[Nightcrawler]

I've seen these for several Italian shotguns, including the Benelli Nova and the Franchis.

Exactly how do they work?

[Arcli9ht]

ditto to the above and

How well do they work?

Do they take a chunk out of the kick of 3.5" Barnburner loads?

/Arcli9ht

[SRYnidan]

They do work I have a dead mule in my S&W 3000 social shotgun and it does take the sting out of those slugs and magnum buckshot. Mostly they work by adding weight but as I understand it the mercury filled ones also have a slosh factor. If the added weight in the butt doesn't bother you they are great. Unfortunately the guns that need it most are hard to install one in (the synthetic stocks).

[Dave McCracken]

Instead of a weight and spring like mechanical reducers, these use a reservoir of mercury moving back and forth to first gain energy from the recoil pulse and then release it after the main pulse.

Mercury is toxic. Some folks love the reducers, but whether they dampen recoil more than simply adding weight would has been discussed in many a clubhouse.

They do change the balance, and butt heavy guns seem to kick a bit more to me, but YMMV.

In your shoes, I'd concentrate first on good fit and form, and adding a bit of weight to the shotgun. THEN, and only then, would I explore the R/R options IF I were still in pain.

Of course, the option of lighter loads has to be explored also.

[Nightcrawler]

I was just curious, actually. The only shotgun that's every had offensive recoil was my NEF Pardner 12ga with 20" barrel, before the rubber slip-on reocil pad was installed, with 3" magnum buck and slugs. (In retrospect that wasn't the brightest idea to begin with...)

[Skunkabilly]

I used to have one for my Benelli field gun but ditched it because light target loads wouldn't always cycle. I thought it just added weight?

[Nightcrawler]

Just added weight, though? The one for the Franchi semiautos (according to their catalog) only weighs 11oz, though. Is less than a pound really going to help?

[Dave McCracken]

Adding a half lb to an 7 lb shotgun should drop the FELT recoil about 6-7%. Whether the mercury adds any further drop is questionable.

The HD 870 here tops out at about 9 1/2 lbs. What kick?

One big reason so many "Practical" shotguns are tricked out is the extra weight takes the pain away even for Manly Men.

[Gordon]

I have 2 of these Mercury(and steel balls) recoil reducers and I use them both in the Butt of AYA 10ga SxS for waterfowl. I have a couple other guns including a Rem 1100 full race 'practical' 12ga that will accept one (or two) and they do work well , more than their weight alone would indicate.But weight is a factor on carry pieces.