Federal PD2564B 20 Ga. #4 Buck

[Drang]

Does this load have a Flite Control wad? Do any 20 gauge loads?

HH6 surprised an intruder on the back porch a little while ago, and chased him away, but I think I've finally convinced her she needs to consider a long gun for home defense. (I may even get her to learn the manual of arms for an AR...)

(I work graveyard shift, and probably will be for the foreseeable future.)

[txdpd]

No. Yes in some hunting loads with birdshot.

You probably don't need a flitecontrol wad to shoot critters on your porch. You'll probably need hardened lead pellets that can punch deep and not one's that are advertised as being made from soft lead to limit penetration. Good #4 is pretty lame on it's own, no reason to make it worse.

I know it wasn't solicited. The 8 pellet 00 LE loads from Hornandy or Federal will have about the same recoil as most commercial 20 gauge loads, similar payload weights and velocity, but the 00 will have better terminal performance and come in shells with solid brass heads. Unless the physical size of the shotgun is an issue, 12 is a better choice.

[ranger]

I travel a lot, we live in rural suburbia NW of Atlanta. We have a few copperheads and coyotes around. My HH6 has a Mossberg SA20 20 gauge auto with a light for evening Daschunds patrol - first round is a heavy Sporting Clays #7.5 for snakes and rest are #1 Buck. Has not needed yet but I think she is prepared. I have two similar 12 gauge shotguns (Remington 1100 and Stoeger 3000) but the SA20 is a better size and weight.

[HCM]

So... I’m confused, was the “intruder” a human or a critter ?

[Drang]

So... I’m confused, was the “intruder” a human or a critter ?

White, male, 30-ish, no shirt, said his name was Jeff, or she said she thought that's what he said, as he fled.

The Mossberg is too long and heavy for her to handle comfortably. Until I can get her some range time with the AR, her old Rossi Coach Gun will do for HD long gun duties. (She was seriously interested in CAS at one time.)

Finally got in to Federal's web site -- work blocks that, but not PF, or Ammoseek -- and there are apparently no 20 gauge loads w/Flitecontrol wads. Ditto Hornaday and Titewad, I mean, Versatite wads.

[HCM]

White, male, 30-ish, no shirt, said his name was Jeff, or she said she thought that's what he said, as he fled.

The Mossberg is too long and heavy for her to handle comfortably. Until I can get her some range time with the AR, her old Rossi Coach Gun will do for HD long gun duties. (She was seriously interested in CAS at one time.)

Finally got in to Federal's web site -- work blocks that, but not PF, or Ammoseek -- and there are apparently no 20 gauge loads w/Flitecontrol wads. Ditto Hornaday and Titewad, I mean, Versatite wads.

That's what I thought from the OP.

Assuming she already has the 20 gauge coach gun. I would look for 20 gauge 00 or #1 buck. Flute control is great in LE duty guns but Steve Fisher makes a compelling argumnt for regular 00 loads for in the house or on the porch distances. At those close distances, flite control is too tight and negates some of the advantage of the shotgun, its pattern.

Try a couple different 00 and #1 loads and go with what patterns well in the gun.

Longer term, 20 gauge standard loads kick as much or more than low recoil 12 gauge loads and there are more choices in low recoil 12 gauge defense loads than 20 gauge defense loads.

[03RN]

Does Rossi make a sxs?

Any ways. https://www.targetsportsusa.com/remington-express-20-gauge-ammo-2-34-3-buckshot-20-pellets-20630-p-3168.aspx
Or
https://www.sgammo.com/product/20-gauge-ammo/250-round-case-20-gauge-number-1-buckshot-ammo-spartan-ammunition

I'm comfortable with the top #3 buck load. I've killed a few deer at 50 yards with #4 buck with great results. I know it's not historicaly accepted as good enough d/t inconsistent penatration. The #1 buck shot should do the trick as well.

I would pattern each barrel at 25 yards with each choke. I've always had erratic fliers with full choke but modified seems to be ok. I'm guessing you might need to buy another modified choke tube as well.

You said it's her gun? Have her pattern it. Let her see the limitations. I love sxs shotguns but it's even more limited than a pump or semi. It will do untill you find something else though.

[peterb]

I can say that 20 gauge 3” buckshot in a youth Mossberg 500 is well into my No Fun Zone. I suspect the coach gun would be similar. 2 3/4” buck should be fine. Consider an aftermarket recoil pad(the stock pad on the 500 was a brick) and a comb pad.

A 12 gauge 500 with reduced-recoil buck is much more comfortable to shoot, but the gun is just too big for my wife and her small hands. A properly sized 20-gauge gas semi would probably be the best shotgun choice for her, or a small PCC on the rifle side.

The SA-20 Youth looks interesting. The extra weight of the wood-stocked version would be more comfortable to shoot.
http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/sa-20/

There is 20” version with rails but the stock design looks terrible. Swapping on a standard youth buttstock might be the best setup.

[Drang]

Assuming she already has the 20 gauge coach gun. I would look for 20 gauge 00 or #1 buck. Flite control is great in LE duty guns...
No Flite Control in 20 gauge. And the gun is choked less than ideally for FC anyway.


Does Rossi make a sxs?
...
You said it's her gun? Have her pattern it. Let her see the limitations. I love sxs shotguns but it's even more limited than a pump or semi. It will do untill you find something else though.

They used to. Nowadays the niche is filled by Stoeger and Turkish or Chinese imports. (I'm sure the Stoeger is one or the other...)

She wanted the thing when she was thinking about Cowboy Action Shooting, or, as she likes to call it, dress-up with guns. Then Life Happened and she lost interest, but she had the scattergun...

I need to replace the front sight bead, I get so obsessed with "what is the correct thread" that I can't/won't just order two or three brass beads and see which one fits.


There is (Mossberg International SA-20) version with rails but the stock design looks terrible. Swapping on a standard youth buttstock might be the best setup.

I was looking at those, and that was my thought exactly. Although by the standards of P-F.com those guns are less than ideal, i.e., probably wouldn't stand up to a several-hundred round count class... :rolleyes:.
She has had little interest in long guns until now, which is why I never got her her own AR, or shotgun, or replaced that front sight bead on the coach gun.

[HCM]

No Flite Control in 20 gauge. And the gun is choked less than ideally for FC anyway.



They used to. Nowadays the niche is filled by Stoeger and Turkish or Chinese imports. (I'm sure the Stoeger is one or the other...)

She wanted the thing when she was thinking about Cowboy Action Shooting, or, as she likes to call it, dress-up with guns. Then Life Happened and she lost interest, but she had the scattergun...

I need to replace the front sight bead, I get so obsessed with "what is the correct thread" that I can't/won't just order two or three brass beads and see which one fits.



I was looking at those, and that was my thought exactly. Although by the standards of P-F.com those guns are less than ideal, i.e., probably wouldn't stand up to a several-hundred round count class... :rolleyes:.
She has had little interest in long guns until now, which is why I never got her her own AR, or shotgun, or replaced that front sight bead on the coach gun.

If the youth stock is availible separately, the turkey model might be a good choice with an RDS installed on the pic rail.

[mmc45414]

I need to replace the front sight bead, I get so obsessed with "what is the correct thread" that I can't/won't just order two or three brass beads and see which one fits.Are you planning to screw a light pipe like fiber optic rod on it? You could probably go to the hardware store and get a few cheap screws to verify the thread size.

[Drang]

Are you planning to screw a light pipe like fiber optic rod on it? You could probably go to the hardware store and get a few cheap screws to verify the thread size.

Standard bead, either brass or faux (or mammoth) ivory.


Not a bad thought re: screws to try it.

[Drang]

Are you planning to screw a light pipe like fiber optic rod on it? You could probably go to the hardware store and get a few cheap screws to verify the thread size.

Turns out the most common replacement beads are in 6-48, 3-46, or (les common) 5-40 threads.

No local hardware stores carry screws that small.

I went to Sportsman's Warehouse and bought a "Hi-Viz" shot gun light pipe, with a variety of screws. I now know that Rossi used 5-49 screws, and have a highly untraditional yellow fiber front sight on there. I'll replace it with a brass bead, eventually, which may be just as visible, and probably more durable, but for now it will serve fine for repelling boarders.

[OlongJohnson]

Assuming she already has the 20 gauge coach gun. I would look for 20 gauge 00 or #1 buck. Flute control is great in LE duty guns but Steve Fisher makes a compelling argumnt for regular 00 loads for in the house or on the porch distances. At those close distances, flite control is too tight and negates some of the advantage of the shotgun, its pattern.

The good doctor may be along to correct me, but my thought is that what happens inside the target is of primary concern. Even at 5 yards, where the pellets start by making a slug-sized hole, they spread out and make lots of little ones pretty quickly. I'm not sure it matters whether the individual wound paths start close together or with some separation, but I'm pretty sure I like keeping the pellets all headed as close to POA as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNb2uvezzx0

[Drang]

Rossi used 5-40

Fixed it for me. Damnit.

[HCM]

The good doctor may be along to correct me, but my thought is that what happens inside the target is of primary concern. Even at 5 yards, where the pellets start by making a slug-sized hole, they spread out and make lots of little ones pretty quickly. I'm not sure it matters whether the individual wound paths start close together or with some separation, but I'm pretty sure I like keeping the pellets all headed as close to POA as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNb2uvezzx0

I don’t think the argument is Terminal ballistics- either is effective - it’s getting a pattern making it easier to get a hit on a moving / partial target.

[tanner]

A 12 gauge 500 with reduced-recoil buck is much more comfortable to shoot, but the gun is just too big for my wife and her small hands. A properly sized 20-gauge gas semi would probably be the best shotgun choice for her, or a small PCC on the rifle side..

My better half is on the tiny side, and although she can bust a few clays with a pump 12 gauge, I am looking forward to get her to the range to try out the Ruger PCC I just picked up. Much less recoil and a lot more capacity. Plus plenty of rail space to add a light and red dot. Seems like a great defensive long gun for her (in theory anyways).