Semi-auto, less recoil?

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wbwanzer

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I was watching Top Shot the other night, or was it Top Guns with Colby Donaldson from Top Shot. Anyway, they were shooting three different Benelli shotguns, and one of the fellows said something to the effect of recoil being a little less with the Vinci (I assumed it is semi-auto) versus the Nova which is pump, both in the same guage. Is that correct? A semi-auto would have less recoil than a pump, all other things being fairly equal?

I just bought my first shotgun (12 guage Escort pump) last fall. I haven't even put 20 shells through it yet. Took it to the range once and that was all I needed for a while. If the above is true, then I wish I had known that before I bought a pump.

THanks for any insight.
 
A gas operated semi auto will reduce recoil inherently because the gas parts will start recoiling and a greater rate of speed before the rest of the gun. Conservation of momentum. The peak recoil forces are reduced. The total recoil energy is the same, but it is spread over a longer period of time.
With an inertia action, everything starts moving back except the back of the bolt. And the whole gun has to move to the rear pretty briskly to compress the spring in the bolt. That's why you don't see a lot of lights and stuff on inertia actions. Can't slow down that recoil.
A long recoil gun, the barrel and breech block recoil faster than the rest of the gun, but they compress springs that bear on the rest of the gun as they do, which transfers the recoil forces to the shooter. It is felt by some (including me) as a double shuffle.
Recoil and especially inertia gun shooters like to wax eloquent about how gun fit, the direction of the wind and the alignment of the stars all affect felt recoil. Everything Affects felt recoil, but gas gun shooters know gas guns reduce peak recoil force.
 
I have both a SuperNova and a Vinci. I find the SuperNova has a little less recoil than the Vinci; most likely due to the fact that it weighs a pound more. I don’t find either objectionable.

Recoil and especially inertia gun shooters like to wax eloquent about how gun fit, the direction of the wind and the alignment of the stars all affect felt recoil. Everything Affects felt recoil, but gas gun shooters know gas guns reduce peak recoil force.
Click to expand...

I can’t speak for cosmic alignment but fit plays an important role in felt recoil. As to peak recoil force the ComforTech stock supposedly does the same thing. I won’t say I have scientific evidence that it does but I feel that it works. Benelli and Beretta should really team up and make a gas operated semi with the ComforTech stock.
 
gas guns recoil less because they typically weigh a pound more; felt recoil feels less because the gas action spreads the recoil pulse over a longer time period, measured in milliseconds......FIT is still the best way to lessen recoil
 
Yes semi autos have less recoil. Lol shoot a semi auto like a Woodsmater 30-06 then shoot a bolt gun like a savage 10 30-06 and you'll be able to tell a big difference haha
 
Gas guns have less felt recoil than any other for the 2 reasons listed above. Guns of equal weight still recoil the same given equal loads. A heavier gun will transmit less recoil to your shoulder than a lighter gun. The gas guns spread the recoil out over a fraction of a second longer than the instant recoil you get from fixed breach guns. Since the recoil takes place over a longer period of time it feels lighter. A quality recoil pad does the same thing. As the pad compresses it lengthens the amount of time the gun recoils making it feel lighter. One of the new high-tech recoil pads on your gun will go a long way toward making felt recoil very close to a gas operated gun.

But there is no free lunch. Some gas guns are heavy and handle like a pig instead of the lighter, quicker handling pumps, doubles, and inertia operated autos. In some cases they can be much less reliable. The gas guns are also much more complex. The good ones are extremely reliable if kept even reasonably clean, but many of the budget autos are sub-par in reliability. If on a tight budget a less expensive pump is probably a better choice than a budget auto. Once you get into the better gas guns they work very well.
 
Yes, a semi-automatic will recoil less than a pump. A gas operated semi auto will recoil less than an inertia operated semi auto.

But even an inertia operated semi will recoil less than a pump because some of the force that causes recoil is dissipated by cycling the action whereas with a pump it would all be directed into your shoulder.

As Jim said though, you get what you pay for out of a semi-auto, and if you are on a budget a pump will most likely serve you much better.

If you don't like the recoil get yourself a limbsaver recoil pad or some other aftermarket help.
 
A two piece stock works the same way the recoil mechanism does on a howitzer. It works but I can't stand the feel of it.
An inertia action doesn't do squat to alleviate peak recoil. The gun moving back in recoil gets things moving.
See, i told you the inertia lovers would bring up gun fit. And yes, it do matter. Benelli and Beretta don't need to team up. Beretta owns Benelli. They have both ends of the spectrum covered, why shrink their market?
 
If you're just after recoil reduction, semi's are great for that.

The more interesting question is why? What's the wholistic situation in which you want to reduce recoil?

Semi's are fun, and have their benefits and uses, but what are you shooting?

Maybe you'd be better served with an upgraded buttpad, reduced recoil ammo, or a tricked out recoil reducing stock. Are you small or tender? Maybe a good reinforced shooting jacket or attention to technique might help.

I'm just trying to think of other factors to address before plunking down several hundred dollars on a nice semi-auto. If recoil is an issue, there are many ways to skin that cat.
 
Saying all semi-autos have less recoil than pumps is a pretty broad statement. My Stoeger 2000 has the inertia system and it rocks me harder than my 870 Wingmaster. I would say most "gas-operated" semi-autos have less felt recoil.
 
To the OP-what type of shells were you using? Target loads(say 1oz at 1200FPS my favorites) or something else, knowing this would help us out a little more.

But to answer your question a semi should have less felt recoil than a pump.
 
I am the OP here. For ammo, I was using Winchester Universal, which is 2.75 inches, 1200 fps, 1 and 1/8 oz., and 7.5 shot. I was hoping that was a light load.

I bought the gun for home defense but am hoping to take it to the range now and then just to use it and be familiar with it. I'm not shooting birds or clays.

I didn't have much fun the first time out with it. Just hoping to better the experience a little. Maybe a better butt pad will help.
 
DAP90 said:
I have both a SuperNova and a Vinci. I find the SuperNova has a little less recoil than the Vinci; most likely due to the fact that it weighs a pound more. I don’t find either objectionable.



I can’t speak for cosmic alignment but fit plays an important role in felt recoil. As to peak recoil force the ComforTech stock supposedly does the same thing. I won’t say I have scientific evidence that it does but I feel that it works. Benelli and Beretta should really team up and make a gas operated semi with the ComforTech stock.
Click to expand...
Beretta owns Benelli, Franchi, and Stoeger. (just to name the shotgun companies)
So technically, they already have partnered together. :neener:

edit: Someone brought up Beretta owning Benelli already. Beretta also owns Tikka, Sako, Uberti, Burris, and Vursan.

I haven't ever compared a semi-auto with a pump, but my Beretta Urika 2 barely kicks at all. On a recent waterfowl hunting trip to Saskatchewan, my Urika 2 functioned flawlessly with almost no recoil. I didn't feel sore at all, even after 1200-1500 rounds hunting 2 times a day for 5 days. (hunted ducks and geese)
 
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all things being equal, gas has less punch than a pump.

Regardless, the vinci isn't a gas gun. It's an intertia gun.
 
You will definitely feel less recoil with a semi as opposed to a pump.
 
Saying all semi-autos have less recoil than pumps is a pretty broad statement. My Stoeger 2000 has the inertia system and it rocks me harder than my 870 Wingmaster. I would say most "gas-operated" semi-autos have less felt recoil.
Click to expand...

Your Stoeger is NOT a gas gun, but an inertia gun. the topic was about GAS guns having less recoil

If your pump gives you less recoil than your inertia gun, then fit is something to investigate
 
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