20 gauge for Home Defence???
- Thread starter igojuone
- Start date
Only way they'll find out, is if you diall 911.... 
You're not allowed to use guns for home defence in Canada
But really, I've found very little difference between a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge recoil wise... Maybe because I'm a bigger guy.... I'm all for either one.... But the 12 gauge is definitely my choice... although even a .22LR gets ones point across in a personal defence emergency loud and clear, only down side to a rifle is the effective range is too dangerous if you do find yourself in that situation...
Thanks everyone, I'll see what kind of kick the 20 gauge has and after some use maybe she'll step up to the 12 gauge. I do like the idea of a pump or semi-auto rather then the double barrel but I just need to get her practicing first and I thought the SxS would be easier to start, for her at least.
I'll get out and buy a couple of boxes of ammo and see what she thinks on her days off.
I'll get out and buy a couple of boxes of ammo and see what she thinks on her days off.
There's also the option of buying low brass, 12 gauge, 2.75", 00 buck. The versatility and variety of loads in 12 gauge, is still broader than that of 20 gauge, though the gap has narrowed quite a bit. Personally, while I have nothing against 20 gauge, I feel that it should only be taken into consideration once 12 gauge has been completely ruled out as an option, based on you and your family's needs and capabilities.
Don't waste bacon
A 20 gauge slug "hits" something like 4-times a .45 ACP's impact......
Birdshot is probably a lot less recommended....
I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not?!!
In case you aren't...birdshot is actually the way to go with a shotgun when it comes to self defense in "across the room" situations. Shot sizes smaller than #6 will stop an intruder in his/her tracks. You will still get a complete pass thru of the majority of the shot/pellets but in the event it makes it thru the walls it is much less likely to harm your loved ones in the next room over compared to larger shot sizes, buckshot and slugs.
As for the legalities of using a firearm for self defense in Canada...a law enforcement officer once told me: "It's better to be alive and in jail than dead and 6 feet under...and make sure the intruder is dead...dead people can't testify in the event of a trial!!!"
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On the extreme end the soft lead foster slugs like the 20g winchester rackmasters will blow through trees as thick as my leg, leaving massive exit holes.
I assume the 20g Challenger slugs or Brennekes would be even more devastating.
If the gun isn't difficult to break open/close, then the biggest issue is your wife practicing often enough that she can handle/load/shoot the gun without having to think about it.
Luckily my wife's 20g 870 was slick from the factory. Once lubed and broken in it became a joke to load and shoot, super-slick and runs like clockwork.
I assume the 20g Challenger slugs or Brennekes would be even more devastating.
If the gun isn't difficult to break open/close, then the biggest issue is your wife practicing often enough that she can handle/load/shoot the gun without having to think about it.
Luckily my wife's 20g 870 was slick from the factory. Once lubed and broken in it became a joke to load and shoot, super-slick and runs like clockwork.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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You can go very wrong with one of those. They're cheap for a reason ~ They're poorly manufactured. Run it through the ringer.
ham and plywood defense, thats a new one. FWIW ballistic testing proves birdshot is not very effective for stopping people. #4 buck is pretty bare minimum, 00 will have less recoil. Though home defense with a gun is illegal in Canada, my choice would be low recoil 00 buck 12 ga. 8 pellets of 00 is about an ounce, driving it to light field velocities in the 1000 to 1100 fps range will have more than manageable recoil for even a small woman and is proven to penetrate very well. In fact low recoil buck doesnt penetrate much less than magnum loads and patterns are tighter. Im not saying birdshot couldnt work but its performance isnt consistent enough to be a solid choice for me. We've all heard stories of hyped up aggressors needing an uncomfortable amount of shots to go down, and we all know how devastating buckshot is on unarmored people. If your wife is alone, dont you want to give her the best fight possible? If it comes down to hand to hand she is at a disadvantage. If she puts him down with a single round, its over. Just my 2 cents.
