Low recoil 12 gauge ammo?

Lead weight in the stock, as much as would fit.
Click to expand...

If you go that route, then it helps to also put a somewhat equal amount in the mag tube to help balance the gun better. Otherwise, you wind up with a butt-heavy gun that will have poor swing dynamics
 
I'm with oneounceload on this one, start with some extra weight in the mag tube -- even with your grip. It smooths out your swing and eats recoil. For additional mass, then consider the stock's bolt hole.
 
SUBSONIC

Federal's "Metro" load is 1 1/8th oz of shot at 900 fps. The Winchester (Winlite) load is 26 grams of shot at 980 fps - which I like a lot - it is used by Orvis at their wingshooting school in Sandanonna. That's the first place that I ever hit a moving target with a shot from a gun.
Pete
 
Federal's "Metro" load is 1 1/8th oz of shot at 900 fps. The Winchester (Winlite) load is 26 grams of shot at 980 fps - which I like a lot - it is used by Orvis at their wingshooting school in Sandanonna. That's the first place that I ever hit a moving target with a shot from a gun.
Pete
Click to expand...

Being subsonic also dramatically reduces the noise level. A lot of a gun's sound is actually the shot's sonic boom as it leaves the muzzle.

26 grams is just a little over 7/8 ounce.
 
The 26 gram load at 980 fps sounds really light. No wonder Pete wasn't bothered the recoil, they have only 16% more muzzle energy than the typical .410-bore target load! (How come Winchester has to charge more for a shell that delivers less?)

ZUGG, forget the Aguila minishells and get some of these Winchester puff balls for your lady. If not available at your LGS, try midwayusa.com
 
I've always thought the Universal Winchester 7.5 shot wasn't too bad and it comes in the 100 round value packs to boot.
 
g.willikers said:
Does anyone make a weight, that is a nice fit in the shotgun tube magazine, that wouldn't mess up the feeding?
Click to expand...
Yep... Winchester/Western, Remington/Peters, Federal, Fiocchi...

Since the shooting sports typically require only one follow-up shot, much of the magazine tube is unoccupied. For a quick and easy weight: get a spent hull and fill it with shot to the desired weight, trim as required (for a partial load), crimp, seal the crimp with glue or tape, and insert it into the magazine tube. The rim should be forward, so the mag spring will keep it in place. To change the balance point, move the weight back using a spacer (an empty hull cut to the desired length). For more weight, get a 3-1/2" mag hull or add a weight. Two weights in the front of the mag tube won't change your pump's or auto-loader's operation. Once installed you notice smoother swings and reduced kick.
 
g.whillikers,
Give some added weight a try and, please, share your experience with the forum. I'm sure there are some skeptics out there who don't realize how easy it is to change the performance of their stick guns.
 
CMichael said:
The problem with the smaller shells is that's harder to hit the target.

That's what got my wife frustrated,
Click to expand...
If you're dead-on, the target will break whether you're shooting a 12-ga or a .410-bore. It's what happens when you're off by just a little: The lighter the load, the less forgiving. In trap shooting, to make it more difficult, they move further back. In Skeet they use smaller bore guns.

Many folks make the mistake of giving a new shooter, especially a child or lady, a .410-bore to shoot. They reason that the very light recoil of the little gun will make for a more enjoyable experience. Usually what happens is they get frustrated because they miss so many targets.

Not only is the .410-bore the lightest target load, it's also the least efficient when developing it's shot string. And, .410s are notorious for having holes in their patterns. Many folks who are relatively competent shooting a 12-ga are humbled by the .410-bore. The .410 if for well seasoned shooters, not newbies.

In contrast to the .410's long and thin shell and subsequent poor pattern development, the next step up is entirely different. The easily overlooked 28-ga has much better since it's shot charge much squarer (ht = wd) in the hull. The squarer load, the better the pattern.

For the new shooter a 12 ga O/U with 28-ga tubes is ideal. It's heavy enough for a very smooth swing, the recoil is minimal and they break targets that a .410 would just dust.
 
The problem with the smaller shells is that's harder to hit the target.

That's what got my wife frustrated
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. It takes three pellets to break a clay target, 5 if a rabbit. 7/8 from a 12 or 20 will be the same. The main issue is the density of the pattern. Shooting a 12, 20, and 28 with their respective "natural loads" - 1-1/8, 7/8, 3/4......and choked the same will pattern the same - however the density of the patterns will be a tad different - hence Zippy's comment about being on the bird, the target will break. Shooting smaller gauges at longer ranges typically involves choking one constriction tighter than you would use with a 12.

Example - if you are shooting an IC in a 12 at a 30 yard crosser, a LM in 20 or a M in 28 would give the same density in a smaller pattern - as said - if you center the pattern on the bird, it isn't going to matter.........
 
Roger that, zippy.

After experiencing the difference in my neighbors gun, I added some weight to a 12 gauge, Remington 1100 with a synthetic stock.
The lighter weight of the mostly empty stock, made the gun kind of nose heavy, anyway.
At first I added enough lead strips, just in front of the recoil pad, to balance the gun about the same as one with a wooden stock.
Not much, maybe a few ounces, but even that little bit, in addition to improving the balance, did have some effect on recoil.
Well, if a little bit works, why not a whole lot more.
Ok, so then I just about filled the stock with another pound and a quarter of lead.
Boy, what a difference in recoil, even with regular target and game loads.
Very nice.
And the balance isn't too bad, really, with its 28" long barrel, especially when the mag is full.
But I'm definitely going to make up some lead filled rounds, as you suggested and play with it some more.
Messing around with guns is fun.
 
Remington 11-87

http://www.remington.com/products/f.../model-11-87-sportsman-compact-synthetic.aspx

Young shooters are more likely to become stewards of the shooting sports if they start with a gun that fits properly. Exactly why we crafted our standard, premium-grade stocks with a shorter length of pull, then fit them to some of our finest firearms. All compact firearms are equipped with our Adjustable Length of Pull System so that fit can be customized to youngsters as they grow, and adults requiring a shorter length of pull can tailor the compact firearms to their specific needs.
The gas-operated action of the 20-gauge Model 11-87™ Sportsman® Compact makes it the ultimate light-recoiling compact shotgun.

  • Ergonomically designed for superior handling
  • Constructed with solid steel receivers for strength and durability
  • Features smooth-operating actions that reduce wear and provide quick follow-up shots
  • Bead sights
Click to expand...

The adjustable LOP stock is a nice feature, but real wood would likely add weight to help absorb recoil
 
As an added note, if anyone has an older Remington, the recoil pad that came with it might be just rubber over a hard piece of plastic.
The pad shown in the above link is a really good one and comes on all late model guns.
Replacing the old one with this one is not expensive, something like $30.
Your shoulder will thank you.
It might be actually made by Limbsaver, one of the best.
 
Is this the pad you're thinking about?
recoilpad.ashx


http://www.remington.com/product-families/accessories/gun-parts-families/supercell-recoil-pad.aspx
 
That is a LimbSaver pad (they make them for Remington), and it is an excellent retrofit. They're available for both synthetic and wood stocks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top