Reduced-Recoil Shotgun Loads For Newbies...and Home Defense

It's hard to predict the way different individuals are going to be able to handle perceived recoil until they try it; some small-statured folks bear up easily under the punishment of a lightweight 12-gauge shotgun, while some folks the size of linebackers walk away from trigger time behind a shotgun grimacing and rubbing their shoulders. Although there are a lot of different variables that determine how much recoil a shooter perceives, one relatively inexpensive one is the ammunition itself. In recent years, various shotshell manufacturers have been designing new loads that offer significantly less recoil. Although most shooters have no qualms about using reduced-recoil loads for casual sport shooting, some wonder if they offer enough stopping power in a shotgun designated for home defense. NRA Publications' Jeff Johnston takes a close look at the pros and cons...we think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Click here to read the article, courtesy of our friends at Shooting Illustrated.