A question about reduced recoil 12GA shells

[Kindrox]

As posted in my other thread, I am thinking a 20 guage for the wife. But I know there are reduced recoil 12 guage shells out there.

Do these reduced recoil 12 guage shells mimic the recoil of a 20 guage?

 

[highorder]

Some folks say that reduced recoil 12ga. shells offer less recoil than the same payload in a 20ga. shell.

I'm one of them. In my case, the reduced weight of the 20ga. shotgun has a good bit to do with it.

 

[copaup]

We used to issue a low recoil load for the shotgun. A few years ago we switched to a full power load without telling anyone. No one has complained or even noticed the difference, and we have some TINY female officers these days. There is a difference of course, but the perception of recoil is mostly mental. If you think the gun is going to kick the crap out of you, it will.

My suggestion, if you already have a 12 ga is to load it with light bird loads and let her shoot that. After the shotgun turns out to be not nearly as scary as she's been led to believe you can work her up some. Or, just load the thing with the load of your choice. If she needs it, she won't notice the extra recoil.

 

[oneounceload]

Remember, a 20 gauge gun can have as much, and even more recoil than a 12 because those guns are typically a pound or so lighter.

HEAVY gun plus LIGHT load= LOW recoil - there's NO way around the laws of physics. Using a properly fitted, gas-operated gun with a good recoil pad will reduce FELT or PERCEIVED recoil somewhat that might make it more tolerable

 

[dubbleA]

Do these reduced recoil 12 guage shells mimic the recoil of a 20 guage?

Yes, in most cases the recoil is even lighter due to most 12 ga guns will be slightyly heavier than their 20 ga counterpart. I have used 12 ga Winchester AA Featherlites for instruction of youth and women get into shotgun sports.

They are simply amazing with low recoil and noise. The down side that they will not reliably cycle an autoloader, They are under 1000fps with a 26gram payload but work well in SS's ,pumps and doubles. On doubles with inertia triggers they might not set the trigger but have no problems with mechanical triggers.

Winchester is now making Featherlites in 20 ga also but have not tried them.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

reduced 00 would probably be fine, but even better, 1 buck or #4 buck have wayyyy less recoil than 00 in my opinion. Either of those would be a decent option, especially for the house.

But you have to remember, if there's kids running around, do you honestly trust your wife with the pattern of a shotgun under high stress? Honestly in your position it'd wprry me a bit un less she's had some fairly extensive training. That's the question you need to ask yourself. I believe a 9mm pistol in sa/da configuration is a better choice in this case.

 

[Kindrox]

Acceptable,

Brought up in the other thread is keeping a pistol next to the shotgun. All things being equal I think I'd rather she have a shotgun in her hands over a pistol. Under stress I think it is easier to be accurate with a shoulder fired weapon. Compared to her pistol, she is deadly with my AR15 or UZI (stock extended). She can get them in the same hole at 25 feet. Her pistol targets have 8-10" groups.

Second, as we all know pistols are not that great at stopping people quickly. A shotgun makes a more visual impact as well as effecticve impact.

Last, to really compare a shotgun with a pistol for her overpenetration care about, we would have to load the pistol with frangible. Frangible still penetrates a lot more than a proper shotgun load, and you give up a lot more performance.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

All this being said, try a 12 with #1, 00 reduced recoil and #4 buck. Try 3-4 brands of each if possible. She'll probably like the #4 best, but the reduced 00 will probably pattern best. Take pictures of the patterns and compare them. Make sure she KNOWS how that pattern is probably going to spread. I'd recommend patterning at 15 yards. Anything less will be much tighter and won't have a real danger of flyaway accidents on a child or unintended targets.


I recommend Federal shells with Flitewad reduced recoil for 00. #4 and #1 are a more iffy proposition, just test out what you can find. try midway, ammunition to go and your local stores.

 

[isthatajoke?]

I don't like the idea of "reduced recoil" shells. Seems to me that the only way to reduce recoil would be reducing the power of the round. The other day in the gun store I had to ask the guy, "Um, do you actually have any REGULAR recoil shells?" after he kept showing me reduced recoil ones. He grabbed me a couple boxes of Super X 00B, but still it seems like they had more RR loads than standard loads, and it irritated me.

If you can't handle the recoil of a 12 and you need reduced recoil, buy a heavy 20 gauge

 

[Kindrox]

My though with RR is a 12 guage with RR is it could give my wife the ability to "grow" in what recoil she finds objectionable. And 12 guage shotguns seem less expensive/more options.

You are correct in that it is less, but still a heck of a lot more than her .380 pistol.

 

[oneounceload]

If you can't handle the recoil of a 12 and you need reduced recoil, buy a heavy 20 gauge

Rather arrogant....

The purpose of the reduced recoil is so folks CAN use that 12 gauge and have less recoil than a 20........

 

[AcceptableUserName]

ACTUALLY, I used to feel the same way until I looked at it a different way. A lot of times reduced recoil loads pattern a bit better and probably allow for faster. more accurate follow up shots. OR allows for easier shooting by people with smaller frames. The round usually loses about 100 fps or so but is still beyond deadly. Do I prefer full-power loads? Yes. Would I feel outgunned or fail to see the use in a reduced recoil load? Not at all. Especially when it comes to home defense. You're not going to be shooting through car doors or windows....if you want to stay out of prison that is.

A heay 20ga load would probably have a considerably sharper recoil...again, due to the light weight of the gun. I like a 20 gauge, I really really do. But choice of ammo can even the two out pretty well. I'd go with the 12 and find the proper ammo. If the 12's too big, chances are the 20 will be as well provided it's shooting anything worthy of self defense. In that case, I'd say find some heavy loads for a .410. Mossberg makes a .410 home defense model.

 

[Youngster]

Reduced recoil loads made all the difference to me when I was new to shotgunning, although I suspect that a Limbsaver or equivalent recoil pad and maybe a stock that fit me a little better would have made the difference irrelevant.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

Kindrox,


Go to the store or shop online. get a box each of the following -

Hornady Tap low/managed recoil 00 2 3/4", Remington managed recoil 00, Fiocchi managed recoil 00, and Federal low recoil 00. The Federal ammo can be confusing because they have 3 or 4 different lines of buckshot. Try to get the box that says LOW RECOIL and has the FLITEWAD technology logo on it. There's Federal Tactical, Vital-Shok and Power Shok. The first two can have the Flitewad but Power Shock doesnt, I don't believe. It's probably more than decent, but for my family's home I'd probably avoid it. If you can't find a Federal reduced load with Flitewad, I'd probably decide from the first three.


Take the 3 or 4 brands out and pattern at 15 yards (generally prescribed HD range). Bring enough tagrets and a camera and a sharpie to label each. I'd use at least 2-3 shots of each to make sure you don't get any fluke patterns

I'd go with the best out of that.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Recoil isn't the only issue at hand when working with a smaller statured shooter. Overall weight of the gun should be considered as well. As has been indicated, 20 gauge versions of most designs are lighter than theeir 12 gauge equivalents. This can be an advantage where comfort in handling the gun is concerned. ANY shooter should have a hand in choosing they gun they are going to use, the better to get something they are comfortable with and something that fits them properly.

lpl

 

[AcceptableUserName]

Lee is very right. If you're going to buy a new 12, the lightest I've personally owned is a Mossberg500a persuader, blued, 18.5. It can be come by cheap too. 870 is steel therefore heavier. 590a1's have heavier barrels and are a lot heavier. Not sure about the Benelli nova tactical.


Go with a standard 500 with nothing on it and break it in good. Put 500 low base 7.5 lead shells through it plus the shells you pattern and I think she could deal with it.

 

[inSight-NEO]

Federal LE Low-Recoil 00 Buck (9-pellet)....its all I use. Tight patterns (at commendable ranges), very reliable, very consistent, allows for respectable follow-up shots and is quite gentle on the shoulder (while remaining within the "00 Buck" family).

My only other choice would be the non-LE variant of this exact load. Sure, you could use more (higher fps), but unless you hunt on a regular basis why would you need it?

 

[oneounceload]

Typical HD ranges is less than 10 yards....the ability to put your primary shot on target is paramount, follow-up shots are then next.....full-powered versus managed recoil.....at that distance, either will be deadly.....whatever is manageable counts more than an extra 100-200 fps