20 Ga SD

[262runner]

My wife is petite and I want to get her comfortable shooting a shotgun for HD, so my thought is a 20 Ga. I've shot some 12 ga. and 410 stuff before but do not own any. What would be the preferred round for this purpose? I'm thinking of a 870, 18" barrel right now, any thoughts? I don't want to start a flame war with brands and such. Thanks for all the advice.

Ed

 

[EShell]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=401131

 

[mgkdrgn]

My wife is petite and I want to get her comfortable shooting a shotgun for HD, so my thought is a 20 Ga. I've shot some 12 ga. and 410 stuff before but do not own any. What would be the preferred round for this purpose? I'm thinking of a 870, 18" barrel right now, any thoughts? I don't want to start a flame war with brands and such. Thanks for all the advice. Ed

That and some buckshot and you'll be good to go.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Ed,

20 ga. pumpguns tend to be lighter in weight than theit 12 ga. equivalents. With regular loads of buckshot and slugs, many 20 ga. guns will actually kick harder than 12 ga. equivalents.

If you want to go to a gas operated semiauto for her, like a Remington 1100, that's a different deal completely.

My wife is 5'4", 125 pounds, and can handle a 12 ga. 870 with no problem even with full velocity buck and slug loads. The guns she uses are fitted to her- 12.5" LOP stocks with premium recoil pads- and those things make a lot of difference.

lpl

 

[earlthegoat2]

To answer your question, good defense loads would be any buckshot between #1 and #4. As Lee said make sure the gun fits her and in partial disagreement with Lee I would have to say the 20ga kicks less in general all other things being equal.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Got in a gunfight before. Shot back with a 20ga and slugs. I won.