doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Will a 6 lb. 2oz 20 ga. be unpleasant to shoot ?

I covet an upland gun this size for its feel and carry, but I'm concerned that a 20 ga. this light will punish me with the recoil. Lets assume the gun fits me very well. I know a lot of Board members have such a double, what is your experience ? Thanks in advance.
Willie the Wimp

Probably not, unless it does. *g*

Serious answer - there are a few other factors involved besides overall weight and even fit of the gun. Does it have a modern recoil pad, or do you expect to be installing one? A good pad will soak up quite a bit of the perceived kick. What kind of loads do you intend to use? If it's a newer gun that can take 3" shells, of course they'll recoil more than a 7/8 oz target load. Do you plan on shooting it a lot at clay targets or just enough clays to become comfortable with it and then reserve it for hunting?

Speaking for myself, the light weight wouldn't concern me at all on a hunting gun.

Well, I'm a wimp, too. Never could see the sense of punishing guns. Won't own one. Aside from the big bears, my .250-3000 Ruger Model 77 and CZ Brno 7X57 (women's guns) will handle anything on the continent and light 20ga doubles with proper loads provide felt recoil acceptable to any wimps.

Since you stated that this is an upland gun, I can't imagine that it would be a problem. There are plenty of simple remidies for any recoil issues you may find. Stop coveting and start expierencing.

Bill G.

I shoot a Parker 20 that weighs six pounds, even. No recoil pad and 3" drop at heel. She's a little nasty with 1 oz loads but not so bad I wouldn't put one in the left barrel. I can shoot clays with her with 7/8 oz loads and it's not unpleasant at all. My other 20 is an Italian o/u that weighs 6 lbs, 4 oz. It has a pad, 2 1/2" drop at heel and overbored barrels. It is noticeably more comfortable to shoot. I am inclined to use it more at lengthy target sessions but still with 7/8 oz of shot.
Bottom line: If you want to shoot 1 oz loads in high volume, get a 16 or a 12. The 20 is fine for the standard load it was made for and the odd 1/8 oz cheat.

My Sterlingworth 20ga weighs a hair under 6 lbs (depending on the accuracy of the digital postage scale at work); has a pad and it's a hunter; I don't notice the recoil at all. Lotta guys here would snear at a 20 that weighed much more than that.

With the exception of maybe two shots touched off at extremely awkward angles at waterfowl, I can't think I can ever recall noticing recoil when out hunting.

I did notice the effects of 500 rounds through a light 20 down in Argentina, but even that was not too bad, and that was a lot of rounds.

As the others have noted, assuming the gun basically fits you, a light upland game is what you want for a day in the field, or even for an occasional round of clays. Your arms will thank you and your shoulder won't notice much for a couple of shots.



Ken

I had a gun nearly exactly the weight (6 1/4 lbs) 20g you described. For shooting targets in volume with factory 7/8 oz loads, it can get uncomfortable if it doesn't have a pad. When shooting hunting volumes 1-2 boxes/day, no problem, even with hot 1 oz Rem Nitro-Pheasant loads without a pad.

Most 20's weigh around that much anyway, no? If you weigh over 150lbs. I wouldn't worry about it.

But if you weigh over 200lbs, it may be more uncomfortable than a guy shooting it that weighs 165lbs.