Olympics Skeet Shotgun Recoil

ChasHam · July 28, 2021, 11:37 AM

I recently watched a half hour of men's and women's Olympics skeet matches. What I wonder about is there seemed to be almost no recoil when firing what looked like 12 gauge over and unders-- most conventional looking, one with a recoil pad that was raised an inch or two. The shooters were average-sized folks.

So do they shoot a reduced load, have a black ops recoil reducing system in the stocks, what?

jaguarxk120 · July 28, 2021, 12:25 PM

The stocks are fitted to each shooter, recoil seems to be reduced but it is still
there. The shooters can handle the guns recoil better due to the stock fitting.

If a stock fits you better, you shoot better and do not notice recoil as much.

GE-Minigun · July 28, 2021, 12:48 PM

Couple things…as mentioned fit, is everything with recoil management with a shotgun, if it doesn’t fit even a reduced load will start to take its toll on you. Also, and I think this might be true…there’s added weight to the guns, some are in the stock and some under the forearm…neither would be visible. Lastly, I think the max payload is 7/8oz…. if that’s the case; some light load. My gun is a hair under 9#, my main load is 3/4oz and I’ve shot 500 rounds of skeet and 5-stand on a couple Saturday’s so far this year with no discomfort whatsoever, but then again, I shoot 12k per year, give or take.

FrankenMauser · July 28, 2021, 12:57 PM

Just under 7/8 oz at 1,200 fps.

Light load.
Heavy shotguns.
Experience. Lots of experience.
And recoil reducers are not prohibited.

FITASC · July 28, 2021, 03:32 PM

Olympic shooters are restricted to a 24 gram load (about 6/7 oz). That said, many also like faster shells, on the order of 1300+ fps. The average skeet gun weighs over 9#

bladesmith 1 · July 28, 2021, 03:37 PM

It's just under 7/8 of a ounce. I believe trap and skeet have the same loads. Plus faster targets which means they're harder. Just how do they break anything ? All the American games demand 1 1/8oz of shot - at least that's what many would have you believe. I've been shooting 3/4 and 7/8oz loads for years and never noticed a difference in scores. I do know it's cheaper and a whole lot less recoil.

FITASC · July 28, 2021, 09:23 PM

24 grams is .8466 of an ounce or right at 11/13ths. The International targets are 50% faster from the machine, so the rims are made thicker to handle the stress of the launch; ISSF mandates a low gun with the stock on the hip area so one's mount has to be smooth and perfect. There is a random up to 3 second delay and yet folks like Hancock are shooting straights- THAT'S impressive

ChasHam · July 29, 2021, 07:16 AM

Thanks for all the info.

It's been a good number of years since I've actually shot skeet so maybe there has been a lot of improvements in the equipment. But to me, they looked like they were shooting .22LRs, not 12 gauge shotguns :-)

jaguarxk120 · July 29, 2021, 07:33 AM

Fiocchi lists their Trap and Skeet 24 gram loadings at 1350 FPS!

MarkCO · July 29, 2021, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenMauser

Just under 7/8 oz at 1,200 fps.

Light load.
Heavy shotguns.
Experience. Lots of experience.
And recoil reducers are not prohibited.

Yep.

Jim Watson · July 29, 2021, 10:09 AM

Agree with jaguar, light shot, high velocity to break the tough international targets.

Up late last night, I watched some of the less photogenic events, including Trap.
I was surprised to learn that in the medal round, you don't get two tries at the target, which I thought to be a sie qua non of International Trap. I guess they wanted to get it over with and not have to shoot off ties.

July 28, 2021, 11:37 AM	#1
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	Olympics Skeet Shotgun Recoil I recently watched a half hour of men's and women's Olympics skeet matches. What I wonder about is there seemed to be almost no recoil when firing what looked like 12 gauge over and unders-- most conventional looking, one with a recoil pad that was raised an inch or two. The shooters were average-sized folks. So do they shoot a reduced load, have a black ops recoil reducing system in the stocks, what?

July 28, 2021, 12:57 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	Just under 7/8 oz at 1,200 fps. Light load. Heavy shotguns. Experience. Lots of experience. And recoil reducers are not prohibited. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

July 28, 2021, 03:32 PM	#5
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Olympic shooters are restricted to a 24 gram load (about 6/7 oz). That said, many also like faster shells, on the order of 1300+ fps. The average skeet gun weighs over 9# __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

July 28, 2021, 09:23 PM	#7
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	24 grams is .8466 of an ounce or right at 11/13ths. The International targets are 50% faster from the machine, so the rims are made thicker to handle the stress of the launch; ISSF mandates a low gun with the stock on the hip area so one's mount has to be smooth and perfect. There is a random up to 3 second delay and yet folks like Hancock are shooting straights- THAT'S impressive __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

July 28, 2021, 12:25 PM	#2
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	The stocks are fitted to each shooter, recoil seems to be reduced but it is still there. The shooters can handle the guns recoil better due to the stock fitting. If a stock fits you better, you shoot better and do not notice recoil as much.

July 28, 2021, 12:48 PM	#3
GE-Minigun Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Posts: 240	Couple things…as mentioned fit, is everything with recoil management with a shotgun, if it doesn’t fit even a reduced load will start to take its toll on you. Also, and I think this might be true…there’s added weight to the guns, some are in the stock and some under the forearm…neither would be visible. Lastly, I think the max payload is 7/8oz…. if that’s the case; some light load. My gun is a hair under 9#, my main load is 3/4oz and I’ve shot 500 rounds of skeet and 5-stand on a couple Saturday’s so far this year with no discomfort whatsoever, but then again, I shoot 12k per year, give or take.

July 28, 2021, 03:37 PM	#6
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	It's just under 7/8 of a ounce. I believe trap and skeet have the same loads. Plus faster targets which means they're harder. Just how do they break anything ? All the American games demand 1 1/8oz of shot - at least that's what many would have you believe. I've been shooting 3/4 and 7/8oz loads for years and never noticed a difference in scores. I do know it's cheaper and a whole lot less recoil.

July 29, 2021, 07:16 AM	#8
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	Thanks for all the info. It's been a good number of years since I've actually shot skeet so maybe there has been a lot of improvements in the equipment. But to me, they looked like they were shooting .22LRs, not 12 gauge shotguns :-)

July 29, 2021, 07:33 AM	#9
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Fiocchi lists their Trap and Skeet 24 gram loadings at 1350 FPS!

July 29, 2021, 10:09 AM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,546	Agree with jaguar, light shot, high velocity to break the tough international targets. Up late last night, I watched some of the less photogenic events, including Trap. I was surprised to learn that in the medal round, you don't get two tries at the target, which I thought to be a sie qua non of International Trap. I guess they wanted to get it over with and not have to shoot off ties.