My Dad is looking for a shotgun, probably a used auto, & probably a 12ga. He wants a ligther kick, what guns do you think we should look into?

The cartridge is more important than the actual Semi Auto...any of them will be great with 1 ounce loads at 1200FPS or less.

4 things that contribute to felt recoil:

Projectile velocity
Projectile weight
Gun weight
Gun fit

A light payload at modest velocity (like Battue said) in a heavier gun (gas semi-auto) that fits the shooter for the win.

If I were to recommend one gun to TRY.......... Winchester Super X2.

20ga gas operated. Lighter loads are more generally available than in 12, and heavier ones can be used as needed. I picked up a Browning Gold Hunter last Fall at a good price for such a nice gun. Light, and easy on the shoulder. Lots of others out there as well, but I just happened to stumble over the Browning while poking around a gun shop. Coulda been something else just as easily. I have a hard time passing on a Belgian Browning of almost any sort.

Remington 1100 are quite soft shooting. And so are Beretta 391. Both gas operated which gives the softness.

Pretty hard to beat an 1100. Not heavy but not light and a proven gas system.

I have had Browning Golds, Silvers and Winchester SX2 and SX3, none have been as soft as an 1100.

Go with a 20 1100 and pretty much no jump.

Light recoil, ability to change springs if necessary….most likely won’t be…to shoot a light load, significantly less maintenance, combined with the most proven reliability. And the ability to quickly adjust for fit.

Beretta or Winchester….Beretta if resale and fast acquisition of parts is necessary. Nothing else compares or has more high volume shooters using them. It’s not even close.

An 1100 may shoot a little softer because of a little extra weight, but it can’t run with the others.

The original SuperX Model 1 was superior to the 1100….and it can’t run with today’s SA offerings.

Everytime SA shotguns are brought up someone has to brag on the 1100...Reminds me of Coming to America and the Rocky Marciano scene.....

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Beretta 390

You want a gas operated gun if you are looking for the softest shooting shotgun. They spread the recoil impulse out the most, causing it to feel softer. I’m most familiar with Remington. 1100 has already been mentioned. The 11/87 is also a soft shooting gun. Don’t overlook the V3 and versa max. The V3 is at least as soft shooting as the 11/87 and is quite a bit lighter.

Kick-off equipped Beretta A400 Xcel Black 12 ga sporting clays gun I have is my softest shooter. Noticeably softer than my very similar 20 year old Beretta AL391 Urika sporting clays gun. When I shoot a 140 bird tournament the new A400 doesn't wear me down near as bad as the old one...recoil wise.

If you want a hunting gun a Beretta Semi-auto (gas operated) A400 Xplor with Kick-off would be excellent. Or a US made Beretta A300 20 ga with Kick-off would be serve the purpose and is US built as far as I know. It is not an expensive shotgun either like the A400 selling for around half of the A400.

Good luck with it!

Spot on ... And find the lowest velocity 3/4 Oz load it will operate reliably.

Gas guns are generally softer than both long recoil and inertia guns. Choose your brand and model according to your tastes and biases. If you like the 1100, use it. If you like the SX3, go for it. Beretta, Franchi, whatever. And of course a 20 gauge will kick less than a 12, all other things being equal. My wife shoots a 1100 20 gauge full frame gun - there is literally no recoil to speak of.

Once you have your gun, you can try different loads of ammo.