Barrel length for shotguns?

Question

if you had a longer barrel on a 12 ga then on a 20 ga will the 12 ga still have a bigger kick to it? or will the 20 ga have on because it has a shorter barrel?

Answer 1

Well, I have to disagree with the previous answers.

1) Regarding 12ga vs. 20ga recoil.... A 7/8 load at 1150 fps from a 12ga, will recoil less than a 1oz load at 1150fps from a 20ga. Which gauge will kick more has many factors and can never be an absolute. Saying the 12ga will always kick more is a gross overstatement. Everything down to how the gun fits you plays into felt recoil.

2) Barrel length per se has nothing to do with kick. However, the longer the barrel, the heavier the gun. The heavier the gun, the less felt recoil. So yes, in effect, a longer barrel will reduce recoil indirectly, by adding weight to the gun, which will reduce felt recoil.

There are many factors that come into play for felt recoil. Gun weight, fit (how it fits you), recoil-pad, and the load you're shooting (total weight and velocity - 1oz of shot or 1oz of slug is still one ounce).

There are no absolute answers to this particular question, but I've explained as best I could.. There are many factors to take into account.

Answer 2

I am almost 100% sure that the 12 guage, no matter what, will have a bigger kick to it. The length of the barrel will not do much. I have been brought up around guns, have gone shooting countless times, and have gone hunting so I think I know a bit about guns, speficially shotguns. I started out with a 20 guage becuase they are usually lighter and have a smaller recoil. All the 20 guages I have shot have a smaller recoil when compared to the 12 guages I have fired (and even more so when you talk about a 10 guage - that was a fun experience...). It all has to do with the bullet. The 12 guage bullet is larger and has more gunpowder and pellets so it will have a greater recoil. It also depends a bit on what kind of bullet such as a slug, buckshot, etc. becuase the pellets are different.

Answer 3

I have 2 Mossberg 500s with one 24" hunting barrel, 2 18" barrels with one with a fiberoptic bead for low light conditions, and as far as stocks go I have a standard stock, pistol grip, and a pistol/solid stock combo. With just a standard allen key for the stocks I can switch all of these options out in about 3-5 min. This way you can go out in the field all day then come home and quickly have a great setup that can be used to easily manuver around the house when you hear a bump in the night so you can bump back with some atatude. For your purposes if I had to use minimal parts Id keep a fixed/ pistol grip stock, this will work just as well for hunting or defence, and have 2 barrels, 1 for home and 1 for field. That should keep you covered. You may look into a surefire fore end as well especialy for home defence. Most of these items can be used on a majority of shotguns I just use the Mossberg as an example because that's what I know but use what works for you

Answer 4

As a Gunsmith and Lifetime Hunter, I can assure you 100% that regardless of the actual barrel length, the 12 gauge recoil will ALWAYS be greater (Bigger kick) than the 20 gauge.......

Answer 5

Barrel *length* has nothing to do with it. The weight of that barrel you cut off *does*. If all else is equal, the lighter weapon will always have more recoil. Simple physics.

A 1oz load of lead from a 6 pound 20 gauge at 1200fps will kick identically to a 1oz load of lead from a 6 pound 12 gauge at 1200fps. If you then saw off eight inches of barrel off the 20 (or cut off the stock etc to lighten it), it, being lighter, will recoil more than the identical load from the 12.

Answer 6

Specific barrel lengths and specific info on the ammo would be needed to answer this.

edit: I submit to randkl

Answer 7

12ga. will always have more kick with one exception the "metro extension" no matter the barrel length

Answer 8

All things being equal in comparing them, the 12 gauge no ifs, ands or buts.*