Pics & video from our recent Social Shotgun Manipulations class

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR72oGsptvg

Here's CJ, one of the students, running the 4+1 Transition Drill with a Tac14 in 20ga. I like this drill because it has many layers to it. The shooter starts at gunbox/cruiser ready and has to get the gun into action. Then they hit both outside targets (long transitions), both inside targets (more transitions), and ends with an emergency load to the center target. With only five rounds, we are practicing numerous skills.

One issue with 20ga shotguns for defensive use is that there is not, in my opinion, a quality defensive buckshot load available for them. One must account for every pellet sent downrange, and quite frankly, I have yet to find a 20ga load with a good enough pattern beyond 7-10 yards to use with confidence.

Here are pics of a Rio (I know) load I asked CJ to test in his gun. I didn't get pics of the Winchester Super X load he also tested, but it was worse. One round was fired at seven and 15 yards with three rounds fired at 25 yards.



https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...2e&oe=5F3BFF20



https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...a3&oe=5F3B365B

Note how many pellets are outside of the body of this large silhouette.

For comparison, here is the same test shot with Federal 8-pellet reduced recoil FliteControl:

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e8&oe=5F3B15B7

I also ran the same test with some Federal "black pack" 9-pellet 00 buck. It held it's own out to 15 yards, but at 25 I had a pellet off of the body and several outside of the effective zones.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f6&oe=5F3CD557

I think a 20 gauge works as a dedicated Brenneke slug launcher, but for other defensive use the 20’s ship has sailed.

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Originally Posted by GJM

I think a 20 gauge works as a dedicated Brenneke slug launcher, but for other defensive use the 20’s ship has sailed.

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I can see someone living in an area with bears being an issue needing slugs on/in a shotgun being a thing, but for most of us, FliteControl has obviated the need for slugs. I don't even have them as spares on my house gun anymore, and for work, I have a dedicated slug gun for vehicle take downs; otherwise, I just run FliteControl at work.

I had a USPSA shooting buddy who spent the bucks to send his 20Ga 870 off for the full works from Vang, forcing cone, back bore, comp, etc. His thought process, it was going to be the perfect shotgun for his wife and teenage daughter. It was still very disappointing with the commercially available buckshot loads.

This is Federal’s PD 4-buck 20 gauge load. Shot out of a 21” H&R with Mod choke. Head is 5 yards. Torso is 15 yards. Pretty crappy. I expected more from a plated and buffered buck load through a mod choke.

Attachment 57760

@167

Thanks for that picture. That pattern is certainly disappointing. I sure wish Federal would do a FC load in 20ga.

Yeah. Unfortunately for the forseeable future if you want to do serious defensive work with a gauge it will have to be a 12 gauge.

What gets me is Federal has a 20ga FC load with birdshot in it. Drop some 4-buck in it and call it good. 1-buck would be game changing. I would think anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 167

What gets me is Federal has a 20ga FC load with birdshot in it. Drop some 4-buck in it and call it good. 1-buck would be game changing. I would think anyway.

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So, could an enterprising chap buy the FC 20ga wads and load his own?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lon

So, could an enterprising chap buy the FC 20ga wads and load his own?

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I don’t know that you could just buy the wad. You could buy the ammo and cannibalize it though. Looks like Bass Pro has some.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/fede...h-flitecontrol