I obtained some to test in January 2025 and was pleased with the results (note: I only fired four rounds at each distance—still too difficult to get in quantity). I used a Mossberg 590 20-gauge that had a Vang Comp Systems modified barrel installed and an unmodified Mossberg 590 20-gauge pump shotgun for the test.
I did not zero the shotguns due to the quantity of ammunition available. As a result, some patterns are not centered on the target; however, I superimposed an eight-inch circle centered on the pattern for reference.
I started at 10 yards and both guns patterned the 20 gauge #2 buckshot FLITECONTROL® loads with a very tight pattern for all ten pellets at that distance. However, both guns did throw two pellets slightly outside the main pattern which I thought was interesting.
I then moved back to
fifteen yards and both 590s patterned the FLITECONTROL® loads within an
acceptable eight inches (see below).
Moving back to 20 yards, the pattern with the Vang Comp Mossberg 590 opened to twelve inches with one flyer while the standard 590 threw three pellets slightly out of the eight-inch circle.
We then moved back to 25 yards with the standard 590 and fired two shots. One shot placed all pellets within the eight-inch circle while the other threw a pattern with fliers more than twelve inches from the point of aim.
As you can see from these results, you must test each load you are considering for your home defense shotgun in your gun. Ideally, shoot five shots at each distance until you determine the maximum acceptable range for your shotgun using that load. With the 20 gauge, I started at ten yards because previous testing with other 20 gauge loads demonstrated failures at that distance. If you see a failure at a given distance, you do not need to test at greater distances. I consider the Vang Comp 590's maximum acceptable range with this load to be fifteen yards while the standard 590's to be twenty yards. (Note: The Vang Comp system is designed to work with standard wads and generally do not do as well with the FLITECONTROL® wad.)
Overall, I think that Federal's Premium 20 gauge load with a FLITECONTROL® wad lived up to its bigger brother’s reputation and performed well out to fifteen yards. Is that range a limitation? It is not for me, my maximum potential engagement difference in my house is twelve yards. Your circumstances may vary. Federal's Premium 20 gauge #2 buckshot load will now be the go to round for my 20 gauge home defense shotguns.
Why chose a shotgun for home defense?
The shotgun with modern low-recoil ammunition is the most effective short-range weapon available to private citizens and is a superb home defense weapon. The shotgun possesses several advantages over single projectile weapons such as pistols or rifles including:
-- A solid upper chest hit with a suitable buckshot load has a high potential to end the fight immediately and encourages any of the bad guy’s surviving buddies to seek elsewhere for their entertainment.
-- Shotguns can be customized relatively easily through adding after-market accessories.
-- Shotguns are usually very reliable if the shooter is trained in its operation and the gun is mechanically sound.
-- Even less expensive shotguns can be very effective with modern ammunition.
-- Shotguns are often seen as sporting firearms and juries may look upon using one to defend yourself more favorably than a AR15-style rifle or a pistol.
-- In urban areas, the shotgun firing buckshot rounds offers the clear advantage of a significantly reduced down-range danger zone. A shotgun’s maximum range ("maximum range" refers to the furthest distance a projectile will travel when fired from a gun) is much shorter than other firearms suitable for home defense. Buckshot’s maximum range is 748 yards compared to that of a 9mm which is 2130 yds, a .45 ACP at 1840 yards, a .38 Special at 1739 yds, a .357 Magnum at 2398, and the 5.56 rifle round at 3843 yds. (source: Gun Safety: Ammunition Maximum Range; by the NRA Staff; November 7, 2019)
Is There a Disadvantage to Using a Shotgun for Home Defense?
Not really. People who recommend firearms other than the shotgun for home defense often point to the shotgun’s limited ammunition capacity. A shotgun set up for home defense will typically hold up to seven shells with each shell holding eight to ten buckshot pellets. If you think about it, an extremely fast shooter with a pistol can deliver six, possibly seven rounds per second with a 9mm pistol. A shotgun with a suitable buckshot load delivers eight to ten pellets traveling over 1,100 feet per second in a millisecond.
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