10 gauge vs 12 gauge 3.5" shells

S

Super-Dave

New member
I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.


My question is since 10 gauge shotguns are so much heavier than a 12 gauge 3.5" shotgun, is the felt recoil less on the 10 gauge?

How do you feel the two recoils compare?
 
I've never shot a 3.5" 10 gauge shotshell, and I'm not sure I would want to! i can't imagine what that would be like. I see what your getting at, I guess I'm just too comfortable with 12 gauge loads, It wouldn't really matter to me. Alright, alright - I'm a sissy!
 
I have never shot a 3.5 / 12GA but have shot a 10GA 3.5 once...........;)

The way I see it,if my 12GA 2 3/4 Centurion multi defense loads cannot stop an object,I am pretty much lunch anyways...
 
Super-Dave,
I have a Remington SP-10 and a couple of 12ga. shotguns that will shoot 3-1/2" shells. I have a Winchester SX2 and a Browning Auto Magnum that shoots 3-1/2" 12ga. shells. If I shoot the Browning with 3-1/2" shells, it feels about the same as the SP-10ga. But the Winchester SX2 will kick like a mule with the 3-1/2" shells compared to the SP-10.
Shooting the SP-10 and the 3-1/2" 12ga.`s are not too bad as long as I don`t try to shoot trap or skeet with them. :D
 
I would have to say it depends on the gun. I had a single shot 10 in H&R I believe. That thing would cross your eyes. It turned out to be a party favor , you know the kind you pull out and everybody wants to shoot it once, ONCE! Since that gun I have shot a pump 10 that really didn't kick any harder than my mossberg 835 3.5" shootin the same round. Which by the way will also cross your eyes if you dont pull er in good and tight. I doubt this helped at all but thats been my experience.
 
since 10 gauge shotguns are so much heavier than a 12 gauge 3.5" shotgun,
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That is an assumption that isn't backed up by the facts. 10 gauge shotguns come in a variety of weights. For most gun makers the model of gun will be just about the same whatever gauge it is made in. For example the 870 Wingmaster has a difference of 1 pound between 12 gauge and 28 gauge.
 
Super-Dave said:
I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.
Click to expand...
You know this based upon... ?

Without specifics, your premiss is unsupported; but, in general you're correct. The reason: The 10-ga 3-1/2" hull has a larger capacity than a 12-ga 3-1/2" hull. So, 10-ga shells are typically loaded with a heaver charge of powder and shot than a 12-ga.

However, there are exceptions. Federal lists two similar duck loads:
Load No. PW107 10-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1450 fps and
Load No. PWB143 12-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1500 fps
Using just the squares of the velocities, 12-ga load would have about 7% more energy. If perceivable, then that difference could make a typically lighter 12-ga gun have more felt recoil (kick) than a 10-ga. You're welcome to give it a try and report back to us. :)
 
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It would seem to me that a 12 gauge shooting 3.5" shells would have more recoil then a 10 gauge shooting 3.5" shells being the lighter of the two.:)
 
recoil

10 gauge shooting 2.25 ounces of lead produces similar recoil to 12 gauge shooting same load. Heavier gun and bigger bore decrease recoil.
stock fit and shotgun design are also important.(gas operated, recoil pad, etc).
More kick is felt in 10 gauge when the shot load is increased.( 2 oz 12 gauge compared to 2.5 oz 10 gauge)
My 12 3.5" kicks comparable to 10 gauge 3.5"
What a 10 doesn't kick like is a 12 gauge 1 5/8 dove load.
 
My uncle has a Browning 10ga automatic and shoots 2 1/2oz of lead with his and he also has shot my 12ga Browning gold with 2oz of lead and he said they both kicked about the same. He is a rather large guy at 6'6 350lbs, so I think it's all a perceived thing.
 
If I remember correctly, in W.W. Greener's book "The Gun and Its Developement", he stated that a shotgun should weigh 96 times the amount of the weight of the shot charge in order to be comfortable to shoot. Why he didn't draw the line at an even 100, I dunno. Anyway, 100 times the shot weight is the rule of thumb I use. If you want to shoot 2 ounces, your gun better weigh at least 200 ounces if you want to shoot it all day. Lighter guns are tolerable for a hunting situation where you are only going to shoot a couple of times in one day.
 
my primary turkey and goose gun is a remington SP10 with wood stock and the 26" barrel. I also have a remington 870 super mag (synthetic stock).... Now I can only speak for turkey and goose loads but there are a lot of variables to consider. type of action, gun weight, stock design, recoil pad and so forth.... but speaking directly to the two guns mentioned above (remington sp10 10 g and the 870 12g) and considering both 3.5 in shells of the same shot size & weight, I would rahter shoot the SP10 any day..... I would go as far as saying I would rather shoot the SP10 10 rounds to every 1 of the 870. The 870 kicks atleast twice as bad as the SP10 does in those configurations.
 
96 x rule

That would mean a 15 pound gun for a 2.5 oz load and my 10 gauge is 9 lbs.
And 13.5 pounds for my 6.5 pound 12 gauge shooting 2 1/4 oz.
 
Originally Posted by Super-Dave
I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.
You know this based upon... ?
Click to expand...


Originally Posted by zippy13
Without specifics, your premiss is unsupported; but, in general you're correct. The reason: The 10-ga 3-1/2" hull has a larger capacity than a 12-ga 3-1/2" hull. So, 10-ga shells are typically loaded with a heaver charge of powder and shot than a 12-ga.

However, there are exceptions. Federal lists two similar duck loads:
Load No. PW107 10-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1450 fps and
Load No. PWB143 12-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1500 fps
Using just the squares of the velocities, 12-ga load would have about 7% more energy. If perceivable, then that difference could make a typically lighter 12-ga gun have more felt recoil (kick) than a 10-ga. You're welcome to give it a try and report back to us.
Click to expand...

Zippy is right, just because the 10 ga is a bigger gun, doesn't always mean it kicks more than a 12 ga.

Eventhough a 10 ga has a larger capacity, and is usually loaded with a heavier load, the 10 ga shell works at a much lower pressure than a 12 ga 3.5". Therefore, there is can have less felt recoil from a 10 ga round, even if it has a heavier payload.
 
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