Exclusively 20 Gauge

[aegusto]

I'd like to start a thread collecting tactical accessories available for 20 gauge models. I have a 12 gauge but really prefer the 20: smaller, less recoil, easier to manage. I can shoot the 12 gauge fine, but the 20 is more comfortable for training. Same idea as pistols. I can manage a Glock 21 in .45 ACP, but I prefer the Glock 19 in 9mm because of smaller size, lighter recoil, and slightly cheaper ammo. When compared to a 12 gauge, the 20 gauge delivers ~75% of the lead with ~40% less recoil. I'm confident that #2 or #3 20 gauge buckshot will solve most any problem around the house if I do my part.

As for tactical accessories for the 20 gauge, I've spent the last 20 minutes searching both Midway and Brownells and found practically nothing. EVERYBODY makes 12 gauge accessories, but the 20 gauge is simply ignored.

Anyone with me on this?

P.S. I saw a post somewhere claiming that 20 gauge 870s made before 1984 were built using mostly 12 gauge parts, and that most 12 gauge accessories can be installed without modification on pre-1984 20 gauge models. Anyone have any experience to support that claim?

[aegusto]

Further to my previous post, I googled around and found this guy:

http://www.aiptactical.com/20_Ga_Tactical.php

in Michigan who builds a tactical 20 gauge. A quote from his website:

As some that follow this web site know, I stopped building 20ga Tactical shotguns. However, demand has brought one model back. This will be the only model at this time due to the lack of accessories for the 20 Ga. In the past few months Wilson Combat has discontinued the 20 ga extension and Black Hawk has discontinued the Knoxx SpecOps for the 20ga. There are very few accessories for the 20ga.

Pretty discouraging.

[Kentactic]

You could always just load 12 gauge 00 buck and only load 6 pellets instead of 9. You get the same velocity per pellet but reduced recoil. You just use a taller wad.

Another bonus is you'll maintain the same ease of ammo control and loading with the larger 12 gauge rounds.

I'm just throwing out the idea. I can't change the available parts on the market but I can adjust the current ammo to fit your need. Thats the beauty of the shotgun.

[aegusto]

Ya, but that would mean getting setup for reloading which is not feasible in my current lodgings. I don't have to have a 20 gauge, but it would be nice to have. I wanted to create this thread for those who feel the same to add information about 20 gauge accessories.

[Kentactic]

Ya, but that would mean getting setup for reloading which is not feasible in my current lodgings. I don't have to have a 20 gauge, but it would be nice to have. I wanted to create this thread for those who feel the same to add information about 20 gauge accessories.

Ya I hear you. I didn't mean to steer your thread a different direction. Heres a video of another guy who thinks the 20 gauge is a viable option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTNAOCo ... ata_player

[aegusto]

Remington manufactures a bare-bones 20 gauge model with magazine extension:

http://www.remington.com/products/firea ... round.aspx

From Yeager's vid it looks like the Mossberg 20 gauge beats the 870 off-the-shelf.

I'd like to find out about the pre-1984 thing -- I'll bet you could find a pre-1984 20 gauge 870 in a pawn shop pretty cheap.

Besides accessories, 20 gauge buckshot is hard to find and about the same price as 12 gauge buckshot.

Since no one else has chimed in, it looks like the market has decided that 12 gauge is the ticket.

[Synchronizor]

20ga accessories are harder to find, but not impossible. You may not be able to find full-length rails, heat shields, or whacko ammunition for the 20, but you don't need all that tacti-cool stuff anyway. Various companies offer 20ga magazine extensions, aftermarket furniture, and even sidesaddles. You'll have to do some searching, and maybe some modifications, but there's enough support to put together a perfectly functional 20ga defensive/combat build. 20ga buckshot isn't as easy to find as 12ga stuff, but it's out there, and standard 2.75" #3B or #4B loads are very effective for social work.

Older 20ga 870s used 12ga-sized receivers, while newer ones use scaled-down frames that are a better fit for small-bore shells. One advantage of a 20ga shotgun is its lighter weight and faster handling, so if you want a 20ga 870, I'd say go with the current small-frame model. As I said, there's enough aftermarket support for the small-frame 870s to put together a functional defensive build, and it'll be easier to find replacement parts if you manage to break something on it, or want to have spares on hand.

However, if you're looking at getting a second shotgun purely for HD, I would skip the pump guns entirely and get a gas-operated semi-auto. The gas system will reduce recoil further, and there's no risk of jamming a semi-auto by slow- or short-shucking in the stress of a life-or-death situation. You can even shoot one-handed if you need to.

[Zebra62]

As for tactical accessories for the 20 gauge, I've spent the last 20 minutes searching both Midway and Brownells and found practically nothing. EVERYBODY makes 12 gauge accessories, but the 20 gauge is simply ignored.

I feel your pain, Brother. The 20 gauge is simply overlooked. I purchased an 870 Express Youth Model for my wife this past summer for her to use as a home defense weapon for when I am away. I like the fact that is does have less recoil than a 12 gauge and the weapon is overall lighter. She can handle it with out having to hurt herself picking it up. Tactical accessories for the modern lightweight 20 gauge are a little more difficult to find for certain, but they are out there. You will need to do more than 20 minutes of searching. Midway does offer many tactical stocks, extensions, etc for the 20 gauge ( mostly from Choate ) but they are there.

If you are looking fro a more tactical typw stock, look at www.atigunstocks.com as they do offer tacti-cool furniture for the 20 gauge. I am not a fan of the pistol grip and have been looking at the Akita stock.

mesatactical.com offers a few different side saddles for the 20 gauge, but you will need to modify the OE laminated forend of the 20 Express youth model as the side saddle will not allow the action to go all the way back. You can also suppliment your on weapon ammo reserves with a simple butt cuff.

The parts are out there, you just need to go find them.

[aegusto]

The parts are out there, you just need to go find them.

Links, that's what I want.

I'm desperately trying to avoid anything "tacti-cool." I want a short buttstock, +2 or +3 mag extension, Surefire or Eotech forend with light, ghost ring sights, and non-MIM extractor.

I can have a gunsmith cut down the buttstock, I think Remington makes a magazine extension, for certain there are no forends available with built-in lights, sights are available, and the non-MIM extractor is probably available.

What I want is doable, but I'm hoping to collect an archive of links for others so inclined. I intended this thread to be more of a public-service thread than one that caters to my particular whims.

[Zebra62]

I'm desperately trying to avoid anything "tacti-cool." I want a short buttstock, +2 or +3 mag extension, Surefire or Eotech forend with light, ghost ring sights, and non-MIM extractor.

I can have a gunsmith cut down the buttstock, I think Remington makes a magazine extension, for certain there are no forends available with built-in lights, sights are available, and the non-MIM extractor is probably available.

If you don't already have the 20 gauge, I would recommend the Youth model Express 870 as it comes with a shorter LOP than the 12 gauge so it will fit people of shorter stature. That fact makes it an excellent choice if you want a shortened stock. No need to modify. If you want an adjustable stock, check out the "Akita" from ATI. It is like a standard stock ( not a pistol grip ) but adjusts for different LOP. Not that expensive and I think you can even get it in a bundle with a piccatinny forend. Midway USA and Brownells both have a wide selection of stocks to fit also ranging from basic sythetic, Hogue Overmolded, adjustable pistol grip and thumhole stocks. Most of those choices are available with matching forends.

Midway USA and Brownells also offer several different brands and lengths of magazine extensions. We have a Choate +5 on our 20 gauge I picked up from Midway USA. It is a bit long, extending a full 5 inches past the muzzle of the stock 20 inch barrel, but it increases the internal capacity to 10 + 1. There isn't any issue with the shot hitting the barrel either. We just need to keep it cleaned off and oiled after every session at the range.

The non-MIM extractor is not an issue. It is the same one for the 12 gauge. I think the bolt carrier is the same also, but I could be mistaken. I haven't done a side by side comparison to ours, but they seem the same. Synchronizer would know off the top of his head.

As far as the light goes, you will be looking at something either mounted on the forend with a piccatinny rail or mounted on the barrel/magazine with a clamp. You will not find one already mounted in the forend for a 20 gauge. They simply do not exist. Depending upon how crafty you are, you could get a short piccatinny rail and screw it to your forend wherever you want and mount your light there. Seems doable.

I like your idea of the public service thread with links, but it would be a shorter list to provide websites the DO NOT carry 20 gauge accessories. Magpul would be on the top of the list. They have everything in the world for 12 gauge and lots of stuff for AR's, but no 20 gauge. Go figure.

We of the 20 gauge owners group are a small collective and we suffer the consequences.