Recoil on different barrel guages.

[call-in]

If you use loads that put out the same amount of shot, like a light 12 ga. load vs. a standard 20 ga load, the one that is trying to force the shot down a tighter hole is going to recoil more.

I figure I should start a new thread on this because it is not related to the original post. Just want to discuss this further.

I believe there are situations where your statement is true but it depends on some factors. I think that two loads of shot with the same mass, propelled with the same acceleration rate to the same velocity, would give the same recoil against their respective guns provided that both guns have the same mass, regardless of the size of the bore. Having said that, propelling the same amount of shot with the same type and amount of powder would impart more recoil on the gun with a smaller bore because the expanding gases from the ignited powder would produce higher pressures on the smaller volume of the smaller bore barrel thereby propelling the shots at a higher velocity than the barrel with a bigger bore.

Did I get this right?

[Databyter]

I figure I should start a new thread on this because it is not related to the original post. Just want to discuss this further.

I believe there are situations where your statement is true but it depends on some factors. I think that two loads of shot with the same mass, propelled with the same acceleration rate to the same velocity, would give the same recoil against their respective guns provided that both guns have the same mass, regardless of the size of the bore. Having said that, propelling the same amount of shot with the same type and amount of powder would impart more recoil on the gun with a smaller bore because the expanding gases from the ignited powder would produce higher pressures on the smaller volume of the smaller bore barrel thereby propelling the shots at a higher velocity than the barrel with a bigger bore.

Did I get this right?

Also consider that the weight of the gun, (or lack of it), has tremendous effect on felt recoil.

Most lighter gauges means less steel and that means lighter guns.

I would guess that I am feeling less recoil with my 20" fully loaded 590-a1 than some people with a single shot 20 gauge even if I was shooting heavy loads and they were shooting average loads.

I'm not an expert on shotguns, but this is what I have always felt which is one of the reasons I was not too worried about getting a big heavy HD shotgun. I knew my shoulder would thank me later.

p.s. I edited the statement about loads between the two gun comparison because I reversed what I meant to say, which is that a light gun of a lower gauge can have just as much or even more kick than a larger gauge heavy gun.

Ever see those guys shooting 50 BMG's. Those are big heavy guns and that is why the recoil, although substantial is not as huge as it would be in a 7 pound gun.

[Brass Pile]

The same amount of energy going down a smaller diameter bbl factor is about negated with the extra weight of the larger gauge receiver and bbl. This just a statement based on having shot a lot of different loads through different gauges over time.

[call-in]

I figure I should start a new thread on this because it is not related to the original post. Just want to discuss this further.

I believe there are situations where your statement is true but it depends on some factors. I think that two loads of shot with the same mass, propelled with the same acceleration rate to the same velocity, would give the same recoil against their respective guns provided that both guns have the same mass, regardless of the size of the bore. Having said that, propelling the same amount of shot with the same type and amount of powder would impart more recoil on the gun with a smaller bore because the expanding gases from the ignited powder would produce higher pressures on the smaller volume of the smaller bore barrel thereby propelling the shots at a higher velocity than the barrel with a bigger bore.

Did I get this right?

Also consider that the weight of the gun, (or lack of it), has tremendous effect on felt recoil.

Got that covered!

[Databyter]

Got that covered!

Yea u did have it covered.

Pressure higher pressure does not necesarily equate to more recoil though if it is pushing against less surface area. It could be the same, or even less.

Ever see the air bags the fire dept uses to lift cars in accidents. They work on about 15 psi. The bigger the bag the less p.s.i. is required.

So a larger bore with less pressure could still impart the same force as a smaller bore with more.

I'm sure there are variations in efficiency of pressure to recoil, but Mass is the key in the ranges of pressure and sizes we are talking about here.

At least I think so.