20 GA for Home Defense

G

Guy B. Meredith

New member
A friend is looking at a 20GA Mossberg for home defense. She is concerned that 00 buckshot is not available.

Any comments on the 20GA with #3, #4 or slug for home defense?
 
I think #3 buck is most common for 20 gauge 2-3/4 shells. If she was willing to use 3" shells, #2 buck is available. Either one meets the FBI recommended minimum penetration of 12" in ballistic gel. I don't think she'd be too handicapped without 00.

20 gauge slugs will certainly be harmful to any intruders. She'd just have to be a little more aware of over-penetration and what may be behind the target.
 
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As others have stated 3 and 4 buck are very adequate. I have my daughhter's 870 loaded with Rem 2 3/4" buffered #3 buck. After an introduction to Federal flight control wads and buckshot I have replaced my slugs with them for longer range shots. I'm thinking about getting my daughter some Fed #4 buck SD ammo with flight control wads for the butt cuff.
 
I bought some #3 for my 500. Test firing at the range showed some very satisfactory holes, so I feel good about it. And the lower recoil of the 20 is nice on my arthritic shoulder.

Have 00 in the Saiga 12 in another room.

Have 00 for the AL391 in yet another part of the house.

And because I believe in both belt and suspenders whenever possible, a .357 by the bed.

Every one I know calls me before they come knocking LOL. They also say then if the SHTF they are all coming to MY house. :cool:
 
A 20 gauge will do just fine for HD. And a youth model in any one of several production guns is likely to fit a petite shooter better than a 12 bore, too. I did a Defensive Shotgun 101 class for my niece a while back and offered her a choice from a table full of shotguns - she took home a Remington 870 Express Youth Model in 20 gauge after shooting it in the class. She said it was easier for her to handle than a 12 ga. in the same configuration (21" barrel and 13" LOP).

There's plenty of 2 3/4" buckshot and slugs out there that will serve very well for HD. Most 20 ga. buckshot is loaded with #3, and that's perfectly serviceable. Brenneke is now making the KO slug in 20 ga. too (and their higher priced offering in 28 ga.) and those (the KOs) have been my preferred slug for years now.

No worries that there isn't 00 for the 20 bore - #3 buck is plenty, if it's put where it needs to go. Of course patterning, training and practice is in order as well...

lpl
 
At in-home ranges size of shot is immaterial. The shot column is still almost intact and whatever it hits is history. The 20 ga. is reccomended by some experts because of less recoil and faster second shot recovery thant with a 12 ga.
 
#4 Buckshot is preferrable for HD anyway even in a 12 ga. (though there are other wrong opinions). In fact, a short 20 ga. may be preferrable to a 12 ga. in many respects too (especially for a lass as implied by others). Outside the home -- longer range!? Beside 2-3/4" #4 (.24) and #3 (.25) there are #2 (.27) 3" Mags readily available for the 20 ga. You use those 3" shells to make up for the smaller bore of the 20 ga. over a standard 12 (Rambo's 00 Buck is .32).
 
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I have an 870 20ga and a 500 20ga both loaded with #3 buck shot for HD. It will stop whatever is trying to harm you, be it man or beast. The 20 ga does not have excessive recoil so getting the second shot off quickly is not a problem. It's pretty much the perfect HD gun. The most important thing is shooting the gun and getting the feel of it. Practice with it and get good with it, it will serve you well.
 
A friend is looking at a 20GA Mossberg for home defense. She is concerned that 00 buckshot is not available.
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A 20 gauge is a quite competent weapon for those who dislike the blast and kick of the big twelves. I wouldn't worry that you're giving up too much stopping power compared to the 12. In 12 gauge, the International Wound Ballistics Association actually recommends #1 buck over 00 buck, saying that it produces considerably more wound trauma. This suggests to me that 00 buck should not be considered the be all and end all of personal defense loads, as some seem to do.

Any comments on the 20GA with #3, #4 or slug for home defense?
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Chuck Hawks's website opines thusly:

Choose the 20 gauge 3" shell Federal "Classic" #2 buckshot (F207-2-5PK) with 18 pellets, or the Winchester "Double XX" Magnum #3 with 24 pellets (X203C3B). If your gun cannot accept 3" shells choose the Remington #3 with 20 pellets (SP20BK5PK-3). All of these loads provide definitive short-range stopping power.
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Browning 20ga BPS Micro...

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Nice Slugo!
Y am I thinking you just got that for the Mrs.? Fancy enough for the lady, quality enough to both be relied on and not be sneered at on the shooting line, and the right proportions, features and benefits to practice comfortably...
 
A 20ga is fine for HD. Yes, a 12 is bigger and has more power, but a lighter weight 20 is more than capable. Many argue a 12 gauge is overkill or too much for deer, especially with a modern slug. A 20gauge will drop a 200 pound deer or 200 pound night intruder at ease. The 12 gauge would just make a bigger mess out of it. I have a 20ga with a rifled barrel I use in deer season with slugs, and then I put the smooth bore barrel on it and load it up with buckshot for around the house for the rest of the year. Mine is short, easy to handle, fast on target and has a light on it.
I can tell you I did not like my Mossberg 20 gauge and got rid of it. I replaced it with Remington 870 youth combo and this gun is much better. The difference was loading 3 inch shells. Easy with the Remington, fussy with the Mossberg. It has to do with how your (in my case fat) thumb may or may not fit in the given opening when sliding the shells in.
 
Gehrhard...

my wife uses it from time to time to shoot a few clays with me. it doubles as one of our HD gun... :)
 
20 ga 3 inch number 2 buck is available and in a semiauto the recoil is almost nothing. slugs come in different hardnesses. The soft ones may not penetrate enough (box of thruth has a writeup on this). The ones sold for dear hunting should have no problem.

I`m still evaluating my 20 guages for HD, but for in the house I have no problem with them and the guns are lighter and quicker.
 
I have two 20 ga for home defense. It throws a lot more lead than a .44 magnum and it has much less penetration than most pistols when looking at shooting the neighbors through several walls. It also has much less recoil that the 12 ga. Great home defense weapon especially when you have close neighbors and over penetration is a concern.
 
Bubba...
A soft slug in a 20 ga. for HD may not penetrate enough? Enough of what!? Sorry, I don't care WHAT you're shooting for HD with a 20 ga. slug -- it is stopped.
 
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