12ga vs. 20ga buckshot: terminal performance for practical purposes?

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
After trying several 12ga pumps, I found that I couldn't deal with the recoil of slugs and buckshot. I can deal with 20ga.

Now, 12ga buckshot at close range is reputed to be Hammer of Thor. How would 20ga loads compare? Slugs are close enough to 45/70 for me to think them adequate. What about 00 or #1 buckshot?

Also, has anyone a source of inexpensive practice ammo (in 12ga S&B makes a good cheap load) in 20ga?
 
I knew I'd see this one again. Last time I checked the stats, stopping and lethality for either were within a point of each other, regardless of gauge.

As for not handling the recoil of a 12, my experience tells me more folks suffer from form problems than inability to deal with the problems. But, to each his own, and a 20 is very effective...
 
There are two loads of buckshot in 20 guage. The 3 inch shells can be had with # 2 buck and the 2 3/4 with # 3 buck.

The slug works great also.

I think Massad Ayoob pointed out that the 20 seems to give about 70 % of the effectiveness of a 12 for about half the recoil.

Giz
 
This will sound like I'm way off in left field... but...

Does anyone make any kind of reusable adapter that you could put a 20ga shell into which would make it larger to function like a 12ga shell? This way you could load 20ga rounds into your 12ga for practice and also load with 12ga for when it counts.

M.
 
kraMRd:...why not simply download your 12ga using 7/8 of 7.5 or 8 with the appropriate charge?? No real need to load your 12ga to the max. Works great for shooting clays! (Which we do)
 
A 20ga for home defense is "perfect", I only bought a 12 ga because I would have had to order the 20 and wait 2 weeks for it to come in.

Mossberg 500 Persuader 12ga
Ammo: #1 Buck #4 Turkey
 
kraMrD
Briley makes SS full tube inserts that are very good. I have a 12ga O/U and have inserts for this gun in 20ga, 28ga and .410ga.
The barrels had to be sent to Briley to be properly fitted. Don't know if this can be done for sem-auto and pump guns. However you can check this out at their website. http://www.briley.com/

------------------
C.A.V.U.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top