I HATE the 12 gauge

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Dr_2_B

New member
Well call me a wimp or a lightweight or whatever you will... I hate it. I just cannot get used to the recoil. I can shoot my 44mag pistol or any other pistols all day - no problem. I am 6 ft tall and a little over 200lbs. But I just can't abide the 12. Don't like the 2 3/4 OR the 3 inch shells.

I'm not a complete sissy - really. It may be that my face is so close to the action. Or maybe it's that I don't have the best shoulders in the world. But I could honestly see myself flinching or delaying in a crisis if I were defending myself with my 12. So as of today I've made the decision to make my AR or my M1 carbine my home defense choice.

I've often said a 20 ga. would be a better choice for most people. Maybe there's one in my future.
 
I'm not here to name call or bash anyone for their choice of firearm or ammo. Life is to short to get into internet peeing matches. As long as my family and dog love me I could care less what others think.

Have you tried the reduced recoil loads? Semi autos are supposed to reduce recoil as well. If you have a bad shoulder than you have a bad shoulder period. I doubt the bad guy is going to know the difference between a chest full of buckshot or 5.56.
 
He said maybe a 20 gauge was in his future. Reduced recoil 12 and 20 feel about the same to me.
Just a suggestion.
 
My buddy got a torn rotator cuff as a present from a drunk driver. We just went and did some trap last weekend and shot some 12ga at the range. He hadn't shot shotgun in 4 months after a couple rounds of standard velocity buck he said I'm not going to push it. He was fine with trap loads.

On a side note he didn't get the worst of the impact the other guy in his car got 2 slipped disks.
 
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Sure Remington makes Managed recoil loads, Winchester Ranger reduced recoil, and my favorite is Federal Tactical reduced recoil with flite control wad really tight patterns out of my 18" cyl bore.
 
Dr 2 B: What gun is this? Depending on manufacturer, type of action, barrel design, shell load - you can get differing recoil. Also - if it is a used gun, you might consider previous wear, failed parts, parts installed backwards, etc. Not all shotguns have serious recoil.
 
A proper fitting 12 ga. shouldn't be too punishing. I have a Remington 1100 that beat the h--- out of my face until I had the stock modified with an adjustable butt plate and comb. I could then set the gun up to fit properly and no longer had any problem shooting multiple rounds of trap with the gun.
 
Your problem probably has little to do with the gague of the gun / and a lot to do with the fit of the stock / and maybe some fundamentals.

I would suggest some lessons / or some time with a knowledgeable shotgunner.

I have shoulder problems as well - and even though I'm 6'5" and 290 lbs - somedays I don't want to shoot an 8 1/2 lb gun and 1 1/8 oz at 1300 fps just to prove I can - so I shoot a semi-auto / or lighter loads in a 12ga ...

I wouldn't give up on it yet.
 
12 gauge doesn't bother me but I know what you mean about the handgun recoil being different than a long gun recoil. When I shoot a hand gun it just kind of rolls back and up in my hand. With a long gun it's boom and recoil at the shoulder.
That being said if you wan a shotun you can always go with the 20 gauge or if you can find one a sweet 16.
 
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Glancing through the valuable comments, (spam notwithstanding), WHAT type of 12 gauge loads are you talking about?

You can shoot loads that are duplicate of 28 gauge up through shoulder-busting 00 buck or turkey loads.

First, get your gun to fit you; second, shoot light target loads.

Shoot the heaviest gun with the lightest loads in a gun that fits, and you won't notice recoil. I own 20's that kick worse than any 12 - why? because they do not fit MY profile like the 12's I have......

When 8-10 year olds can shoot a light target loaded 12, in a gun that fits, that tells you it can be done WHEN everything fits properly
 
Porting and Endine

I have a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge which has a ported barrel and a Mesa Tactical Endine recoil reducing system. I am a smallish 52 year old and I can shoot buckshot and slugs with no discomfort using this set up.

I was very surprised at how much this set up reduces felt recoil. It might be the answer to your problem.
 
Again what oneounce said. He may be shooting high brass fours in a six pound gun. We do not know enough to be making suggestions.
 
A few things I've learned... they may or may not be useful.

1. At least with pumps, light shotguns hurt more than heavy shotguns. My 870 with SureFire fore-end is a tad heavy but tolerable with buck and slugs. My friend's 500 is noticeably lighter and punches back noticeably harder.

2. Pull that stock in tight to the shoulder pocket. Any gap between the stock and you is the difference between being "punched" and being "shoved".

3. If it's smacking you in the cheek, plant your face a bit further back on the stock. The nose-to-charging handle thing doesn't work for me with a shotgun.

90% of the people on this forum probably have better advice than me but this is the stuff I've learned that doesn't cost anything.

Having said all that, I don't see anything at all wrong with an AR or M1 carbine for defense.
 
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Have you tried a Knoxx stock on your 12g? I am a little guy at 5'7" 130 lbs, but I love shooting my 870 12g w/Knoxx stock. I just picked up a Stevens 311. I'm sure that's going to send me for a loop. :D
 
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