Y'all are looking at this all wrong guys. Lower calibers do not necessarily equal less recoil. I've shot .410s that kick harder than a 12ga. It's basic physics. Think of it this way... if you have 35 Newtons of force pushing on 2 objects of differing weights, the 35 Newtons will move the heavier one less.
Thus the heavier the gun is, the less it will recoil. Take a std 20ga 2-3/4, 1oz load. Stick it in a 870, then stick another of the same shell in a BPS... no action to soak it up, just your shoulder ... all other variables equal, the heavier of the 2 guns will produce less felt recoil on your shoulder. Now there are lots of variables in this equation. It's a stretch to compare the recoil of an 870 to that of a 1100. Autos pretty much always soak up more of the recoil compared to pumps and O/Us, but again the heavier the gun is the less it will typically recoil. But when you combine an auto loader on the heavier end of the spectrum, with a good recoil pad like Sims Airtech, shooting a lighter load 3/4oz, 7/8oz or 1oz load, this is your simplest winning combination to keep the hardware in your shoulder in line.
I have learned that a good recoil pad like a Limbsaver helps a little, thicker the better. Sims offers direct replacements for many popular brand scatteguns.
You can go as deep down this "recoil reduction" rabbit hole as you have time and money to do so. I sent my 16ga Remington 11-48's barrel to Briley some years ago for thin wall chokes. Briley claimed lengthening the forcing cone is one step in recoil reduction, so I figured what the hell, might as well do it while they had it. Most shooters don't even know what a forcing cone is, but I digress. That 16ga is the softest shooting firearm I own when shooting a std 1oz dove/target load. Very close to my Remington v3.
Porting of a barrel + lengthening of forcing cone + heavier weight firearm + careful shell selection can equal a very soft shooting gun, but you're gonna spend some money on the porting and forcing cone job. Just gotta decide how much money reduced recoil is worth to you.
If you must, you can get creative and add weight via lead placed into the stock and magazine. Just another thought.
Last edited by willyworm; 08-12-2019 at 06:21 AM.
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Delta in a nutshell: Breeding grounds + small wetlands + big blocks of grass cover + predator removal + nesting structures + enough money to do the job= plenty of ducks to keep everyone smiling!
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