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Most effective shotgun recoil reduction?

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 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
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Topic starter
 
[#1024]

Hi Folks, I hope all are doing well. 

I would like to get my wife a shotgun for basic sport shooting - falling plates, stationary clays etc. If necessary, it would need to double for snakes in case of need. 

However, she is really very sensitive to recoil - shooting a 222 or 223 is comfortable.

I have a Winchester 1300 Defender lined up for her. How do I tame the beast that it doesn't hurt her? 

 


 
Posted : 10/06/2026 8:19 pm
Treeman
(@treeman)
Posts: 1808
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reduce the load - always a good start.


I am who I am - I am not who you want me to be.
Therefore I am me.

 
Posted : 11/06/2026 6:17 am
(@oafpatroll)
Posts: 1122
Noble Member
 

Agree with Treeman's load advice. A 24 gram shot charge at around 1000fps being about as inoffensive as it gets. In addition to that tweaking the length of pull if possible to get it fitting her nicely and coaching on technique. Getting the gun mounted firmly with a proper check weld while in a good 'boxing' stance and using the push pull technique makes just about any 12G load manageable for smaller and lighter people.

My daughter got completely comfortable shooting my silly fast 00 buck and 560gr slug loads out of a lightweight Mossberg 930 once she got the mount, stance and 'push pull' / 'stretching the action' thing right when she was a 50ish kg teen.   


This post was modified 1 month ago by oafpatroll
 
Posted : 11/06/2026 7:17 am
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
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Topic starter
 

Reduced load would be a great start, thanks! (It now makes sense why the gun shop has such light loads!)

Where can I get proper info on fitting a stock? I know about LOP, but what about the cant and cast of the stock, drop at heel etc - how does one determine that? (I have a good piece of wallnut and would like to make her a proper fitting stock.) 


 
Posted : 11/06/2026 8:30 am
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
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Topic starter
 

From : https://www.shotgunlife.com/briefs/how-to-measure-yourself-for-a-shotgun-fit.html

 

"Start by standing upright and relaxed, ensuring your body is in its natural shooting position. Measure the length from the crook of your elbow to the first crease of your trigger finger. This measurement will give you the ideal length for your shotgun’s stock.

Next, measure the distance from your cheekbone to the center of your eye. This measurement will determine the appropriate height for your shotgun’s comb.

Finally, measure the distance from the center of your eye to the palm of your supporting hand. This measurement will help determine the proper cast for the shotgun’s stock."


 
Posted : 11/06/2026 9:07 am
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
Reputable Member
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

https://gatdaily.com/articles/shotgun-fit-understanding-stocks/


 
Posted : 11/06/2026 9:43 am
(@tripodmvr)
Posts: 765
Member Moderator
 

Loads with 21gr of shot are still very effective and I have used them to shoot rockies. 


 
Posted : 11/06/2026 10:19 am
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

Would you all please check the following, especially if you have well fitting shotguns: 

- height from eye pupil to cheek bone equals drop-to-comb equals length of first digit of thumb

- distance of drop-to-heel equals distance over shooter's knuckles 

- width of eye equals cast of stock

 

These might not be correct, but at least we get a start on using regular body features to obtain shotgun fitting measurements. Please make adjustments to this theory?


 
Posted : 11/06/2026 1:41 pm
(@methos)
Posts: 25
Eminent Member
 

Ds J

 

Kyk bietjie die video.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcNf8n37RwA

 

I normally shoot 36 gram and up to 40gram shells when hunting crows and doves. Once I ran out of them and only had 24gram clay pigeon shells available. They worked very well - just let the birds come in a bit closer.

 

If all else fails - although I don't know if it will be legal in SA get one of these:

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/274869005495

 

It allows you to shoot 410 ammo in a 12 gauge shotgun. You can even get ones for 9mm, .22 and even 308 that allows you to shoot shoot those calibers from a shotgun.

 

Cheers


 
Posted : 17/06/2026 9:01 am
(@oafpatroll)
Posts: 1122
Noble Member
 

Posted by: @methos

If all else fails - although I don't know if it will be legal in SA get one of these:

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/274869005495

 

Because of the definition of 'barrel' in our legislation and the fact that it is a controlled part I'm 99% sure that those would have to be licensed in SA. My grandfather had one for 410 out of a 12G which I remember shooting when I was a young kid but it disappeared or was thrown away by the time I got to help dispose of his guns.  

 


 
Posted : 17/06/2026 10:56 am
 Ds J
(@ds-j)
Posts: 360
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

Feedback time: 

 

I have done some research (Internet articles, YouTube channels, personal discussions etc) and I am fairly sure that I would probably get close to a good fit for the Mrs. 

Does anyone have experience with the newer spring- and gas operated recoil reducers, or something similar? The Beretta kick-off unit gets good reviews. 

https://www.beretta.com/en-us/product/beretta-kick-off-unit-for-mod--a400-xtreme-shotgun-E00687

 


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 4:33 pm
Treeman
(@treeman)
Posts: 1808
Member Moderator
 

just download it DsJ, light load, light charge. use something as a space user wad and off you go. 
You putting all this into something she is outgrowing as you create it for her.
I bought a 410 for Cody, only to find by the time it was licenced he had already moved on to 16 G and when it was licenced he was using my 12 G while I drank beer cause I had no gun. Same with his 223, when it arrived he was already happy with my .270 Win

 


I am who I am - I am not who you want me to be.
Therefore I am me.

 
Posted : 06/07/2026 7:25 pm
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