cr500

Before doing any modifications to your gun, try using different cartrdiges.

For a start, try different brands of 28gm and 32gm and No 4's and No 6's.
This will also cut down on recoil. Alot of the high velocity Shotgun loads
lose the extra velocity at the mid to end of the range of a shotgun.

It is said that Lengthening forcing cones does reduce recoil.

How is your shotgun choked ? Full and Full or Half and Full.
If either of these, I would get these taken out to 1/4 and 1/2 as modern
shells give tighter patterns anyway due to the wads used nowadays.

If it is a heavier Pigeon type gun (Pistol grip stock, file cut rib), I have
just come back from overseas where I went shooting pheasants and I used
a Pigeon gun where the chokes had been modified to 1/4 and 1/2 from
Full and Full and i as great. I have always believed that Pigeon guns
with chokes taken out are great guns to use.

As to wear and tear, I don't think in your lifetime you'll wear the gun out.

500 Nitro