Browning A5 recoil versus Benelli SBE

[fabsroman]

Hunting yesterday, I had the misfortune of picking up my dad's A5 for a couple of shots on doves. Three shells to be exact, and I am still picking up my teeth and trying to feel my shoulder and jaw. The recoil on that gun was horrendous compared to my SBE, and I was using the exact same loads in both. I just couldn't believe it. Now, I know why my uncle who shoots his own A5 most of the time, wraps a sock around the buttstock and still ends up with a swollen jaw at the end of the dove opener. I used to think he was a sissy, or he wasn't holding the gun correctly, but now I know better. Sad thing is that this A5 was the first 12 gauge gun that I used on dove hunting and pheasant hunting when I was about 10 years old. Didn't remember it recoiling this bad back then. Then again, it was my first 12 gauge. Killed about a dozen doves and 2 pheasants with it that year, and it was cool to kill 2 doves with it yesterday. Brought back some nostalgia. However, I'll be using my SBE for tomorrow's hunt.