Recoil issues with lightweight 20 ga?

[wvmntnhick]

I'm not a fan of recoil at all. Never have been. Don't care for the sharp report of a gun these days either. That's why I use heating protection when hunting now too. But, going back to the recoil thing, if you're recoil sensitive, there are ways around making things more tolerable. And "manning up" isn't necessarily the answer. In fact, that often leads to larger issues down the road in terms of bad shooting form. Better to just wait until the cold can handle it properly. My girls are 7 and 10. And I can tell you whole heartedly that they're nowhere near ready for ANY kind of shotgun. Both girls have killed deer with small caliber rifles but shotguns are a different kinda recoil.


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[zelmo1]

Lighter guns have more felt recoil, its a fact. Find a load/choke combo that gives you what you are looking for. TSS gives you many options. You don't need to stuff 1 5/8 ounces of shot into a 20 ga shell to kill a turkey. I would recommend a 1 1/8 ounce load that patterns well. Getting the bird in to a reasonable kill shot range is what its about. Just because some people want to be able to kill a rhino at 80 yards doesn't mean it works best for you or your children. I have gone from 3.5" 12 ga max loads to a 20 or 28 gauge with a good patterning load that delivers enough energy to kill birds effectively at a distance that I am confident in shooting. Just my  . Al Baker

[slicksbeagles1]

From what I have read so far a gas operated auto has less recoil than a pump, inertia operated, or single shot or double barrel. I have a weatherby sa08 compact that has less recoil than my M2. So for a kid gas operated. Now as all you know that if LOP is off that causes issues. I will say if you do buy a gun make sure that it has the ability to change stocks for when they get older. My sa08 does not have that option it is basically the same gun as the escorts, mossberg, Tri star autos. I wish I had bought the standard size now just because of that but, since it is just a turkey gun no problem. I did try it rabbit hunting one time and could not hit a barn because of LOP.

[dg7mm08]

I recently acquired a Franchi Affinity3 20 gauge with a youth stock  and it is a light gun and it is a very snappy recoiling gun . I also have a Mossberg SA 20 Turkey with a full size stock which is gas operated and is a much softer shooting gun , there is not much difference between the weight of the two guns. I am  shopping for a full sized butt stock for the Franchi hoping it may help some.

[Howie g]

I hunted a 12 ga 3 inch O/u until ten years ago , thing kicked like a mule !  Went to a o/u 20 with 1/2 the recoil .   Got a 410 ga for my 7 year old son this year , mossburg super Bantom . Let him practice and shot squirrels with the lightest loads I could find , very little kick . Slipped in a federal tss for his turkey hunt , noticed a good bit more recoil .  But he didn't complain after her shot his gobbler .

[Jimspur]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this. I know people that have 20 gauge guns and they say they don't have any recoil.
How can you take a 6lb inertia gun and put a 1 5/8oz load of TSS in it at 1200fps and not have any recoil?

I shoot an 8 1/2lb gas-operated 11-87 with 2oz of Hevi13 at 1090fps.
How does the 6lb gun have less recoil than my gun?

I need to shoot one of their guns to check it out.

[ChesterCopperpot]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this. I know people that have 20 gauge guns and they say they don't have any recoil.
How can you take a 6lb inertia gun and put a 1 5/8oz load of TSS in it at 1200fps and not have any recoil?

I shoot an 8 1/2lb gas-operated 11-87 with 2oz of Hevi13 at 1090fps.
How does the 6lb gun have less recoil than my gun?

I need to shoot one of their guns to check it out.

It's not that the gun literally has no recoil, it's that the recoil, while tangibly measurable in foot pounds of energy, is experienced completely different by individuals. This whole thread has seemed wild to me in that I don't experience recoil in the way most here seem to. Sometimes folks say what I'm saying as kind of this macho thing and I want to be clear that that's not what I'm trying to do or say. I don't know why I don't experience it the way others do. Maybe the length of my arms, maybe my size, I don't know, but I do know it's certainly individually experiential. What kicks like a mule for one person doesn't for another. Likely size and fit of the gun and size and build of the shooter.


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[Jimspur]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this. I know people that have 20 gauge guns and they say they don't have any recoil.
How can you take a 6lb inertia gun and put a 1 5/8oz load of TSS in it at 1200fps and not have any recoil?

I shoot an 8 1/2lb gas-operated 11-87 with 2oz of Hevi13 at 1090fps.
How does the 6lb gun have less recoil than my gun?

I need to shoot one of their guns to check it out.

It's not that the gun literally has no recoil, it's that the recoil, while tangibly measurable in foot pounds of energy, is experienced completely different by individuals. This whole thread has seemed wild to me in that I don't experience recoil in the way most here seem to. Sometimes folks say what I'm saying as kind of this macho thing and I want to be clear that that's not what I'm trying to do or say. I don't know why I don't experience it the way others do. Maybe the length of my arms, maybe my size, I don't know, but I do know it's certainly individually experiential. What kicks like a mule for one person doesn't for another. Likely size and fit of the gun and size and build of the shooter.


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Gun fit and stock design play a big part in it, but let's talk about if
all of that was the same. If the guns were identical except for the
weight.

One thing that I have thought about is that the diameter of the bore
is smaller on a 20 gauge, and maybe that's one reason why they have less recoil.

[wchadw]

Lighter guns kick harder. I have a youth 20 ga that's light and short. Kicks about like a 12. I put a limbsaver recoil pad on it. Helped quite a bit


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[Dtrkyman]

Mossberg sa20, recoil is not an issue, 1 5/8th oz hand loads.  Nothing kicks like a 2oz plus 12ga stuffed through a tight choke!  Unless you buy some of those crazy 20ga loads with 1 7/8 or 2oz I think someone is loading!

The old white/clear hull hevi shot 1 5/8oz 12ga at 1090 were the best loads ever made for 12ga imho.  Patterns on par with heavier loads and recoil so light the first time I shot one I thought it was a dud!  No clue why they went away rom that load? 

[RutnNStrutn]

No issues at all with my 20. It's a single shot that weighs in at 4 lbs, 12 ozs.

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

[mcw3734]

I have a hard time wrapping my head around this. I know people that have 20 gauge guns and they say they don't have any recoil.
How can you take a 6lb inertia gun and put a 1 5/8oz load of TSS in it at 1200fps and not have any recoil?

I shoot an 8 1/2lb gas-operated 11-87 with 2oz of Hevi13 at 1090fps.
How does the 6lb gun have less recoil than my gun?

I need to shoot one of their guns to check it out.

It's not that the gun literally has no recoil, it's that the recoil, while tangibly measurable in foot pounds of energy, is experienced completely different by individuals. This whole thread has seemed wild to me in that I don't experience recoil in the way most here seem to. Sometimes folks say what I'm saying as kind of this macho thing and I want to be clear that that's not what I'm trying to do or say. I don't know why I don't experience it the way others do. Maybe the length of my arms, maybe my size, I don't know, but I do know it's certainly individually experiential. What kicks like a mule for one person doesn't for another. Likely size and fit of the gun and size and build of the shooter.


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Gun fit and stock design play a big part in it, but let's talk about if
all of that was the same. If the guns were identical except for the
weight.

One thing that I have thought about is that the diameter of the bore
is smaller on a 20 gauge, and maybe that's one reason why they have less recoil.

And this is what I was getting at when I started the thread. I understand that light guns kick more with the same bore and load as a heavier framed gun. But I started shopping for a 20 gauge and all I see all are these youth and compact models. The short length of pull, combined with the light weight, I was figuring would make for a snappy gun. Maybe a few thumbs to the nose? And from what I read here that is, or certainly can be, the case.

I've decided to look for a regular length of pull 20 gauge that is gas operated. I do appreciate everybody's input here!

[ChesterCopperpot]

And this is what I was getting at when I started the thread. I understand that light guns kick more with the same bore and load as a heavier framed gun. But I started shopping for a 20 gauge and all I see all are these youth and compact models. The short length of pull, combined with the light weight, I was figuring would make for a snappy gun. Maybe a few thumbs to the nose? And from what I read here that is, or certainly can be, the case.

I've decided to look for a regular length of pull 20 gauge that is gas operated. I do appreciate everybody's input here!

The 20 I hunt with is a CZ920, which they don't make anymore. They do still make the 720 and it's a great gun, but I don't care for the larger foregrip. I really like the Stoeger M3020. That's what I'd likely build off if I were wanting a new gas operated 20. They even make a 24" barrel, full size stock. I do understand why folks cut barrels way down and go with compact stocks, but that said I've never really encountered maneuverability issues with a 26" barrel and full size stock. Place I hunt is like a jungle but still don't have those issues. I'd rather have a gun that fits me.


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[Tail Feathers]

I've decided to look for a regular length of pull 20 gauge that is gas operated. I do appreciate everybody's input here!

My SX 3 is as soft a shooting shotgun as I've shot.  Gas operated, simple to disassemble and reassemble and full featured.  I did have to get a $45 trigger job done on it tho.  It was pretty rough when I got it.

[Big Jeremy]

My oldest daughter shoots a mossberg 500 youth model in 20 ga. She's a tall, athletic framed 8 year old (9 in a few weeks). It kicks about like a 12 ga with 3" shells when you put a turkey load through it. I added some weight to the stock, a red dot, and a limb saver recoil pad...improved it a little.

With turkey loads, the ONLY way I'll let her shoot it is with me directly behind her with the heel of my hand on the top of the stock to help absorb some of the recoil. She hasn't killed a turkey yet, but has fired one turkey load at a target using this method to make sure it would work in the woods. She didn't love the recoil, but was ready to shoot another target. Told me all I needed to know.

If I had it to do over (and I probably will change it up at some point, even though I like the little 500, and it throws a great pattern), I would've either gotten it in .410, or got a heavier S/A in 20 ga.

Long story short, it's doable, but yes, they still have quite a bit of recoil. More than I would recommend for just about any kid to shoot without some sort of workaround like the one I mentioned above.


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