Crazyhair,
Let me jump in here and relate my initial experience with a 12 Ga. shotgun (Wingmaster w/ 30" barrel). Like you, I was concerned about the recoil of a shotgun, never mind the gauge.
In my first duck hunt, I nearly fell into the water (from the blind we were shooting). This was partly caused by the recoil but mostly by my inexperience with shotguns. I've been shooting handguns mostly.
After many more years of hunting, I don't even hear the shot nor feel the recoil of 3" magnums from my M1 Field.
What am I saying? Once you get use to shooting a shotgun, you don't worry too much about recoils. Just enjoy your time out there.
Hope I made sense to you. Tucker really explained it to you in more detail.
Happy shooting!
D70
