Tom,

Hi!

I like your approach of using a 20 ga., but loaded down.

I did a few quick computations of the likely recoil forces involved. A typical 20 ga. factory load in a 5# shotgun using 7/8 oz. of shot at 1200 fps propelled by 16 grs of gunpowder would yield a recoil of 18.03 ft. lbs. according to my calculations. Keep in mind I did not include the weight of the combination shot protector and wad.

A 28 ga. load of 11/16 oz of shot at 1170 fps propelled by 10.8 grs. of gunpowder has a calculated recoil of 10.24 ft. lbs.

Incidentally, about 18 years ago, when I was starting to handload 20 ga. ammo, I tried a load you might find interesting. Since one of my goals was to minimize the number of gunpowders I needed to keep on hand, I tried Dupont Hi Skor 700X (which I otherwise used in 12 ga. and various handgun calibers). A contemporaneous Dupont Handloaders Guide ( this is the source for all loads mentioned herein) recommended the following recipe:

Win. AA case + Win. 209 primer + 12.5 grs. of Dupont Hi Skor 700X + Win WAA20 wad

+ 7/8 oz. of shot = 1110 fps at a chamber pressure of 11800 LUP.

The load shot well from our 2 Rem 1100 LT20 shotguns. It performed well in skeet. In my shotgun it either did not operate the action or barely ejected the fired shells (I just don't remember which). In my wife's shotgun, the empties tended the jam in the action. That was the only reason I did not pursue the load further. It was a very mild shooting load. Recoil was very light. The clay pigeons were broken well. Leads (and therefore velocity) were acceptable. The calculated recoil of the load fired in our approximately 6.5 # shotguns was 10.92 ft lbs. Of course those were also gas operated semiautomatics, so the actions would have further mitigated the recoil.

In any case that load shot in a 5# shotgun would yield a recoil of 14.19 ft lbs. Even that might be a little more than you want for now. Still it might be useful load for later use.

Obviously the numbers above are the most helpful when used grossly in comparing guns and loads. Regardless of the numerical absolutes, felt recoil is the supreme consideration. These formulae do not consider all factors. But as the numbers get further and further apart, they become more useful for comparative purposes. Thus a load generating 15 ft. lbs might feel much more comfortable than on yielding only 14 ft. lbs. Velocity of the recoil, is a good example of a factor not considered. But in comparing, say loads with 20 ft. lbs. of recoil with loads generating only 14 ft. lbs of recoil, the greater comfort is more likely with the load yielding the latter amount of recoil. These comment are probably truisms for most serious shooters, but for those who are not, they may prove illuminating.

In the junior division of our gun club, the shotgun coaches provide factory 20 ga. 7/8 oz. loads for club's free coaching sessions held monthly at the skeet range. However, virtually all of the shotguns are gas-operated semiautomatics. The kids range typically from about 10 to 16 years old. The program works well and is very popular. Recoil seems to be at most a minor problem, and typically at the younger ages.

I hope your nephew has as much fun as we've had in shooting.

Good luck,

John