[quote=L. Brown If pressure is not an issue but recoil is, then that means I'm better off shooting a 1 oz load using 18.5 grains of Red Dot in an STS hull, 10,900 psi/1255 fps (courtesy of the Alliant book) rather than a 2 1/2" Eley Hawk VIP Game, 1 oz, 1300 fps--the latter producing higher recoil because of the greater velocity (but loaded to the lower CIP service pressure standard).
[/quote]

Yep. Correct. Exactly!

Although your example is not the finest, beacuse the free recoil energy is a trivial 6% different between the two.


Here's a better example right out of your Alliant data...

1 ounce @1250 fps, pressure 10,900 psi

1 3/8 ounce @ 1250 fps, pressure 7,800 psi

Which one would is better for your 7 lb doublegun, Larry?

High pressure and 17 ft lbs of recoil or loooooooww pressure and 36 ft lbs?

You've professed respect for Miller's expertise; here's his take again....

"I could just as easily point to 2 3/4" 12ga loads of 1oz/1200fps vs 1¼oz/1330fps; both @ an identical 9,500 psi. the lighter load simply "Will Not" "Shoot the Gun Loose" as quickly as will the heavier one even though both have an identical chamber pressure."