I have two 20 ga M21s and a M12 in that weight range. The 21s have checkered butts, and the 12 has the usual plastic plate. I can shoot 100 7/8 oz loads in a session through these, but prefer my 3/4 oz loads. In the field I feed them fast 15/16 oz or 1 oz B&Ps and never notice the recoil.

I do have a 5# ASEL that brings tears to my eyes with 7/8 oz loads, and about knocked me unconscious when I patterned a single 1 oz B&P for kicks (pardon the atrocious pun). A 5 3/4 oz 20 ga Brit BLE "feels best" with 3/4 oz loads at the range. I'm not inclined to run 1 oz fields loads through this one. Same goes for a 6# 12 ga Daly.

I think 6 1/4# (fixed breech gun) is the ideal weight for field use with 1 oz loads, irrespective of gauge.

Sam