What About 20 Gauge for Home Defense?
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Is a 20 gauge shotgun worth considering for home defense? Chris goes over the pros and cons of the forgotten step-child of the defensive shotgun world.
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I love the 20 gauge. Never needed a 12. I've taking everything from deer to squirrels with a 20 gauge,my dad never cared for the 12,always said it was overkill when hunting. I'm 53 years old and a 20 gauge is what I use.
Always take heed in what the OG's have to say!
Make mine 20 gage 870 youth! 63 years old.
Love my youth winchester 1300 20 gauge with 22” barrel
Perfect little everything gun
@@uwsuwsmi i wouldnt consider a 22" barrel gun little
@@RonnieRawdawg that is the gun I personally would keep for anything around my property if I could only have one
Little figure of speech
I'm a retired federal LEO who trained with the 870 for years. I have a herniated disk in my neck, and when I retired I got a Mossberg 20 gauge with mounted light that sits in the bedroom closet Cruiser Ready. I also sleep with a Glock 23 with a light/laser in a Kydex holster in the bed with me. I have no concerns with the 20 gauge getting the job done, and I'm not bothered by the fact that it doesn't look as cool as a decked out 870.
Do you know why the LE dont switch to 20ga if they already use 12ga low recoil?
@@Gieszkanne probably because 12 gauge ammunition is more plentiful and cheaper by the masses. 2 reason probably being, if they do need the extra power for some reason, the 12 gauge fills that role better than the 20.
@@ravenvision222 😅
Yes sir
The real question; What kind of a 20 gauge shotgun will work for home defence? Answer, One that shoots 20 gauge shot shells, whether it be 1, 2 or 5.
You don’t need some fully optimized, tactical combat weapon to defend yourself in your home; if it shoots bullets then, generally, you can defend yourself with it.
Thank you
bro I need to be super optimized. Home defense situations are a chance to do some real hardcore Call of Duty cosplaying.
Middle of the Night, lower recoil and decent rounds .. I'd hit an intruder with any 20 gauge round I could shot at them
What if when they break in I have to put on every piece of camo I own, my night vision and tacticool gloves and boots then what? How could I possibly use anything but a super tricked out shotty with lazer sight. If the wife was taking a video and I wasn't super cool trying to save our lives then what....tik tok shame is what! Oh the agony, wait where are my tacticool gloves....uggghh what if they break in lol. All b.s. aside most want something that looks cool instead of something they can handle and shoot reliably. I'd rather an old firearm I can hit center with over and over than something new I've barely shot!
Use what you have, but if you’re buying a new shotgun for home defense, why wouldn’t you buy the best one you can get?
The 20 gauge is the PERFECT home defense firearm. You will never convince me otherwise. :)
The shortage of ammo options is the issue- not the caliber- the manufactures need to up there options for 20 gauge self defense. Its a more than capable caliber- especially since YOU state in your current video that
.380 is a good/ acceptable caliber for beginner shooters for self defense. Lets compare 380 and 20 gauge buck!?!?
Stephen, what ammo do you use and where do you get it?
I want a home defense gun my wife can handle. That's why I keep a 20ga for defense.
Also, now that every gun store is picked clean, 20ga shells are more available. Funny that.
@@brianpaules3798 #3 buck is easy to find. #2 not so much anymore. For home defense purposes, I would use them staggered with 2/34 inch slugs.
12 gauge is overkill,
20GA is great and greatly underappreciated
I lucked out and found 400 rds. of #4 buck a couple of days ago.
What about shooting down hill?
We all have this "what if scenario" (me included), that we mostly use to justify buying more and different self defense guns and ammo. I'll be the first to admit that instead of being a drug addict, I'm a gun addict. I also practice, I shoot a lot, and I own several different platforms, all of which I am deeply invested in with both time and money. All of us have different living situations and surroundings and threat levels to consider. In my own (and only my own) situation, and any imaginable self defense scenario I can come up with, my good old vintage Remington 870 wingmaster pump 20 guage loaded with #4 shot would be more than sufficient. It may be old school and not 'tacti-cool, but make no mistake, it's the right tool. 😉
Two and a half years on from this video: 20Ga. and .40 S&W are serving me well. Popularity is not always an advantage.
@@double-eagle-dave Still alive because it's working for you, or still alive because it's never been put to the test? Hopefully the latter, no one should have to be in a situation where their life is on the line.
He’s a salesman......
Both excellent choices in caliber
@@double-eagle-dave incriminating lol
@@granthallman7721 oh c'mon. 22lr kills more than any other caliber. Cry bout it
The idea of having a 20 ga. shotgun is not to intimidate the user. It's to intimidate the thug on the working end of the gun. I do not recall ever coming across a report or article where the perp bothered to ask if the gun with the big muzzle pointed at him asked, "Is that a 12 gauge 2 & 3/4 with double ought buck or a 20 gauge 3" magnum with double ought buck?" Put plainly for most household/ personal protection tasks, the 20 can get the job done.
Never grab the shotgun if you're not planning to use it. Intimidation is nice but people shoot back.
Great point !!! Hahaha !
I retired my 12 for a 20 for Home Defense. it is smaller, lighter, easier to maneuver. it does kick harder than my 870, but that is negligent in a home defense situation. I have to say though, the largest buckshot I can find is #1. Cheap stuff too, but it works. At 10 feet, 9 pellets of #1 buckshot is devastating.
Yup, all you're actually trading off is how many projectiles you fire with each trigger pull. You can still get the same size and kind of buckshot going at the same velocity, just fewer at a time.
Pretty please, who manufactures 00 buck in 20ga? Biggest i've ever found is #2 buck. Hardly adequate.
.20 gauge are flying off shelves now in 2020. It's time to see some more variety in ammo from developers.
I have an unused weatherby pump pa 08 walnut...it's beautiful
I already have 20 gauge (was my first firearm). Since I am on a budget I dont see the point in trading up for a 12 gauge. I've been collecting ammo from 2009-present so I am not in a shortage of any ammo type. I have a 18.5" barrel for the home and a 26" barrel replacement if I need it for hunting. #3 buck shot and 20 gauge slugs in a home are more than enough to put down any 2 legged predator dumb enough to break in.
I'm of the mind of run-what-you-brung and from home defense and at close range 7 1/2 Birdshot is going to be just as destructive as buck not matter if it's 12 or 20 ga. I think Ol' Lucky is letting his 12 Ga. bias show.
The problem with 20 gauge is that you can't get double or triple aught for it.
@@darkstreamfish2729 for a home intruder you dont need it. Also the # 2 and #3 buckshot are called that for a reason. If it can take down your average 8 pointer it's taking down a bad guy any day with ease.
@@darkstreamfish2729 tell that to my ammo cans full of 3 inch 00 buck for my rem870 20gauge
@@jllucci I'd much rather rely on 00 buck than 7 1/2 birdshot as 00 is going to guarantee a full stop. You would be surprised what a meth-addled scumbag or someone high on PCP is capable of withstanding...
Nyet, 20 gauge is fine.
davaj 20 gauge.
Agreed
A 20 ga shot shell has 7/8ths of an ounce of lead shot. That is deadly. The tactical shotgun is a marketing gimmick.
A normal shotgun is all you need to shoot somebody. As a former skeet shooter, I scoff at tactical. It's for people who are
unfamiliar with shotguns. Not only is 20 ga fine, it is slimmer and lighter, and the 20 ga 870 is a reliable shotgun, highly
recommended by this long time user of the same. I'm waiting for a side x side shotgun in 20 gauge, hoping that the gun store
guy hasn't died of old age or China Virus during the California waiting period involved in purchasing guns. I own a 28 ga
Remington 870 and it pack 3/4s of an ounce per shot. That's deadly, too, so when somebody says they can't recommend 20 ga,
it is suspicious. One drawback with 20., as with 28 gauge is the selection of ammo. A Lee Load-All II shot shell press
costs from 55 to 70 bucks, and if you reload, you can load any sized shot you desire. Reloading shot shells is not difficult.
@@mu99ins good luck in hallways with your 30" barrel, goofball.
A F you’re the goofball buddy. Your the idiot saying a 20 gage isn’t a great defense option! There’s nothing on this planet that a 20 gage will not kill.
I actually love 20 gauge. I mean I CAN handle 12 gauge recoil but most of the time I just enjoy 20ga more and find it more enjoyable to shoot. I also prefer smaller guns, I'm not a big guy.
even as a big guy I like smaller guns because when I go hiking on the trail I dont really like to carry heavy gear. I've even gone out with a cheap little .22 Cricket Youth and was content with that and my heritage rough rider lol. Not worth damaging the stuff that matters for said usage anyways. If those got banged up I just shrug. If I damage my Ruger Single 9 Stainless with custom Rosewood Grips, I'd cry.
Try a semi auto 12, it will change your opinion
@@BrassCatcher I was told it not the best to get for first time shotgun owners.
Check out the 410 AR pretty sweet looking
it also depends on how heavy your gun is as well. I had a 20 gauge that would bruise your shoulder because it was a single shot and super light. It kicked harder than any 12 gauge around
I have a Mossberg Shockwave in 20 gauge .... And love it
That seems like the way to go for the shockwave imo, unless you are tossing on an arm brace
I have a 870 Tac-14 in 20 gauge.
I just ordered one myself. This guy must work for a 12 gauge ammo company!
Same here man I love it
Yes,,, as do I, love it
After a lot of research, the H&R pardner compact 20 gauge is a good one for home defense. And it's budget friendly.
I have one great little gun
That's what I bought. DId not want to spend a fortune. So far it has functioned great with different shells I have put through it. I keep #1 buck in it for the home.
I don't shoot much these days, so it will remain the home duty scattergun for many a year.
It is no prize winner of a gun, but who is looking for a prize winner in time of trouble? And if it gets taken away from me after a shooting, no big loss.
Bought one for my son 10yrs ago. Good weapon for a variety of uses
75% of the equivalent shot payload & half the recoil of a 12 gauge makes a 20 gauge a viable alternative for defense, hunting or whatever else you want a shotgun for.
If Chris's numbers are right, 20 ga is not "half the recoil", it's about 26% _more_ recoil than the 12 ga, because it's a 78% lighter firearm, handling 98% of the 12 ga load momentum. That said, i'm liking the 20 ga Stevens 320 i just bought, because it's lighter to carry and the recoil is manageable. I actually traded in my 12 ga for it. Just wish i could find 20 ga "0" or "00" buck load.
grant Hallman stop
@@granthallman7721 smaller shot means more lead in the shell overall because you don't have much of an air gap inside, in fact it turns out the 20ga load was heavier which usually means more recoil in my book, also he didn't look at the amount of powder in the shell, just the advertised muzzle velocity on the tin even though sometimes that estimate is way off, so the 12ga may have even shot >100fps slower.
There's also a difference in the barrel length as the shorter the barrel is the less time the barrel is in pressure/the more powder burns outside without imparting energy to the bullet and therefore gun. The stock in the 20ga also seems to be more offset from the chamber compared to the Magpul so the gun of course would be more prone to "wanting to flip", instead of going directly into the shoulder.
To take this more seriously, I would've appreciated him using a cronograph and testing the loads with the same barrel length as well as using the factory stock on that 870, then use #4 on both. I know he chose #00 likely because that's the most popular option in a 12ga and you would test for what most people are likely to be using in such scenario, but when you want to test a single variant between two things you want to have everything else variate as little as possible as to not portray inaccurate results.
@@cdgonepotatoes4219 thats the scientific method pretty much to a t. This comparison avoided that process and I suspect the results are skewed because of it. I would love to see another comparison with a more level playing field as well.
@@granthallman7721 when you say recoil does that mean the kick, or how much your aim moves?
Thanks for getting right to the point, without 75 seconds of "let's go invade Iraq" tacticool music.
Thoughtful analysis too. Starting to really love this channel.
You make it sound like it's such a rarity. I have bagged plenty of deer with my 870 20ga using slugs and #3. And since when does hanging a bunch of accessories on a shotgun make it more effective as a home defense gun?
Huh? If you're using a long gun, you have zero hands left for a flashlight.
If you plan on shooting any distance, a red dot might help.
Wife got a Mossberg 500 20 ga in youth model same mag capacity as the full size just shorter stock and barrel I personally enjoy shooting it better than my full size 12 mossberg
That is what my GF bought for her first shotgun. She bought a 20 gauge side-by-side since then for cowboy action shooting.
Mossberg has a 20 gauge shockwave and that's the one I would go with like you said less recoil I dig it in that set up🤘🏻🇺🇸👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻
A 20 gauge has more than enough power for a home defense situation.
Less chance of penetrating walls too, if you miss. Which is ideal for people who live in apartment buildings like I do.
I generally prefer the 20ga over the 12ga for almost all applications including home defense...those who have done an abundent amount of shooting with both will know why...
The only issue with 20ga is that the ammo isn't as plentiful in my area and always costs a little more.
But I do love my Mossberg 590 shockwave in 20ga
Have the same one and I love mine too so much fun to shoot
5 dollars for a box of 25 at Walmart
@@kenwillis8487 to hell with Walmart!
Love my Mossberg 500 20 guage Persuader.
Yeah 20 gauge is more expensive and harder to find. Not to mention 20 gauge mini shells arent even made, as far as i know...
The 870 compact Jr with a plus 2 is a very decent 20ga HD setup. I own multiple 12ga but that 870 compact Jr with a plus 2 is one of my favs
Lt. Fireguy Luckily I kept the 20g I was given when I was 12. Now it's perfect for home defense, though the fact that they make more home defense stuff for 410s is annoying. Oh well, never needed more than regular buckshot anyway.
I have had a Remington LW 870 20 gauge from the time I was 9 years old and I'm 57 now and I still love hunting with that shotgun I bought a short barrel that was threaded for screw in chokes for this gun and with super full turkey chokes and Remington 2.75 inch Nitro mag #4 shot it shoots a very tight pattern and is just what I let my Grandsons use when I take them spring Turkey hunting plus with a Rifle slug from an imp.cyc.choke it does very well with slugs or #3 buckshot .I like that old shotgun and over the years I have taken a ton of game with it.
I like my 20 gauge #3 buck . Mossberg pump. Don't come in uninvited.
I bought a 20 gauge youth pump from Savage. I'm 65 and just began using a pump. I bought 'snap caps' and viewed dozens of online instructional videos. I 'shadow practiced until I became proficient with that gun. I added a custom cheek pad which gives me a rock solid meld and consistent 'anchor' system (an archery term). I shoot that gun 'lights out'. My speed is still improving. I am confident to hunt whitetails at 35 yards with buckshot and 45 yards with slugs. As for home defense I would use either the Brenneke slugs I have or the buckshot with total confidence. I learned a long time ago bigger isn't necessary. Hitting what you aim at is.
I have a sister who loves guns but, simply cannot handle the recoil of a 12 gauge. She has a 20 gauge for both shooting clays and home defense. I think the 20 gauge is perfect for these applications. My sister is 5'8" tall so, she's no light weight by female standards. My daughter uses a 12 gauge pump but, even she will admit that she ends up with a bruised shoulder at times. For a woman, my daughter is tall (5'10"). In spite of that, the 12 gauge stretches her limits of pain tolerance.
Larry Kool
Check out the KNOXX spring loaded, shock absorbing shoulder stock. Takes all the pain out of 12 ga. Even heavy loads.
I much prefer the traditional shape stock, not the pistol grip version. I love mine.
As mentioned in the video the weight of the gun is relevant and the semi-autos will recoil less than pumps.
Tbh I prefer to shoot 20. It's like the difference between 44 mag and 45 acp. Both do the job but ones way more forgiving
Revisiting this subject. The presenter is 100% correct about the relative recoil of the 20G. My 1953 Remington 870 in 20G kicks like an army mule with slugs or OO buck. SOmewhat milder in a 12G 870. My comment below suggests that I am using birdshot. I don't - even though it is extremely effective at home defense ranges. I use OOO buck for defense and just take the kick when practicing. The lighter 20G is somewhat better at recoil with bird shot, but not really that much, and is devastating on a big, bone-in ham at 10 feet. I just like the smaller, lighter, short weapon with a full stock.
I would not like to be on the receiving end of a 20 gauge shotgun. 😯
Another great video!! It never ceases to amaze me how good your videos are in terms of substantive content and presentation. Please keep up the great work!!
I have an 870 tactical in 20ga and really love it. However, that is in part due to the fact that 20ga was a pet project of mine for a couple of years. I handloaded all sorts of different loadings including #4, #3, #2, and my favorite, #1 buckshot. I also made iterations of buck & ball using each of these buck sizes over a musketball. I also loaded musketballs in double-ball and a light, single-ball plinker round. I didn't try to push those plinkers too hard, but was getting good accuracy at short range using Remington SP20 wads and a .53 cal ball. ...A 225gr ball at around 1400 fps if I recall. I also molded and loaded a number of Lyman sabot slugs which worked pretty well, though they weren't as good as the 12ga version of that slug. Anyway, it was a super-fun project, but the lack of popularity also meant that it was much more difficult to find 20ga hulls suitable for reloading than 12ga. So, it was basically something I was doing for my own enjoyment, in spite of its drawbacks.
I like your part about the perceived ballistic advantage versus becoming more proficient and shooting the gun more often. I personally prefer .20 gauge for trap and skeet, lets me shoot longer and practice more often than a .12 gauge, both in the shoulder and the wallet. However, I still think a .20 gauge is nothing to sneeze at for home defense
For my home cooking I found nice Winchester 120 youth 20ga pump from the 1990s for $80. Cut down barrel to a legal length (18.5), paint the furniture with a black non slip bedliner. Tap the receiver for an inexpensive ghost ring sight and add a saddle to the stock for extra rounds. The short stock and barrel handle great but it's a heavier 20 to aid in recoil (I remembered because the model was my first grouse/rabbit gun). Use 2 3/4" waterfowl loads in #4. Wad stays intact for most interior distances and 1.2 oz of high velocity birdshot in an area the size of your fist is devastating to soft targets. Overpenatration was a big concern for me with a large family in a dense neighborhood. $200 total including my time invested. Stay safe!
Right now I have 5 shot 1oz. 2 and 3/4 inch Federal Hi-Brass for my Maverick 88 20 gauge. It seems to hold a pretty tight and consistent pattern.
I own a 20 guage, and I can say I would definitely not want to get shot with it. I can definitely say there is a difference in recoil when comparing to 12 guage. I can go a lot longer at the skeet range and not have a sore shoulder the next day. I have already had 1 shoulder surgery, don't need another handling a 13 guage.
My long time friend who was a cop many years says when someone comes in looking for a 12g for home defense he tries to get then to consider a 20 or a 410. He himself uses 410. He said he's been to a a few home invasion calls in his time and if a 12 gauge was fired, any drywall, windows , etc. Behind the person shot is really demolished and the home owner often has to pay to fix it themselves. People are obsessed with power these days, you don't need the most power all the time. You just need enough.
20 Gauge is a good option for home defense. Not everyone can handle the recoil of a 12 gauge and some people just want less recoil. With the right load, 20 gauge is highly effective.
I saw the title and immediately said, “heck yeah you can” I love my 20 gauge that’s sitting right next to me as I’m typing. A wonderful and powerful gun.
Good point on recoil... however the lighter weapon is more maneuverable. I love the 20 gauge for house defense. Would I take it to war? No, I’d take a 12 for that...but I am not planning on a sustained fire fight in my house.
Just bought my 1st ever gun! Today at wallyworld since im on monthly pension ck. I choose the mossberg 500 20 gauge,for home defense. Was so excited deep down after handing cashier the $254 cash i left store with out any gun supplies 🙃 Hit the next walmart on the way home picked me up a gun case,side saddle,box of shells & peltor ear protection. Amazing the case & that particular ear protection was the LAST one on their shelve.
Gods plan for me 😉
I say wallmart because everyone else jacked up prices because of C virus & them idiots on streets. (hoarding profits)
So basically the bad guy is dead, or a bit more dead! Great Video!
Thanks for the information. I was considering the 20 gauge because of recoil management and this video helped dispel my assumptions.
First of all, I reload a 20 ga. with steel BB's and some with .311 round balls from my flintlock. For home defense, distance is not an issue., #6 shot would work just fine. Actually, at home defense ranges, the shot, no matter what size, will more than likely still be in the cup.
My wife's shot gun is a 20 ga.870. She had never shot before, had no problem with the slide or recoil. She has fired bird, buck, and slugs with no issues. I can easily find bird shot, buck shot and slugs, what more do you need?
20 gauge mossberg shockwave loaded with rio #1 buck will do the job, no need for fancy and exotic projectiles.
I have both and they both work! The 20 will do just fine in home defense!
I own a 20 gauge Steven's 320 for my home defense reasons wife and i have been able to add a ATI extension tube (from a Winchester 1200) brings my ammo count to 10 shots of 2 3/4 #3 buck . the extra weight infront tames the recoil for my wife and a flashlight also adds a little front weight as well.
It is hard to find accessories for 20 gauge shotguns for home defense . But it can be done to a certain degree. I have a Stevens 320, 20 gauge. I put a velco style side saddle on mine, also put a 5 round saddle on the stoke and managed to even mount a small flash light using a mount for a magazine extension for a Remington 870. I've practiced with it many times and it's turned out to be pretty effective. No 3 buck is what I use for home defense in my 20 gauge. Great video and thanks...
Dare I mention the 16 gauge . . .
lol, go back to sleep, grandpa
so, you are a 16 ga hater???
No
well then, why the snarky response?
I, for one, wish that the 16 gauge shotgun was more popular. I have two "Sweet Sixteen" Browning Auto-5 shotguns. They are a dream to shoot, but the ammo is very expensive and hard to find. Fortunately, I have been reloading for them for the last 20-25 years.
I use mine for dove hunting and clay sports but I wouldn't hesitate to depend on them for home defense. Like all other J.M. Browning designs, they are very reliable! Semper Fi, TreeTop
Sawed off pistol grip 20 gauge, single barrel, breech fed with an ejector. Saved my life and another's.
Mossberg has the 20SA tactical 20 gauge semi auto. Its perfect for home defense
I’ve fired a 12 gauge with a 24” barrel using federal high brass slugs and cheaper low recoil slugs. It was powerful but not as bad as I thought.
Frankly... saying the lack of R&D for the 20 gauge is kind of a moot thing as shotguns really havent had much change about them since the early 1900's at least with pump action shotguns. You dont really need to "tac it out" or anything. Getting a mount for use with a light is easy, finding side saddle accessories for them is easy as well. As for stocks and such, Mossberg has quite a line of options and finding 870 options is easy too. I mean... what all do you think you really need?
Now, saying the market is more or less limited to Mossberg and Remington for a good 20 gauge is partially true, but not really that bad when you get down to it. Winchester makes a good 20 gauge pump gun with the Defender series, Savage-Stevens 320 is a good pump gun as well in 20 gauge and it's set up more in the "tactical" style right out the box for under $300. The Escort Aimguard is another good cheap option I routinely see in 20 gauge, it being a copy of the FABARM FP6 shotgun, it does accept FP6 parts and accessories, which I might add there are a ton of. Plenty of good semi auto options as well.
As for load options, I find 20 gauge to be readily available with plenty of adequate defensive loads both locally and online. Like you said, you sell way more 12 gauge, thus 20 gauge stuff doesnt go out of stock as quick so you can get a good supply of defensive/hunting loads. Plenty of good 20 gauge slugs out there as well that pack quite the punch.
You are absolutely right about the weight factor playing a role. It is true that in a lightweight gun using light loads it can feel like a light 12 gauge load. But bump up to more powerful loads for both and the 20 gauge will feel a bit less. Adding a recoil pad is also an option and a rather cheap one at that if it is an issue. I can understand why somebody would push for a 12 gauge over a 20 gauge in most circumstances, but I never can understand why people think that just because in most scenarios a 12 gauge is a better choice for many means it's the best for everyone. Like I said, I dont know what all you feel you need on a shotgun, but for me I pretty much only need some sort of a light attached to it, which can be easily done. I'd likely invest in a sling/shell holder for extra rounds should I need it, but otherwise I'm ok. I might put a fiber optic front sight in place of a bead, but it's not really needed.
Don't forget Ithaca
@@brianc9374 and h&r
The current production market may not offer many tactical/ swat appearance 20 gauge shotguns, there are many 'conventional' style models still in circulation in the used market. Inspect them carefully. Many have seen a lot of use over decades past.
Mossberg 500 8-shot Tactical model (model #54300) with Elzetta shotgun light system (comes with 20 gauge adapters and will fit this gun), Esstac 20 gauge shotgun card, and Remington 20 pellet #3 buckshot. Excellent defensive setup.
The Mossberg 500 20 gauge tactical pump action is very easy for me to shoot and I'm very accurate with it - it's lightweight, little to near zero recoil and it's a shotgun I can handle well for my small size and strength. With mounted flashlight and laser, collapsable stock, 8 shot tube and 20" barrel I have an effective HD weapon with benefit of audible "pump" . I'm much more accurate with this than 12 gauge that gives me more lethal ammo options of #4 or #6 Super-X shot (steel or brass) as well as No. 1 buckshot - all great HD rounds. Target shot is cheap and plentiful for a fun to shoot shotgun. I don't need a canon - probably couldn't handle it. My goal is to be able to effectively handle my firearms, not brag about caliber - holds true for handguns as well.
The old gun store owner said to get a .20ga instead of .12ga for home defense. I got a box of buckshot but had to get some slugs too, a totally underrated gun.
Great insights! I've thought about getting a 20 gauge, maybe even in the Tac-14, but my prepper mindset means I'll probably stick to 12 gauge. I am glad you mention alternatives for more novice shooters, I will have to prioritize a PCC for my wife some day.
This is good advice if you are looking to buy a defensive shotgun which will have plenty of accessories available. For smaller people a 20 gauge can be a good choice though simply because the gun weighs less and fits their hands better, if someone feels comfortable holding the gun they are more likely to want to practice with it.
+1 for a pistol caliber carbine video for home defense! Great info here. Thanks
You hit the nail on the head here with the final conclusion, i will say the one place i believe it fits the application better is any time you will be camping or hiking long distances and you are looking to cut down on weight, youll typically see the 20 gauge single break barrells and even doubles are a significant bit lighter than their respective 12 ga counterparts, thats the one situation i find it preferable, because shooting serious buckshot out of those light guns is honestly surprisingly stout, and its just easier to use more gun when its reasonably convenient
20 gauge. Not just for the birds.
Good comprehensive overview of shotguns, I use a 590 12 gauge as my primary battle shotgun, and I keep a 500 shockwave 20 gauge as it's backup piece.
I just to love 45 acp, now I carry 9 mm for self defense, I used to LOOOVVE 12 gauge, now I like my rem 870 youth in 20 gauge short barrel. If you need more than 5 shotgun rounds, then you maybe over your head.
Bro...fire content 🔥. That was the best video on 20 gauge I have ever watched. Nailed it
My grandmother had a single brale shot gun in 20ga for a house gun with 7and a half loads and the most buck shot I've found is #3s.
I'm a Toby and married a jennifer lmao
The 20 is way more efficient as home defense AR.
They just don’t seem to make one. The amount of ammo you can carry is almost doubled, and if your covering fire, the more the merrier.
The twelve does have more shell options though
Rio .20 gauge buckshot is what I use.
Rio #1 buck in 20 gauge patterns great in my coach gun. It'll get the job done.
Great balanced perspective. Nice to see common sense approach rather than heavily biased military or LEO approach. Not knocking them I was both in a previous life. I concur with your findings having bought a 20 gauge expecting lighter recoil. Needless to say I have reverted to my Mossberg 590. Great video thankx
For a low-recoil alternative, I've had good luck with the. 410 in a full-size shotgun. The Federal 000 Buck Handgun load hits with sufficient authority, and the Mossberg models in .410 are easy to manipulate.
The 000 over penerate a lot. I would go smaller.
As part of a home defense system, I have a Remington 870 20ga Youth model with 0 Buckshot. I can walk with it hanging in my dominate hand and let it swing without touching the ground, and I’m short. I’ve never needed to use it and hope I never do but if called upon I can make the longest shot possible in my house with a 6” pattern.
Iam a 54year old country boy born and raised on the farm and I always have used a 20gauge best gun I ever owned so what are you talking about
It is absolutely true that a pump shotgun is not a novice’s weapon! It happens to have been the weapon many of us first used extensively as novices-but that is not the same thing. If, like me, you spent your 5th - 12th grade years grabbing a box of shells and a plugged pump gun to wander around bagging rabbits, doves, grouse-or defending the pumpkin patch, etc-and every family picnic included the trap thrower…then handling, sucking, reloading (and with a plugged gun, topping it up because an unconscious reflex) is second nature. That makes the pump shotgun a familiar, trustworthy, confidence-inspiring tool to pick up when you hear noises in the night.
But watch a new shooter (especially a small shooter) trying to manage a long-stocked, long-barreled, hard recoiling, pump shotgun at that picnic, and you realize this is not the defensive weapon for someone who didn’t spend their teen years with a beagle and a pocket of shells.
It’s easy to see how we make that mistake. -but we should stop making it!
The 20 gauge is great
Yeah, i have been shooting shotguns since I was 8 years old. I never noticed much difference between the 12 and the 20 recoil wise. There were some shotguns that just seemed to kick more regardless of gauge. I just liked the 20 gauge better. And, I still do. The shotguns were lighter. The shells were a smaller and lighter and they performed well on what I was hunting. These traits made a difference when walking for hours and hours. Plus, I think the lighter more nimble shotguns just took to my shoulder faster and swung excellent. I used a 16 gauge sometimes too. They are all good, but the 20 is my favorite for most task.
Stevens 320 security can be found for around $200 and is great home defense package
Took my old Remington 1100 20 gauge "heavy" (20 gauge shotgun on a 12 gauge frame). Recoil is darn near zilch. Bought a 21 inch barrel for it and stuck a +3 mag tube extension on it (total cost much less than 2nd shotgun). Rocking for home defense with 7+1 #3 buck. Takes 2 minutes to switch out for the original 28" barrel when I take it out to shoot clays. Extremely happy with this setup and my wife can easily run it as well.
That's the best 20 gauge setup out there. Also recommended by Massad Ayoob.
I've been told the 20 gauge typically has twice the stopping power of the 44 magnum from Dirty Harry fame.
Maybe in a pistol, but Hell to No in a lever action 44mag and at a 100 yards
Stephen Serna Not much defensive use at 100 yards. Apples to Oranges.
I've had my 20g Mossberg 500 for 20 years now. Brenneke makes a 20g home defense slug, 1200 fps low recoil. That coupled with any brand of #3 buck (I do prefer federal) is more than enough power for home defense. Not to mention I had the bantam model and upgraded the stock recently so it's still compact and easy to manage
I prefer 10 gauge, because overkill is underrated
Funny, I use phase plasma shotgun in the 100 watt range
Anticipating a bull moose invasion? Deterring an Armored Personnel Carrier? Kidding aside, the mighty 10 will allow you to deal with most any threat to your personal safety short of an Abrams tank. After the end of a lengthy training session please have plenty of ice and absorbine junior available. One thing about the 10 ga., it was once the choice among winged game shooters until the 12 ga. 3 & 1/2" magnums hit the market.
Pardner pump 20 gauge shotguns are great. I've had mine for 4 maybe 5 years. Never cleaned it never oiled it. Runs like a dream. I take care of it now I just wanted to see how it would stand up to neglect and it takes neglect well. However it being a Chinese 870 knock off it fits 870 furniture, but I haven't seen a pardner on shelves in a long time.
I have a youth model 870 20 gauge with a Choate mag extension and xs big dot front sight. I had to jerry rig a streamlight flashlight on the thing. It’s not pretty but it works and my 5’1” wife can handle it better. That being said, my HD shotgun is a 590A1 with magpul furniture and inforce light. I use the fiocci low recoil buck in it.
Can you give me the total length of the youth model and also the barrel itself considering that for my home as well thank you
Great video. I definitely agree with the lack of ammo choices and accessories for the 20 gauge. There are only a few good buckshot options out there that I can find, and most of them unavailable in my local area. And being in California means it's that much harder to get them now that online ammo order isn't widely available anymore. If I had known I would have just gone with a regular 12 gauge.
I got a shockwave 20 gauge I love it man it’s pretty light and it’s pretty lethal still plus I can shoot it better I’m only like 160 pounds not a big guy
I have both 12 and 20. I love them both and would trust either with my families well being. Remington 870!
Outstanding video as per usual.
I did trapshoot for two years with my 20 gauge and personally I love it. And if you wanted to use it for home defense it wouldn't be a bad idea. People always say that it's just a 20 gauge and while that might be true it's still not something you want to get shot with and 20 gauge is still plenty powerful and can do some serious damage.
20 gauge shockwave!! Next firearm I’m getting
I just got one myself. I know this channel has a video calling it "mostly useless", but I've enjoyed it so far. Should be more an adequate for home defense.
Concrete Whisperer should I get it as my first firearm?
my wife just bought me a Mossberg Maverick 88 security and almost anything that fits a 500 fits the Maverick and she got me 20 gauge because, last year i bought her a 20ga single shot to learn to shoot a shotgun, and we both liked it so much we bought the 2nd 20ga.
If we are talking home distances the 20 will do just fine.
I’ve always been a big 12 gauge guy but a while back I got my hands on a 1959 870 in 20. End of the barrel had been jacked up good. So I cut it down to 18” and been running #1 Buck. Super fun to shoot. Does a number on hogs
20 gauge slugs look to do just fine in all the You Tube vids I have seen. From 10 feet in just about any load in any gauge will stop the threat if you hit them right on the face due to the immense power. A lot of factors depend on how close you are to the thug. Whether 20 or 12 hit'em in the face and watch'em drop.
I was a 12g man for years. never wanted or needed anything else. I still love my 12 gauges. But I did buy a 20 for my grandchildren. I found out I miss-judge them. It GREAT! Now I have another the VR82 MAG for home defense, sports and hunting. I love it.
My dad is a Vietnam vet and former m.p...plenty of expierience with 12 gauge's....he always had a 20 gauge inside the home as #1 option when I was growing up...he gave many many reasons why it's actually a better option than a 12 gauge inside the home.
As a senior with a bit of a shake and arthritis, I've switched to a 20 gauge. I prefer a 12 but time and age is telling me no.
I just got a Shockwave in 20 gauge. From my limited experience with it at the range, this ought to be a pretty decent home defense weapon. Gotta get some slugs, buckshot, ballistics gel, and dry wall to conduct some serious tests.
Good video! I still prefer my 20 gauge simply because their is a lot of benefits having a lighter weapon. I seem to shoot a 20 better not sure why but I do. But I like how you cover everything is a trade off go for which suites your needs better.
20 really is perfect....
Bought a rock islands armory 20 Guage ar style shotgun imported from turkey and i absolutely love it lighter weight ammo so you can carry more ammo works great
When you get older the 12gauge can hurt you i know this old man is ready to step down to a 20
Yep. Sold my 12 gauge. Simply not fun to shoot at all. Will get a 20 if I ever add a shotgun to my collection again.
Well I'm 49. My Mossy 500 doesn't faze me at all. And I can twirl it like a baton. How much older do I have to get? Age isn't everything.
Well I'm 61 and just purchased my first 20, and 12 gauge all my life. Has a 22 in barrel on a youth Savage 320, loaded with 00 buck, 2 3/4 , 9 pellets leaving at 1345 fps, I sleep fine.
Just ordered an ATI 20ga Bulldog.
Stoked.