Throughout our whole series of articles and videos on defensive shotguns that we ran back in 2015-16, there was very little mention of 20 gauge shotguns. We didn’t do this intentionally to discourage anyone from using a 20 gauge, or because we dislike it. As I’ll explain below, 20 gauge isn’t bad for personal protection, it’s just that life is generally much easier if you’re a 12 gauge owner. Details are in the video, or scroll down to read the full transcript.
It’s always been overshadowed by the more popular and more powerful 12 gauge, but there’s nothing wrong with relying on a 20 gauge shotgun to defend your home. At close range, 20 gauge buckshot is typically just as effective as 12 gauge, but it can have a lot less recoil. Less recoil usually leads to better shot placement, and for a lot of people, it also means they are more likely to practice. Normally, I’m a big fan of this kind of thing. If you can give up a small perceived ballistic advantage and in exchange, get the ability shoot the gun better, that’s a worthwhile trade-off. But even so, I don’t usually recommend a 20 gauge shotgun over a 12 gauge for home defense. And not because it isn’t powerful enough. It has a lot more to do with the lack of industry support for the 20 gauge. The shotguns you can buy today that are set up for self-defense are almost all based on shotguns used by law enforcement and the military. For the last century or more, almost 100% of their shotguns have been 12 gauge. So all of the firearm industry’s research and new technology for fighting shotguns has been devoted to the 12 gauge, not 20 gauge.
It’s not really all that popular in the general consumer market, either. Here at Lucky Gunner, we sell about 10 times more 12 gauge shells than 20 gauge. It might be the second most common size of shotgun shell, but it’s still not especially popular. So between that, and the lack of R&D, there’s really not much incentive for the gun and ammo companies to support 20 gauge. It’s primarily viewed as something for young hunters who need a shotgun with a little less weight and recoil than their dad’s. As a result, it’s kind of an uphill struggle to put together a 20 gauge shotgun that’s optimized for home defense. Ideally, you want a short 18-inch barrel that’s easier to maneuver inside. You want to be able to fit the shotgun to the individual shooter with different stocks and forends. And it’s nice to have access to options like light mounts, sights, extended mag tubes, and ammo carriers.
As far as commonly available 20 gauge shotguns that fit at least most of those criteria, you’re pretty much limited to the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500 pump actions. And at least right now, Remington isn’t actually making the 870 Tactical in 20 gauge. With either model, the variety and quality of available upgrades is nowhere close to what you would have with the 12 gauge version of those guns.
You can make it work, and you can get a pretty nice home defense 20 gauge setup if you put some effort into it, but there’s not much you can do about the lack of ammo selection. With 12 gauge, there are dozens of good options for ammo that’s specifically designed for personal protection ranging in sizes from #00 on down to #4 buckshot, and that includes plenty of low recoil loads.
For 20 gauge, there are really just a handful of options from the major ammo companies and they are almost all loads made with the smaller buckshot sizes like #2, 3, and 4. That might not be a big problem in itself, but if the reason you’re using a 20 gauge is to take advantage of reduced recoil, these buckshot loads don’t necessarily do that. 20 gauge shotguns tend to weigh a little bit less than a similarly equipped 12 gauge by about a pound or a pound and a half. These guns handle really well, and small statured shooters will appreciate the weight reduction during a long practice session. But less weight in the gun means you’re going to get an increase in felt recoil. So depending on what loads you’re using, you might actually experience more recoil from a 20 gauge than a 12 gauge.
For example, a few days ago, I went out to the range with a 20 gauge Mossberg Maverick 88 that I borrowed, and I also brought along my registered short barrel Remington 870 12 gauge. I went through a few of boxes of buckshot running some simple drills with both guns and I didn’t notice much difference at all in recoil. If anything, the 12 gauge shot a little softer. With the Mossberg, I was shooting the Federal Personal Defense 20 gauge load with 24 pellets of #4 buckshot and in the Remington, I was using some Fiocchi Law Enforcement Low Recoil #00 buckshot. All together, the 24 pellets in the Federal load weigh 1.14 ounces, and the advertised velocity is 1100 feet per second. The nine 00 pellets in the Fiocchi load weigh 1.11 ounces traveling at 1150 feet per second. The Mossberg weighs 5.56 pounds and my 870 is 7.1 pounds.
So we’ve got two loads that have very similar weight and velocity, but one is being fired from a gun that weighs about 20% less than the other. It doesn’t require any advanced math to see why I didn’t notice a reduction in recoil by shooting a 20 gauge in this particular case. And the Fiocchi buckshot is not an unusually light 00 load. You’ll find roughly the same velocity with a lot of the popular defensive buckshot like Federal Flite Control and Remington Reduced Recoil Law Enforcement. But for 20 gauge, low recoil buckshot loads are really tough to come by, if you can find them at all.
Those are some of the reasons why I typically suggest a 12 gauge with low recoil ammo rather than a 20 gauge for anyone who’s in the market for a home defense shotgun. And if you really want to cut down on recoil, take a look at a quality semi-auto 12 gauge like the Beretta 1301. If you’ve got a 20 gauge that you like and it’s working for you, I don’t think you need to change anything. 20 gauge has a lot of potential as a home defense solution, I think it’s probably just more trouble than it’s worth for most people.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a 20 gauge as a way to arm a spouse or a friend or someone you know who isn’t really a shooter, keep in mind that a pump action shotgun is not a very good novice weapon. It actually requires quite a bit of effort to be able to run one competently without having to think about it. As an alternative for a less dedicated shooter, you might want to consider something like a pistol caliber carbine, or maybe even a full size revolver — they need something with a simple manual of arms that’s easy to remember and not intimidating if they take it to the range. A pump-action shotgun, even a 20 gauge, is not any of those things. But whether you’re running a 20 or a 12, the best way to mitigate recoil is with proper shooting technique in conjunction with a very short stock. I’ve got a video about that called Taming the 12 Gauge, so check that out if you haven’t seen it. And if you would like to support our channel, the next time you need some ammo, be sure to get it from LuckyGunner.com.
I’ve got the 20 guage Remington Pump with a 20 inch barrel–damn good gun all the way around-I use it for ruff grouse-rats- and I keep it by the bed–try it aand you’ll like it!
With the introduction of the Shockwave and the Tac-14, I was reminded that the original Ithaca Auto Burglar and the original “whippets” of the 20s were in 20 gauge, and their only purpose was self-defense. When the Shockwave, etc., came out in 20-gauge versions, I thought they had found their natural home.
Yah, love the 20G as its good enough to deal with things needing dealt with. (pigeons mostly, occasional stray dog).
And you don’t need a ton of practice to get decent with it as a heavy wood stocked pump 20G kicks less than a break open .410. The noise and concussion of a 12G vs 20G in a semi-enclosed area is a pretty solid improvement.
In close quarters in a range of 20-30 feet, you have an individual threatening harm to you and your family. Do you really think a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge would do that much less damage? If that homeowner is a smaller individual-male or female and they feel more confidant using a 20 gauge versus a 12 gauge is this really worth debating?
I think you may have taken the video a bit differently than intended. Chris never questioned the effectiveness or validity of the 20 gauge. He did question the perceived recoil advantage, and rightly pointed out that there is less ammo selection available for the 20 gauge. That said, he also mentioned that there was no reason to switch away from a 20 gauge if that is what you have or prefer.
Personally, if 20 gauge offered more ammo options and more availability, I don’t know that I would own a 12 gauge. As it is, I like the simplified logistics of a 12 gauge, so that is what my primary shotgun is.
How about taking a look at the 20GA stroger over and under home defense.
nice for the wife, simple point and shoot.
Your point considering ammo for the 20 ga. is basically the most important consideration in choosing the weapon for self defense. The selection for 12ga. is large and the shelves are stocked. Not so much for 20ga. and that is how the market
works.
I converted my Son’s 870 20ga youth model to a defensive shotgun. 18.5″ vent ribbed barrel fitted with fiber optic sites, mag tube extender and adjustable KickLite pistol grip stock with side saddle shell carrier. It’s an outstanding PD weapon. Ammo of choice is 2/3″ #4 buck and 3″ rifled slugs.
Many years ago, an ex-gf (we parted as friends) moved out to the country and asked me about a home defense gun.
She was a med-tall slim blonde. Nice.
I looked at the local shops and found her a 20ga 3″ 870 small frame with an English grip stock and 26″ improved cylinder barrel.
We spent a week or so on the range, and she went home comfortable with her weapon. I had advised her that if she heard someone in yhe house, that she should blow up a piece of furniture she didn’t like, rack the slide, and scream for the intruder to get out.
3 months later, a guy broke in, she shot and screamed for him to get out, and having watched too much tv, he was arrested at the hospital getting 300+ stitches, having dived through a plate glass window on the way out. 🙂
John in Indy
Thanks again for the great common sense information.
Great points about the 20ga ammo. I also agree that the pump action is not a gun for a novice (although vastly better than nothing if it’s what you have). I think people who recommend them don’t realize how easy it is for a beginner or occasional user to short stoke the pump action and come up empty on a follow-up shot. In a defensive situation, it can get you killed.
I really have to chuckle when people seem to suggest in any way, shape, or form that the 20ga is barely adequate or just good enough. At short ranges, the foot pounds of energy coming from the 20ga is staggering. Nearly twice the energy of most defensive handgun calibers.
I’ve loved and have shot shotguns since I was about 10 years old. My first gun of my own was a mossberg 500 in 12 gauge that i got as a gift when i was 12. I’ve owned several other 12’s over the years, but these days I only buy and shoot 20 gauge- and it’s probably not for the reason most would think. The bulk ammo I shoot most of for clays and pest control costs exactly the same for 20 or 12, and i go through heavier loads much more slowly so cost isn’t the issue. Im a big guy and recoil/weight don’t bother me much. Buckshot or even heavier small game loads (#4) in a 20 will kill just about anything inside self defense distance, so the power doesn’t enter into it for me either. Nope, the reason I pick 20 over 12 every time is aesthetics. The 20 gauge, particularly in over-under and side-by-side configuration, just LOOKS so much better and more proportional. Slim and elegant. You just can’t do much better than an English stocked side by side in .62
On the occasion that I may be invaded by a nye of criminal pheasants, I should prefer my good ol’ Sweet 16 double (with double triggers, of course).
Ok I know this can be a touchy subject, but where do you come down on the Mossberg Shockwave? When they first came out I saw them as no more than a novelty/maybe a little dangerous even. I really couldn’t imagine what this thing would do that a stocked shotgun wouldn’t do better. However lately there are a lot of folks (a few who typically seem to know what they are talking about) that have made positive comments on the Shockwave.
I’m going to do a quick review on one sometime in the next few weeks. Short version is that I am inclined to agree with your first impression.
Hi,
I will be first time gun owner…. home defense and shtf purpose… will take classes and try to train but not an enthusiast. I was set on getting a Mossberg 500 20ga but am now leaning to a pistol caliber carbine or bullpub shotgun. I like the new Ruger PC Carbine, the CZScorpion pistol caliber carbine and the ISI Tavor 12….leaning to the Ruger.
i would appreciate thoughts…….. would you recommend the Mossberg or the PCC? If PCC, which one would you recommend?
If you see yourself only getting one gun, don’t beat yourself up
trying to find the perfect one. There isn’t a perfect gun. Look at what
you’d be using it for and what you will actually practice with. No gun
is going to be successfully employed if you don’t practice enough.
Practice, practice and practice. Then practice more till you become at
least semi-automatic in operating it.
The reason I keep my old Mossy pump as my bump-in-the-night backup to a Glock .45 is two fold. 1) Rain or shine or dirt or grime, it has always worked. Pump shotguns are not nearly as prone to failures from sitting around for years on end waiting to be used. 2) If I have time I’d choose the shotgun over the Glock because it is more potent. I keep the shotgun hammer down on empty chamber with no rounds in the mag tube to preserve the springs. I’m fairly competent at loading it quickly from side mount carriers.
The Glock is primary because it is quick to employ out of a quick access safe and easy to maneuver in the house. Plus, it has a great reputation for reliability.
Of those guns you mentioned, the Mossy is the most proven by a loooong shot. The Ruger is still too new for me to trust. Same goes for the Tavor shotty. The CZ is high in cool factor, but getting incidentals for it may be expensive and I don’t really know much about it.