😁

*I should say reduce the chance of doing damage after penetrating walls because it’s going to penetrate the walls.

Depending on your housing type or location, some people might prefer shot to reduce the chance of missed shots penetrating the walls.

“Yes, it has actually happened. Washington Gun Law President, William Kirk, discusses the huge filing of an Amicus brief by the U.S. Dept. of Justice in the matter of Wolford v. Lopez before the United States Supreme Court.”

ht* tps: *//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qCk4cLtAs0

As for shotgun shell choices, while buckshot loads are a respectable choice, their spread pattern will be very tight (on the order of 2-inches) at many/most inside-the-home distances. And yet the typical appeal of shot (versus slug) loads is a spread pattern which increases the probability of getting at least some ballistic payload on target if your aim was slightly off. Since buckshot spread in many/most inside-the-home distances is about 2-inches, you might as well go with slugs. THAT is where 20 gauge really shines because 20 gauge slugs will devastate a human attacker at inside-the-home distances with markedly less recoil than 12 gauge slugs.

Sure, you can buy “reduced recoil” 12 gauge shells with slugs and shot which produce basically the same recoil as standard 20 gauge shells. And then you can try to keep track of which 12 gauge shells are “standard” and which are “reduced recoil”. Or you can just buy standard 20 gauge shells and not have to keep track of anything.

Now, if you want a shotgun that provides maximum options for hunting, then 12 gauge is the more versatile choice. However, this series of articles is about home defense and in that role 20 gauge is absolutely fine.