I'm thinking of purchasing the Remington exp 20 gauge

See this recent thread for comments about 20g, among other things: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=163024

 

Yeah I started that thread.

 

Not trying to be critical but why don't you want a 12 gauge?

 

Don't know how I'd handle the recoil.

 

If you start out with light bird shot loads and get someone who knows what they're doing to show you how to hold it you should have no problems. There are very light loads available to get you started and to use for training and there are reduced recoil buckshot loads that seem to be very effective defensive loads. I think I mentioned in your other thread that there were very small women in the police academy with me that handled full power buckshot just fine out of a 12 gauge 870 once they were instructed on how to hold the thing. Do you know anyone that has a couple of different guns you could try out? If you're near Austin, TX you can come shoot my 12 gauge Mossberg. I would imagine you would not have any problems with it but I'll stop and get some Winlites to get you started anyway (50% of the recoil of regular shells).

The 20 gauge would probably be fine for home defense but the availability of a wider variety of loads for the 12 coupled with the bigger payload makes it my first choice (as if that's an original thought). I have a 20 gauge but I only use it for hunting birds and small game. I've never even bought any 20 gauge buckshot or slugs but I've looked at it and it is a whole lot easier to find a good 12 gauge load.

 

Would there be a decent way to add a tac light to this model?

 

Will, if you have a Gander Mtn. anywhere near you, they have three versions of an 18.5" VR /RemChoke barreled 20G Youth Jr. 870 Express.

One has pink laminated furniture and "Shoot like a Girl, If you Can" (lawyer proof ) engraved on the stock.

The second has blue laminated furniture, and "First in the Field" engraved on the stock.

The third option will be a normal (unengraved) laminated wood-stock.

All have the same basic specs:
http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... ess_jr.asp

I think these are the best thing going for "entry level" shotguns for kids, women, and/or anyone who might be recoil sensitive. 20g target loads are expensive, but the Youth Jr. models are based of a full sized 870 action, so practice with the gun shouldn't be painful. Federal's P256 Loading (20 pellets of #2 Bk @ 1175 FPS) should do just fine for HD.

Buy the gun, add an XS BigDot, a Vang safety, and you're GTG with a plain-jane defensive 20G for HD.

ETA: I agree with everyone else in principal about 12G, though. Wider variety of ammo, along with a HUGE selection in low-recoil HD options makes 12Guage super versitile. That said, the little 20's above do have less mass to swing around with enough weight to mitigate most of the bite from a light 20. They also come with a short LOP stock from the factory, which is another big plus in my book.

 

20g target loads are expensive,

For target/hunting loads (including Hevi Shot Classic Doubles) I pay the exact same price for 20 as I do for 12. It's the 16, 28 and .410 that are more expensive. It is usually harder to find a large selection of 20 gauge buckshot than 12 gauge and I have never even looked at 20 gauge buckshot prices.

 

sjohnny, I appreciate the gesture, but living in Maine would make it quite difficult to take you up on your offer. It would be a long trip to fire a shotgun, and seem pretty suspicious to the wife. With the 12 ga I'm worried about the recoil... I'm 5-7, 180ish but haven't fired one before. I'm going shooting with the 410 tomorrow, we'll see what that feels like. Would the difference between 20 and 12 really matter inside the home, or are you suggesting the 12 because of the wider array of options available for customization?

Where could you mount a product such as this on the gun?

http://www.popguns.com/shotgunaccessori ... 6laser.htm

 

I can some what understand your concern about recoil. But PLEASE do not believe what you see on TV. A 12g is a powerful gun, but it is not a Howitzer. I started out on a 12 at 12-13 yrs old. I weighed 115 soaking wet. Once I got over what I heard, the recoil was nothing for me to be concerned with.

Learn the proper technique and handling a 12 won't be a problem.

But if you want to go with a 20, go ahead. It's a whole lot better than a stick.

Mike

 

I am kind of with Sjohnny with the 12 gauge. I am fairly new to shotguns but bought a Benelli Nova pump 12 gauge for my then 14 year old son to try trap shooting with. His first shot was tentative, but managed to hit the bird and turned around and said "That wasn't bad" and went on to break about half of the birds in the round.

I have since bought an 870 / 28"barrel for myself to join my son on the trap line. I have added a second 18.5" barrel. I bought a youth stock so it would fit my 5'2" wife who had never shot a long gun before. First time to the range, I took some light trap loads, told her the gun would hold 4 shells and asked how many she wanted. She started with 2 shells, shot them timidly, then asked for 4 more, shot those along with another 4. I then asked her if she would like to try a full power buckshot load and she agreed. Shot one round, asked for 2 more, then 4 more then was done. I don't think she would enjoy shooting 25 or 50 rounds of full power loads, but it was obviously not overpowering for her.

I have no doubt that a 20 gauge would be effective as an HD gun, but I believe that the 12 gauge will have more accessories (barrel choices, Mag tube extensions stocks etc) than the 20 gauge as well as having better selection of ammo available. You can practice with low power trap loads, shoot a few full power loads to get used to them and if you really need to use the gun in a SD situation, you will probably not even notice the recoil.

 

Would the difference between 20 and 12 really matter inside the home,

Probably not very much but if I have to shoot someone I want every edge I can get, within reason. More pellets in the 12 gives a better chance of ending the fight right now.

or are you suggesting the 12 because of the wider array of options available for customization?

No, the wider array of available loads. My defense shotgun is the Mossberg 12 gauge I bought for bird hunting, I bought a shorter barrel for it, other than that it's in the same configuration I use it for birds. I'm planning on adding a sling (after my last deer hunting trip every long gun I carry is getting a sling) but that's it. There are generally more accessories available for 12 gauge but a light and a sling is all you need.

ETA: There's bound to be someone/somewhere near you where you can go try out some different stuff. Check around before you drop any more cash.

 

As someone who owns a 870 express magnum 20ga youth model from '06 that my father got for me to shoot when I was 16. I can definitely tell you that I hope you went with a 12ga. My dad didn't know the biggest gun I'd fired was a 30.06 rifle before he got it for me and was worried about recoil for me. Now I never got another gun and still have this 20 I do appreciate it more for sporting because I can shoot 200 game loads before my shoulder is a bit sore as opposed to about half of that with experience shooting other people's 12s, I am struggling to find reliable parts in this year 2024 for it to make it more practical for HD. There are options but they are either sketchy or expensive and come and go.