Why not a 20gauge for Home Defense?

[Lovesbeer99]

I've seen very few of these guns and I don't understand why. It seams that everyone knows that the 12g reigns supreme, but I'm not buying it. I'll define Home Defense as the inside of my home and an average person. Not a special forces trained, tactical expert with an entry team in a jungle or urban war setting, and if an intruder makes it out the door, I'll let him go. I don't plan to shoot outdoors just inside in a defensive setting. (If they make it outside, then in theory I'm safe and since I'm not a cop or marine, I won't give chase) That being said, I live in a cape code house and there is not 1 position in my home that you can see more than 22 feet from 1 room to the next. Now the 20g is more powerfull at close range than a .357, .45acp, .40s&w etc (and those are all condsidered man stoppers). So for Home Defense (not police or military work) why aren't more people using a 20g?
The 20g would be easier on small frame people so my wife may not be as intimidated as the 12g.

It just seams that the experts always talk about the 12 cause it's a great military or police option, but I'm talking about my house.

Anything I'm missing here?
Thanks in advance

Lovesbeer99

 

[armoredman]

Nope, go for it. 20 will do the job easily.

 

[Justin]

There's a wider array of defensive rounds available for 12 gauge shotguns vs. 20 gauge.

That said, I wouldn't feel under gunned with a 20 loaded with buckshot or slugs.

 

[nitestocker]

i have the 12 in rem 870 that i would use that is because that's what i have but i have a savage mod 24 in 22/20 and it would definitely kill some one i would like to get a rem or mossberg pump in 20 good choice for a home gun

 

[Brian Dale]

20 ga shotguns get recommended around here pretty often.

Anything I'm missing here?

Nope. Get the gun that fits best.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

I read somewhere a 20ga had the power of two consecutive shots from a .44 mag. I have no idea where I read it or even what load was mentioned.

 

[Matt304]

Just think about using a 20ga with a sabot load for home defense, a big hollowpoint like Rem Core-Lokt or Coppersolids. That is basically like shooting someone with a full-house 460SW load if you ask me. I believe the bullet diameter is right there around .45 in the sabot loads. Regardless, it is going to tear them apart. I see what it does to deer and it literally blows things up that it passes through.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

So then why do you suppose manufacturers don't generally offer a 20g Home Defense gun and rounds? Mossberg does, and Winchester used to, but I don't see any around. Also why not offer more HD ammo availability for Home Defense, like reduced loads for lower penetration? It all seams to fit, but the cops and marines use a 12, so everyone else just uses 1 too.

People also like to compare apples to apples so they compare shotguns to shotguns, rifles to rifles, etc. but like many of the posters stated above, a 20g slug will do as much if not more damage then the most powerful handgun. So then why not compare results as opposed to just comparing guns?

I'll need to look at this more.

 

[Geno]

Ask of Remington and you shall receive:

Model 870™
20-Gauge Express® Synthetic
7-Shot With Knoxx® SpecOps™ Stock

Link: http://www.remington.com/products/f...exclusives/model_870_express_7-shot_20-ga.asp

Doc2005

 

[22-rimfire]

The 20ga is actually a good choice for home defense especially for recoil shy older people or women who might be hesitant to shoot a 12ga. Also the guns tend to be lighter.

 

[wabbles]

I used my 20ga. bird gun for years as my beside the bed HD gun. My wife had no problem holding it or shooting it either from the shoulder or the hip. I felt very comfortable with it at my side. I had it loaded with #1 buck shot. I would have liked to find a larger pellet shot (00 buck for example), but never found anything larger than #1 buck. Slugs would work fine. I suspect that they might pass through your target so just beware.

 

[btg3]

After a family clay session with 12ga and 20ga, it was obvious that 12ga was not the best choice for all users in my home. Also, I lean toward keeping it simple, so here's the 20ga that I've selected ($350):

http://www.remington.com/products/f...l_870/model_870_express_synthetic_7-round.asp

A good selection of 20ga buckshot at the gun store, even if none at Wal-mart.

 

[Sport45]

20 gauge is fine for HD. I have a 12, but that's just because I have a 20" barrel for it and my 20 gauge only has a 28" barrel. Forget about specialty self defense shells. A 20ga high brass load of #4 or #6 shot will do anything you want at the 22' range you mentioned. Your pattern will probably have opened up to a whopping 7" in that distance. I'd bet that unless they're wearing body armor they're down for the count. Even with body armor they're going down (but they might get back up).

 

[RandyB]

Nothing wrong with a 20 ga. I prefer the 12 ga, but at 250lb and 6 ft Its not a big deal and its what I generally hunt with. That being said my dad is my size and uses a 20 ga. with buckshot at home. We both sleep well.

 

[ysr_racer]

When the "adrenaline dump' hits your brain becuase somebody is breaking into your house, you won't notice the recoil of a 10ga.

Trust me.

 

[evbutler462]

I have my trusty Nova 20 gauge loaded with whatever I hunted with last.

 

[thebaldguy]

I haven't seen many buckshot choices in 20 gauge.

 

[rcmodel]

Ask of Remington and you shall receive:

I'd like to ask them and Benelli to please put Choke Tubes on all their SD shotguns.

Then, a person could play around with chokes for best SD performance, as well as screw in an Extra-Full Turkey tube and go gobbler hunting.

So far, no luck.

I guess they would rather sell you a SD gun AND a Turkey gun.
Even if they are basically the same gun with a different finish.


rcmodel

 

[tinygnat219]

LovesBeer99,

If a 20 Gauge is something you are a better shot with, go for it!

I think most people go with the 12 Gauge b/c it has more room for more projectiles, munitions are easier to find, and there are just more out there.

 

[scout26]

Mrs Scout has a Mossberg Bantam in 20ga with a 22" barrel and choke tubes. I've cooked up some buck shot loads (Fed Hulls, 25gr Blue Dot, SP20 wads and 18-#4 Buck) through a Mod Choke that patterns best.

There are several types of 20ga Buckshot loads available commerically if you don't roll your own, inaddition to slugs.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

20 ga. still puts out a 50 caliber projectile slug at velocities higher than S&W 500 velocities. Bird shot is great for apartments, regardless of caliber due to no over-penetration.

 

[spiroxlii]

If you're talking about practical indoor defense distances in a suburban home where wall penetration is a factor, wouldn't a properly set up .410 shotgun also work quite well? Seems to me that if one of your arguments for 20g over 12g is noise/recoil for smaller shooters, .410 fits the bill nicely while still maintaining the ability to effectively put down a hostile intruder.

It's at least as powerful as many "man stopping" handgun cartridges if you pick the right ammo.

 

[enfield]

A 20ga high brass load of #4 or #6 shot will do anything you want at the 22' range you mentioned.

. . . except penetrate 12 inches minimum so that it reaches the central nervous system and has a chance at disabling the assailant. Bird shot is for birds: buckshot is for home defense.

I don't feel undergunned with 20 gauge slugs or #3 buck.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A light 20 gauge load packs about as much ME as a couple 45 ACP+P rounds.

Someone with a good 20 gauge repeater is well equipped for HD.

If they have shot it extensively, they are also well armed...

 

[Geno]

Ya know...if a bad guy walks into someone's home, and comes face-to-face with shotgun, I doubt he would be pondering is that a 20 gauge or a 12 gauge.

In terms of recoil sensitivity, in the throws of self-defense, I doubt the defender could reasonably be assumed to notice the difference between a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge. The adrenaline would have the person too hopped up.

My point, buy which you can fire best, practice and don't worry. Both are effective. To quote Jeff White,

First thing to grab should be your brain. It absolutely doesn't matter what gun you pick up. That decision is purely a matter of personal preference. If you're worried about which gun to grab first, you probably haven't really given much thought to what goes into an effective defense.

It's about software not hardware.