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Cheek slap

1.8K views 24 replies 12 participants last post by  browning.12gauge  
#1 ·
So I recently got back into shooting trap,

I have been shooting a Winchester 1200 and a sears 101.7 SxS. I have recently upgraded to a Nikko 5000 Golden eagle and have been experiencing a lot of trouble getting the gun lined up right.

I either get my shoulder blasted and my face hit or I’m not even lining up for the shot. I feel like it’s a difference in the designs of OU and SxS/pumps/autos.

Anyone have any advice?
 
#4 ·
The horrors of being a poorer college student, I shoot the others fine, but i always seem to have trouble with O/U, i borrowed a cheap club gun and experienced the same issues as this.

But ive always shot fine without feeling anything out of my pumps/SxS/semi autos. So its a connundrum
 
#3 · (Edited)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you might find this informative . . . the quote below comes from Bruce Buck on his Shotgun Report website:
Shotgun Report write-up on Nikko 5000

"The Nikko is a nice gun. I’ve shot a bunch of Nikko “Golden Eagles” in the ’70s. Nikkos were made by Kodensha in Japan. Winchester Model 101s were made by a joint venture company called Olin/Kodensha. The Nikkos and the 101s weren’t made side by side on the same assembly line, but they were quite similar, though not identical.

If you consider your Nikko Golden Eagle to be a Winchester 101 by a different name, you won’t be too far from the truth. I’ve owned a bunch of 101s and always felt that they were the hardest kicking O/U ever made. The Nikkos aren’t far behind. The gold for those Nikko eagles on the side of the receiver may have come from dental fillings jarred loose".


For whatever reason(s), the Winchester 101 (and Nikko) do seem to have a reputation for doling out heavy recoil. That said, many folks shoot unmodified Winchester 101s and Nikko 5000s without complaint. But other folks have the same complaint as you do.

The recoil abuse from your Nikko can be lessened via various well-known techniques . . . a better recoil pad (does your gun have the original 40 year-old pad?), adding weight to the gun, adjustable/padded comb, changes to other stock dimensions, lower-power ammo, or even a custom stock (will be expensive, of course). Consider your overall budget and how much money you're willing to sink into this gun.
 
#5 ·
You would be correct in assuming the recoil pad is original!

I recently borrowed one of my club guns and experienced the same issues, primarily of cheek slap. I believe its really a more "Me" thing than the shotguns, because I shoot all of my other ones without issue, just seems to be an O/U thing.

I grew up hunting birds, and also marines did this a bit but seeing if theres a way i can change my stance to do it better, i beleive i am shooting like a "rifle" and i have gotten away with it because ive been working on the winchester for so long
 
#6 ·
Adjust the pitch, for starters...especially if you are a bigger person. My son shoots a Nikko and we had to adjust the pitch for him. He's a bigger guy...bigger chested...made a lot of difference. Cheek Eez makes spacers that allow you to adjust the pitch and they grind very easily. Its a cheap fix and good place to start. While you're at it...as noted above...if the recoil pad is original, consider ordering a new pad along with the pitched spacer.
 
#7 ·
It is original!, i dont beleive im really a bigger guy (6 2, 215lbs), the shotgun is actually my great grandfathers, its currently my stepdads but ill have to ask him about. modifying it!

I guess this question was more inline with, "why does all 3OU i have shot always slap mee"

I just ran out of shotguns to loan out trying to keep this Club alive (also my GF HATES shooting my SxS) , so i asked to borrow his and he offered me the Nikko or his benelli M2.
 
#17 ·
Sounds like some fine guns you got there, but they are all light field guns that apparently don’t fit you. Not enough pitch, too much drop, coupled with light weight are likely the issues.
That’s right, if the gun doesn’t fit it doesn’t fit. I bought my first Pirizzi
Sounds like some fine guns you got there, but they are all light field guns that apparently don’t fit you. Not enough pitch, too much drop, coupled with light weight are likely the issues.
I bought my first Perazzi in 1976 an MX8 came with two stocks no adjustments, and nice luggage. I kept the gun for about six months. It beat me up so bad I dreaded shooting it. If a gun doesn’t fit it doesn’t fit. Have a stock built for the gun, or find a gun that fits better. You can add tons of gadgets but they really don’t help your gun will still shoot the same but now it has a lot of junk on it.
 
#18 ·
Cured this on two O/Us by mounting the gun higher, one a Fabarm and the other a Beretta SP1 Sporting. Tried to convince Ken Rucker of Speedbump stockworks that the Fabarm needed more pitch. Instead, he installed an adjustable butt plate and had me lower it around 3/8 to 1/2 inch. This put the butt of the gun in my shoulder pocket to absorb recoil while putting the comb up where it belonged so that I wasn't leaning my face into the gun. Problem solved.

I shoot only skeet, so my usual load is 1 oz. of shot at around 1120 fps. So, I just mount the 8 lb. Beretta higher, which puts the comb where it belongs but just a little more than the toe of the stock in my shoulder pocket with no adverse effects from recoil. Don't know if I'd want to try this with a steady dose of trap loads.

Simple height adjustable butt plate may be the cure. YMMV.

B.H.
 
#25 ·
if there's a gap between your cheek and the stock or it's loose, you'll get slapped. Have someone watch you to see if you're lifting your head when pulling the trigger. Main cause of slaps.
Think of it this way, hold your gun about 1/8" from your shoulder, pull the trigger - ouch. Pull it in tight, pull the trigger, just pushes the shoulder.