What is 20 gauge pump shotgun recoil like?

[38snapcaps]

I would like to buy a pump shotgun for home defense. I tried a 12 gauge at the range one day and don't want one of those. I've read a 20 gauge recoils 45% less.
So, is a twenty really lighter on the shoulder? My small wife may be the one shooting it so that needs to be considered.

 

[Jaymo]

Yes, it is. I remember the gun magazines in the 1990s stating that 20 didn't kick appreciably less than 12.
They were dead wrong. My 20 gauge pump kicks a lot less than my 12 gauge pump, even though the 20 is also an appreciably lighter gun.
I quit carrying my 12 for rabbit, squirrel, and bird hunting. The 20 kills 'em just as dead and kicks a lot less.

 

[Virginian]

Opinion appears divided. I definitely think so, but the "get a 12 and shoot light loads" bunch will weigh in shortly. Keep in mind your lady will have to tote it as well as shoot it, and a 20 is a lot lighter.

 

[jmr40]

They were dead wrong. My 20 gauge pump kicks a lot less than my 12 gauge pump,

One oz. of shot from a 7 lb. 12 guage will recoil exactly the same as 1 oz. of shot from a 7 lb. 20 guage. If one gun or the other is lighter, then it will recoil more. If you are using heavier loads in one or the other then that gun will recoil more. If your 20 guage recoils less, then you are not using comparable ammo.

The 12 with proper ammo will recoil no more, and often less than 20 guage guns. There is a very wide range of ammo available in both and lots of overlap in performance and recoil. Since a 12 is generally heavier, it is easier to get lower recoil. If you load up a lightweight 20 with 12 guage comparable shells recoil can be wicked.

There is also stock fit. If a particular gun does not fit you well, recoil will seem worse.

I've often noted that most recoil is between the ears rather than on the shoulder. If someone gets it in their head that a certain gun recoils a lot and another less, they believe it. Even if it is actually reversed.

In short, if you choose your ammo and gun wisely a 12 will outperform a 20, and do it with less recoil.

 

[jmr40]

I did some calculations to demonstrate. You'll have to plug in the numbers yourself using the link below.

A Remington 870 12 guage shotgun is 7.5 lbs according to http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express.aspx

A 870 20 guage is 6.5 lbs

1 oz of shot = 437 grains

My loading manuals show about 18 gr of powder will give you 1250 fps in either the 12 or 20.

If you are shooting comparable loads in both guns the 12 guage will have 16.1 ft. lbs. of recoil.

The lighter 20 guage will have 18.6 ft lbs.

This is not guessing, or subjective, these are real numbers.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

 

[Fred Fuller]

Felt recoil is a factor of several things - payload weight, payload velocity, gun weight, action type, gun fit, gun mount, recoil pad, etc. Some 20 ga. pumps with some loads are likely to deliver more felt recoil than some 12 ga. pumps with some 12 ga. loads, other things being more or less equal.

A couple of years ago my oldest niece wanted to learn defensive shotgunning. So she drove down (five hours one way) and spent a couple of days with us. I laid out a table full of various shotguns for her to handle and shoot if she wanted to try them live fire. She went through several, and finally narrowed it down to a 20 ga. 870 Express Youth model, with a 21" VR barrel and a 13" LOP stock. By coincidence there was a 12 gauge 870 Express Turkey gun on the table too - 21" VR barrel and 12.5" LOP stock. I asked her why she preferred the 20 gauge. She said it was just easier for her to handle, and the recoil was not different enough to make a difference. So that's what we trained with, and when she went home she took it with her.

The best advice I can give is to let your wife decide what she likes. It might be that a gas operated semiauto would be more to her liking, Remington has a nice 11-87 Youth model in the lineup these days that several smaller statured female shooters I know of have been happy with. See http://www.remington.com/products/f.../model-11-87-sportsman-compact-synthetic.aspx for details.

 

[Hunterdad]

I don't know....my 20ga Winchester 1200 weighs less than my 12ga Wingmaster and the 1200 is definitely easier on the shoulder.

 

[maskedman504]

Just break into 12 gauge; all is solved...

In seriouness; the difference between .410 and 20 gauge is vast, while the difference between20 and 12 gauge is not as much as you might think.

Make sure she has shouldered the stock correctly (you know, tight on the shoulder and in the right spot) and it should be a problem unless you are firing a 14 roung mag of 3" slugs from a Saiga in rapid fire or something...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAP8edFba8U

 

[IdahoSkies]

I have a 20 ga. Mossberg 500, a 20 ga. Binelli Nova, and 12 gauge 1187 (semi-auto). Both 20 ga. are noticeably lighter than the 12 ga auto loader, when comparing apples to apples (3" shells to each other). But a 3" 20 ga. shell in my pump shot guns felt to me about the same as a 2 and 3/4 load in my gas autoloader. 2 and 3/4 target and pheasent loads in the 20 ga. are a dream.

Hope this helps.

 

[loose noose]

Fred, hit the hammer right on the head, implying a 11/87 by Remington. The gas operated semi auto is quite a bit easier on the shoulder, especially with a youth model and a properly fitted recoil pad. My wife weighs a mere 110 # s is 62 yoa and shoots it very well.

 

[elano]

I shot both one right after the other with the same type ammo and thought they were similar enough to not justify getting a 20 to replace my 12. A 410 on the other hand is much easier on the shoulder but shells are very espensive.

 

[Fishbed77]

Fred, hit the hammer right on the head, implying a 11/87 by Remington. The gas operated semi auto is quite a bit easier on the shoulder, especially with a youth model and a properly fitted recoil pad. My wife weighs a mere 110 # s is 62 yoa and shoots it very well.

My 12-ga 11-87 recoils MUCH less than my brother's 20-ga 870.

 

[bob9125]

If I were in your shoes and I thought that my petite wife were going to be firing a shotgun in self-defense, I would get a semi-auto instead of a pump. Under stress, there is a lot less to think about with a semi-auto. Secondly, the gun should fit her. It should be proportioned to her size. Browning makes a fine semi-auto in 20 gauge (and also 12) called a Silver Hunter Midas Micro with a 13" LOP and a 24" barrel that weighs 6 lb. This may fit her very well and would appear to serve her needs if she is willing to learn how to operate the gun. The cost a more than a pump, but they handle recoil better also. If you can't afford a semi-auto, then a BPS Micro Hunter pump by Browning might fit the bill. It is a heavier gun, but the line of pull is similar and has a 22" barrel. Either should be more than adequate for your needs.

 

[Gordon]

The thing overlooked is the cheap "dove and quail" loads , for instance , in 12 gauge are 1 1/8 oz and 1 oz. for the 20 ga. But the fact most 20s are svelt and lighter than a 12 kinda evens things out. I shoot 20 ga.3/4 oz steel loads now mandated for upland game in my area out of a 6 3/4 pound A-5 Browning . If I shoot 12 gauge steel loads they will be 1 .oz out of a 7 1/4 pound Citori. The A-5, which is adjusted properly seems to kick about 20% less, subjectively. My duck club buddies have matched Benelli M2s in 12 & 20 gauge and shoot 3" steel loads in both; 1oz. in the 20 and 1 1/4oz in the 12s. Once again the recoil seems about 20% less in the 20 gauge. A big deal is how wide the recoil pad is and how the gun fits. I have gone thru SG training classes where ladies used 20 ga. 870s and again the recoil felt to me 20% less across the spectrum of loads.

 

[bejay]

would also say there not much difference in recoil between the 20 and 12, and when your considering it for defense purposes where buckshot or slugs is often used wich usually have alot of recoil, buying reduced recoil loads would probably make the most difference in reducing recoil on wichever guage you choose.

 

[murdoc rose]

pick up one of each

 

[Pfletch83]

Third option ...

The Mossberg 500 E .410 Defensive Set up I like to call Dr. Feelgood Mk-1

The best ammo I've seen for it are Federal 2-1/2 inch '000' Buckshot.

The gun is lighter weight than a 12,and recoils less than the 20,the ammo is smaller which means a smaller payload,but at close range it doesn't matter what gauge you use to hit the targeted threat....It matters that you hit with the right payload (Those being buckshot of any size and slugs)

The smaller sized ammo,also means that more can be carried for the same weight as 12 or 20 gauge shells.

 

[kozak6]

A lightweight ill fitting 20 gauge can recoil significantly more than a heavier better fitting 12 gauge. I've experienced it personally. Proper technique can also make a world of difference.

It all depends on the load, gun, and shooter. You can't count on lighter recoil outright just because it's a smaller shell.

A 20 gauge, though, wouldn't be a bad idea because the shotgun's lighter weight should improve handling for a small woman.

Reduced recoil defense loads available, but they are surprisingly expensive.

 

[Isaac-1]

I just wanted to note here that not all 20 Gauges are lighter than all 12 Gauges (it is certainly possible to find a 7 pound 12 gauge and a 7.5 pound 20 Gauge, particularly when comparing 2 different brands). That being said the gun the fits the best will likely have less perceived recoil, also a lighter shotgun is often eaiser for a small framed woman to handle, even if it does kick more as they can often find full size guns awkward, if looking at pump action guns consider the new Mossberg 510 Mini, it weighs in at only 5 pounds, is not just a standard gun with a youth stock, but actually built on a smaller frame, of course it will kick more than a 7 pound gun, but may make up for it in being easier for your wife to hold.

Ike

 

[chas08]

I've never noticed that big of a difference. In fact I don't really notice recoil at all if I'm shooting at game, or clay. Now, sighting in a slug gun on paper is a whole different story.

 

[snooperman]

If you want a light kicking 20 ga for home defense then....

The best ammo for that is from NML custom Ammunition--Bob Carlon, Shawnee, OK phone 405-481-5822. I use his loads for my wife's 20 ga Rem 870. It is loaded with 16 #4 buck which is about 325gr of lead going 1100 feet per sec. It has been measured to give 12 inches of penetration in ballistic gel at 25 feet, which is fine for home defense with very mild recoil too. A large human male only has a chest diameter of about 12 inches. At age 72, she is happy with it and I like it too.You do not have to take a pounding to get good results for home defense. Just a thought. Snoop

 

[ObsidianOne]

My mother has metal rods and screws in her back, has several crushed vertebral disks and fibromyalgia, about 5'4" and weighs about 130-140lbs and shoots a 12 gauge just fine. Both birdshot and 00 buck.
I'd say you need to practice a bit more, and toughen your shoulder up.
I had a rough time with my Mossberg 500 at first but quickly got used to it. Same goes for the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and it kicks like a mule with a metal buttplate. Got used to it eventually.

 

[Sniper66]

It depends some on the gun. Generally, of course, bigger shells produce bigger recoil. I have 2 Benellis, a 12 and a 20 with the 12 having a bit heavier recoil. But, I had an Ugartachia SxS 20 that kicked like a mule. Beautiful little shotgun that fit me well, but the recoil even bothered me and I have been shooting shotguns for almost 60 years. My sis-n-law, a petite woman, has a youth model Rem 870 20ga that she really likes and seems to manage well.

 

[sedona]

I find that after i get tired i tend to notice the recoil more.I have the same gun in 12 and 20 gauge and haven't carried the 12 gauge in years.

 

[bubba in ca]

My 20 ga 1187 does not kick. I just has a weird sound of the spring and action moving.
My 20 guage Maverick kicks much less than my 12 gauge. It`s the difference between pain and business as usual. The 12 gauge has a new home at the back of the gun safe. My 20 is my HD gun. There are both 2 1/2 " and 3" 20 ga. ammo available online if not locally, with different levels of recoil.