Far be it for me to claim to be an expert, but according to the merkel factory rep (i have a merkel) you should shoot the front trigger and then the back within 7 seconds. Your gun should have come with a test target specifying the cartridge with which the gun was regulated. Try the hodgdon's web site under youth loads for advice on reduce loads. If you can't take the recoil for long, ask a friend to squeze off a few - most people love the chance to shoot a double.