recoil comparison

G

gcs

Well-known member
I have never shot a 20 gauge anything, A friend recently got a CZ 20 SxS and claims a reduction in recoil, which I'm sure it has with regular field or target loads, maybe ...depending on the gun.

So how much difference can there be with 1 oz 20 gauge hunting load in a 6# gun, compared to a 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz load in a 7 1/2# gun, assuming both are SxS doubles? Assuming similar shot velocity?

Thanks....
 
gcs:

I have two o/u's that I use for duck hunting. One is a 12 gauge Browning Citori from the mid 1990's, 30 inch barrels weighing 8 1/2 lbs. The other is a 20 gauge Winchester 101 from 1966, 30 inch barrels, weighing 7 lbs. I practice for ducks on the skeet field with the guns and I shoot identical loads in both..... 7/8's oz. of shot at 1200 fps. Using the table Pete provided, the 12 gauge shell produces 12.3 lbs. of recoil in the Citori. The 20 gauge shell produces 15.4 lbs. of recoil in the Winchester.

Felt recoil, for me, is worse with the 20 gauge as the calculations support. That 20 gauge slaps me. The 12 gauge is more of a gentle push against my shoulder.
After 2 rounds of skeet with the 20 gauge, I'm sick of it. I can shoot much longer with the 12 gauge Citori.

I've read that "felt recoil" can be a product of gun fit, gun weight, choice of recoil pads, clothing you're wearing, and payload/velocity. Neither of my guns have been "fitted" to me. In my case, I think the extra 1 1/2 lbs of weight in the 12 gauge Citori sucks up the recoil.

Dave
 
Pete, That was very helpful, and quite enlightening, I saved the link, Thank You
 
Stock geometry/fit and recoil pad are a big factor too. I have a 308 that weighs less than 7# with a scope and a 270 that weighs 9.5 rigged out. According to a recoil calculator the 308 should be a stomper but it's quite mild while the 270 is much snappier with more felt recoil.
 
Pete~


Interesting information. The gun weight and loads make perfect sense - but I was surprised to see no mention of action. I expected that a semi-auto would reduce felt recoil by using some of the energy to operate the action. Your thoughts?



In a more practical sense, I never feel recoil or hear the boom when I am actually hunting. Shooting on a range is where I notice the differences.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve, the formula I posted is for calculated recoil and is a starting point. What we, as shooters, care about is "perceived recoil" and I think that can have many more parameters as you allude to. Action is certainly one component that soaks up recoil as well as late season clothing, and as was mentioned, stock fit. A shooters form is another.

Another that you wouldn't think would matter is the type/brand of powder. Specifically, in my experience, a faster powder burn rate can produce a sharper felt recoil as well as a 'crack-like' muzzle blast. I have felt this when loading 28, 20 and 12 gauges all with Longshot. Not sure I have the full handle on this, just my perception.
 
In addition to the other factors already posted, I would mention bore diameter.

I?ve been told that sending equal loads down different size bores will result in more perceived recoil from the smaller bore.

Maybe Pete?s link covered that, I?m going to read that next.
 

Could well be one of the oldest questions asked about shotgunning...

When ya get to the heart of the matter it's the personal interaction of the shooter, the gun, and how many rounds are fired no matter the action.

That's why many of us have several "Shootguns", in various gauges for various applications.

There is no one size fits all. If I'm gonna shoot lotta rounds in any gauge, a hefty weight, well fitting gun will keep me at it longer.

Once the flinch takes over, ya got a rough row to hoe.

my 2 cents
 
The 20 gauge I carry for woodcock and partridge is under 6 pounds. It's a joy to carry, and it comes up fast on the kind of sudden flushes you get if you hunt thick covers over flushing dogs. I have never noticed recoil in the field. I'd never think of using that guns for ducks or any other game where I might take more than handful of shots per day. It might kill me in dove field.

One round of skeet or 5 stand with it and light target loads always has me running to the truck for a soft-shooting, 8 pound 12 gauge semi. And the semi with all that extra weight and long barrels swings a lot better at clay targets than the whippy little 20, too. No trouble finding woodcock and grouse with that gun, I swing it right past most clay targets.
 
Heavier weight will always mitigate recoil. Also gun fit (comb to high) will produce more felt recoil than same gun with comb at correct height for shooter. Forunately Limbsaver (Simms Vibration) makes a great recoil pad to replace most existing with that really cuts down on felt recoil. The weight issue is why its never made sense to me for those 3.5" guns to only weigh in at 7 to 7.5 LBS. And the reason especially in recoil operated guns that they will beat you up with extended shooting.
 
Years ago, I shot sporting clays agressively week after week. I shot all gauges in tournaments, sometimes 250 rounds a day. My browning citori's are all the same dimensions and weights. I do not feel recoil unless I make a poor mount. Light guns will bump you a bit more and gas autoloaders will reduce it also.
My 28ga is my favorite and shoot some of my best scores with it. Most of my ammo is 1200fps, which is great for clays. If the gun is biting you shooting, see a gun fitter. I cut out a few degrees of pitch to fit me better.
 
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