Well, if your buying the Pro-hunter with the flex-tech stock...then your talking a whole different ball game. I have the Pro-Hunter with the flex-tech stock. I has the integrated Limbsaver recoil pad plus in the stock.
I use my 12ga barrel for turkey season with Hevi-shot loads. These are mighty loads and do recoil, but the Limbsaver Pro-hunter stock takes out a bunch of it.
If this is for a small woman, I may (and it would depend on how "tough" the woman is) go with the 20ga., but anyone over 130lbs I wouldn't be afraid of the flex-tech stock system for reducing felt recoil.
MHO
Dave