10 gauge vs 12 gauge 3.5" shells

Super-Dave · May 11, 2009, 06:43 AM

I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.

My question is since 10 gauge shotguns are so much heavier than a 12 gauge 3.5" shotgun, is the felt recoil less on the 10 gauge?

How do you feel the two recoils compare?

J.Netto · May 11, 2009, 06:52 AM

I've never shot a 3.5" 10 gauge shotshell, and I'm not sure I would want to! i can't imagine what that would be like. I see what your getting at, I guess I'm just too comfortable with 12 gauge loads, It wouldn't really matter to me. Alright, alright - I'm a sissy!

oneounceload · May 11, 2009, 07:59 AM

Put your data in here and see what it calculates:

http://10xshooters.com/calculators/S...Calculator.htm

srt 10 jimbo · May 11, 2009, 08:15 AM

Pretty sure my Mossberg 535 shoots 3.5 shells too, never tried them though.

mnjimbo · May 11, 2009, 09:53 AM

I have never shot a 3.5 / 12GA but have shot a 10GA 3.5 once...........

The way I see it,if my 12GA 2 3/4 Centurion multi defense loads cannot stop an object,I am pretty much lunch anyways...

srt 10 jimbo · May 11, 2009, 10:00 AM

Think I'll try it.

WSM MAGNUM · May 11, 2009, 10:11 AM

Super-Dave,
I have a Remington SP-10 and a couple of 12ga. shotguns that will shoot 3-1/2" shells. I have a Winchester SX2 and a Browning Auto Magnum that shoots 3-1/2" 12ga. shells. If I shoot the Browning with 3-1/2" shells, it feels about the same as the SP-10ga. But the Winchester SX2 will kick like a mule with the 3-1/2" shells compared to the SP-10.
Shooting the SP-10 and the 3-1/2" 12ga.`s are not too bad as long as I don`t try to shoot trap or skeet with them.

Kendo · May 11, 2009, 10:24 AM

I would have to say it depends on the gun. I had a single shot 10 in H&R I believe. That thing would cross your eyes. It turned out to be a party favor , you know the kind you pull out and everybody wants to shoot it once, ONCE! Since that gun I have shot a pump 10 that really didn't kick any harder than my mossberg 835 3.5" shootin the same round. Which by the way will also cross your eyes if you dont pull er in good and tight. I doubt this helped at all but thats been my experience.

Buzzcook · May 11, 2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

since 10 gauge shotguns are so much heavier than a 12 gauge 3.5" shotgun,

That is an assumption that isn't backed up by the facts. 10 gauge shotguns come in a variety of weights. For most gun makers the model of gun will be just about the same whatever gauge it is made in. For example the 870 Wingmaster has a difference of 1 pound between 12 gauge and 28 gauge.

zippy13 · May 11, 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super-Dave

I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.

You know this based upon... ?

Without specifics, your premiss is unsupported; but, in general you're correct. The reason: The 10-ga 3-1/2" hull has a larger capacity than a 12-ga 3-1/2" hull. So, 10-ga shells are typically loaded with a heaver charge of powder and shot than a 12-ga.

However, there are exceptions. Federal lists two similar duck loads:
Load No. PW107 10-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1450 fps and
Load No. PWB143 12-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1500 fps
Using just the squares of the velocities, 12-ga load would have about 7% more energy. If perceivable, then that difference could make a typically lighter 12-ga gun have more felt recoil (kick) than a 10-ga. You're welcome to give it a try and report back to us.

srt 10 jimbo · May 11, 2009, 07:32 PM

It would seem to me that a 12 gauge shooting 3.5" shells would have more recoil then a 10 gauge shooting 3.5" shells being the lighter of the two.

bcarver · May 11, 2009, 08:43 PM

10 gauge shooting 2.25 ounces of lead produces similar recoil to 12 gauge shooting same load. Heavier gun and bigger bore decrease recoil.
stock fit and shotgun design are also important.(gas operated, recoil pad, etc).
More kick is felt in 10 gauge when the shot load is increased.( 2 oz 12 gauge compared to 2.5 oz 10 gauge)
My 12 3.5" kicks comparable to 10 gauge 3.5"
What a 10 doesn't kick like is a 12 gauge 1 5/8 dove load.

impalacustom · May 12, 2009, 03:25 AM

My uncle has a Browning 10ga automatic and shoots 2 1/2oz of lead with his and he also has shot my 12ga Browning gold with 2oz of lead and he said they both kicked about the same. He is a rather large guy at 6'6 350lbs, so I think it's all a perceived thing.

B.L.E. · May 12, 2009, 06:11 AM

If I remember correctly, in W.W. Greener's book "The Gun and Its Developement", he stated that a shotgun should weigh 96 times the amount of the weight of the shot charge in order to be comfortable to shoot. Why he didn't draw the line at an even 100, I dunno. Anyway, 100 times the shot weight is the rule of thumb I use. If you want to shoot 2 ounces, your gun better weigh at least 200 ounces if you want to shoot it all day. Lighter guns are tolerable for a hunting situation where you are only going to shoot a couple of times in one day.

Sako · May 12, 2009, 07:28 AM

my primary turkey and goose gun is a remington SP10 with wood stock and the 26" barrel. I also have a remington 870 super mag (synthetic stock).... Now I can only speak for turkey and goose loads but there are a lot of variables to consider. type of action, gun weight, stock design, recoil pad and so forth.... but speaking directly to the two guns mentioned above (remington sp10 10 g and the 870 12g) and considering both 3.5 in shells of the same shot size & weight, I would rahter shoot the SP10 any day..... I would go as far as saying I would rather shoot the SP10 10 rounds to every 1 of the 870. The 870 kicks atleast twice as bad as the SP10 does in those configurations.

bcarver · May 14, 2009, 09:29 PM

That would mean a 15 pound gun for a 2.5 oz load and my 10 gauge is 9 lbs.
And 13.5 pounds for my 6.5 pound 12 gauge shooting 2 1/4 oz.

slickyboyboo · May 15, 2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super-Dave
I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells.
You know this based upon... ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy13
Without specifics, your premiss is unsupported; but, in general you're correct. The reason: The 10-ga 3-1/2" hull has a larger capacity than a 12-ga 3-1/2" hull. So, 10-ga shells are typically loaded with a heaver charge of powder and shot than a 12-ga.

However, there are exceptions. Federal lists two similar duck loads:
Load No. PW107 10-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1450 fps and
Load No. PWB143 12-ga. 3-1/2" 1-1/2 oz at 1500 fps
Using just the squares of the velocities, 12-ga load would have about 7% more energy. If perceivable, then that difference could make a typically lighter 12-ga gun have more felt recoil (kick) than a 10-ga. You're welcome to give it a try and report back to us.

Zippy is right, just because the 10 ga is a bigger gun, doesn't always mean it kicks more than a 12 ga.

Eventhough a 10 ga has a larger capacity, and is usually loaded with a heavier load, the 10 ga shell works at a much lower pressure than a 12 ga 3.5". Therefore, there is can have less felt recoil from a 10 ga round, even if it has a heavier payload.

May 11, 2009, 06:43 AM	#1
Super-Dave Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 795	10 gauge vs 12 gauge 3.5" shells I know the 10 gauge has more recoil than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" shells. My question is since 10 gauge shotguns are so much heavier than a 12 gauge 3.5" shotgun, is the felt recoil less on the 10 gauge? How do you feel the two recoils compare? __________________ If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever. George Orwell

May 11, 2009, 10:11 AM	#7
WSM MAGNUM Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 750	Super-Dave, I have a Remington SP-10 and a couple of 12ga. shotguns that will shoot 3-1/2" shells. I have a Winchester SX2 and a Browning Auto Magnum that shoots 3-1/2" 12ga. shells. If I shoot the Browning with 3-1/2" shells, it feels about the same as the SP-10ga. But the Winchester SX2 will kick like a mule with the 3-1/2" shells compared to the SP-10. Shooting the SP-10 and the 3-1/2" 12ga.`s are not too bad as long as I don`t try to shoot trap or skeet with them. __________________ Henry - Life NRA Member, USCCA Shield Member If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

May 11, 2009, 08:43 PM	#12
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	recoil 10 gauge shooting 2.25 ounces of lead produces similar recoil to 12 gauge shooting same load. Heavier gun and bigger bore decrease recoil. stock fit and shotgun design are also important.(gas operated, recoil pad, etc). More kick is felt in 10 gauge when the shot load is increased.( 2 oz 12 gauge compared to 2.5 oz 10 gauge) My 12 3.5" kicks comparable to 10 gauge 3.5" What a 10 doesn't kick like is a 12 gauge 1 5/8 dove load.

May 14, 2009, 09:29 PM	#16
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	96 x rule That would mean a 15 pound gun for a 2.5 oz load and my 10 gauge is 9 lbs. And 13.5 pounds for my 6.5 pound 12 gauge shooting 2 1/4 oz.

May 11, 2009, 06:52 AM	#2
J.Netto Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2009 Location: Elizabethtown, KY Posts: 713	I've never shot a 3.5" 10 gauge shotshell, and I'm not sure I would want to! i can't imagine what that would be like. I see what your getting at, I guess I'm just too comfortable with 12 gauge loads, It wouldn't really matter to me. Alright, alright - I'm a sissy!

May 11, 2009, 07:59 AM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Put your data in here and see what it calculates: http://10xshooters.com/calculators/S...Calculator.htm

May 11, 2009, 08:15 AM	#4
srt 10 jimbo Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 955	Pretty sure my Mossberg 535 shoots 3.5 shells too, never tried them though.

May 11, 2009, 09:53 AM	#5
mnjimbo Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: West St.Paul,MN Posts: 16	I have never shot a 3.5 / 12GA but have shot a 10GA 3.5 once........... The way I see it,if my 12GA 2 3/4 Centurion multi defense loads cannot stop an object,I am pretty much lunch anyways...

May 11, 2009, 10:00 AM	#6
srt 10 jimbo Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 955	Think I'll try it.

May 11, 2009, 10:24 AM	#8
Kendo Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 103	I would have to say it depends on the gun. I had a single shot 10 in H&R I believe. That thing would cross your eyes. It turned out to be a party favor , you know the kind you pull out and everybody wants to shoot it once, ONCE! Since that gun I have shot a pump 10 that really didn't kick any harder than my mossberg 835 3.5" shootin the same round. Which by the way will also cross your eyes if you dont pull er in good and tight. I doubt this helped at all but thats been my experience.

May 11, 2009, 07:32 PM	#11
srt 10 jimbo Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 955	It would seem to me that a 12 gauge shooting 3.5" shells would have more recoil then a 10 gauge shooting 3.5" shells being the lighter of the two.

May 12, 2009, 03:25 AM	#13
impalacustom Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 492	My uncle has a Browning 10ga automatic and shoots 2 1/2oz of lead with his and he also has shot my 12ga Browning gold with 2oz of lead and he said they both kicked about the same. He is a rather large guy at 6'6 350lbs, so I think it's all a perceived thing.

May 12, 2009, 06:11 AM	#14
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	If I remember correctly, in W.W. Greener's book "The Gun and Its Developement", he stated that a shotgun should weigh 96 times the amount of the weight of the shot charge in order to be comfortable to shoot. Why he didn't draw the line at an even 100, I dunno. Anyway, 100 times the shot weight is the rule of thumb I use. If you want to shoot 2 ounces, your gun better weigh at least 200 ounces if you want to shoot it all day. Lighter guns are tolerable for a hunting situation where you are only going to shoot a couple of times in one day.

May 12, 2009, 07:28 AM	#15
Sako Junior Member Join Date: March 30, 2009 Location: East TN Posts: 5	my primary turkey and goose gun is a remington SP10 with wood stock and the 26" barrel. I also have a remington 870 super mag (synthetic stock).... Now I can only speak for turkey and goose loads but there are a lot of variables to consider. type of action, gun weight, stock design, recoil pad and so forth.... but speaking directly to the two guns mentioned above (remington sp10 10 g and the 870 12g) and considering both 3.5 in shells of the same shot size & weight, I would rahter shoot the SP10 any day..... I would go as far as saying I would rather shoot the SP10 10 rounds to every 1 of the 870. The 870 kicks atleast twice as bad as the SP10 does in those configurations.