Lightest recoil Semi-auto shotgun

The inertia driven Benelli's really are not that bad, especially with the Comfortech stock. However, I have never shot a softer shooting gun than a Beretta A400. An honorable mention goes to the Remington Versamax.

The difference between the Benelli an many others (including Beretta and Remington) is that while the Benelli is inertia operated, the others are gas operated. As a rule, gas operated shotguns shoot softer than non-gas operated shotguns. However, as you add other recoil-reducing features, the gap gets smaller.

What type of competition are you thinking about?

Beretta gas guns are usually the softest shooting, even moreso than an 1100.

The Beretta semiautos are nice.

I shot an A391 then shot an 11-87 right after and the Beretta was smoother with less felt recoil.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I settled on the long-recoil Browning A5, for that very reason.

The Beretta 391 or 400 are the lightest I have experience with assuming the same load and "stock" shotguns. Benelli (don't own one but have shot a lot of them on duck hunts) kicks a bit more. With the 391 I can shoot 3 1/2" shells on a duck shoot with little noticeable recoil.

I also have no problem with the old Rem 1100s and have killed a lot of deer on drives using that gun.

I can tell you that shooting subsonic trap loads was how I measured a soft recoiling gun. I have a BT-99, XT, 1100 and just purchased a Maxus Sporting.
The 1100 will not cycle RIO or Winchester subsonoics. The Maxus ate RIO's with no problems, Wichesters not tried yet. The Maxus is the easiest of the 4 on my worn out shoulders.

I don't shoot high power target, field or slugs.

No personal experience, but I know Remington claims that with the Versamax, 3.5" magnums feel like 2.75" field loads. Don't know if its true, but it would be pretty impressive if it were.

Beretta A400 will do the job nicely

I hear there is a modification for siaga 12 shotguns to reduce the felt recoil by some 40%. You can even fold the stock and shoot it by pistol grip comfortably.

stressed said:

I hear there is a modification for siaga 12 shotguns to reduce the felt recoil by some 40%. You can even fold the stock and shoot it by pistol grip comfortably.

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Yeah, adding a double chamber muzzle brake...

But I have not problems shooting any 12 ga shotgun from the hip, none of them recoil to a point of making that a problem.

I've got a Franchi Affinity coming to me next Sunday if you want a range report. Inertia Driven.

Hard to beat an 1100 when it comes to soft recoil. Some of them may have trouble with very light loads, but none of mine ever have.

The 1100, being about the heaviest of the gas guns, will therefore have the lightest recoil. Heavy gun plus light load equals light recoil

allaroundhunter said:

Yeah, adding a double chamber muzzle brake...

But I have not problems shooting any 12 ga shotgun from the hip, none of them recoil to a point of making that a problem.

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Doesn't a muzzle brake increase noise? I think I've heard this but I'm not sure I understand how.

stressed said:

Doesn't a muzzle brake increase noise? I think I've heard this but I'm not sure I understand how.

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It increases noise directed at the shooter (and those standing near him or her). It redirects exiting gases at a different angle (backwards to some degree) to push the gun forwards and decrease recoil.

A muzzle brake will typically direct the muzzle blast upward. Compared to the blast going all down the range, it will be louder to the shooter and the bystanders. It is especially true for large caliber rifles and shotguns.

Thanks for the explanation.

stressed said:

I hear there is a modification for siaga 12 shotguns to reduce the felt recoil by some 40%. You can even fold the stock and shoot it by pistol grip comfortably.

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Folding the stock will subsequently cause the siaga to malfunction as well.

Muzzle brakes, like porting, do not really do a great job on shotguns as the pressures are fairly mild (compared to rifles, howitzers, tanks) The weight of the brake will help, but that also throws any semblance of balance the gun might have had

Well, not only are shotguns low pressure, but the powders used in them are very fast, in fact, fast for PISTOL powders. In my experience, a muzzle brake works best in guns that shoot slow burn rate powders. More gas escapes up the brake making for the reverse thrust.

Yeah, I've never worried about pursuing a brake or porting on a shotgun. The very BEST thing, in my experience, to reduced "perceived" recoil or felt recoil is a good fitting gun. Gas guns help a lot, bleed off the gas not too far up the barrel to work the action. That reduces recoil more'n any muzzle brake. You can add weight, but depending on what you're doing with the gun, that could be a bad thing. Weight is great on a 10 gauge goose gun... 20 gauge quail gun not so much.

To me, I worry more about fit than anything else. If it fits, I can handle the hottest 12 gauge loads just fine. Again, depends on what you're doing with the gun. I have shot up 5 boxes on an extended dove opening day weekend. That's a lot of rounds in a short period of time. But, hey, women shoot light O/Us on skeet. Don't get more intense than skeet shooting for rounds fired. If the gun fits, girls can handle it, so why would a grown up man complain? Most of those dedicated women clays shooters can out shoot most of us men, too. So, really, I don't see a problem here with shotgun recoil. Maybe I'll change my tune with a little more age and a few more creaky joints, though. I don't intend to quit hunting no matter what.

Absolutely agree about fit; however too many think they need to crawl up the stock like they are shooting a M4 - completely wrong for most applications

Well, yeah, and a lot of the "tactical" shooters think a butt stock is optional. And, the pistol gripped folders I've tried are abysmal. You could break a jaw on some of those things.

Scrubber3 said:

Folding the stock will subsequently cause the siaga to malfunction as well.

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Wait, why is this? Even with a 3" magnum shell?

stressed said:

Wait, why is this? Even with a 3" magnum shell?

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Saigas don't come with folding stocks...

Regardless of what shell you use, if you 'fold' the stock then you have broken the gun.