Gauge is not what is important, as others have noted already, weight of load, speedof load, and weight of gun is what creates felt recoil. As already said a recoil operated gun will further reduce felt recoil.

Were I in your friends situation I would go with light loads as already noted by earlier posters moving at about 1100 FPS from a six pound or so gun.

I would stay at 16 or 12, maybe 20 ga

Last edited by old colonel; 07/22/25 06:15 PM.
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS