It's a matter of total recoil impulse.

The 2 1/2" shell is no problem as long as the load is stout enough to drive the action full stroke.

These are not real light weight guns, they handle fine with standard 1 oz. loads.

Removing the bronze friction piece to get the gun to cycle light loads is a bad idea. It also damps the speed at which the action returns to battery, and without it in place the wood takes a beating. This is one reason forends crack.

A vent rib cylinder choke is a bit of a find. Nice.

Only about 40% of the barrels had a VR, and most were choked F.

That would be a great skeet gun.

"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble