Big Louie

Really you shouldn't be taking that kind of recoil shooting at the range.Keep doingthatand you will be flinching with every shot, and that ain't good brother. I made a wise investment several years in a PAST recoil pad that makes range shooting a pleasure. I wear it waterfowl hunting when we are expecting a hot day and never get even a bruise. If you don't want to get a PAST pad then put some towels between the gun and your shoulder.

The 870 with that short of a barrel is a very light gun and will kick the snot out of you. I have one and know first hand. Max loaded turkey loads deliver a whallop, expecially in a light shotgun. Another thought is big guys like you don't "give" as much and absorb all the recoil rather than "rolling" with the shot.

I have a Mossberg 835 and shoot 3.5 inch Hevi-shot loads. This gun can absolutely stomp you if you let it. To reduce recoil both the barrel and Star-Dot choke are ported. Even with the stock recoil pad it shoots like a *****cat, no kidding. The bone-jarring mule kick is reduced to a more of a push. Huge difference. In the offseason Imight consider a Sims pad if I can get one on Ebay cheap, but I really don't think I need it.

On your gun I would highly recommend a ported choke and Sims pad as beardbuster stated.

You will never notice recoil when shooting at a turkey, so save the pain and protect yourself on the range with extra padding.

Good luck

Mouthcaller