Pros/Cons of a Pump vs Autoloader

[the Ward]

seen a lot of comments on "softer shooting" and less recoil. Im assuming most of you are using gassers, because inertia driven shotguns IMO have substantial recoil, enough to not consider it an advantage over a pump anyway.

I haven't found this to be the case in my experience. Gun weight seems to play a bigger part in recoil reduction than action type. I would love to see a real independent,controlled,scientific test to answer this age old question. Gas guns bleed a tiny amount off the barrel to operate the action. An inertia gun uses recoil to unlock the bolt, then residual gas pressure in barrel to cycle the action. Gas guns are generally heavier due to the added parts of the operating system, inertia is generally lighter due to less parts in design. An interesting conundrum, my Vinci has less felt recoil than our A300, although it is lighter than the A300, which is gas operated. I think some gas guns may recoil less than some inertia guns, but i don't think all gas guns recoil less than all inertia guns. And in a properly fitted gun, the difference is probably moot anyways.

[dzsmith]

Interesting .... I'm no expert in auto loaders . I don't own one, but have fired a couple . Turkeys loads through and sbe2 IMO has enough felt recoil to not put down a pump. Yes the gun is very light and ergonomic. And that may very well be part of the reason why it recoils more.

[Gooserbat]

I use both.  I prefer my M2 simply because it's lighter.

[West Augusta]

I grew up in the 70's in West Virginia when there were a lot of grouse and always thought that an Auto would slow me down.  I've emptied a pump gun many times on grouse.