20 gauge protection shotty for the Mrs

wannabe

wannabe

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We live in the yukon border country and have a healthy predator population. She has been using a 12 gauge but a 20 would be a bit nicer for her...slugs only so rifle type sights would be nice but not 100% required....there were a few mag fed 20s around a while ago but they seem to have dried up....we do have my son's youth model mossy 500 in 20 but that boots worse than an 870...just looking for input...btw, not interested in just swapping out with low recoiling 12g ammo since I have a bunch of 20 gauge slugs already....

thx
 
It hasn't arrived yet but my wife bought a youth Hatsan 20g semi from Kelly's Sporting Goods. Maybe reach out to them to see if they have any more on order. It took quite a bit of looking around till she found any semi 20g shotguns that will fit her. Almost every youth model was a pump and that would beat the heck out of her shoulder and eventually develop a flinch.
 
870 in 20 gauge was a beauty to plink with, just get a nice Limbsaver or whatever brand recoil pad.

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A case of low recoil 12Ga slugs costs less than $100
Pair that with a 18.5” or 21” Gucci M2 for an ultimate Ms/Mrs setup
 
I have a 10 yr old 20g semi made for Mossberg in Hungary ….forget the company .
I’ve shot untold rounds through it , it cost me about 350$ and has a plain Jane black stock and pistol grip so recoil is totally controllable and it’s a laser . I think its 18 inches barrel . It’s small , light and way too good a gun for so little money . Bought it at CT in Leduc back then .
I have 3 other shotguns all in 12 gauge that usually stay home but that cheap little thing always goes with me to the farm .
 
My wife likes her Dominion Arms Grizzly in 20ga, no issues with it at all.

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I will add a vote for the 20ga 870 youth model (bought in 2007 or so). Add a Limbsaver to it and it more than manageable. I remember using Winchester AA 7/8 oz loads and it was decent. As far as slugs, I shot a few slugs through my 870 and it wasn't too bad - but it was on a target shooting basis, and not predator control.

The Opsol adapters I think only work on 12ga Mossbergs at the moment (if I am wrong please correct me) - but I think OP wasn't looking for a low recoil solution for 12ga but more focused on 20ga. That being said, I am very recoil sensitive being a shorter statured person and between the Opsol adapter and some minishells, it is similar to my 20ga youth model 870, but it's been a long time since I shot the 870.
 
Another vote for the 20ga 870. It shoots much more comfortably than the Mossberg 510 - which is nice and compact and light but it packs a mighty recoil as a result when shooting slugs. The added bonus for the 870 is extendable magazine capacity. I use a choate +2 magazine extension on mine. It has a bead sight but the receiver is easily drilled & tapped for a red dot mount or you can do rifle sights on the rib.
 
I'd agree to stay away from the "Low-recoil" slugs - the point s/b Defense, Not 'light recoil'. Personally I wouldn't want the 20g, especially if you have grizzly or even large browns. If it's 'other predators' the 20 would be OK for me, but I already have a Hatsan 14"-12g pump and a 19" Daly semi 12g. I practice with 'low-recoil' but have 'Real Slugs' for when I go into the woods.
I feel that Swami has a point about using a semi because it's faster under stress to pull a trigger than to run a pump. And I run Limbsavers on all my shotguns. A 14" pump with full-power slugs will beat you up after a few tubes.

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If you're in bear country I would go 12 gauge. If you have to shoot at something nasty, guaranteed you won't even notice the recoil
 
perhaps your wife is a 300 pounder....mine not so much....

a good quality 20 gauge slug puts out 3/4 of an oz of lead and stirs up about 1800 foot pounds (think 308win)....

I have come to favor the 20-gauge over the 12-gauge for a number of reasons; It is light (about 7 pounds dry), the recoil with rifled slugs is easily managed, the muzzle flash is less, the muzzle blast sound level is less, and the wife will actually shoot it. When compared to a 12-gauge, the 20-gauge delivers 75% of the lead with a recoil that is 40-50% less. This is equivalent to the ballistic force of being hit with two .44 Magnum rounds simultaneously. In addition, the reduced recoil of the 20-gauge is conducive to accurate, rapid shots.

the above is a quote...
 
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Slugs weather 12 or 20 gauge are going to kick. A heavier steel receiver and good but pad. and or shock absorber stock. Are the only way to go a heavy payload takes a heavier powder charge to send it and to transfer that energy to the target. If you find slugs pricey load your own . Wax shells might be another option and can be easily tailored to your needs
 
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