Pump Shotgun Recoil - ramblings on different options?

[BattleRifleG3]

I miss my Mossberg 590 already.  Nothing I ever put through it was too much for my shoulder.  Never thought it was really all that heavy, that or I blamed it on the M9 bayonet.

I essentially traded it for a Rem 870 ESM because there are no hunting barrels for the 590, and I believed the Remington to be a more rugged and generally superior shotgun.  I did drop my impression of the Mossberg as a lightweight and the Rem as a heavyweight though.

Which brings us to another matter - recoil.  As I said, nothing was too much for my shoulder from the 590.  But dog gonnet this 870 kicks something fierce when firing slugs from the shoulder.  Nothing of course compared to my H&R Single.  But when firing sabot slugs from a rifled barrel, it either socks my thumb into my cheek, or I have to hold it so tightly that my aim is shaky.  No good.

I never thought I was recoil sensitive before.  Even my 300 RUM isn't something I consider particularly bad, and it's a not too heavy Savage hunting model.

Might the 870's recoil woes be due to a thinner buttpad than the M590?  Are there buttpads out there that would firmly slip over the factory one and not leave a shaky result?  I certainly wouldn't mind longer LOP based on my self-punching woes.

The bigger question, which was what I had in mind at the beginning of this post, is how do the various pump shotguns compare recoilwise?  I really feel there's more to it than weight.  Back when I was into that sort of thing, I found twin pistol grips to give me the most secure aim and mildest felt recoil.  I highly doubt I'd ever hunt with twin grips, but I might seriously go for a rear one, an ATI reinforced internally.  Anyone else use full p-grips for recoil management?

So how would you compare recoil on the various 12 and 20ga pump shotguns out there?  Thinking between the same gauge of Mossberg 500, Rem 870, Win 1300, Benelli Nova, Stoeger P-350 (Nova based), Hatsan Escort (Fabarm related), HK Fabarm, Charles Daly, Browning BPS, and others.

I'm talking recoil with the same regular game loads, so I'm not asking what everyone's favorite pump shotgun is (which I'm sure would be a very tired question.)  Just wondering how to get most manageable recoil in a basic pump.

My dearest lady wasn't too thrilled with my 870, but seemed open minded to a 20ga pump.  Think she might be ok with a heavier shotgun though.  I was looking at a BPS a couple days ago, and just wondered if going to a supposedly heavy duty shotgun like that would be just as good as going to a smaller gauge in a lighter one.

I'd consider autos, but they're really not her.  Not that she'd mind one, but pumps are definitely our thing.

[Siskiyou]

Every body reacts to recoil a little different.  I have seen hundreds of heavy buckshot loads and rifle slugs fired during a day at the law enforcement range.  I have seen small men and women take a beating from standard lenght stocks.  When the stocks are cut down to the correct length the weapon becomes more manageable.  I have also seen 6 footers in the hurts at the end of a day.  I had an issue 870 with the metal folding LE stock.  It was not fun to shoot.

A lot of people try a stock during warm weather and it is a little long but they live with it.  The problem comes in cold weather when they have heavy clothing on.  A long stock slows everything down for many people.  Cut off two inches of stock and add a 1-inch recoil pad.  For the little lady you may need to cut off more stock to get a proper fit.

Do not make the mistake of having your wife fire heavy loads.  A good way of turning her off.  Her last round might be in your direction.

I had a few days when the quail hunting and grouse hunting was very good.  I was using heavy 7 1/2 game loads.  On the third or 4th day my feather weight M37 did not want to come to shoulder.  I installed a very thick recoil pad.

[Ramrod]

Stock fit is the most important aspect of shotgun shooting. But other certain absolutes pop up. Most everyone agrees that the cheap single shots kick the hardest with stiff loads. Second on everyones list is pump shotguns, especially with slugs. No getting around it. Try a gas operated auto for slugs, or a good O/U for all around use. You will most likley ditch the pump.

[DAD]

I have the Rem.870 express turkey. It has a 21" barrel. Unfortunaly Rem. soild reciol pad is terriable. I put a Sims limbsavor recoil pad on it and what a differance! I went and shot slugs with the new pad and my 12g fells like a 20g when I shoot slugs.

[Sx2]

I have the Rem.870 express turkey. It has a 21" barrel. Unfortunaly Rem. soild reciol pad is terriable. I put a Sims limbsavor recoil pad on it and what a differance! I went and shot slugs with the new pad and my 12g fells like a 20g when I shoot slugs.

fit is important
I too installed the Sims, what a pad!

[mountainview]

Try the Managed Recoil slug loads, almost pleasant to shoot even when going through more than a handful (12 gauge feels more like shooting a 20 gauge). I get good accuracy out to 50 yards and even use them for deer hunting out to the same range.

[Siskiyou]

Managed Recoil loads are an option.  But there is a price.  You give up killing power.  Back when they first came out in slugs and buckshot we were told they were designed for "recoil sensitive" men and women who could not stand the recoil from full power loads.  I have seen some people who got beat up by full power loads, but you never found them in my duty 870.  I started out as a kid shooting a double barrel 12.  When my younger brother got a 20 gauge I kind of liked it.

[doegirl]

Stock fit is the most important aspect of shotgun shooting. But other certain absolutes pop up. Most everyone agrees that the cheap single shots kick the hardest with stiff loads. Second on everyones list is pump shotguns, especially with slugs. No getting around it. Try a gas operated auto for slugs, or a good O/U for all around use. You will most likley ditch the pump.

Agreed.  I used an 870 12 gauge with the stock cut short for me for about 14 years.  Even so I would get a beating on the range with it.  It was horrendous with slugs.  Accurate as all get out, but would absolutely beat the crap out of me.  Now I have an 11-87 with a rifled slug barrel and I shoot  Lightfield Hybrid Lites.  Sooooo much better. :lol:

[BattleRifleG3]

Welp, I just installed an ATI P-grip stock on my 870 ESM.  Doesn't seem like it'll be any kinder on the shoulder, but it will probably be more stable, and easier to hold firmly to the shoulder, plus my thumb will be out of the way of my face.

[SuperstitionCoues]

I shoot a BPS 12 gauge.  It can thump, but I haven't seen anything worse than my 870 or a freind's Browning over and under.

What you might consider doing (I have no idea if this will work for slugs, though) is send the barrel to Magnaport and have it Pro and Pigeon ported.  This is what I have done in response to two surgeries in 18 months.   I don't want to give up the gun, and including the simms recoil pad I installed, I think that it will make my life a little more pleasant.

Matt

[lefty o]

stock fit is the #1 issue with how hard a gun will kick you. a good recoil pad will help, as will adding weight. the fact you thumb hits your face says you are doing something wrong or your stock does not fit.

[crazyhorse705]

go look at knoxx stocks for the best recoil
 reducing stock i think it is 99 dollars or a little more.

makes shotting slugs a hell of alot easier.

there a video there if you need proof.

http://www.knoxx.com/NewStyleKnoxx/Products/Compstock.htm