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For a big, strong male shooter, adding weight is a definite option to consider. For a small framed female, that would be moving in the wrong direction.
If the weapon is too heavy, the shooter is constantly fighting to control it. They usually end up with poor stance and form, and have a difficult time keeping the weapon tight against the shoulder, which accentuates recoil.
I have to disagree. I've worked with dozens of youths teaching basic shotgunning, and wingshooting. Any I've worked with some of the best teachers in the country doing the same.
Assuming a right handed shooter, typically a small framed person does not have the arm strength to properly support the shotgun forearm while actually shooting it. They let the gun "droop" which pulls it off the shoulder, which increases felt recoil. This can be observed in shooting exercises and on film. Shortening the stock will exacerbate the problem because it moves the balance point more forward of the trigger.
Putting weight in the stock moves the balance point rearward, and while the gun is heavier, it allows the shooter to control a higher percentage of the weight with the strong/dominant hand, which leads to a "tighter" hold and cheek plant, which reduces actual and felt recoil.
You are correct that doing this will slow the swing some. I don't advocate it for a day of quail hunting. But for shooting from a relatively static position with the adrenaline pumping, the handling characteristics won't be noticeable. There are a lot of dedicated trap guns that weigh in the neighborhood of 12-14 lbs and the shooters do better than o.k. A lot of sporting clays shooters add 2-3 pounds, because while doing so will slow the swing, it reduces recoil and smooths the swing out.
Trap/skeet/sporting clays/bird hunting IS NOT the same as running a defensive shotgun. The techniques are totally different, which is why I’m a great tactical shotgunner and a subpar skeet shooter.
I can’t imagine a worse HOME DEFENSE shotgun for a small-framed female than a long monstrosity that weighs 12lbs!
Me either, and I doubt that there is any trap shooter who would suggest that
Unless you have found a way to repeal the Newtonian laws of physics, the same principles apply to recoil reduction regardless of what discipline you are attempting.
The techniques are totally different. Don’t apply wingshooting techniques to a person-shooting scenario, and vice versa.
Not so different.
Not so different.