is there alot of difference in recoil between 12ga buckshot, slug, and birdshots?
Aug.18, 2010 in
Slugs and Snails
is there alot of difference in recoil between 12ga buckshot, slug, and birdshots?
is there alot of difference in recoil between 12ga buckshot, slug, and birdshots?
September 1st, 2010 at 6:36 am
It depends on several of factors, but yes there is a considerable difference. The weight of the shot or slug, the amount of power or velocity of the shell, the length of the shell, the weight of the gun, and the action of the gun all effect the felt recoil. Generally, standard 2 3/4″ birdshot shells are the lightest kicking (about 15-25 ft lbs). Then your heavier turkey loads, duck loads, buckshot loads, and light slug loads kick more (up to 40 ft lbs or so). Of course it all depends on the specs of each shell as to which kicks most. The hardest kicking are your heavy 3″ and 3 1/2″ magnum turkey and duck loads and heavy slug loads (50-60 ft lbs and on up).
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September 17th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Well, technically as your question is phrased, no. E.g. 1 oz of of birdshot, buckshot, and slugs, *driven at the same velocity* (e.g. 1300fps) will not recoil any differently from each other – they’re all one ounce and all going 1300fps, and all going down the barrel as one wadded mass.
The difference in recoil comes in, due to the load weight and velocities of the shells. Birdshot is at low velocities – say 1080fps to1350 or so (the max allowed velocity for 7/8 oz of shot for ATA competitions). The black powder dram equivelent of birdshot game and target loads is usually around 3 1/4 or less (2 3/4 is most common, for 1oz and 1 1/8 oz loads). The really is no need to drive birdshot very fast size 6 and smaller isn’t used for bringing down anything big – just small birds, say pheasants, doves, etc., and target – trap, skeet, sporting clays. Also, due to the light weight of each pellet, the faster you push small shot, the looser pattern you get – not something you want.
Buckshot and slugs are meant to bring something large down to the ground – geese, ducks, deer, turkey – they are tough boogers to drop. You also want the shot (say size 5 and larger) to carry – that is retain its velocity and energy, and pattern consistency out farther, to hit that target. The larger the shot, the harder it will hit farther away – the more weight, the more the shot retains its energy, so while a pellet of 9 shot will fall out of the sky at around 100 yards, a pellet 2 shot will carry much, much farther, probably out to around 300+ yards. This, however, does not affect recoil – the same pellets, at the same velocity, and the same weight of the pellet load, will recoil the same. Loads with buckshot and slugs are driven at magnum velocities pretty much always (save the light recoil, and light hunting loads). Magnum loads also have heavy payloads, like 1 1/4 or more of shot. You can expect to feel that 1 1/2 of 2′s or 1oz solid copper hollow point slug hurtling out the end of your barrel at anywhere from 1400 fps to even around 1600 fps (Remington makes a HV 7/8oz slug that travels 1800fps!). These of course, are your 2 3/4, 3 in, 3 1/4, and 3 1/2 inch magnum shot shell loads. And with magnum payloads traveling at magnum velocities, comes magnum recoil.
Recoil is caused by the force of the combusting gasses expanding between the payload, and you. The more payload, the more gas it takes to move it, the more gas, the more pressure and the more velocity, alas more recoil.
Gun weight, fit, etc., all play into preceived recoil. If your gun doesn’t fit, you’ll feel it the next morning after touching off a few heavy loads. If you’re shooting a light gun it will seem to kick more than a heavy one – the loads kick the same – the heavier gun just soaks up a little more recoil. Gas operating also plays into recoil – shooting a 3 inch magnum slug at 1560fps out of a 11-87 Super Mag is much more pleasant than shooting said load out of an 870 Super Mag – the gas bled off to cycle the 11-87 action makes the perceived recoil softer – more of a push, than a punch.
Hope you found this helpful.
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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October 7th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
yes there is.the laws of physics come to fruition.for every action either positive or negative,there is an equal re-action.that said,a 12ga.slug is a min.1oz 3/34dram eqiv.load.a buckshot load is 1oz.3/12dram eqiv.,and birdshot is 1/18oz.3dram eqiv.if you load each one with the same powder charge the difference is really noticeable simply due to the fact that the numerous shot pellets are not massed together,whereas the slug is a solid mass.the individual pellets are each pushing the others from behind,thus lessening the rearward thrust.the slug does not push itself,which multiplies the rearward thrust.hope this helps.
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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October 31st, 2010 at 5:36 am
Yes there is. buckshot and birdshot are about equal in recoil and slugs kick a little more. I have found that their are two factors here. The size of the slug makes a difference a 1.5oz slug will recoil more than 1 oz slug. and for bird/buckshot going from a 2 3/4 to 3 inch will give a good punch in the shoulder.
HOpe that helps
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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November 20th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
yup
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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December 8th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
I love how everyone becomes an expert and have to weigh all different factors that aren’t even in your question. I didn’t see a question that mentioned 2 3/4 vs 3 inch.
There will be slight differences in kick, but nothing you would stand up and say WOW, WTF was that!!!!
There a simple answer to the question that was asked!!!! No need to stroke my ego by making it look like I am a superhero gunsmith that knows all.
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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December 25th, 2010 at 4:41 am
Same length shell from the same gun there shouldn’t be much difference, but there will be some.
Me! And my experience with shotguns!
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