The recoil formula has three components: 1) weight of gun; 2) weight of everything that shoots out the end of the barrel, e.g. shot, wad and gas; and 3) the speed at which they go out.
Increase (1) or decrease (2) and/or (3) to reduce recoil.
Parker recommended the following for 20ga loads for pattern and gun efficiency:
1) 3/4 oz shot at 2 1/4dre.......this runs about 1130fps
2) 7/8 oz shot at 2 1/2dre.......this runs about 1150fps and would be Parker's heavy load.
You will see that at 7/8oz and 1250fps, you must be shooting close to a 3 dram load, and in excess of Parker's recommended max , see Parker's "The Small Bore Shot Gun" p. 9. The load probably kicks like a mule. P. 9 identifies what I believe to be a custom load of 7/8oz at 2 3/4dre, probably about 1220fps and states" Not recommended by us and not loaded by leading companies". This is at least what you have been shooting.
If at some time you really feel a need for a kick in the teeth, try a 1 oz load in a Parker 20, what commercial manufacturers call a standard 20 ga hunting load.
Winchester AA 20ga standard fired length for 2 3/4 marked shells:
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