20 gauge ammo

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BP Hunter

BP Hunter

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OK, I have a Mossberg SA20 that I really enjoy. It was basically purcahsed for HD. Anyway, I read that #3 buck is best for HD. For the past purcahses of #3 shot, I always thought it was the same thing. I was wrong it hardly did any damage to thick wall plastic 7 yards away. I thought #3 buck and #3shot were the same.

I cannot find #3 buck anywhere. Bassproshops has #2 buck selling. Will this suffice for HD? IS it as good as the #3 buck?

Thanks.
 
I found this online :12 Gauge Federal Power-Shok 2 3/4" Buck Shot Maximum 9 Pellets 00 Buck 5 Rnds . Willthis do?
 
#3 buck and 000 aren't the same thing. I've never seen triple aught for a 20 gage but I have some #3 buck.
The higher the number, the smaller and more numerous the pellets. I'd have to find the chart but #2 buck should have fewer, slightly larger pellets than #3 (.25" versus .27" while 000 is .36"?).
Whatever you choose, I'd test it in your own gun.
 
It will do but not in a 20 gauge, you said it was 12 gauge rounds.

Jim
 
IMO you are solving a problem that does not exist. All depends on the home you are defending and laws of your state of course.
Measure the longest distance in your home that you could possibly shoot. Then set up a hunk of brisket at that distance and fire away. I think that you will find the #3 lead shot to be sufficient. Will also work on coyotes in the yard if you live in the country.
 
I know Dick's Sporting Goods sell #3 buckshot 20 gauge. (Some folks don't shop there due to black gun policy, your call)
 
Sorry for my mistake on the 2nd post. I will continue looking for #3 buck...
 
I like the 3"federal #2 buckshot. Good luck finding either in the current climate.
 
For the 20 ga #2 buckshot will be the most common. Use 3" Winchester Super X shells for your 20ga. The 20 ga is not the best tool for buckshot. I would use 3" slugs for self defense with a 20 ga. 3" slugs in the 20 ga are the only load that is in the same ball park as a 12 ga. In self defense range you have to shoot buckshot just as accurately as a slug.
 
Most common #3 shot is steel.

If your #3 shot is steel it is very poor for HD or personal defense, as it rebounds badly from hard surfaces.

Sixteen gauge buckshot shells are another size entirely, it has to do with what stacks effectively, not in cone arrangement, as that would drive the large shot out to the bore sides and make them gall. You want it all to go out the bore in regular order, not bounce and dig as it goes down the pipe.

Twelve gauge uses double ought buck because it stacks three to a layer and does not tend to push out to bore side on way out. This makes it pattern better.

I agree that about any lead shot load will work inside the house. You don't really want it to go through drywall twice and into the next room. At typical house or hall distances the trap loads work as frangible slugs.
 
Most 20 gauge buckshot is #3 buck. All in 2-3/4" that I know of is #3. Federal and perhaps a couple of others load #2 buck in 3" 20 gauge rounds. #2 is a bit larger than #3. At least one maker has #4, which is a bit smaller than #3.

For inside the home use, I would stay with birdshot, assuming there may be friendlies anywhere in the rest of the house, or if there are other houses nearby.
 
Number 2 and 3 buck are available online. In today`s circumstances buying anything may be a pain but it is out there somewhere. Since your gun is a semi, it might pay to try both and see what it eats well.

20 ga buck should be great for indoors--it has sufficient penetration but not so much as a 12 gauge. I have it a pump and a semi and it works fine in both. Soft slugs would work fine, too, but run more chance of over-penetration than buck, so I don`t load them for HD. Outside they might come into their own.

If you get attacked by birds, be sure you use birdshot. You don`t want to damage the meat much.
 
You can load buckshot and slugs. Buckshot is not loaded in wad like birdshot. Buckshot has a felt was to kept wad pressure uniform. Then plastic sawdust is used to keep the buckshot from getting deformed. Slugs are not crimped but rolled. Which requires a special die. Factory buckshot and slugs are loaded with proprietary powder that you can't buy off the shelf. So you would end spending a bunch of time and money to end up with a low quality product.
 
Not sure what's going on. It won't let me send my response correctly so I am trying to break it up into pieces
 
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Deer_Freak said:
For the 20 ga #2 buckshot will be the most common. Use 3" Winchester Super X shells for your 20ga. The 20 ga is not the best tool for buckshot. I would use 3" slugs for self defense with a 20 ga. 3" slugs in the 20 ga are the only load that is in the same ball park as a 12 ga. In self defense range you have to shoot buckshot just as accurately as a slug.
Click to expand...

Deer_Freak - What's the logic behind your statement that the 20 gauge isn't the best for buckshot? Not trying to pick a fight here, just want to hear your reasoning.

Personally, I don't see much of a difference, other than a few less pellets, than in a 12 gauge. To me, there are still plenty enough to get the job done. With that said, my shotgun is a 12 gauge and its loaded with 4 buck. However, I would feel equally fine if I had a 20 gauge, loaded with 3 buck.

Found this a while back, when I was researching on shotgun ammo -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMv2z_PX7s0


Sent from my A510 using Tapatalk 2
 
Wow, I am surprised with the amount of misinformation that you were given here... Especially in the first several responses.
The FBI has deemed anything adequate for SD will consistently penetrate 12 inches of ballistic gelatin (which closely resembles human tissue). Therefore, anything that will stop a bad guy will penetrate multiple walls, PERIOD. #4 buck shot (smallest sized buck shot) will do that, but not consistently. Shotgunworld.com forum has a sticky in their tactical/HD category that illustrates this along with many other buck shot loads (most, if not all, examples are done here with 12 ga loads-- I think). Theboxotruth.com has some really good info as well with both 12 and 20 gauge load experiments. (see tests # 3, 12, 14, 20, 22, 42-46, and 56).
*From what I've gathered....
**A 20 gauge, loaded with buck shot will do about 85% of the damage of a 12 gauge. And a 12 gauge with appropriate buck shot (most commonly 00, 000, or #1 buck (continued on next page)
 
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#1 buck [best penetration/wound cavity size combo]) will have more than a large enough sized wound channel and also penetrate deep enough.
**20 gauge slugs don't preform near as well as 12 gauge slugs (but 12 gauge slugs will way over penetrate)
** no bird shot will penetrate deep enough to reliably reach vitals consistently.
** shotguns shooting "shot" create nasty looking wounds over a larger area of the body than firearms that shoot single projectiles, but only buck shot penetrates deep enough to consistently reach vitals on COM hits (penetrate clothes, skin, break bones and get inside the rib cage to damage lungs, heart, major blood vessels, etc. and immediately stop a life threat).
** #4 birdshot is much less lethal and smaller than #4 buck shot. #4 buck shot is the smallest size buck shot. #1 buck shot is larger than #4 buck shot, but smaller than 00 buck shot. 000 buck shot is the biggest.
 
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To answer the OP, 20 gauge #3 buck shot in 2 3/4 inch shells and 20 ga #2 buck shot in 3 inch shells are the most common 20 gauge buck shot loads. #2 buck shot has larger pellets and will penetrate deeper. 3 inch shells hold a higher volume of lead (1 oz vs 7/8 of an ounce of lead, regardless of the amount of pellets). Therefore, the larger, more powerful #2, 3 inch buck shot will penetrate deeper, and probably have more recoil. Both are adequate for SD.
 
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I would delete this extra post if I could, but it won't let me. So sorry for this extra irrelevant post :/
 
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