What is the softess kicking 12 guage semiauto?

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viking499

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My wife is wanting a new 12 guage for turkey, rabbit, birds etc. But with her arthritis, it has to be fairly light to carry and soft on the shoulder. 3" shells max 24-28" barrel. Possible drilled and tapped for a scope or red dot she can use while turkey hunting.

I know I can add a new recoil pad, change shell size, etc to help reduce recoil.

My question is, what shotgun comes from the factory that is light to carry and easy on recoil BEFORE you start modifying?
 
The Extrema2 with the kickoff is the softest recoil shooting shotgun I have ever shot. Can even shoot it one handed.
 
The Beretta A400 is about a pound lighter than its brethren from that company, has the KO system, can handle up to 3-1/2" shells (not that I would want to shoot anything over 2-3/4, especially with arthritis).

My wife has one she uses for sporting clays and it shoots my 3/4 oz reloads without any hiccups.

It's downside to some, is the cost - about $1400 - but the gas system is easier to clean.
 
Fit of the shotgun makes a big difference in how the shooter perceives how much the shotgun kicks.

Shotgun makers spend a significant parts of their marketing budget to tell shooters that their latest and best semiauto is the softest kicking shotgun on the market.

Also its important that the shotgun you buy have shims to alter the fit.

My girlfriend and I shot the various shotguns from Benelli and Beretta and the Browning Maxus before we decided on the Maxus. Read some of Randy Wakeman's thoughts on recoil and marketing for enlightenment. Maxus weighs about 7lbs. All the latest and greatest from the B's come in at about 7lb.

I would not touch the new Versamess from Remington sorry Versamaxx for at least a year with Remington's QC problems and recall. Then there is the little issue of Remington's finances and possible Chap 11 or sale.

No its doesn't kick that much and you can only get it on the used market. Its not that light either but its the best built semi auto ever the Winchester Super X-1.

You cant go wrong with a semi auto from Benelli, Beretta, or Browning. Try to try before you buy.

VA herder
 
Get an 1100 and put a sling on it for carrying, or get a light gun and grit your teeth for a tenth of a second. You cannot get ultra light and soft recoil without going to something like the two piece stock, and that I found very disconcerting. I surely would not want to shoot one of those with a scope.
 
Right, there is an inverse relationship between weight and felt recoil, all other things being equal.
 
Right, there is an inverse relationship between weight and felt recoil, all other things being equal.
Click to expand...

Not really - there is that relationship regarding ACTUAL recoil......FELT is a relationship involving FIT......weight deals with actual and the more the less....
 
A400 with Kick-Off is the best fit for your specs, with nothing else close.

The 1100 is an 8 lb. beast. It shoots soft, but not like the A400 at a pound lighter. The A400 Light could work, too, but I haven't shot one. I have shot the A400 with KO. The 1100 isn't even close. I used to own one of the venerable old things. Not worth buying in 2010 unless you have a very tight budget.

The Extrema 2 is nice, but a heavy gun also, made for stationary waterfowling.
 
Finally got a chance to handle some shotguns today. My wife liked the Benelli Vinci the best as far as feel. I liked the feel too, but was not fond of the price......:what:

Anyone know anything about the Vinci?
 
Vinci

Along with the Beretta A400 and Browning Maxus the Benelli Vinci are the best
of their class in semi autos.

Randy Wakeman has a review of all three.

Vinci is inertia operated and the other B's are gas operated. Some folks find inertia operated shotguns to have more perceived recoil.

Your lovely wife needs to try before she buys. Other options are a Beretta 390 and 391 and Mossberg 930. Remingtons are too unreliable right now for a recommendation.

You can find a Vinci for around $1k

Va herder
 
My observation is that those who tout inertia or recoil operated actions always bring up the fit and balance factors, the perceived versus actual recoil, the "all other factors being equal" caveat, and load selection issues, the recoil pads, etc., but those who are proponents of gas operated shotguns usually just feel that gas operated shotguns kick softer. You might want to factor that into your decision making process.
 
I have a Model 1100 Rem 12ga IC choke. It was the first shotgun I bought with my on money when I was 16 almost 50 years ago. I found the gas operating system very reliable with just about any kind of expensive or cheap shell I could buy. Four boxes of shells in one day was nothing to this gun, without a hiccup and never left me with a sore shoulder. Carried it in rain, snow. Many dove and quail (before the foxes and coyotes got 'em all) met their demise over my uncle's three Pointers (not the doves). There is nothing that gives me chills more than bird hunting behind well trained bird dogs. The bluing is worn off the balance point where it has been carried but still shoots like new.
 
The A400 I bought for my wife was 1400 USED.....but it came with 4 extra Briley's and the nice extended thumb release installed by Briley and a few other little goodies.....plus I know the guy I bought it from and how much use it had had..............

Buy once, cry once......buy quality and it will last forever.....
 
USAS-12 (or an AA-12 IF they were available), 13-15 pounds fully loaded and a 'constant recoil system' where the bolt never hits the receiver while in recoil.

Of course, since it weighs a ton, it's a bit hard to use for dove huntin'.:evil:
 
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