Thread: help me get my Home Defense /Competiton 20ga right?!

So I think she could handle 20 ga, mid-length, mid-heavy wt frame. This post has been edited by nkotb : Yesterday, 12:56 PM

QUOTE (nkotb @ Sep 8 2009, 10:17 AM) which brings me back to the 11-87 Sporting Youth in 20. Are there any off-setting concerns I should know about ... The 1187 Youth Sportsman has a plastic trigger assembly where an older "wingmaster" 1100 20 is metal. The metal finish on the Sportsman line sucks. Its like a fake parkerized finish. I think its just blued over a rough beadblasted metal if I'm not...

Really need to know how much gun your wife can handle to make a good decision. Some of these guns being mentioned are to heavy for some women to readily handle. The fit of the shotgun (LOP, weight, balance) are the keys to fitting a shotgun for females as a rule.

QUOTE (nkotb @ Sep 8 2009, 12:55 PM) Thanks Kelly. Well said. Let me also add for the contributors, Please know that I am not so obtuse that I would not consider real mechanical or market advantages of one brand/model/set-up over another and then change my mind based on rational differences in mechanics, physics, durability or market availability of components. I am however, not apt to follow the herd blindly. I'd like...

20ga vs 12ga.......been gone over before, many times. Many reasons why the 20ga isn't used much 1) no equipment made to support the 20ga. 2) guys have big hands...hard to load the 20ga 3) not as much knockdown as the 12ga 4) no one uses them, why should I In answer to the above: 1) There is lots of stuff made for the 20ga (especially extension tubes), and alot of the stuff made for 12ga can be used with the 20ga. (shell holders, bolt...

Fix your criteria.. one gun might not be the fix for all things. I know $$$$ does not grow on trees. 12Ga is the way to go. Cost of ammo. Types and availability of ammo. 20 Ga may be fast but, less shot,, less knock-down on plates. = more time shooting, more shots. Benelli is a good way to go. Mossberg 930 SPX, and the FN, are all good. For home, a Rem 870 in 20GA, might do the trick for smaller family...

While its true there are more people shooting 12 than 20, the manual of arms of the 1187 20 is pretty much the same as the 12 only smaller. If someone can help fix a 12, they should be able to figure out the 20. I believe the same is true with a 20 ga M2 vs a 12 ga M2 (same manual of arms). Parts are another issue. But for the low price that I bought my 1187 for, I could buy another identical gun as a backup and still have a fairly low...

The first 1100s in 20 guage were actually 12s that were modified to fire 20s. If you can find one of these, you have the weight of the 12 to absorb the recoil of the 20 and all of the 12 guage accessories fit. Since they are so old now, you might search some pawn shops and find a deal.

I know you are trying to serve 2 purposes here by defending your home and playing 3 gun but you really need to look at what purpose the gun will serve most of the time. I would guess that as a home defense gun chances are you will do nothing but practice for the intended purpose (if you even do that) and never have to use the gun for its intended purpose which is a home invasion. If your wife ever has to shoot the gun at an intruder the...

God forbid that your wife would have to use it for home defense but if she did a prosecutor would treat your purpose built 3 gun shotgun the same way as Winchester's Black Talon's were treated before they were replaced with LE only Ranger's. Do both of you a favor and buy a gun to fit her and a different one for you to play with.