What's the lowest-recoiling 12ga load? Birdshot? What?

You can always try the Agular minishot shells. Try them first before you let her shoot them.


Also Target loads would be pretty low recoil. I'd try the birdshot at Walmart.


BTW....recoil is a subjective thing.

Winchester makes a Low Recoil/Low Noise Double A target load. It's loaded with 26 grams (yes grams) of #8 shot with a velocity of 980fps at 3 ft. 26 grams is under 1 oz of lead but more than 7/8 oz.

Federal makes an extra lite (soft recoil) load with a choice of #7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, or 9 shot but has 1 1/8 oz load.

The problem with both loads are finding them. They don't go screaming out the door so Wally world doesn't carry them, at lest noot arond here. You'll have better luck finding them in a sporting gun shop that handles skeet and trap loads.

Agular minishot shells

Click to expand...

It's actually "Aguila"

The referenced Winchester load is the AA12FL:

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotdetail.aspx?symbol=AA12FL&bn=3&use=5&gauge=12

If you don't reload, it is an excellent option for recoil sensitive shooters.

I bet blanks don't kick much. Seriously, they might be good for the first familiarization shots.

aquila ammo is teh suxor, dood. i'd at least seriously consider getting ome higher quality ammuniton.

Fiocchi makes a 7/8 oz load suitable for the purpose stated. I use something similar for 16 yard trap, skeet and SC. It works.

No time for loooove Doctor Jones!

Blanks are used for bird dog training.

When the kids came out for safety, learning and food , many of us did load primer only hulls.

I'm talking from as young as 4 yrs on up. Single shot shotguns were used for the tyros. To alleviate the fear factor and familarize we used double ear protection.

Education , food and fun, every kid won a "prize" , took home safety stuff. Granted this 4 yr girl was the youngest, by golly she was not going to miss out even tho most kids were 8 and older. Her older brother was 8.

The mom gives you that "help",look - little girl with a big puppy dog eyes. looks up at you "please mister"..I'm toast. So you start with primer only .410s in single shot. Then stationary clays on coat hangers at 7 yds with "she helping me".

Damn right the little girl had her "certificate" framed, like her brother...he may be older, but he will never leave lil' sis behind - she won't let him.

I bought a few boxes of the Winchester Low Recoil, Low Noise when I took my daughter out shotgunning.
It worked well, but it wouldn't cycle the 1100. So that's a consideration if you're going to be shooting autoloaders.

No recoil, on primer only reloads, or blanks I've fired. We used pumps, single shots, O/U and SXS - Semi's won't cycle so we use as a single shot.

Though doubling up is probably a good idea I rarely do. I use plugs only so as not affect my gun mount, on shotguns and rifles. Especially shotguns with clay games and competition. Bird hunting I may only plug one ear to allow me to hear the dogs and the bells on the dog's collar, whistle of dog handler...etc.

Big bore handguns, sighting in a Big bore rifle, sighting in slugs ...I may double up, in use, afield and such - nope.