Great tip I learned to help the recoil shy!

[silencer223]

Here's a little tip my dad taught me and used for me when I was a kid and didn't like the recoil of a 12ga. 3" mag turkey load. It really helps if you only have a 12ga and not a 20 or less.

When I first started hunting turkeys I used a 20ga with 3" remington turkey loads and rolled/wounded 2 birds. After that my dad was looking through his ammo box for something with a little mor killing potential but wouldn't nock me on my . He realized that the 20ga magnum turkey loads were vertually the same as his remington 12ga 2 3/4" plated high brass pheasant loads. Since his benelli nova was heavier than the 20 GA, it actually had less recoil than the 20ga had had a few more pellets than the 20ga. So I started using his Benelli instead and have killed birds with that. Granted I worked my way up to a 3" magnum load and have stuck with that even until today with my stoeger M3000.

So I hope this helps! Especially if you only have a 12ga. and have shooters who are recoil shy. Granted range will be limited so patterning is a must! But I can say for sure this method will kill birds! I'm using this method for my girlfriend this spring and she appreciates it alot because she's seen me get nocked around with the 3" magnums!

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[Bowguy]

This is not along the same lines but many things affect felt recoil. Stance, stock drop, ammunition used, etc etc. but I said felt recoil.
For starters w kids I only have em shoot bird loads at first. Turkey loads hurt.
One trick to making a gun seem to kick less is lessening the sound. The big boom intimates people n often makes the gun seem to kick harder.
Best bet w a long gun is reg hearing protectors but if inner hearing protection is also used it lessens the sound that much more n the shooter thinks the gun kicked less.
Also like to add n by no means trying to offend but the ga wasn't the prob. If the gun was patterned properly n the gun used in its effective range the birds would be flopping. Very often rolled birds are body shot or shot outside the guns range. Just something to think about

[2eagles]

I agree with 2X ear protection. While the recoil isn't any better, the load bang isn't as intimidating. I found that out shooting rifles. We were testing before buying, looking at a 338 and 7mill mag, both of which are kickers. Didn't seem so bad using ear plugs and muffs.

[silvestris]

When I started, we all shot 2 3/4 inch because that was all we had.  A lot of turkeys fell to the Winchester XX Magnum 4s.  I am not sure that I have really improved with the advanced loads/guns.

[owlhoot]

A slip on Simms pad sure helps.

[supremepredator]

Limb saver + long barrel = 

[deerbasshunter3]

I have sort of a strange method of dealing with the recoil issue. I fold my shotgun case in half and put it between my shotgun and my shoulder. I have never had any issues with aiming, and I don't feel the recoil while hunting, so I count it as a win/win for me.

[chow hound]

I am a huge believer in the 2x hearing protection also.  I believe most flinching is more related to noise than the actual kick.

[tha bugman]

Thanks for the tip!