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I've only hunted dove with this gun before, and with 7/8 oz 2 3/4" shells. It was pleasant to shoot then. These 1 1/4 oz 3" shells cause the stock to pop me in the cheek. I can't see myself running the rig that way to hunt. If the bird is 100 yards away from me, I'll let him slide before I'll have this little gun knocking me around all day.

P.S. I know you don't usually take that shot, but do you tolerate the recoil better than me, or is it possible that my stock geometry is getting the best of me? My shooting buddy has a Kentucky muzzle stuffer, that to me looks like a Pennsylvania rifle, in .50 cal that just plain knocks you in the face the way you have to put your face to the wood to use the sights. Same problem with this little Ted. No fun to shoot. His .58 Enfield and .58 Springfield are sweet.

Does your shotgun have short barrels ? That old Ithaca pump had a LONG barrel, and then this Poly-Choke BLOB of metal at the muzzle. It helped.

You probably also have that great, snap-shooting straight "English" stock, with no pistol grip to hang on to, if I recall that model correctly, which is doubtful.

Oh well, I agree it is best to let those shots pass, and stay with your usual loads. Going to the next larger shot size helps a lot though, and you may want to try it. I was grandstanding when I made my theatrical shot, but I knew it could do it. I don't recommend it however, unless you're really hungry, or the bird is a threat ! Good to know it is possible with the equipment, though, which was my point. If there is a chance you may grab your 20 in a bug-out, please (sparingly, not wanting to loosen up the gun) try heavier loads a little too...MAGNUM buckshot and slugs, and keep them in your kit. They are serious defenders. Do you remember Miami Vice ? The black detective sometimes carried a pistol-gripped, short-barrel Ithaca 20 ga. under his Armani sportcoat. 20ga. is real. Very handy. Shotguns are often overlooked by regular folks, who go right to pistols...but there is a reason the NFA outlawed them. They proved their dominance in the Roaring Twenties, and if, may God prevent it, there were a real social breakdown here...and I mean serious, beyond comprehension...the guys with the double shotguns and hacksaw blades will have the finest defense handguns in the world, and probably frequent access to enough ammunition, since high-capacity pistol magazines fall to a single shotgun blast, properly placed. May those days NEVER come.