20 guage sufficient for HD?

D

DJ E.

Inactive
Hello guys, this is my first post. I'm new to the world of shotguns and am looking for one to train with and use for home defense. Would a 20 guage be enough for home defense with the proper ammo, or should I just buck up and get a 12? Any info/recommendations is appreciated.

DJ
 
At HD distances---a 20ga is plenty----with a lot less recoil----its seems like most of the higher capacity shotguns are 12ga though.

Welcome to the forum----the other guys will have a lot more info than I do.
 
Experienced people say "yes". I'd agree in that 20ga would be plenty effective BUT it is a lot less impressive than 12ga in my tests. If I have to use my 20, I'd want slugs in it, as anything else (birdshot, #3 buck -- the largest common loading) failed to penetrate much cover. 00 buck in 12ga seemed rather more impressive. That said, some folks like the minimal penetration.
 
Having dressed several deer that were shot with a 20 and buckshot, I'd have no problems using one for HD.

Big question for you is availability of 20 ga buckshot. Here in the SE it's easy to find both #2 and #3 buck, not sure about Cali.

Dave has mentioned that his 870 youth with buck/slugs kicks more than it should. There may not be much difference between the youth models and a riot gun with buck. I don't yet own an 870 youth and my 1200 youth is on a long term loan, so no first hand data here.
 
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when I was younger I was thinking of getting a 20ga but really there is no reason for a HD 20 it will do but why not have all the advantages of the 12ga, if you wanted you could get low recoil buck.
 
Sure is

If it makes you feel any better, I am major wimp. I bought a 20ga Ted Williams off a buddy of mine, and it is my primary home defence weapon. I'm limited to 2 3/4 inch shells, and I don't feel under gunned, with either the bulk 7.5 shot from wal-mart, or #3 buck.

If you do a search for pumkin's, you will find a thread I did describing some pattern and pentration testing I did with some jack-o'lanterns that outlived their usefullnes. You may find it interesting.
 
Remember, the projectiles are traveling at the same speed as that of a 12 gauge, there just aren't as many of them. Accuracy becomes more critical at that point ..

Slugs work, but you might as well use a rifle or a revolver if you want a single point of penetration.
 
The old Fed database has all shotguns coming in around 99% one shot stops, regardless of choke, load, brand or gauge.

As I've written before, even the inadequate for most hunting 410 has the ME of the old 41 Magnum Police load, an admirable stopper at short range.

I've Brenneked a few deer with some 20s, and the blood trials were no longer than with a 12 and that 73 caliber roto-rooter.

Ammo selection is more limited, accessories like mag extensions are a little harder to find, and the lighter 20 often simulates the kick of a heavy loaded 12. A six and a half lb shotgun putting out an oz of lead at 1225 FPS feels the same no matter what the gauge.

As for the 870 YE,it's not just lightness,but that short stock has a pad with a smaller surface area to spread out the push. Frankenstein, my parts 870 12 gauge, weighs within a few oz of the YE and SEEMS to kick much, much less. YMMV, kick is quite subjective.

Oh yes, with proper 7/8 oz loads, the little YE is less of a bronc and more of a pony.

HTH...
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll go ahead and buy a 20 then, since it will be my first SG. I think it will be easier for me and my girl to train with and get some rounds under our belts until I am confident enough to move up to a 12.


DJ
 
Pretty much

any shotgun, shooting pretty much any load (even #9 birdshot) will make a MESS outa BG at short range...Maybe not ideal, but better than nothing!
 
...well, YES, a .60 caliber smoothbore is CERTAINLY adequate for H-D purposes!!! As an experiment one time, I cut a 2x4 IN HALF at ten feet, using Grandad's old Sportsman 58 20 ga. Skeet gun...it DID take two shots, tho'...mighta' only taken ONE if I had been using something more POTENT than 7/8 oz. of 8's...hhmmm....mikey357
 
What Mike Irwin said,

I'll add, one of the best kept secrets is the 20 ga. 1100 used for skeet--bad dude with the buckshot.
 
Is a 20 easier to control and manipulate, such as a new shooter learning with one? Or is the difference moot?

DJ
 
DJ-
If you are considering having your wife/girlfriend shoot it, make sure the length of pull fits her. You can shoot a shotgun with a stock that's too short, but not the other way around. Many manufacturers make "youth" size stocks and that may be a starting point for you.

I'd recommend taking the fowling piece to a gunsmith that understands LOP and have him fit her with a stock she can use.

Otherwise, a 20 is more than adequate for home-defense. Very little (if any) penetration difference when using shot. A 12 guage slug may penetrate deeper, but that's a matter of mass, not caliber.

Denny
 
I bought a 20 Mossberg 500-C some years back. It came with pistol grip and 18 inch barrel. Now I have a 26 inch ventrib barrel, and a regular stock, that I can switch to during squirrel season. Another barrrel is rifled, for sabot slugs. All together, this has been a fun project. This one shotgun covers bird and small game hunting, deer, and with the 18" Open choke barrel, a fine HD gun.

I would not hesitate to grab the 20 Mossberg to defend the house.
 
Alright guys, thanks for all of the suggestions. I think I now have an idea of what I need to do, and a rough plan of how to do it.

Thanks all,

DJ
 
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