Shotgun - Bruised Cheek

[bigeyedfish]

I never had this problem in the past when I shot somewhat often, but for the last couple years, I have been getting a bruise on my cheek anytime I shoot a round of sporting clays. My gun mount is certainly worse than it used to be, but it feels like I'm fighting a losing battle with gun fit. It has happened to me with a couple different guns, including a 20 gauge 1100 with target loads, so it definitely isn't a problem with the magnitude of the recoil. My CZ 1012 has done it to me several times now. When I first set it up, I chose the shim to match the stock measurements of an 870, which never gave me a problem in thousands of rounds. I swapped shims around last night to raise the comb a bit, but I probably won't get out to shoot for a while.

Have any of you guys run into this? I'm interested in any advice you may have.

 

[RockAndSage]

I knew a guy who fit shotgun stocks to champion trap and skeet shooters, as well as some olympians. A big part of cheek bruising comes from the angle of the butt-pad compared to the bore axis. You want it to be exactly 90 degrees perpendicular. Most are undercut a bit, with the toe/bottom being closer to the muzzle than the heel. That angle, when the shotgun is trying to push straight back, actually causes the heel and cheekpiece to roll up the shoulder, like a kid launching his bike off a ramp. That causes the cheekpiece to move up toward your cheekbone more. The more the undercut, the more violent the action.

EDIT: the only other thing that readily comes to mind, is the initial mount - is the cheekpiece firmly against your cheek, and are you keeping it there during the firing sequence?

 

[SteveCNJ]

Are you taking blood thinners?

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[wyosteve]

Many years ago I bought a Win. 101 to use for shooting trap. Had the same problem. Cure was easy-sold the damn thing!! No worthwhile advice for you unfortunately!.

 

[bigeyedfish]

I knew a guy who fit shotgun stocks to champion trap and skeet shooters, as well as some olympians. A big part of cheek bruising comes from the angle of the butt-pad compared to the bore axis. You want it to be exactly 90 degrees perpendicular. Most are undercut a bit, with the toe/bottom being closer to the muzzle than the heel. That angle, when the shotgun is trying to push straight back, actually causes the heel and cheekpiece to roll up the shoulder, like a kid launching his bike off a ramp. That causes the cheekpiece to move up toward your cheekbone more. The more the undercut, the more violent the action.

EDIT: the only other thing that readily comes to mind, is the initial mount - is the cheekpiece firmly against your cheek, and are you keeping it there during the firing sequence?

I tend to have the stock really high, like way up on my collar bone to get my eye right above the rib. What you're saying makes a lot of sense.

After the bruise has already started, I have tried holding my cheek tighter to the stock but can't feel any difference.

 

[bigeyedfish]

Are you taking blood thinners?

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Nope.

 

[Nine Banger]

Can you have a friend take a video of you shooting a couple pairs?

From the side.

Need to see gun mount.

Don't worry about hitting the target.

 

[TimberRunner]

It happens to me only when I use my beretta o/u but doesn't with any other gun I own. It isn't a bruise per say, but my cheek might be sore for a day. Always figured it was a combo of angle, gun weight and lack of recoil system. Whatever, I don't let it bother me.

 

[buffybr]

When I was shooting competitive Trap and SkeetI would often see guys with a badly bruised cheek. I never had that problem with my Browning shotguns even though I was shooting 10K shells every year.

Then one year I saw a Remington 860 that I thought would be a good wet weather field gun so I bought it and I got a burised cheek every time I shot it.

I cured the bruising by adding a mechanical recoil reducer in it's stock and lengthened the length of pull on that stock to match the lop of my Browings.

 

[Elk97]

Usually happens with new shooters that mount the gun to their shoulder then angle their neck over to get their cheek onto the comb. Sounds like a gun fit problem. Are both of your eyes about level, or are they tilted toward the gun? I bring the gun up to my cheek with eyes level then move the butt back to my shoulder. Mount your gun while looking in a mirror to check if you're angled over the comb. Another thought is maybe you bruised the cheek bone and it's super sensitive?