The Best 20 Gauge Ammo for Home Defense, Whitetail, and Upland Game
I loved my 20 Gauge growing up. No dove, duck, or rabbit was safe.
That’s why I’m surprised by how often the 20 Gauge is underrated. Although it isn’t as powerful or popular as the 12 Gauge, it’s still an excellent option for sport shooting, upland game and deer hunting, and even home defense. It’s especially well suited to newer or smaller-framed shooters looking for something with less recoil.
Below you’ll find all of the best 20 Gauge ammo options on the market. We’ve got picks for hunting (birdshot and buckshot), trap, skeet, and sporting clays, good old-fashioned fun at the range, and even self-defense. If you don't have time to wade through it, then I'll cut right to the chase: the best 20 Gauge ammo overall is Winchester Super-X #3 buckshot (with the caveat that it's only suitable for situations where buckshot is appropriate).
Top 6 Best 20 Gauge Ammo Picks
| Best Overall | Winchester Super-X #3 Buckshot |
| Best for Self-Defense | Winchester Defender #3 Buckshot |
| Best Slug Ammo | Federal Premium TruBall Rifled Slug |
| Best Turkey Ammo | Remington Premier TSS |
| Best Waterfowl Ammo | Hevi-Shot Hevi-Steel 7/8 oz #2 Steel Shot |
| Best Upland Game Ammo | Federal Game Load Upland #7-1/2 Shot |
Best 20 Gauge Ammo Overall
Winchester Super-X 20 Gauge Ammo - 250 Rounds of 2-3/4" #3 Buck Ammunition
14 In stock now
Winchester Super-X #3 Buckshot
Specs
- Shot Load: 20x #3 Buckshot
- Length: 2-3/4
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 fps
Pros and Cons
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Why I Chose It
Whether you’re blasting clays, hunting on the cheap, or just stocking up on ammo for the end of days (it'll be here any minute now, promise), it's hard to go wrong with Winchester Super-X.
From target loads and birdshot to slugs and high-brass buckshot, Winchester offers the ideal shotshell for any application. I'm showcasing one of the buckshot loads here, but really, they’re all solid options for buying cheap and stacking deep.
This particular 20 Gauge buckshot shell is a good budget hunting or home-defense option that’s unlikely to let you down, though it does lack a little bit when compared to higher-end ammo that’s more tailored to defense or deer hunting.
Still, Super-X is plentiful, affordable, and more than sufficient for most tasks. It’s the best on this list for turning money into noise at the range, which is a valuable attribute. This is by far the best 20 Gauge ammo for target shooting you’ll find (not counting any sort of clays, that is).
Best 20 Gauge Ammo For Home/Self-Defense
Winchester Defender 20 Gauge Ammo - 10 Rounds of #3 Buck Ammunition
Out of stock
Winchester Defender #3 Buckshot
Specs
- Shot Load: 20x #3 Buckshot
- Length: 2-3/4”
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps
Pros and Cons
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
|---|---|
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Why I Chose It
12 Gauge shotguns may be the default scattergun choice for home defense, but the humble 20 Gauge makes for a great home defense shotgun, too – when loaded with modern, state-of-the-art ammo.
Winchester Defender is a high-brass round available loaded with segmented slugs, rifled slugs, or copper-plated buckshot. Whether you're hunting from a distance or covering the gap between yourself and the other end of your living room, there's an ideal Defender load for the job.
I chose #3 buckshot because it's large enough to neutralize a threat quickly, yet small enough to deliver a dense pattern. Twenty individual #3 buckshot pellets basically do the same job as a whole handgun magazine worth of bullets. One of these shells is more than enough for close-range threats.
This shell's copper-plated shot provides multiple performance advantages. It prevents the shot from undergoing deformation that could weaken pattern density or shorten penetration after impact.
We didn’t get the recoil gauge out, but this ammo also seems to kick less than some other analogous defensive options.
Best 20 Gauge Slug Ammo
Federal Premium TruBall Rifled Slug
Specs
- Bullet Weight: 328 Grain TruBall Hollow Point Slug
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,600 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,864 ft-lbs
- Length: 2-3/4”
Pros and Cons
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
|---|---|
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Why I Chose It
You have quite a few options when it comes to slugs, but none better than the Federal Premium TruBall Rifled Slug. This is a great slug option for smoothbore barrels, and is perfect for any medium game or self-defense. A 3/4-oz lead slug will make any whitetail or home invader take notice pretty quickly.
Between this shell’s wad and slug sits a hard plastic TruBall. It acts like the ball in a ball-and-socket joint, enabling the slug to align perfectly with the bore. That translates to increased precision and enables the wad and slug to separate cleanly immediately after expulsion.
This is a great option for anyone who wants more versatility from a smoothbore 20 Gauge barrel. It is perfect for virtually any application that calls for a slug.
Best 20 Gauge Turkey Load
Remington Premier TSS 20 Gauge Ammo - 5 Rounds of 1-1/2 oz. #7 Shot Ammunition
Out of stock
Remington Premier TSS
Specs
- Shot Load: 1.5 oz #7 or #9
- Length: 3"
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,100 fps
Pros and Cons
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
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Why I Chose It
Thanks to its tight pattern and ultra-dense shot load, Remington Premier Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) ammo is a favorite among turkey hunters who want to make every shot count. The specially designed ultra-dense tungsten-alloy shot hits hard and allows you to hunt with smaller pellets (and therefore denser patterns) than you could have with lead. TSS is more than 50% denser than lead!
This ammo is expensive, but you will absolutely notice improved performance – well worth it if you rarely hunt turkey and want to secure your best odds of success. It's worth it even if you expect to take your time at short range.
Check out our available stock of Remington 20 Gauge slugs or Fiocchi 20 Gauge ammo for more options.
Best 20 Gauge Waterfowl Load
Hevi-Steel 20 Gauge Ammo - 25 Rounds of 7/8 oz. #2 Steel Shot Ammunition
26 In stock now
Hevi-Shot Hevi-Steel 7/8 oz #2 Steel Shot
Specs
- Shot Load: 7/8 oz #2 Steel Shot
- Length: 3"
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,400 fps
Pros and Cons
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
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Why I Chose It
Hevi-Shot Hevi-Steel 7/8 oz #2 steel shot is some of the best waterfowl hunting shotgun shells you can buy. It’s manufactured by a trusted brand, it’s versatile, and it has a high muzzle velocity.
Hevi-Shot makes a wide range of shotshells to help hunters reach their limit every season. The biggest drawback is that Hevi-Shot ammo is typically more expensive than many other brands. But the old cliché rings true: you get what you pay for.
Since I hunt everything from small blue-wing teal to large local Canada geese, I like using a versatile shell. This ammo’s #2 and #4 shot options let me hunt a wide range of waterfowl without needing to switch shells.
The higher muzzle velocity really helps out when hunting fast-flying teal and wood ducks. I don’t have to lead my aim ahead of the birds as far. I also tend to miss fewer shots, so I bring home more birds from each hunt.
Best 20 Gauge Ammo for Upland Game
Federal Game Load Upland 20 Gauge Ammo - 250 Rounds of 7/8 oz. #7-1/2 Shot Ammunition
Out of stock
Federal Game Load Upland #7-1/2 Shot
Specs
- Shot Load: 7/8 oz #7-1/2
- Length: 2-3/4”
- Muzzle Velocity: 1,210 fps
Pros and Cons
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
|---|---|
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Why I Chose It
Federal Game Load Upland #7-1/2 shot is an excellent choice for hunting upland game that won’t break your budget. These 20 Gauge shells produce a nice, tight pattern and are extremely effective on quail, dove, and any other birds you manage to track down.
Federal's 2-3/4" game loads have slightly less recoil than their other offerings, including Vital-Shok, Power-Shok, Hevi-Shot, and even Top Gun. These game loads have also proven themselves to be a great option for sporting clays. The Ammo.com team had a great afternoon exploding clay pigeons with them.
The only downside to these game loads is that they are loaded with lead shot, which is prohibited in some areas. Federal does offer steel game loads if you need them. You can't beat the price tag of the traditional #7-1/2 shot load.
Parting Shots: Best 20 Gauge Ammo
There are a ton of great options out there for 20 Gauge ammo. I’ve given you a good idea of what’s available and where to start your search.
Anyone going after larger game birds should test out Remington Premier TSS. Anyone looking for a low-recoil self-defense option should check out the Winchester Defender line. Budget-wise, it’s hard to beat good old Winchester Super-X in either birdshot or buckshot.
There are other great options out there that we haven’t covered here. Be sure to check out our full range of 20 Gauge ammo to see if there’s something else that might be better suited to your specific needs.
Don't forget to check out our Hornady 20 Gauge slugs page for more slug options.
If you’re weighing a lighter sub-gauge, our 28 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge comparison is worth a read.
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