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How does the recoil of a 20 gauge shotgun typically compare to that of a 12? I've never shot a 20 before so I don't know how they compare to typical #8 birdshot loads in 12.

There's a 3-gun competition this weekend I'd like to attend but would like to avoid normal 12 gauge recoil for certain reasons (and it's not for an edge in competition). Is there any readily available 12 gauge loads that will minimize recoil, or is there a big difference in recoil that would justify an "emergency" ( ) purchase of a youth 870 or mossberg maverick in 20? I normally shoot a mossberg 590 pump, so there's no need to worry about cycling problems in a semi-auto.

Been years since I shot a 20 but I seem to remember the recoil being significantly less than that of a 12 ga.

I would say the recoil of a 20ga is about 2/3 that of a 12 ga using target loads. I find the best 12ga load (for skeet) is 7/8 oz of 8.5 or 9 shot (but you are not going to find that on the shelf). This is basically a 20ga load; and shot out of the 12ga, it patterns very evenly.

FlynJay wrote:I would say the recoil of a 20ga is about 2/3 that of a 12 ga using target loads. I find the best 12ga load (for skeet) is 7/8 oz of 8.5 or 9 shot (but you are not going to find that on the shelf). This is basically a 20ga load; and shot out of the 12ga, it patterns very evenly.

i disagree! It isn't 2/3, its about 70%!

Depends on the guns and loads. My 12 gauge Mossberg pump with a light load and its shoulder save on the stock doesn't kick significantly more than my 20 gauge single shot Stevens.

They were mostly the same for me.

I went to a Defensive Shotgun class a few weeks ago, and there were only 2 in the class, including me (was a weekday class). I was using a Mossberg Maverick 88 (equipped w/ a collapsable M4-type stock), 18.5" barrel; other person was using a Remington pump-action 20 gauge (didn't have the model number, but it had a 18.5" barrel, so maybe an 870 tactical) using a standard stock. At the range, we were both shooting birdshot as part of our instruction and after the instructor left, we swapped rifles because we were curious about the recoil ourselves. Both of our experience was that the recoil difference between our rifles really wasn't all that different (maybe a 10% diff with mine being the slightly stronger). Of course, we were only cooking off a few rounds and maybe both our shoulders were a little numb, but that was my experience.

shooting out of the same platform, i.e. 12 ga 870 vs 20 ga 870, there is a noticable difference ... obviously the 20ga being more tolerable. Now, shoot a heavier weight 12 ga compared to a light weight 20 ga, and about equal. I have a 20-1/2 inch SxS 20 ga "upland bird gun" that my hunting buddies hand back to me after one or two stages of 5 stand clays.... usually with a funny, painful look on their faces. Also, the modern buffering technology built into many guns today has made dramatic changes in felt recoil.


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