Best 20ga. HD ammo

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

What do you think would be the best 20ga. HD ammo for my fiancé. She shoots target loads comfortably out of the 500 Bantam. Would like a 12ga but she prefers the 20. Any thoughts?

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2

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/958344/federal-premium-personal-defense-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-4-buckshot-shot-24-pellets-box-of-5

3

Any reason you picked this load?

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4

For me, #4 buckshot in the 20 gauge has consistently provided good patterns & penetration out of 18-20" guns. 24 decent sized pellets at good velocity.

5

I’d love to see a #1 buck FC load in 20 gauge.

6

I was looking for a #1 buck load. I wonder if there wouldn’t be enough shot in a 20ga to be as effective. I like #1 in my 12ga, but with her moving in, I like knowing she can shoot the 20ga if I’m not around.

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7

There is one company that loads a #1 buckshot load in the 20ga. I used to but don’t anymore.

http://www.custombuckshot.com/product.html

Few loads have a PDF of Brass Fetcher’s ballistic gel test.

8

Pretty sure #3 Buck is the largest you will find for a 20 ga. Any name brand should be fine so long as it proves reliable in her shotgun.

9

Federal loads #2 buckshot in a 3" shell and Federal, Remington and Winchester load #3 buckshot in a 2 3/4" shell.

Federal #2 buckshot 3" 20 gauge

18 pellets at 1200 fps

#3 buckshot 2 3/4" shell 20 gauge

20 pellets at 1200 fps

The 2 3/4 inch #3 buckshot loads have less recoil that the 3 inch #2 buckshot load.

10

Interesting. But what would make this load sparkle is a FC wad. I love the 12gauge FliteControl stuff, it tightens the patterns down considerably.

11

Buckshot loads from manuals patterned well enough in my 20ga for deer at 30y. Federal or Winchester 2.75" hull with a SP20 wad and 12 pellets of #1 buckshot @ 1275fps.

But yeah, a FC wad would be interesting for sure. I wish more companies would make their shotgun hulls available like new brass. I’d buy tens of thousands of Remington STS hulls if I could just buy them brand new.

12

Rio makes a #1 buck 20 ga load in a 25 round box-this is a relatively new round and I haven’t tried it yet and it is cheap.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/25rds-20-gauge-rio-royal-9-pellet-1-buckshot-ammo/cName/20-gauge-buckshot

Just a side note-my son has a “youth” 870 20 ga and it kicks MORE with the Remington #3 buck load than a low recoil 12 ga. out of a full sized 870. FYI

13

Light guns kick more for sure. I’ve owned a youth 20ga 870 before and it can be a nasty little bugger. I would like to get another one but swap the stock out for the normal length. That little 21" barrel would be a great grouse gun for where I hunt.

14

Have to try some hot loads with her for sure to see how she handles them. She is 5’2" so the LOP/feel on the Bantam was better for her. The 500 was my first gun. Dad gave it to me @ 11yr. old as a deer/turkey combo. I got good use out of it until i out grew the LOP.

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