Hi:
Being a 20 ga. lover, the best that I can say is it depends on pure magic. Some ofthe guns were very mild and some were very wild.
I will rank them in order of increasing percevied recoil:
1. Franchi Al 48, 5lbs 4 oz. Recoil operated auto
2. Beretta 303 6lbs 4 oz. Gas operated auto
3. Franchi Falconet 6.03 lbs O/U
4. Kasner American Arms Ultra Light.5lbs.12 oz.O/U
The weight seems to have little effect on the felt recoil. All of the gns have about the same stock dimensions. None of the guns had recoil pads on them.
For upland hunting use, I do not think that you will be bothered by the recoil. I use heavy field loads in all of my guns when pheasant hunting but use AA Skeet loads for chuckar. The Skeet loads are very pleasant on the shoulder!
I used my Beretta 303 to shoot many rounds of skeet with skeet loads with no pain.
Now a round of skeet with a 4.5 pound 12 ga. will make you think that you have had enough for that day.
You will just have to experiment with various loads until you find a load that will not mistreat you. When field shooting, I never notice the recoil. Face slap, that is another story.
Go for the 20,
Franchi
