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

[jmr40]

It'll work just fine. If that is what I had I'd use it in confidence, but it offers no advantages and several disadvantages over a 12 for HD. The 20's main advantage is a much lighter weight gun for carrying on long days in the field.

That is a non factor for HD. You are going to have a somewhat reduced payload and in guns of equal weight the 20 would have somewhat reduced recoil. But most 20's are considerably lighter than 12's which translates into greater recoil than 12's, not less.

Factor that in with harder to find ammo suitable for HD and the 12 is really a better choice.

 

[David E]

You left out gun fit.

The youth sized 20 gauge fits the wife better, less weight makes it balance better and easier for her to handle.

I agree that suitable defense ammo is harder to find.

 

[Fred Fuller]

A couple of years ago I offered my oldest niece a session of Defensive Shotgun 101, and she drove several hours and stayed with us a couple of days to take advantage of my offer. On our range I laid out several shotguns for her to try for fit and feel, and to fire if she wanted. She already had basic firearms safety and shotgun shooting skills pretty well down, so we were focusing on defensive use of the shotgun specifically.

Among the shotguns available were a Remington 870 Express Youth model, a 20 gauge 870 with a 21" VR barrel and a 13" LOP stock.

There was also a 12 gauge 870 Express Turkey, with a 21" VR barrel and a similar LOP stock.

She chose the 20, and when asked why she said it was just easier for her to maneuver than the 12. So we ran the class with the 20, and when we were done we cleaned it, cased it and she took it home with her.

Shotgun fit and feel are subjective things, and should be left up to the person who will actually be using the shotgun to decide, all else being equal. There are good buckshot loads available for the 20, and since Brenneke now makes the KO slug for it as well, I see no shortcomings in the ammo department.

OPMMV of course...

 

[ArmyAviator]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9175004&postcount=3

Unbelievable.

 

[Travtastik]

I have a 20ga youth model that I got when I was about 10 years old. It's way to small for me know but it fits the wife better then my other shotguns so I set it up for HD. I probably wouldn't have bought one but since it was just sitting in the safe I put it to use.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Yes, Aviator, that was pretty harsh.

If karma ever deals PabloJ a dose of rotator cuff trouble on his shooting side, he might change his tune some though...

 

[AI&P Tactical]

I have advocated the 20 as an HD shotgun for years. I have contacted many manufacturers and asked about accessories for the 20 shotgun. Many listen but I am sure they are glad once I hang up. One, however, did listen. I came up with the concept of being able to put any 12ga 870 stock on a 20ga 870 and discussed this with the owner of Mesa Tactical. He was interested and did the CAD immediately. He then had the proto-type made and sent it to me for testing. Then Sandy Hook happended and the gun world went nuts. The project is alive but stagnant, however, I believe it is going forward. So, soon, you will be able to put any 12ga 870 stock on the 20ga, any of them, any Mesa Stock, Remington Stock and even that ugly A** Magpul so many guys like. Imagine the Mesa LEO with Enidine Buffer on a 20ga Tactical.......makes me smile.

Forends for the 20ga are just not there. There are some cheap POS ones but the only well made one is the Choate. It allows you to use the Mesa Shell Holders in 6rd or 8rd. Safari-land bought Speedfeed and they show no interest in make the LE forend for the 20ga. Bet that would change if their phones rang off the hook.

Barrels are there for the 20ga 870 if you settle, and you have to, for what they have. 18.5" bead sight Cyl bore, 18.75" Vent Rib with Rem choke or a 21" Vent Rib with Rem choke. There is a 20" with rifle sight but only comes in the wingmaster high luster blue.

Tube extension are out there and Remington makes an LE in 2 shot. Wilson Combat made a perfect 1 and 2 shot in 20ga but lost their vendor for the tubing in the right ID & OD, but says they will bring them back soon.

 

[David E]

Nordic Components makes a VERY nice tube extension for the 20 ga Remington.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

I like the Nordic 20ga but their bracket leaves a lot to be desired. Hope Wilson gets back on track as theirs has a stand alone mag tube coupling and no bracket is neeed. In absence of the Wilson the Nordic is a good choice I would make over the Remington.

 

[Al Thompson]

About a decade back, I was in a hunt club that was shotgun only, for the most part. The 20 gauge buckshot loads worked just fine.

IMHO & IME, where the 20 really shines is in the pistol grip only shotguns, like the Mossberg. The reduced recoil is appreciated, especially when compared to the 12 gauge versions.

 

[wnycollector]

SGAmmo just sold me a case of Rio 20ga 9-pellet #1 buck.

I saw that the other day on their website. If it patterns well it should be a fantastic HD loading for the 20ga.

 

[claiborne]

Used to shoot 12ga

I grew up in Idaho using 12 ga to hunt pheasant, ducks, geese. About 8 year ago I transitioned to the 20 gauge for everything. I have not noticed any less recoil as my 20 gauge shotguns are smaller and lighter than any of the 12's I owned.
My Beretta 20 stack is much nicer to carry all day chasing feathered game and my Rem 870 youth 20 gauge is small enough to be very handy and big enough to be very deadly for HD.
And kick.., if you don't believe that a 20 can kick as much as a 12, just try shooting a bunch of 3" buckshot loads out of a Benelli M1 field.

 

[cdb1]

Super X3 NWTF Cantilever Turkey 20 gauge with extended magazine.

 

[Mike1234567]

20ga for HD? I wouldn't hesitate to use a .410 bore... five pellets of 00 buck per 3" round at 1100fps ain't nuthin' to sneeze at.

 

[Nalapombu]

Lots of good info.

What do you all think of the Mossberg SA-20 Tactical for HD use? Looks like a really nice little setup if you prefer 20 gauge. The only thing missing is a +1 or +2 extension for it.

Anyone else have one or would like to have one?

Nalajr

 

[tommy.duncan]

I am looking to get a 20g pump for my wife. I remember shooting 20g while in the Boy Scouts when I was an early teen. I would have no problem with the wife using a 20g for defense. JMO

 

[pps]

I got a Weatherby 20 Ga semiauto for my 11 year old son. He has shot everything from wimpy target loads to #3 buckshot. The gun is compact, has been very reliable, once we ran a couple boxes of duck loads through it.

My son is pretty skinny/gangly build (sure as hell didn't get that from me) and is very recoil sensitive. The semiauto really absorbs the recoil for him. I'd have every bit of confidence that 5 rounds of #3 buck would serve nicely as a HD round...in a very compact/light little platform.

The main thing is that it makes me happy to me my 11 year old already putting dings in the finish and wear marks on the gun, as his skills steadily improve. The gun itself has done a great job in the duck blind, with mud and crap all over it from the thing slipping off the blind and into the drink, and it still ran perfectly for my son's first birds, ever. (A spoonie and a mud hen...lol....I said "Coot Coot Coot...and he thought I said Shoot Shoot Shoot)

 

[ZVP]

Considering the ft/lbs of energy in a shell of #3 20ga Buckshot contains. it is more than adequate to take ALL the evil out of a foe!
The 2 3/4" Buckshot load mentioned also has very controlable recoil in nearly all 20ga Shotguns! It should cause no difficultys for anyone qualified to shoot the gun.
Yes a 12 ga is more devistating but also kicks a lot more and requires a larger sgotgun to handle it.
Personally, I own BOTH, a 20 ga SxS and a 12 ga pumpgun.
BPDave

 

[Merle1]

A 20ga slug carries twice the energy of any .44 Magnum load..... It's effective. #3 Buck is no slouch.

And if you opt for 3" mags, # 2 buck becomes an option. I recently picked up an 870 youth model in 20 ga. I have a real problem with 12 ga recoil, as the arthritis is slowly winning. I have no concerns about 20 ga for home defense, but my circumstances prohibit slugs - I'm not that mad at any of my neighbors!

 

[Dirty Bob]

I have a Mossberg 500 Youth Bantam in 20ga., with a 22? inch or so vent-rib barrel. It rocks. It's reliable, simple and was inexpensive.

I also have an OLD 20 Rem. 870 Wingmaster in 20ga, built on a 12ga. frame. Its only problem in the years I've had and used it was a single broken firing pin, which seems reasonable for a part under so much stress for so many years. Although Massad Ayoob claims the 870s aren't too reliable with 20ga., my experience has been 100% positive.

Both shotguns are milder with buck or slugs than 12ga pumps that I've tried. I doubt that anyone hit solidly at close range with a load of 20ga buckshot would be getting up again real soon. Ayoob claims -- and I agree with him -- that it would be difficult for investigators to tell the difference between somone hit with a load of 20ga #3 buck, or with a 12ga load of #4 buck, without counting pellets in an X-ray.

I recommend the 20ga. for HD. Its only problem is that you may have to hunt around a bit to find defensive ammo, while 12ga. buckshot is easy to find.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[ElPasoWrangler]

Here is my question. How many of you have fired a shotgun in a building? It is not pretty even with hearing protection. You may not notice the sound and recoil during the action but you will a few minutes later. It will hurt. 20ga is not as loud as a 12ga.

 

[Mike1234567]

Here is my question. How many of you have fired a shotgun in a building? It is not pretty even with hearing protection. You may not notice the sound and recoil during the action but you will a few minutes later. It will hurt. 20ga is not as loud as a 12ga.

Hopefully that will never happen. However, if it does I'll be less concerned about losing some of my hearing than losing my life. That stated, I hear you... and 20ga is more than enough to do the job. In fact, I think .410 bore is plenty... and it's even quieter.

 

[Eb1]

I'd much rather hear a shotgun than a 4" .357 going off in a house. Or even a .223. A shotgun to me is just a boom. There isn't a piercing speed of sound crack like the others.

Mossberg 500 with #3 Buckshot 2 3/4".

 

[Roadking Rider]

I have a 20 Ga Mossberg Cruiser with #3 Buck protecting my home 24/7 for over 16 years. Never once thought it wouldn't get the job done. I shoot it about every 6 months or so as to keep the ammo fresh. Still shoots as good as the day I purchased it with very little maintenance.

 

[PabloJ]

Top choice is 1970s 10ga Ithaca police semi-auto with 18.5" barrel and 18 pellet SG buckshot load. It's at it's best with recoil pad replaced by HARD plastic butt plate.