Too many variables. And *most* shotgunning is done in the most recoil-friendly position - standing - and even then, there is a world of difference between a heavy pump or auto with recoil pad and something like my old hard-butt less-than-5 lbs 20ga single shot (first gun, and I was a little guy when I got it - but I killed truckloads of rabbits with it).

Somewhere out there is a rifle that will get your attention, and you may be surprised what it is. I can bench any of my 30-06s with 150gr or 180gr heavy reloads for essentially all day; I can run thru all the 338 I care to pay for powder and bullets; I can run thru 50 rounds of monster killer reloads at the bench in my son's 45-70 Guide Gun, etc etc.and never be bothered by recoil. 300 W'by is fun; 375H&H is not (at the bench), but it doesn't "bother" me. But, as I've written before, I've an extremely accurate 125gr load for 30-06 that hurts to shoot, period. We've tried it in a number of rifles, and it's like an ice pick driven into your shoulder. I can't tell you why, but it hurts.

I remember a 358 Marlin levergun that was NOT pleasant to shoot - that was mostly a poor stock design for the caliber. I remember a 375H&H No1 Ruger that was never fun at the bench, but a superb field rifle. We have a 260 Rem M7 Youth that is no problem with 125 - 129gr reloads, but gets a little less fun after 40 rounds of 140gr reloads at the bench (it's a pussycat off the bench) - not painful, but it tenderizes me a little. But that 125gr -06 reload freakin' hurts.

I have noticed that there is *some* correlation between size and how hard something smacks you - a very imperfect correlation, but enough to comment on: Something that is a "bad" recoiler (sharp, rather than heavy) seems to have a more adverse effect on a heavier person than a lighter person. YMMV; that's just my data set.

As for weight of ammo... carrying a shotgun all day in the field is not the same as carrying a backpack and rifle in the mountains for a couple of weeks. It's not so much the weight of the ammo as it is space - or the trade-off in food and clothing items or fuel. Again, YMMV - that's my opinion. Shotgun ammo is both bulky and heavy, so there is certainly room for discussion, but I think of shotgun ammo in quantity as a day trip kind of thing rather than a long-term thing. The most 12 ga ammo I've carried for more than 3 days has been about 15rds, mostly slugs and some buckshot - not hunting, obviously.

Good questions!

Regards,

Tom