What is the Use?

[Richard Erichsen]

Where can you get 00 buck for a 20??#2 buck in 3inch #3 buck 2 3/4 is all I can find.The 20 ga is best for me because anyone in the family can shoot it and has 3/4 of the power and 1/2 the recoil of a 12ga.

It's not that common with so much focus on the bigger 12 gauge brother, but you can find 20 gauge 00 buckshot online and at some larger stores. Until a few years ago, 20 gauge was an upland game gauge and all the shells focused on that.

R

[Richard Erichsen]

Since we are talking about too small of shotguns, let me throw this out.

I was at Bass Pro Shops last weekend and they had an over under Stoeger in 20 gauge. The same sized Stoeger (OAL) also comes in a .410 as well. After looking it up, it was actually a youth model 20 they had in the store. It was almost the same length as the 12 gauge coach gun they had.

I thought it was cool as hell for a cheapy over under and the compact size was kinda cool.

Question is, how lame would it be for a grown man to buy and use a youth sized shotgun for informal plinking and maybe small birds if was needed for that? I don't have any use for a .410 or a over under but wanted a over under and a 410 anyway and the over under .410 kills two birds with one stone (shotgun).

That's just packaging of a weapon to try to get more sales from an under represented part of the buying public. The only real difference in a lot of "youth" models is the smaller gauge, not the stocks or anything else that might matter for comfortable shooting. It's not like it has "I'm a youth model" engraved in the barrels, painted bright pink with big girly flowers throughout. I say go for it.

R

[Mesa Tactical]

That's just packaging of a weapon to try to get more sales from an under represented part of the buying public. The only real difference in a lot of "youth" models is the smaller gauge, not the stocks or anything else that might matter for comfortable shooting. It's not like it has "I'm a youth model" engraved in the barrels, painted bright pink with big girly flowers throughout. I say go for it.

I am pretty sure that the Speedfeed "youth" shotgun stock I bought a few years ago is now called a "tactical" stock because of the shorter length of pull.

[DaveInOroValley]

Last month's issue of the American Rifleman had a good article in regards to what the .410 was very good at accomplishing.

[jamespres2001]

I have some friends at Sunnyvale R & G that shoot trap with a .410. If you reload, the cost per round is cheep. They sometimes even have a .410 division in tournaments. Shooting a .410 is very light and a perfect starter shotgun, light low recoil and so on. P.S. I don't own one.

[coyotebait]

Most folks can't shoot that well,which is one of the reasons everytime a discussion on a shotgun for {Insert reason here} is started the "12 gauge only" crowd pops up.

Kind of a bold statement there champ, got a link to some data to back that up? The only reason I got rid of my .410 is because it was a pain to find the ammo I wanted and when I did, it was twice as much as 20 and 12.

[bohoki]

taking small game without blasting all the meat. believe it or not back in the day people ate wild rabbit and squirrel and didnt want to destroy the animal. not every critter requires an ounce of shot to bring down.

for small critters i would use a 22

[PEZHEAD265]

I have some friends at Sunnyvale R & G that shoot trap with a .410. If you reload, the cost per round is cheep. They sometimes even have a .410 division in tournaments. Shooting a .410 is very light and a perfect starter shotgun, light low recoil and so on. P.S. I don't own one.

The 410 is not the perfect starter gun.It might have a low recoil but it doesn't have the power .spread and the range of other shotguns and it might discourage and frustrate a new shooter because of that.The 410 is better in the hands of a experienced shooter.

[Pfletch83]

But that low recoil has an added benifit in a defensive shotgun with #4 buck and '000' buck pellets,as well as slugs.

Granted the right choke is used.

[sargenv]

Eh.. 12 is pretty good all around.. if you really want to have some fun.. try a 10..

[Pfletch83]

Well I am thinking about picking up an H&R 10 gauge to have cutdown and squared up to 18.5,have the front bead reset,then working up some 3-1/2 inch #4 buck loads.

Something I call Project Codename : Overlord.

[sargenv]

yee-owch! Why would you want the 10 in such a light gun? It's akin to a scandium framed 44 magnum firing 300 gr max loads?

I'm happy to fire my 10.. but the gun weighs 11#.. it has less recoil than a 3.5" 12 like the Super Black Eagle II..

[Richard Erichsen]

Well I am thinking about picking up an H&R 10 gauge to have cutdown and squared up to 18.5,have the front bead reset,then working up some 3-1/2 inch #4 buck loads.

Something I call Project Codename : Overlord.

If that's for HD use against human threats, it's wrongheaded if you ask me. If it's for bear defense, one scenario I can see slugs actually making good sense, post your details when your done.

R

[Pfletch83]

If that's for HD use against human threats, it's wrongheaded if you ask me. If it's for bear defense, one scenario I can see slugs actually making good sense, post your details when your done.

R

What would be so wrong about a 10 gauge with #4 buck for defensive use against two legged threats?

[Pfletch83]

yee-owch! Why would you want the 10 in such a light gun? It's akin to a scandium framed 44 magnum firing 300 gr max loads?

I'm happy to fire my 10.. but the gun weighs 11#.. it has less recoil than a 3.5" 12 like the Super Black Eagle II..

Because Browning stopped making their 10 gauge pumps....and 10 gauge doubles cost an arm and a leg.