Not to mention you’ll be more confident which leads to a more enjoyable time shooting. Either the 12-gauge or the 20-gauge can give you outstanding performance in the field. Federal Target Load, 12 Gauge Shell, 2-3/4 Inch, 1145 Velocity, 8 Shot, fired from 25 feet. Performance can be iffy and you could get yourself in a legal bind if you are using some esoteric load and shoot someone with it. (A 20-gauge shot can deliver over twice as much energy as a .44 Remington Magnum, so lack of power is. © Copyright Ammotogo.com 2021 All Rights Reserved. 4 buckshot load holding 27 pellets, launched at 1,100 to 1,200 fps. Using the 20 gauge can have a lot less recoil than the 12 gauge. Light/smaller framed 20 gauge shotguns will have more felt recoil (with heavy loads) than 12 gauge guns with standard or light loads designed for reduced recoil. While the 20-gauge is certainly a great all-around gun, most would agree that the 12-gauge is the more versatile of the two. The others get a bit funky. Let your fellow shooters know – share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. With a four gauge, you only get four balls from a pound. It’s obvious both calibers have a loyal fanbase all over the country. Where I Can Get Online Clearance Deals on 20 Gauge Tactical Shotgun Mossberg And 12 Vs 20 Gauge Shotgun Home Defense Save More! Shotguns became a popular tool in bird hunting, and found use among guards and law enforcement; it wasn’t until later in the 19th century that they started to become useful in. Shorter barreled (18"-20") shotguns that are ideal for home defense are usually 12 gauge shotguns. If you wan to know more about shotguns, check out the Home Defense Shotgun Guide. By “spread,” we are referring to the width, height, and length (commonly called the “string”) of the pellets fired from the shell. For a very weak person, this might be a good compromise. Common guns could no longer shoot both shot and bullets. Well, each load from 7 1/2 shot on the left to even the mighty shotgun slug on the right has a purpose in home defense. Comparisons for rifle or handgun cartridges have a generally-universal set of characteristics to compare; yes, there are variables, but not as many. Also, most ammo manufacturers have twice or three-times as many 12-gauge options than 20-gauge choices. f you want a versatile hunting firearm, with practically unlimited ammunition choices, the 12-gauge will suit you well. The most popular shotgun caliber, by far, is the 12-gauge. It’s also important to note that all 20-gauge shells, by mandate, are yellow. You can also scale down the 12-gauge with shorter, smaller ammunition, allowing you to pursue smaller game. Versatility Winner: 12-gauge (Slight advantage). To cap it all off, shotshells come in different lengths with three common sizes – 2 3/4″, 3″, and 3 1/2″. However, many of us rely on shotguns for home defense and many others are passionate about shotgun shooting sports like trap and skeet. Winchester Super Target, 20 Gauge Round, 2-3/4 Inch, 1200 Velocity, 8 Shot fired at 25 feet. Where I Can Get Online Clearance Deals on 20 Gauge … Shotgun sizes have always been measured in a way that confuses most everybody. Assembled at FNs Viana plant in Portugal, this compact 12-gauge shotgun perfect for home defense. When you compare the photos above, it’s clear there are more pellets on target and it’s a much more dense pattern for the 12 gauge. .410 is a bit weaker than the 20 gauge. As you might assume, the recoil from the smaller 20-gauge is easier and more manageable. This is a precaution against loading 20-gauge shells into a 12-gauge shotgun. However, if a wide (while still effective) spread is important, a 12-gauge gives you better results. It also saw service in the tight jungle combat of World War II’s Pacific Theater. Many people described the recoil as half of that of a 12 gauge. Let us know in the comments what gauge you use for home defense. This is from where you could buy lead in one pound blocks to make your own ammo. In this video, I put the 12 gauge and the 20 gauge up against each other and compare a few different loads against meat & bone. Much better for a home defense gun is a 20 gauge. In the early days of firearms, almost all guns could fire both solid-piece single projectiles (bullets or “balls”) as well as “shot,” which in many cases could be just about any hard, solid object that could be crammed down the barrel. More often than not, that gun is a Remington Model 870, the 60-year-old 12-gauge shotgun that has been the mainstay of police forces for decades. The same is true for slug shells we referenced earlier; despite throwing a lighter slug, the 20-gauge has more drop than the 12-gauge. However, if you want a smaller firearm for small game or youth hunters or trap shooters, the 20-gauge may be your best option. If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed calibers, or if you’re simply new to firearms, it helps to quickly review how gauges are determined and why a smaller number means a bigger shell. Normal home defense loads are buckshot, birdshot and slug. I recommend you stay with buck, bird or slug. The 20 gauge with #13 shot throws out 10.30 caliber pellets versus a 12 gauge with 00 buckshot with 8 pellets of.33 caliber. It’s going to take a really large barrel to handle pellets that big. You also have the range required to make longer shots on fowl such as geese and migrating ducks. If you take anything from this brief discussion, take this – it doesn’t matter how powerful a gun is if you can’t hit your target repeatedly with it under stress conditions. But of course this gun and load would likely be impractical for home defense. (Because, quite frankly, they are all versatile.). The 12-gauge load most often recommended for home defense is the standard 2 ¾-inch No. It's a very effective close-range load. But in … When it comes to overall power, including velocity and energy, the 12-gauge wins virtually any fair comparison. In a 12-gauge, which has a diameter of .729 inches, it would take a dozen .729-diameter balls to reach a pound. For this reason, you will see that all 20-gauge shells, regardless of the load, will be yellow. 12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge: Our Take on the Great Shotgun Debate Shotguns became a popular tool in bird hunting, and found use among guards and law enforcement; it wasn’t until later in the 19th century that they started to become useful in  the military. Experienced shooters, children, and some smaller individuals may find that the 20-gauge is easier to handle. (Because, quite frankly, they are, Either the 12-gauge or the 20-gauge can give you outstanding performance in the field. When comparing shotguns and shotgun ammunition, few topics are as complex as 12 gauge vs. 20 gauge. With a 12-gauge shotgun, you can do a wide range of activities, especially given the choke options that are available with today’s firearms. At close range ideal for home defense the 20 gauge is just as effective as the 12 gauge. hallowellco.com. 20 Gauge Tactical Shotgun Mossberg And 12 Vs 20 Gauge Shotgun Home Defense Reviews : Best Price!! It is way to much of a gun to expect anyone to use for home defense. Have thoughts on this great caliber debate? Today, shotguns are largely a specialty weapon among the military. You would think that the “12” in a 12-gauge shotgun means some sort of measurement. Federal’s 3rd Degree turkey loads in 12-gauge and 20-gauge have similar results. In other words, if you want the lightest recoiling gun possible, shoot the lightest load in the heaviest gun possible. The 20 gauge shotgun is a popular choice for small game hunters and sports shooters. It actually has a .41-inch barrel diameter. We’d love to hear them in the comments below! The bigger barrel and corresponding powder load will put a lot of people on their butts after the first shot. The 12 gauge has a lot of the problems of the 10 gauge. It is simply the best known and therefore the most sold. You can easily take off the 10 gauge off your list for a home defense gun. Because of that increased range, hunters can place shots with confidence on geese and ducks that may be out of range for users of a 20-gauge shotgun. However, if you want a smaller firearm for small game or youth hunters or trap shooters, the 20-gauge may be your best option. The smaller the gauge number, the wider the barrel to handle those big balls. You would think that because 20-gauge ammunition has less material, it would be cheaper, but this is not necessarily the case. With a 12-gauge shotgun you can have more power for sports like deer and turkey. Hunters and trap shooters understand that the lower the number, the larger the caliber in a gauge-designated shotgun. The 12-gauge has a muzzle velocity of 1,250 feet per second, while the 20 has only 1,100 feet per second. Now if you ask the owners why, most will not be able to tell you why they chose 12 gauge. If you want a versatile hunting firearm, with practically unlimited ammunition choices, the 12-gauge will suit you well. This gives you 20% more pellets at only 10% less density at 50% of the recoil. The gauge told you how many rounds you could make for the gun from 1 pound of lead. When compared to my 12-gauge, the 20-gauge delivers 75% … While the 20-gauge is undoubtably a versatile load, we think the 12-gauge has a slight edge. Frankly, both are formidable home-defense tools. “Versatility” is a tough characteristic to determine in any firearms comparison, but in a shotgun it can be almost impossible. Their most common purpose is a hunting tool. So, in the 12 gauge vs. 20 gauge debate, if you’re a younger shooter the recoil advantage might be enough to have you leaning toward the smaller shotgun. Many experts say that a 20-gauge shotgun is a better beginner’s gun because it also has relatively gentle recoil but fires more shot per shell than the smaller-diameter .410-caliber. Because the 12-gauge, in general, is faster in exit velocity than the 20-gauge, it will also have a better effective range. Gauge in determined by the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that it would take to weigh one pound. It has an overall length of 39 inches and a weight of 7.5 pounds. 20 Gauge Tactical Shotgun Mossberg And 12 Vs 20 Gauge Shotgun Home Defense Reviews : Best Price!! The one exception to all is this is the 41o. But the 20-gauge, which is smaller and lighter, certainly has its uses among hunters and people concerned with home-defense. The 12-gauge is simply too large for the 20-gauge to stand a chance in this area, as the 12-gauge delivers more speed and power to the target. For example, the Federal Premium’s 2.75-inch shells loaded with sabot slugs in 12-gauge and 20-gauge have noticeable differences in ballistics. FMJ Ammo. Frankly, both are formidable home-defense tools. Otherwise there is no reason not to go with the 20 gauge and get the fuller pattern that comes with it. Each pellet is.24-caliber, weighing approximately 20 grains. Which translate to better shot placement and this will usually encourage people to shoot with it more. At close range, 20 gauge buckshot is typically just as effective as 12 gauge, … The largest shotgun is a 4-gauge. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. Copyright © 2021 | Privacy and Disclosure | Curation Policy | DMCA Policy. Their most common purpose is a hunting tool. As rifling was developed and the bores of long guns became smaller, the shotgun became its own separate entity. And, if you shoot an ultralight 20-gauge, for example, with a heavy load, you could actually receive more recoil than the heavier 12-gauge gun. Today, shotguns are largely a specialty weapon among the military. With shotgun ammunition, you have slugs, shot size, shell length, and other variables that add complexities to an already complex subject. In most cases, you will find that 12-gauge shotguns have a wider and more dense spread, although this is heavily dependent on the choke you are using. The 12-gauge has a muzzle velocity of 1,500 feet per second and energy of 2,189 foot-pounds, while the 20-gauge has 1,450 feet per second and energy of 1,787 foot-pounds. (A 20-gauge shot can deliver over twice as much energy as a .44 Remington Magnum, so lack of power is not a concern.). However, many of us rely on shotguns for home defense and many others are passionate about, 12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge Performance Comparison, For example, the Federal Premium’s 2.75-inch shells loaded with sabot slugs in, “Versatility” is a tough characteristic to determine in any firearms comparison, but in a shotgun it can be almost impossible. In most stores, you will find that 12-gauge ammunition is just as affordable as 20-gauge; if there’s a difference, it’s slight at best. Below are Remington 12-gauge shotgun shells opened up for you to see the actual payload. Although they were used by both sides during the Civil War, the shotgun became especially useful in the trench warfare of World War I. Instead”12-gauge” means you can make 12 lead balls, each of equal diameter to the gun barrel, out of 1 pound of lead. 20 gauge shotgun shells are always yellow in color. On top of the gauge you have different loads. Despite the complexities, you can make fair comparisons between 12-gauge and 20-gauge calibers and ammo. 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. Many if not most of the home defense shotguns you find will be 12 gauge. When seconds count and the police are minutes away. This should allow you to make a clear decision on your firearm choice. Compact, controllable, effective, and fairly inexpensive, the 500 is a great out-of-the-box option for people looking for a gun with optimal bite with out all that uncontrollable bark.We reviewed this gun more than a year ago, and as part of a long-term study on this exact topic, I’ve been wor… The Remington 870 shotgun chambered in 12 gauge, is a popular choice for hunters and sports shooters. The 12 gauge can be brutal to shoot for a grown man, not to mention a smaller woman or a teen in the house. Basically, smaller gauges (like 20 gauge) are mostly limited to longer barreled hunting shotguns for young shooters. The 20-gauge also has plenty of stopping power. Looking at the limited options on the market, I went with the clear winner–the Mossberg 500 tactical 20 gauge. Impressive, right? If this happens and a 12-gauge shell is loaded behind the 20-gauge, it can cause both shells to fire, leading to serious injury. Federal’s 3rd Degree turkey loads in 12-gauge and 20-gauge have similar results. If you plan to use it, think about taking up a position with butt of the shotgun against a wall for bracing. The 12-gauge has a muzzle velocity of 1,500 feet per second and energy of 2,189 foot-pounds, while the 20-gauge has 1,450 feet per second and energy of 1,787 foot-pounds. At least in theory, if you find the gun easier to handle your accuracy will be better. 50rds - 9mm Federal American Eagle 115gr. 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Gauge … hallowellco.com – share this article using the 20 gauge with # 13 shot throws out caliber... And hunting community will be because the 12-gauge or the 20-gauge, which smaller! Loyal fanbase all over the country longer barreled hunting shotguns for home defense easier and more manageable a gauge... Take 20 gauge vs 12 gauge home defense the 10 gauge barrel and corresponding powder load will put lot! Out the home defense loads are buckshot, birdshot and slug in one pound when seconds count the. Is faster in exit velocity than the 20 gauge a popular choice for small game hunters and trap shooters that... Encourage people to shoot with it more take off the 10 gauge off your for! Hunting firearm, with practically unlimited ammunition choices, the larger the caliber in a gauge-designated shotgun 1200! 1,250 feet per second ’ d love to hear them in the heaviest gun possible shoot... To handle pellets that big a muzzle velocity of 1,250 feet per second, while 20. 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