When I assist folks, especially ladies as I have done over the years...
-Gun fit to shooter for task.
-Correct basic fundamentals of shooting with a gun that fits said shooter.
-Bigger person can shoot a smaller gun - a smaller person cannot effectively shoot a gun set up for a bigger person.
Matt hit on one huge fact : The best kept secret is a 1100 in 20 gauge.
[Win 1400, Beretta 303, 390, 391 also applies]
I know of a half dozen members here on THR alone, the Home gun is set up to FIT for the wife, fiance' , teenager, ...(smaller person in home).
Recoil mgmt is a combination of gun fit , correct basic fundamentals , training and quality practice. I have / had folks from 4 years old and up, both genders and including physically limited folks in wheelchairs - do repetitions each day on correct basics, with a gun that fits to instill correct basics of mounting gun to face, buttpad into pocket, cheek-weld, ...etc - builds stamina too.
They start out maybe only doing 5, many get to doing 100 a day.
I only use and recommend one Recoil Pad, Pachmayr Decelarator.
Fact is, if the gun does not fit, person does not have the correct technique, Recoil pad is not going to really help - in fact can and often does make matters worse on managing recoil.
Ammunition? Honest, I worry about the gun feeding and extracting, then shoot pattern boards for POA/POI , pattern density and slug groups, and choose ammunition this way for ME. Others I assist with - do the same.
Not really messed with the Reduce Recoil stuff to be honest. Nothing against it - just I am being me.
I want to be able to test a gun for reliability , and the Pattern Board work I mentioned earlier. I find a loading(s) and I run back / suggest folks I assist with to run back to local store and get more of the same lot number.
I want / recommend knowing, what off the shelf loads are going to do in MY gun, and folks in Their gun. Each gun is different - even guns coming off the assembly line at the same time, made in same batch can and do differ.
It does not do ME, or anyone any good to have the neatest, latest , greatest, softest shooting ammunition - if this ammunition does not feed, extract, shoot to POA/POI, pattern worth a flip, and slug groups are terrible.
I/we want to know and have a variety to choose from. So we make mental notes from testing and know without a shadow of a doubt, if we have to run into a bait shop and only a few choices, we know what that /those loads have done in our guns.
Grab the ammo that works, and done.
One may get caught out of town and need ammo. One may have a disaster, and folks coming in to assist, bringing food, water guns and ammo - are not going to be tossing out reduced recoil loads from the back of the truck.
I won't , I didn't. Folks got standard loadings in 2 3/4" shotgun shells and pretty simple handgun and rifle loadings. Ammo that "across the board" works in all gun types.
I won't , and did not take a chance with a semi-auto not wanting to run a certain ammo choice.
Same reason I tossed out .38spl - no .357, only .38spl. .38spl fits both guns.
Yep lots of it was LRN and hardball too.
Semi -auto handgun ammo was FMJ
That all said-
I only use 2 3/4" shells. Guns are bone stock*, no side saddle, no mag extension.
Applying also are the barrels on a lot of guns are bone stock 26" and 28" , some are fixed choked, some have screw in, and the screw ins are all external knurled chokes
This is what I recommend / or the folks I hang with use .
I keep a Youth NEF 20 ga single shot loaded with Federal Forster slug
Lady friend, 870 Wingmaster, 2 3/4" Brennke Slugs
(her gun also shoots the same Federal Forster slug I use and worked best in my gun)
3 ladies, 1100 20 ga skeet guns. One uses Fed 2 3/4" #3 buckshot, the other two shoot slugs
2 ladies use Win 1400, loaded with slugs.
Two of the guns are 20 ga, the other is a 12
The 1400 is THE softest shooting semi-auto - period.
1 lady uses a Beretta 303 in 20 ga, loaded with slugs, she too ( her gun) prefers the 2 3/4" Brenneke slug
Most of us load up with slugs.
Serious and I use a Repeater. Brennke, or the Federal old fashioned full tilt boogie Forster slug.
I use a SX1 like mine, a 870 1300, 1100, Beretta 303
Honest to Betsy- I do not know anyone that uses reduced recoil loads in our tight bunch.
I do know, the guns fit, the ladies ( and the men, and the kids) they have do and continue to train, practice correct basics, and most do at least 25 repetitions a day. Some can only do 4 times a week due to schedules.
My lady friend and the other ladies, have gone out and fired 100 rds of buckshot / slugs in one setting and not had one bit of a problem.
Check the gun to HER for fit, and correct basics. If she needs a gun set up for her - do it. She needs a gun - let her pick it out with the assistance of other ladies that know gun fit and correct basics, and can give lessons and "read" her to assist.
NO ladies? Find a male She is comfortable with , that is seasoned in knowing how to assist ladies, , special needs of ladies and all.
Slapping on recoil pads and changing ammunition is not the correct way to manage recoil.
IMO/IME
Steve
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