Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Softest recoiling shotgun???

dreher
So I was shooting some skeet last week, shooting poorly I should add, and found out I now have problems with recoil. I don't know if this is due to age (71) or the stroke I had that affected my right side (I'm right handed).


So this shooter who was shooting at the same time I was told me to get a Remington 1100. He said that nothing shoots with less recoil.


What, in your opinion, is the softest recoiling auto shotgun??


I should probably add that I am planning on buying a 20 gauge as opposed to a 12 gauge. Thanks all!
0

Comments

25 comments

Date Votes
  • Sam06
    The 1100 is a soft shooter. I have never shot one in 20ga but the 12 ga I have is easy on the shoulder.

    I use mine as my Shotgun in 3 gun matches so it gets shot a lot and very fast. I have an 8 shot tube on it and I typically shoot 50-60 rounds every match.

    The only complaint I have with an 1100 is this:

    - They are a gas gun so the get dirty(But its easy to clean)

    -Because they are a gas gun they get hot(Only during long rapid fire shooting should not effect you shooting skeet)

    - There is some maintenance and parts that need to be monitored and replaced on a regular basis, but they are easy to get to.


    I have heard that the Remington Versa Max is very soft shooting also and is a better design than the 1100.
    0
  • Mark G
    I have 1100s in both 12 and 20GA. Taught my daughter shoot trap with them. After a pinched nerve in my neck affected my right arm I was very recoil sensitive. I pulled out the 1100 in 12ga and it was very soft recoiling. Try borrowing or renting one and give it a try.
    0
  • dav1965
    What about a Bennelli Super Black Eagle 2 mine does not kick so bad in 12 gauge.
    0
  • Mr. Perfect
    I don't know if it's the softest, but it's probably close to it.
    0
  • hillbille
    each person is different, I have a 28 ga double, I have never noticed any recoil, my sons girlfriend shot it and it about spun her sideways. think your best bet would be to find someone who has one and see if you can borrow it for dozen shots or so, one or two shots is not enough, try half or full box of shell and you should have your answer......
    0
  • longspur rider
    I have a Benelli Ethos in 12ga & a Rem 11-87 In 12ga. The Benelli is much more enjoyable to shoot.
    0
  • Ricci Wright
    I grew up shooting thousands of rounds through a 12 ga 1100. Great gun.A friend of mine who was a big time skeet shooter shot a Perazi O/U 12 ga with a tube set he used for 20,28,and.410 but his 12 ga gun was a Beretta 391. I asked him why and he said here shoot a round with it. It was absolutely the finest shooting shotgun I had ever shot. I was hitting birds I felt I should have missed.I soon bought a 391 Gold Sporting and put a bunch rounds through it and it never missed a lick I sold that gun maybe a year ago cause I wasn't shooting skeet anymore. The 1100 is a fine gun but if you are purchasing a gun do yourself a favor and look at the Beretta. They come in 20 ga too. Oh and any auto gun with skeet loads should be a soft shooter. Good luck!!
    0
  • Mr. Perfect
    Another thing about the 1100 is not only is it a soft shooter, it's pretty affordable considering other soft shooters.
    0
  • Mr. Perfect
    I would also look at the 11-87. It is the 1100, but with improved performance over a wider range of shotshell types.
    0
  • discusdad
    i did like the rem 1100, 12 gauge 2-3/4, until i got my hands on a winchester super X2 12ga, 3-1/2 in. shooting the big magnum in that gun was equal to the 1100 shooting standard loads, my vote is for the superX2 or its brother, the browning Gold model. no adjustments needed going from light to heavy loads either on the sx2,
    0
  • discusdad
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    I would also look at the 11-87. It is the 1100, but with improved performance over a wider range of shotshell types.
    just don't get a 11-87 that was made the first 2 years after introduction. major jam-o-matic problems
    0
  • Sam06
    Here is a nice one looks almost new except for a small chip in the stock.

    Its an older one too, made when Remington was putting out a fine shotgun.

    https://www.GunBroker.com/item/786717533
    0
  • Don McManus
    Never shot an 1100, but I have a 12 GA Benelli M2 that seems to cut felt recoil to about half of what you get with a over/under.
    0
  • Grasshopper
    Beretta AL-2 20 if you can find one. Excellent piece.
    0
  • Brookwood
    The heaviest gun with the widest butt produces the least amount of recoil. That IS if the gun fits your build (body dimensions).
    0
  • ltcdoty
    I have the old large frame 20ga. Rem 1100 for my wife...she shoots 3/4 oz. reloads out of it....hardly kicks....a pleasure to shoot...

    After shooting that gun, shooting my 12ga. Rem 1100, its seems loud and clunky..
    0
  • fideau
    I have replaced gas rings on 1100s. Easy and cheap. Usually the only problem, but then only after many rounds. It is a great gun.
    0
  • He Dog
    Semi-autos almost always have less felt recoil than superposed, sxs or pump guns. 1100 is a great choice, get a good used one, not anything new from Rem. Beretta also has some good candidates in semi-autos, I went with the Beretta 300 as the best combination of quality and value for me, as I do not shotgun a lot any more.
    0
  • booger
    I was in the same boat, did some looking, shot a few different ones.
    Here's my take.
    Softest:
    Beretta 390, 391, 391-Urika
    Browning Gold
    Remington 11-87

    The worst gas auto is better than the best inertia driven gun.

    I ended up with Beretta 391-Urika for a 12gauge and Weatherby SA-O8 for a 20 gauge.
    0
  • bobski
    the Winchester model 50 supersedes the 58/1100 design by about 4 years. it was designed to send recoil down into the grip and not your arm pit.
    yes, they are old. but they are time proven and have less kick than a 1100.
    m50 20ga is even less.

    key to less recoil is not only the gun, but ammo choice. use something less than 1 1/8oz and 1200fps.
    0
  • BikerBob
    I think it?s a combination. As Bobski said ammo is an important part of the equation. Lighter loads at lower speeds are your friend. If you reload try green dot powder, it?s slower burning so less initial shock.

    Then depending how serious you are and how much money you want to spend, think about getting your barrel ported and/or a recoil reducing system in your stock.

    I have one shotgun with both. I can throw some hot handicap loads at the clay pigeons with nearly no appreciable recoil. It?s an over under not a semi auto.
    0
  • Tcatt
    I mostly shoot heavy loads Duck/Goose Hunting.

    I presently shoot a Winchester SX2 in both 3 and 3-1/2 inch and 870 pump.
    I shot a Browning BPS for many years, and Remington 48, 58, and 1100.
    I own and shot 4 Benellis - The most overrated shotgun on the market for the price.

    My Brother shots a Super Black Eagle and Remington SP10

    Son 1 - shoots Benelli Super 90 and Benelli Nova
    Son 2 - shoots Benelli Super 90
    Son 3 - shoots Beretta Pintail

    I have a bother in law that shoots the new Beretta can not remember model
    I have two buddies that show Beretta 391s

    Without a shadow of a doubt for heavy loads:
    1) The inertia driven guns are the hardest kickers. If you don't need dental work, just shot 3-1/2 inch shells in a Benelli SBE and you will.

    2)The Beretta gas guns are the lightest kickers, even with 3-1/2 loads.
    0
  • nemesisenforcer
    22
    0
  • remingtonoaks
    Yes, the 1100 is very light recoil
    0
  • Sam06
    Here are some ways to reduce recoil in a shotgun.

    https://www.range365.com/shotgun-that-doesnt-kick
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity