20 Gauge for HD Use.....How Many Use It and Like It???

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Nalapombu

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Hey all,

I've been nosing around for a low cost 870 to make into a HD shotgun. I am in no hurry and sooner or later the right one will come along.

Until then, I have been thinking about other options. One of them is picking up one of the 870 clones like the Pardner Pump or the IAC HAWK series. I have seen USED versions of those go for pretty low money. I've heard a lot of great things about them too.

One of the models that I keep coming back to and studying is the H&R PARDNER PUMP YOUTH 20 Gauge. It is matte blued with black synthetic furniture. It comes with a 21 inch VR barrel with choke tubes. I don't know the LOP of the stock, but it's probably 12 or 13 inches. It also handles 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells and is 5+1. Almost all the gear made for the Remington 870 would fit on this shotgun. It looks like it would be great for HD use.

The only thing I would change on one should I get it would be to try and find a +1 or +2 extended tube and a light mount. I might extend the stock if its too short for me. There wouldn't have to be many things at all changed on it and it would be good to go.

The MAJOR thing is that it's a 20 GAUGE instead of a 12. I know the overwhelming majority of people virtually demand that all HD shotguns be 12 gauge. I understand that, but I also think that the 20 gauge can also be a mighty effective HD weapon with the right ammo.

How many of you like and use a 20 gauge as your HD weapon whether it be a primary or one for your wife or girlfriend? Do you have any reservations about using the 20 for home defense? If so, what are they?

Thoughts on the 870 clones?

Does anyone make 20 gauge extension tubes in +1 or +2??


Thanks for your time and opinions.

Nalajr
 
A 20ga slug carries twice the energy of any .44 Magnum load..... It's effective. #3 Buck is no slouch.
 
With wide range of 12ga ammo including low velocity/low recoil offerings for weaklings plus wide selection of firearms of different styles and weights I see no reason to buy 20ga.
I can't believe that many people believe in myth that 20ga has less felt recoil then 12ga which in reality is dependent on type of gun weapon mass and ammo selected. In many instances 20ga will punish shooter more then 12ga.
 
The 20 gauge has gotten plenty of attention from savvy people in the past for defensive use - it still does. I don't use one myself at this point but there are a couple in the safe here for teaching purposes. I would have no reservations about using one myself should physical limitations dictate that it was necessary. I gave my niece one (a 20 ga. 870 Express Youth model, with a 4-round Sidesaddle) a while back after her session of Defensive Shotgun 101.

I've had no problems so far with any of the 870 clones I've gotten (Hawk 981/982, Pardner Pumps). So far they have all been in 12 gauge, I haven't run across a cheap used 20 clone. I have handled the Pardner Pump youth model in 20 ga. and don't see any problem with it so far that some wear wouldn't cure.

I would be careful about adding weight to the gun in front of the support hand - it 'feels' much heavier to the shooter than adding a few ounces might indicate. And the Pardner clones are heavy as it is, but with the weight between the hands, it doesn't seem as heavy. The magazines on the Parders are adequate as is, without adding extensions IMHO.
 
Got an 870 in 20GA for the wife. Works just dandy as is and wouldn't add a mag extension either.
 
I have a 20 gauge Winchester Model 1300 that I picked up an 18" barrel for just so I could use it in as a HD shotgun.
 
I would not feel under gunned with a 20 gauge.

But, we just got a new barn gun and got a 12 ga 870 Remington. I will load 7/8 oz loads for the wife.
 
For defense, I'm loading it with 3" shells of #3 buckshot.

I'm also putting on an extended mag tube: while I can, because it's hard to find 'em in 20, they look cool, they don't add bulk/balance/reloading issues like side saddles and I just might need all the on board capacity I can get.

I set up my 870 Youth Model like that for my wife. Not for less kick, but for a scaled down gun that fits my wife better that's not too heavy.

.
 
The one leaned in my corner beside the bed is a pump 20-gauge and I don't feel undergunned at all. We're talking about the width of a bedroom here. If anyone seriously feels like a 20-gauge is not enough gun for HD, they're plain crazy.

1 1/8 oz of buckshot travelling at more than 1,200 fps (and that's 2.75") will do the trick. If it won't, having a 12 isn't going to make a difference.
 
Mossberg 500 20 gauge with #3 Buckshot. I haven't used it, but I am not questioning its effectiveness.
 
Have used a 20 for over 30 years. Both #3 & #4 buck. Range testing seems to say it will work just fine. Haven't had an opportunity for "real" world testing yet. Hope I never do.
 
One thing to look for is that the gun is sized properly to be a 20 gauge. Not a 12 gauge with just a 20 barrel on it, as was often the case in years past.

(As an aside, if you have the 12 gauge sized 20 and want an extended mag tube, the 12 gauge size should fit and work just fine.)
 
i'm set now! Finally I found some Remington #3 Buckshot loads at the last gun show.
Now both my 12 ga pump and 20ga SxS are stoked with Buckshot!
I trust either one completelly!
BPDave
 
Yes, I've been hearing much lately about 20 being preferable to 12.

Since there is such a variety of loads for either, however, they're probably both very adequate.
 
Mossberg 500C, own 2 of them. One has pistol grip with light mounted on tube hanging behind front door, if I'm in hospital its next to the wife's bed. 2nd Mossberg has 18" breaching barrel with pressure switch mounted on slide along with laser mounted on rail. Third 20ga is a Rem SXS that is my number one go to gun period. Handles anything from slug to 7 1/2 shot and patterns great.
 
wnycollector said:
I'm thinking of picking up a Mossberg sa-20 Tactical when I can find one at a reasonable price. My wife will not touch either of my 12ga pumps, so I thought this might be a reasonable option.
Click to expand...
I recall reading an article, maybe in American Rifleman, about how that SA-20 makes a great HD weapon.

I though about getting one for 3-gun, but the loading procedure with the button on the receiver seemed too slow for that. If I was buying a shotgun for HD though, it would still be near the top of my list.
 
Nalajr , I like the Mossberg 500E 20 ga. for a HD shotgun. Light and quick in hand. As I told you on the other site forget those Chinese 870 clones. tom. :cool:
 
As i sit here, i have a 870LW Wingmaster 20 ga./20"bbl. within arms reach. Trust me, i'm NOT undergunned one bit!!

DM
 
I've never had to USE it - but a bantam Mossberg 500 20g with a wood stock does that job in this household.
It was what was available when I was 20g shopping, but I'm liking a short and heavy one for maneuverability and recoil control.
 
Yes! 20ga is a great home defense weapon. We have a Winchester Defender in 20ga and a Mossberg 500, 18" barrel 20ga with a youth stock on it for my wife. The Defender is loaded with #3 buckshot. My wife likes Wad Wizzard's low recoil #4 plated buck in her Mossberg. Its actually an effective load and is only sold by Wad Wizzard on their website. A little pricey, but she doesn't like much recoil and this round is a good answer for her. She's really good with it too.
 
Nalapombu said:
Hey all,

I've been nosing around for a low cost 870 to make into a HD shotgun. I am in no hurry and sooner or later the right one will come along.

Until then, I have been thinking about other options. One of them is picking up one of the 870 clones like the Pardner Pump or the IAC HAWK series. I have seen USED versions of those go for pretty low money. I've heard a lot of great things about them too.

One of the models that I keep coming back to and studying is the H&R PARDNER PUMP YOUTH 20 Gauge. It is matte blued with black synthetic furniture. It comes with a 21 inch VR barrel with choke tubes. I don't know the LOP of the stock, but it's probably 12 or 13 inches. It also handles 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells and is 5+1. Almost all the gear made for the Remington 870 would fit on this shotgun. It looks like it would be great for HD use.

The only thing I would change on one should I get it would be to try and find a +1 or +2 extended tube and a light mount. I might extend the stock if its too short for me. There wouldn't have to be many things at all changed on it and it would be good to go.

The MAJOR thing is that it's a 20 GAUGE instead of a 12. I know the overwhelming majority of people virtually demand that all HD shotguns be 12 gauge. I understand that, but I also think that the 20 gauge can also be a mighty effective HD weapon with the right ammo.

How many of you like and use a 20 gauge as your HD weapon whether it be a primary or one for your wife or girlfriend? Do you have any reservations about using the 20 for home defense? If so, what are they?

Thoughts on the 870 clones?

Does anyone make 20 gauge extension tubes in +1 or +2??


Thanks for your time and opinions.

Nalajr
Click to expand...

Thought you were looking for a Mossberg 500 12 gauge like mine?
 
I was looking at getting a Weatherby semi auto 20ga for HD, but they were sold out. In the meantime, I found that there wasn't a single round of 20ga buckshot on the shelf at any of the LGS I go to, nor on any of the gun show tables.
On the other hand, 12ga buck was easily available, even at Walmart at the height of the ammo crunch.
I ended up getting a Beretta 1201FP police surplus. With the 12ga, there are many more choices for ammo...even at the best of times. For sure, at the worst.
 
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