I've recently aquired a Winchester 1300 Ranger 20g that I was planning on using for home defense. It's primary use has been hunting doves durring season. It's got a 24" barrel that makes it hard to turn corners in my house if I needed to so I'd like to machine it down or get a shorter barrel. So, I've got two questions. Is it a dumb idea to have a 20g as a home defense gun? Is it possible to fit the tactical type of shotgun equipment (i.e. pistol grips, lights, folding stocks) for the 1300 12g model to the 20g? I know these may seem like dumb questions, but I've been looking all over for info on this and I've come to a dead end. Please help. Thanks.
20G Winchester for home defense?
- Thread starter TheFox
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Nothing wrong with a 20gauge for defense. My dad uses one though with the pistol grip though many "experts" do not like them, it is light and handy for a small house.
Generally though, you will be better off with a standard stock and a shorter barrel. "Tactical" accessories may be harder to find than for a 12ga model.
20ga is not weak by any means, 16-20 of .25caliber #3 buck fired per pull of the trigger will ruin someones day.
Generally though, you will be better off with a standard stock and a shorter barrel. "Tactical" accessories may be harder to find than for a 12ga model.
20ga is not weak by any means, 16-20 of .25caliber #3 buck fired per pull of the trigger will ruin someones day.
Preacherman
Member
Winchester actually make their 20ga. Model 1300 in a home-defense model. Many accessories for the 12ga. will fit the 20ga., but you'll have to check with individual manufacturers to find out whether theirs will do so, or whether they make a specific model for the 20ga. Don't be in too much of a hurry to fit all the "tacticool" stuff... put a few hundred (or a few thousand! 
) rounds downrange through the standard gun. You'll be amazed at how well you can do without bothering with all the bells and whistles.
A single round of 20ga. #3 buckshot, at close range, will ruin anyone's day - in energy terms, it's like hitting them with two .44 Magnum rounds simultaneously. Nothing shabby about that!
) rounds downrange through the standard gun. You'll be amazed at how well you can do without bothering with all the bells and whistles.A single round of 20ga. #3 buckshot, at close range, will ruin anyone's day - in energy terms, it's like hitting them with two .44 Magnum rounds simultaneously. Nothing shabby about that!
Dave McCracken
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At typical HD ranges, a 20 gauge will deliver a .62 caliber semi solid mass (Think Glazer Safety Slug) weighing up to an oz at muzzle velocities of up to 1400 FPS.
No handgun made since 1900 comes close to that kind of power.
No handgun made since 1900 comes close to that kind of power.
Marshall
Member
You might even make ESPN highlights for making someone get "jacked up". 
wow, thanks for all the responses. What is the legality of shortening the barrel on shotguns because this thing has a 24-26" barrel on it that makes it real hard to maneuver around the house. I was going to take it down to about 18" with a bandsaw and clean up the end. I've found an 18" barrel for it but it's going to set me back another $160. I could almost buy another 12g for that much. So, is it ok to cut down the barrel?
Preacherman
Member
It's OK, but remember the law - your barrel (measured from breechface to muzzle) must be at least 18" long. For this reason, most folks cut them back to not less than 18½", so as to make sure that they're legal. To measure, cut a length of wood dowel and drop it down the barrel, with the action closed. Measure 18½" along the dowel, and don't cut the barrel any shorter than that.
If you cut it back, do so with a saw, making sure the cut is at 90° to the barrel axis, then smooth off the edges with a Dremel or something similar. I've seen a Dremel attachment in the shape of a large grinding-stone ball, used to clean out tobacco pipes. This works very well for smoothing and beveling the inside of the muzzle.
If you cut it back, do so with a saw, making sure the cut is at 90° to the barrel axis, then smooth off the edges with a Dremel or something similar. I've seen a Dremel attachment in the shape of a large grinding-stone ball, used to clean out tobacco pipes. This works very well for smoothing and beveling the inside of the muzzle.
Nicky Santoro
Member
By the time you pay for getting it cut down, you could add some $ and buy a Mossberg or Winchester Defender and still have a good bird gun and a better HD gun at the same time.
FWIW
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brentwal
Member
Nothing wrong with a 20ga HD shotty. Except in some peoples mind.
mr.trooper
Member
Ontly thing wrong with that gun for HD is the 24" barrel. Certainly not the calliber
You want the truth? all modern shotgun calibers are adiquate for HD: you just need propper ammo.
The only shotty i wouldnt use for HD is a 28 guage...and thats only because you have to hand load it to get anything but bird shot. But if you dohand load, then a Semi-auto 28 guage loaded with 6 pellets of 00 Buck sounds prety good.
As long as you have Buckshot or a solid slug, any modern shotgun calliber is adequate for HD
Personaly, iv alwase thought that a Saiga .410K (The original, non sporterized version) would be the best HD shotgun ever made. uber-reliable Semi auto .410 with a pistol grip, and 20 round detachable mags. Load that up with some silver bear 000Buck and blast away.
You want the truth? all modern shotgun calibers are adiquate for HD: you just need propper ammo.
The only shotty i wouldnt use for HD is a 28 guage...and thats only because you have to hand load it to get anything but bird shot. But if you dohand load, then a Semi-auto 28 guage loaded with 6 pellets of 00 Buck sounds prety good.
As long as you have Buckshot or a solid slug, any modern shotgun calliber is adequate for HD
Personaly, iv alwase thought that a Saiga .410K (The original, non sporterized version) would be the best HD shotgun ever made. uber-reliable Semi auto .410 with a pistol grip, and 20 round detachable mags. Load that up with some silver bear 000Buck and blast away.
Don't cut down please
Just go buy a new barrel. They're available for about $190.
You can get one direct from Winchester as I recall, or let your mouse do the walking through some of the larger online retailers.
I found a replacement barrel for my Winchester Defender (HD 1300) in 20g on Midway USA. wholesalehunter.com also has 1300 barrels.
Not only will you be able to swap out your original barrel for your HD type, you'll have some flexibility in what type of barrel you get.
Just go buy a new barrel. They're available for about $190.
You can get one direct from Winchester as I recall, or let your mouse do the walking through some of the larger online retailers.
I found a replacement barrel for my Winchester Defender (HD 1300) in 20g on Midway USA. wholesalehunter.com also has 1300 barrels.
Not only will you be able to swap out your original barrel for your HD type, you'll have some flexibility in what type of barrel you get.
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