20 Gauge Buckshot for HD

[50caliber123]

I have been debating about using a 20 Ga for home defense. I shot a 12 gauge pump for close to ten years, from when I was 14 until about a year ago. For the first 7 yrs, I was 350lbs+. I got into a lot better shape, lost over 130lbs, and now I can't stand the kick of shooting a 12ga gun anymore. I sold my gun and my shells off, but find myself wanting a gun that can double for hunting and HD. This is not a gun question, I'm sold on the 20ga asbeing ideal, but have questions about the buckshot loads. Remington Express #3 20pellet 2 3/4" is the easiest to find. Is this ideal for HD? What about Federal's 3" magnum power-shok and vital-shok loads, or other 3" mag loads? I can't find any comprehensive tests done of penetration. I also am aware of a buffered "00" Buck 8pellet load by paraklese technologies. Anyone try this load? Any suggestions and advice/info about 20 Ga buckshot loads, specifically for HD appreciated, thanks.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

A 3" shell might give you recoil similar to a 12 gauge, especially since most 20ga guns are lighter. I would go with either a slug or the 3buck depending on you preference/patterning. Try as many different loads as you can get your hands on. Try grafs.com or midwayusa.com to get some ideas for ammo.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The 2 3/4" #3 buck load will do just fine for HD, if you do your part.

lpl

 

[highorder]

Remington Express #3 20pellet 2 3/4" is the easiest to find. Is this ideal for HD?

That's the load I keep handy for the 20 gauge. It's the only thing available locally.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Like Lee said.

I've shot some COFs with a 20 gauge and 3 buck. Inside 20 yards, I'd expect effect no less than a 12 gauge with 00.

IOW, one shot, one stop.

HTH....

 

[Mike J]

You might like to read this www.boxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm they test 20 gauge #3 buck shooting into water jugs. I have an old Mossberg 500 cruiser with an 18 1/2 barrel loaded up with them.

 

[noskilz]

Bad Link. Its http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm

 

[broken]

...

all i can find around here for my 20 is remington express 23/4 #3 20 pellet buck and i back it with winchester 3" 3/4 slugs,never seen any other brand.

 

[Mike J]

sorry about the link

 

[50caliber123]

Patterned my friends 20 Ga with 2 loads today, fired ten shots,used ten targets, trying to get a good feel for how the shotgun would pattern. Weather was terrible, but got worse after I shot at the range. I fired 5 shots of 2 brands

Two loads tested, both 2 3/4", both #3 buck 20 pellet. Remington express buck and winchester super x. At 25yds, the remington averaged a 14" pattern. Winchester averaged a 12" pattern. I backed up the patterning boards to a little past 15yds (roughly 50 ft) and tested. Remington put about 17 pellets into a paper plate at this range, the Winchester put all 20 pellets in. Clearly the Winchester patterns better at close and longer range.

Is this considered a good pattern? The gun has a modified choke, so I can get my friend's gun to go with a tighter constriction.

 

[MCgunner]

Maximum range in my house is maybe 15 feet. 3 buck is what I load in my 20 and I'm quite sure it'll do the job.

 

[snooperman]

20 ga #3 buck is ideal inside the home

You have 20 pellets weighing 23.4 grains going 1250 feet per sec. Within the confines of a home and the short distances therein you get good penetration with more hits on the intruder, causing massive damage quickly. I like it better for inside the home than 9 pellets of OO buckshot from the 12 ga. with its overpenetration. Now outside the home is where the OO buck shines. However that is a different scenario.

 

[-v-]

Like Lee said, with a 20ga and #3 buck, if you do your job of getting hits on target, it will do its job of stopping the threat. The 20ga with buckshot is a very capable home defense/personal protection choice.

 

[Guns and more]

I'll go out on a limb and say the 20 ga. will recoil the same as a 12 ga. due to the lighter mass. If you don't like shooting the 12, you won't like the 20 either.
I'd say consider a .410 with buckshot. The ammo is no harder to find than 20 ga.
Yeah, ammo is expensive, but for H/D you won't be going clay, and trap shooting.
A .410 pellet is traveling just as fast as the 12 ga. there are simply fewer of them.
I'd pick the Mossy .410 cruiser, they call their "Home Defense" shotgun.

 

[50caliber123]

I fired this 21" barreled 20 GA with the #3 Buck loads and recoil was easily less thn half of any 12 GA gun. It may be lighter, but my shoulder is not sore in the least. I could have shot it all day had weather ot been an issue. Magnum Buck out of a 20 can't kick too much more, can it?

 

[snooperman]

Magnum 20 ga kicks more than my 12 ga coach gun

If you are recoil sensitive, the magnum 20 ga which is 3" will kick much more than the common 2 3/4 #3 buck load. I use a 2 3/4 #3 buck load in a 20 ga short barrel pump for my HD gun and feel it is quite addequate to do the job. I also have a 12 ga Rem. spartan coach gun loaded with OO buck and the 20 seems to kick about the same as the 12 to me. Each #3 buck pellet weighs 23.4 gr but there are 20 of them, which equals about 466 gr of lead in all. The 12 ga has 9 pellets of OO buckshot each weighing 54 gr each for a total of 486 gr. If the 20 ga weighs less than it will kick more. My 2 guns both weigh 6 1/2 lbs and the recoil is about the same. Perhaps the 20 is slightly less but not by much. If you want less recoil than consider the KNOXX STOCK , it will allow the pump to recoil like a semi auto since there is a spring in the buttstock.

 

[Dirty Bob]

Regular (non-magnum) 2-3/4" buckshot generates less recoil in my 20ga. than 2-3/4" non-magnum buckshot in my 12ga. I can keep all 20 #3 buckshot on a paper plate out to more than 15 yards.

For the record: I'm shooting an older Wingmaster, made on a 12ga. frame. While not a heavy shotgun, this is no featherweight, either. The 20ga. is faster for a follow-up shot in my hands, and I doubt that an attacker could tell the difference between a 20ga. #3 buck load and a 12ga. #4 buck load. I'm very confident that my chosen gun/load could quickly stop an attack.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[MCgunner]

There is no way my 20, a really light Spartan coach gun, kicks as much as my 28" 12 gauge side by side, no way in hell, no matter the load. Anyone here is welcome to try both at the range. I shoot 2 3/4" 3 buck and it's plenty, no need for 3". 3" has harder recoil, on a level with 2 3/4" number 7.5 1 ounce dove loads in that 12 SxS, I'd say, based on my calibrated shoulder. It's a light gun for a 12, but probably a pound heavier than the 20. It doesn't fit as well and that can affect felt recoil, but still. You wanna feel some recoil, torch off a slug in that 12! 20 gauge slugs in the Spartan I can actually bench rest without effort.

 

[50caliber123]

Has anyone on here ever shot the Federal Vital -Shok or Power-Shok loads? I am interested in hearing anyone's experience with these 2 3/4" and 3" Buckshot loads.

 

[mnrivrat]

Perhaps I will add nothing new to the discussion, but you will get my opinion anyway.

I shoot a legaly short barrel 20ga. Pump gun. It serves me for all needs I have in the shotgun area including HD . I have a wide range of ammo including some #4 Buckshot 3inch that Federal used to make.

For HD I use 2&3/4" # 3 buck simply because it is easy to find, and I have faith it will take care of business. No matter how it patterns, when you look at the distance you will shoot for HD purpose , it is a mute issue. Between brands the energy level, and patterning variation are a non issue.

The 2&3/4" # 3 buck delivers the energy level of at least a couple of .357 magnum rounds so no need to believe a 3" shell is required. (or a 12ga. gun)

As far as recoil - that is always a matter of how much payload you want to deliver at what kind of energy . A 20 ga, kicks less when you shoot a load that is of less payload and energy than a 12ga. If you realy think you need a 12ga. type load to get the job done then go with a 12ga gun, or a heavier 20ga. load , both of which will also deliver more recoil .

I like the handling quality of a 20ga. gun over a 12ga. for the purpose of HD. I don't feel underguned .

 

[oneounceload]

At 25yds, the remington averaged a 14" pattern. Winchester averaged a 12" pattern. I backed up the patterning boards to a little past 15yds (roughly 50 ft) and tested.

I don't have anywhere inside my house that approaches 75' or even 45' in a straight line - I doubt most folks do. Pattern your loads at whatever the max straight line distance is and then see how well you like them.

 

[AcceptableUserName]

I mean no offense or bad intent here at all, but getting "in better shape" should mean handling the 12 just as easy or easier....right?


20 is fine, but it isn't going to be a huge difference. If the recoil's that bad on you. look at a Knoxx recoil reducing stock and low-recoil buckshot with a 12.

 

[oneounceload]

If his gun doesn't fit right, it won't matter what the gauge is - it will still have intolerable recoil

 

[NG VI]

I know you already sold your 12, but my 12Ga Mossberg with a Pachmayr Decelerator pad in place of the stock pad using any of the reduced recoil buck or slug loads doesn't recoil very hard at all, a very pleasant feeling recoil as well.

 

[Grunt]

I just test fired and did a little grouping test with my son's new 20 gauge Remington 870 Express extended synthetic today at work with both Remington and Federal 2 3/4" #3 Buck and Federal slugs. I have never fired a 20 gauge before but those little shells took me by surprise as to how much recoil they put out. It's been a while since I fired off my Mossberg 590 so my memory may be skewed here but I thought recoil was similar when firing Federal 2 3/4" OO Buck. Then again, the Remington weighs 6 3/4 pounds while the Mossberg weighs in at 7 1/4 pounds (if both factory literature is correct) so I have no doubt that this is also a major factor in how much felt recoil is produced. I believe that if all things were equal between the guns, the 20 gauge would recoil less but since the 20 is a lighter gun, recoil is heavier but I'm still not sure it's as heavy as the 12 gauge. I got to work on Sunday so I'll probably bring both out and fire them side by side, both with their respective defensive loads and see which one tends to have more recoil. Sure there are other things like the type of recoil pad they use, barrel length (the 870 is an 18.5 and the 590 is a 20) for example that may also effect felt recoil but I still think it would be a good comparison.