day but Ohh wow, that little Fox beat me up.

For those of you who shoot Clays often, what weight 12g SxS would you recommend?

Pigeon guns?

Do you have a chronic injury to your shoulder? Maybe you could shoot fewer rounds out of the same gun.

Best,
Ted

I find the 7 1/2 - 8lb waterfowling 12s with 30 or 32 inch barrel to be just right.
32 inch with a splinter are a little long for me. Don’t really care for beaver tail forends.

But I like the semi pistol grip they typically come with, and with a decent recoil pad, you can shoot 200, one ounce cartridges in a day without misery. I prefer extractors on the range.

16 ga foxes usually weigh about 6 pounds or so...too light for 100 round shooting session...

a 7 pound or heavier gun with a 1 inch pad would be easier on your shoulder...

That's surprising that it bothers you that much. Even if that was a particularly light 16 gauge, light loads for 100 rounds should be no problem. It makes wonder if the gun fits you poorly, perhaps?

I shoot clays of all types with 12bores as light as 6 lbs even and 100 round of even fairly heavy target loads will not bother me at all. The gun fits well and I think that is more than half of the issue. On the other hand, shooting a 20 that was made to fit my wife is somewhat uncomfortable until I add a lace on pad for extra length (a bit more drop would help too).

How does the Fox's dimensions compare with guns that do not bother you so much?

Use a "PAST" pad on your shoulder, under your vest. Don't shoot in a T shirt. I prefer a pigeon gun for serious 12 gauge sporting clays, but who is that serious?

and as to body pads, the beretta gel pad helps...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274808568176

I have Past and Reactar systems.
They might be OK if you shoot pre-mounted, but if you Shoot low gun, there is just too much imprecision in the shoulder pocket for me to wear all that crap up there. If you’re worried about getting the buttstuck into your shoulder pocket, you are worrying about the wrong end of the gun.

A well formed recoil pad goes right into the pocket every time without thinking.

A slip on is a close second.

One would presume, that if you are going to purchase a side-by-side that You hope to maximize your score with, that would include the fitting of a quality recoil pad in that effort.

Unrelated (‘kinda) but, I came to the same conclusion with the strap on pads screwing up my mount as I am trying to be a newly minted 60 year old right handed shooter. Less, is more, in more ways than one.

Still working on it. Everything is good, except my mount. I’ll get there. Without straps, pads and what not.

Best,
Ted

It it's for clay shooting shooting consider 21 gram or 24 gram loads and also try different brands as some, even at those weights, can differ in perceived recoil. You'll not notice much difference in kills. Lagopus.....