870 youth 20ga for HD?

The ammunition choices in 20 ga. are MUCH more limited than in 12 ga. There are no widely available reduced recoil loads for the 20, and many 20 ga. guns are lighter in weight than their 12 ga. counterparts. This is a formula for MORE recoil, not less. It would not be a bad idea to get a 12 ga. that is fitted to your wife (short length of pull on the stock, premium recoil pad installed, full length field forearm, no extra weight like magazine extensions out front) and let her try that. It would be worth investing a few $$ in the stock set (see eBay etc.) as an experiment to get a gun that fits her properly. Most women can handle a 12 ga. _if it fits them_. Fit and keeping weight off the front of the gun seem to be the big issues in my limited experience (mostly with my own petite wife), and having a long forearm so she doesn't have to overextend her support hand.

There are slugs available for the 20 ga., most of the buckshot you will find will be #2 or #3 buck. The 20 is just to small to carry much in the way of larger pellets.

If she is really recoil sensitive, it would be a good idea to look at a gas operated gun. Remington 1100 20 ga. guns are popular for this purpose- and there are good reasons for that.

hth,

lpl/nc

What Lee said. I own a 20ga. Remington 870 Youth model, and its combination of light weight, skinny buttstock (with equally skinny recoil pad), and buckshot loads, make it harder-kicking than my standard-size 870 12ga. with reduced-recoil buckshot loads, and about the same kick as the latter with full-house (i.e. normal-recoil) buckshot loads.

If reduced recoil is what you're after, I should take a standard 12ga. 870 and fit it to your wife (LOP, etc.) first. Then, replace the standard recoil pad with a Kick-Eez or Limbsaver unit (if you're prepared to shorten the stock a bit more, Kick-Eez make a very thick pad that's wonderful for soaking up recoil). Then, find a reduced-recoil buckshot load that patterns well in the shotgun, and you're good to go.

For a semi-auto option, I second Lee's recommendation of the Remington 1100, either in 20ga. or in 12ga.

I own a youth Rem. 870 in 20 gauge. I find the gun uncomfortable to shoot with its short stock, but anyone 5'2" or less would find it ideal.

For home defense you can use #4 or #2 shot. You can find low-brass #4s at most retailers. #4s at close (in-house) range will get the job done.

A 20 gauge pump is perfect for home defense.

I echo what Lee said.

Here is a photo of the shotgun that I set-up for my daughter, for her HD.



I purchased the 870 Express at Dick's for $228.00.
The Knoxx SpecOps stock has a Limbsaver pad, straight from Knoxx. The LOP is adjustable, to fit my daughter.
The standard forend was hardwood, so, I ordered the synthetic forend from Remington. (The 18-1/2" barrel was ordered at the same time. The 26" barrel is in the gunsafe.)
I still need to pick-up a sidesaddle and she wants a light on the forend.
(Hey, she's spending Dad's money. She's not paying for it!)
This 12 ga recoils like a 28 ga., or a 410!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Federal 00 Buck in their 'reduced recoil' Tactical load is what I bought for her to use.

As for the 20 ga. 870. I bought one for my youngest son to use. It beats him something terrible with Winchester 7/8 oz loads!!!!

Listen to Lee. That lightweight 20 ga will rattle your wife's teeth!

Agree with what everyone else has said about the youth 870 20 ga.. The one I bought for my son a few years ago was brutal compared to the Mossberg 835 12 ga I had at the time. The small grip also caused the trigger guard to rap my knuckles hard enough to leave a bruise.

I'm no expert by any means, but I'd try one on for size before you lay down the cash if I were you.

Glad I came across this thread. I was looking at that gun for HD, but now I think I'll stick with the 12 ga.

I guess I may as well go a bit against the grain and say that I believe the 20ga. is good choice and the youth model is also what I choose.

Many I know will indicate the 12 is better, but the handling characteristics of the 20ga vs the 12ga. has always lead me to pick the 20ga. for HD.

Number 3 buckshot in 20ga. is the most common and readily available. The recoil of the lighter gun generaly is overcome by the lighter payload it delivers in my opinion. I think trying one (20ga.) would at least be called for if you like the handling.

I certainly agree that the 1100 Remington is lighter in recoil and possibly near the ideal HD 20ga. in it's youth version. I just don't think the pump is a heavy kicker, or not managable when it comes to recoil. You can get light loads for the 20ga. as well - maybe not in buckshot, but then no need to practice with buckshot anyway.

I have an 870 Wingmaster small frame in 20 gauge that I am going to start my son on for HD use. What everyone has said about recoil is probably true BUT....I figure it this way-

99.99% of what he does will be training-shooting plates and learning to "run the gun" etc.... He will be shooting birdshot for that-not buck. If he ever does need to use buck, it will probably be in a situation where recoil is the least of his concerns.....Just my thoughts on the issue.

Looks like I have one supporter !

You know what C-grunt , I bet you if you take your wife along and let her handle that Mossberg 500 12ga short barrel and then the Remington Youth 870 in 20ga. that there will be no contest as to which she would want to try using. By the way - Mossberg also makes a 20ga, youth model 500.

That said, and with support from lawyerman ,(and I bet your wife as well) the recoil will be no problem using mild shot loads in the 20ga. and a 2&3/4 inch buckshot won't be felt if it came to actualy needing to use it for HD.

Just a thought !

PS: I consider the #3 buckshot load as being just fine for HD .

My Dad has an 870 youth model. Nice little gun, but the length of pull is so short that I can't shoot it without hitting myself in the nose with my thumb on every shot.

If this is a gun for the wife, the youth 20 is a great idea.

I usually say let the wife be the one to decide, but the youth express fits most people up to about 5'8'' it may be a tad short, but it will be easier that way than a tad long.


Take your wife out shooting clays and other fun things, let her get to know what she is doing with the gun so it feels like second nature, The current Express's come with a very good pad on them, and have lots of after market possibilitys to add on with. I would let your wife shoot only 2 3/4 inch game loads so she gets the idea that it does not kick. IF she ever gets in a need to shoot situation, the added recoil of a 2 3/4 buckshot or slug load in a 20 is not even going to be felt. My kids had never fired a full house load in their deer rifles untill they pulled the trigger on that first deer, neither of them ever mentioned recoil as an issue. Same thing with self defense, most people who have been there report that they hardly knew the gun had gone off.

I have to disagree with those who say that a full size twelve has less recoil than a short twenty. My kids and several i have started hunting will say otherwise too.

Reduced recoil means DOWN LOADED. no other way about it. and DOWN LOADED is not what I want my wife using if she ever decides that she is in peril.

Actually my HD gun is a 20ga 870 Express Youth model with a 7+1 tube from Tank's gun shop. As stated, it recoils pretty hard, and the best you are going to get in buckshot is #3, but it does its job amazingly well.

The short butt stock is nice as well for room cleaning.

In some 3 gun, I ran it and it performed as well as any 12ga out there, so don't let the 20ga scare you away.

Interesting post... I'm always looking for a shotgun that is worth its weight in salt for home defense for those who are recoil shy. My girlfriend who has a handgun, might be better served by a shotgun in a HD scenerio.

petef wrote:

Take your wife out shooting clays and other fun things, let her get to know what she is doing with the gun so it feels like second nature, The current Express's come with a very good pad on them, and have lots of after market possibilitys to add on with.

Click to expand...

pete,

I have to disagree with you on the 'very good pad' on the Express. The factory pad on my son's new 870 Youth Express is as hard as a rock!!
The FIRST thing that I would suggest to anyone that buys the 870 Youth or the Mossberg Youth 20 ga. is to buy a Limbsaver™ or other GOOD pad.
The (lack of) weight on the 20 ga gun produces a quite smart recoil with both the AA 7/8 oz. #7-1/2 shot and the identical STS load.


c-grunt,

Granted. . . at the moment when someone NEEDS a HD shotgun, they won't feel the recoil, just as a hunter doesn't feel the recoil at the climax to 'the hunt of a lifetime'. That's adrenaline. Period. But in practice, nothing produces a flinch like recoil or the fear of recoil.
I've seen men start shaking in their boots because of anticipated recoil. Pulled shots. Jerking the trigger. Pulling their face up from the stock and then getting SMACKED by that same stock.
FWIW, that Mossberg is gonna kick a little more than the Remington will, because the shotgun' receiver is aluminum and therefor, weighs less.

Buy what YOU believe is best for YOU. All I suggest (strongly) is that you put a GOOD pad on that shotgun. Your wife will thank you for it.

Keith

I went through the same process that you are, and me and my wife bought a Wal-Mart Remington 20ga 1100 LT youth for the great sum of $447. We both believe that it has been the best money we have ever invested in a firearm. The bulk packs from the same store are puffballs compared to the hammering she got from my Mossberg 590. After she got comfortable with the light loads, we got a mess of Rem Express #3 buck loads on sale, and had at it. She doesn’t like em but will go through about 15 before she has to stop.

Good enough for her, then it's good enough for me.

Remington 20 Ga youth model

I bought my son the little youth model when he was 12 years old.He was all of 110 lbs and average height for his age.His start off deer rifle was a 308 model 7.He was taught to aim well and take the pain.Getting off a well aimed shot with good results rewards the shooter ,with pain not worth noticing.The little 20 makes a good house gun,20'' barrel,short overall length,stoked up with a handfull of #5 shot.It is surely enough gun for inside the home defense.I wouldn't want shot with it.....................