{"id":66326,"date":"2016-12-20T11:47:37","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T16:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=66326"},"modified":"2016-12-20T11:47:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T12:06:01","slug":"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\/","title":{"rendered":"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun &#8211; Full Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_66328\" style=\"width: 1209px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66328\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-full wp-image-66328\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12.jpg\" alt=\"The Stevens 320 Pump-action shotgun. This one is chambered in 20-gauge.\" width=\"1199\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12.jpg 1199w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12-150x47.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12-400x125.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12-768x240.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12-1024x319.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1199px) 100vw, 1199px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66328\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Stevens 320 Pump shotgun, chambered in 20-gauge. This makes for a soft-recoiling, yet powerful home defense shotgun. Oh, and all for an MSRP of only $264.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For more information, visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.savagearms.com\/firearms\/model\/stevens320pump\" campaign=\"Stevens320-20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">https:\/\/www.savagearms.com\/firearms\/model\/stevens320pump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To purchase a Stevens 320 Pump on GunsAmerica.com, click this link:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=Stevens%20320%20Pump\" campaign=\"Stevens320-20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=Stevens%20320%20Pump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m thinking a 20-gauge shotgun for home defense is kind of like Miller Lite. You know, all the great taste, but with half the calories.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve fired different types of shotguns, it\u2019s obvious that recoil can be all over the map. Some load and gun combinations are relative pussycats, allowing one to fire hundreds of rounds per day with no ill effect. Others make you want to start sticking safety pins to your shirt and run for the nearest safe space. With recoil in mind, I got an itch to check out a 20-gauge pump shotgun for home defense.<\/p>\n<p>Enter the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savagearms.com\/firearms\/model\/stevens320pump\" campaign=\"Stevens320-20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">Stevens 320 Pump<\/a> pump-action shotgun. It\u2019s simple, functional, and best of all, affordable.<\/p>\n<h2>SPECS<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Chambering: 20 Ga.<\/li>\n<li>Barrel: 18.5 inches<\/li>\n<li>OA Length: 38.25 inches<\/li>\n<li>Weight: 7 pounds<\/li>\n<li>Stock: Synthetic<\/li>\n<li>Sights: Ghost ring, fiber optic front<\/li>\n<li>Action: Pump<\/li>\n<li>Finish: Matte black<\/li>\n<li>Capacity: 5+1<\/li>\n<li>MSRP: $264<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_66329\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66329\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-large wp-image-66329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13-1024x309.jpg\" alt=\"The Stevens 320: left side. \" width=\"1024\" height=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13-1024x309.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13-150x45.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13-400x121.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13-768x232.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-13.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66329\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Stevens 320 is short and handy, yet still packs in 5+1 rounds of powerful 20-gauge shells.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>A Quick Tour of the Stevens 320<\/h2>\n<p>As you might expect from a defensive shotgun, it looks tactical and very well might scare those who require safe spaces after controversial elections. It\u2019s all black, with a polymer stock, fore-end and pistol grip. The stock and pistol grip are molded as a single unit so that any fit adjustments will move the pistol grip as well. The stock has a soft rubber butt pad that is 5\/8 to \u00be of an inch thick, depending on where you measure. While it\u2019s definitely a personal preference issue, I prefer a pistol grip on a defensive shotgun, mainly because I find them easier to handle both while shooting and administratively. If necessary, you can easily let go with the support hand to open doors, access a cell phone, get ammo, or maybe a midnight snack, all while supporting the shotgun in a ready position with your firing hand. The pistol grip also feels more natural to me as I don\u2019t have to crank my wrist into an awkward angle. On the other hand, some people don\u2019t like the feel of recoil when using the more vertical pistol grip style. Again, it\u2019s a personal preference issue. Accordingly, Stevens makes the 320 model with a more traditional shotgun grip, and you can order that in either 12- or 20-gauge.<\/p>\n<p>[one_half]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66336\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66336\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The magazine tube end cap has a swiveling sling attachment point.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66336\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The magazine tube end cap has a swiveling sling attachment point.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half]<\/p>\n<p>[one_half_last]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66337\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66337\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66337\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The model tested had a full pistol grip. You can order a 320 with a more traditional grip too.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-5.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66337\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The model tested had a full pistol grip. You can order a 320 with a more traditional grip, too.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n<p>Out of the box, the Stevens 320 20-gauge has a magazine tube that holds five rounds, so if you\u2019re one to keep a shell in the chamber, that gives you six total. I tried different birdshot, slug, and buckshot loads and there was enough space to hold a full five of everything I tried. That\u2019s for 2\u00be-inch shells. This gun has a chamber cut to handle 3-inch shells too if you like, but I didn\u2019t have any on hand to test magazine capacity.<\/p>\n<p>The barrel is 18.5 inches long, or one half-inch over the legal minimum for shotguns. The overall length of the 320 is 38.25 inches.<\/p>\n<p>The sights are definitely oriented to defensive use. The front sight is a fiber optic tube mounted atop a study sight base and protected with steel wings on both sides. The rear is a large-aperture ghost ring that\u2019s adjustable for both windage and elevation. Two flathead screws control point of impact and, like the front sight, steel wings protect the rear sight. Just so you&#8217;re aware, you can order the 320 with a standard grip and bead sight too.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66332\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66332\" alt=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"wp-image-66332 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2-1024x683.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66332\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fiber-optic front sight is well protected by steel wings on either side.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The fore-end is plastic and matches the finish on the stock and pistol grip. It\u2019s got textured ribs reminiscent of the old corn cob style. It connects to the action via dual action bars, and the movement is solid with no lateral play or binding.<\/p>\n<p>The safety is a crossbar style just forward of the trigger. I was able to move it from safe to fire mode with ease using my trigger finger and without altering my grip. The trigger itself is crisp with maybe 1\/8-inch of take-up. I measured the pull weight at a consistent 5 \u00be pounds.<\/p>\n<p>[one_half]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66338\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66338\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The stock has a fixed sling attachment point and a soft rubber recoil pad. \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-6.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66338\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The stock has a fixed sling attachment point and a soft rubber recoil pad.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half]<\/p>\n<p>[one_half_last]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66339\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66339\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The stock and pistol grip are molded as a single-piece unit.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-7.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66339\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The stock and pistol grip are molded as a single-piece unit.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, you\u2019ll find two sling attachment points; a fixed one on the bottom of the stock and a swiveling one on the magazine tube end cap.<\/p>\n<h2>Shooting the 320<\/h2>\n<p>Oh, they joys of 20-gauge! I started off with some Winchester Universal 7 \u00bd shot shells. These have 7\/8 ounces of lead with a muzzle velocity of 1,200 feet per second. These were pleasant to shoot from this seven-pound shotgun and recoil was minimal. I next moved up to some Federal Classic 3-Buck loads. These 2 \u00be-inch shells pack 20-pellets of buckshot. To put that into perspective, a single 3-buck pellet measures about .25 caliber. While people sneeze at the .25 ACP as a defensive gun, I doubt anyone would be keen on being hit with 20 of them simultaneously. Last, I tried out some Winchester Defender Segmented Rifle Slugs. These \u00be-ounce slugs are designed to fragment into three pieces shortly after impact and create diverging wound channels. I\u2019ve tested the 12-gauge version of this load in ballistic gelatin, and it does exactly that. These slugs leave the barrel at 1,600 feet per second, so as far as recoil goes, it\u2019s about as much as you\u2019ll get with a 2 \u00be-inch 20-gauge shotshell.<\/p>\n<p>[one_half]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66340\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66340\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The rear sight sports a generously-sized ghost ring. \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-9.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66340\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The rear sight sports a generously sized ghost ring.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half]<\/p>\n<p>[one_half_last]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66341\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66341\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The Stevens 320 accepts 2 3\/4 and 3-inch shells. \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-10.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66341\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Stevens 320 accepts 2 3\/4 and 3-inch shells.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n<p>So how did it feel? Across the board with all the loads tested, I estimated felt recoil to be about half that of an \u201cequivalent\u201d 12-gauge load. Clearly, the shot and slug weights will differ between 12- and 20-gauge shells, so when I say \u201cequivalent\u201d I\u2019m talking about average loads for birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. All in all, this is a very pleasant gun to shoot given its 20-gauge chambering and seven-pound weight. So was recoil really half? Hold that thought for a minute until we get to the math section.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66331\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66331\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"wp-image-66331 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Even these 1,600 feet per second Winchester Defender Segmenting Slugs were relatively tame to shoot in the 320.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-15.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even these 1,600 feet per second Winchester Defender Segmenting Slugs were relatively tame to shoot in the 320.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I shot slugs at a distance of 45 yards (as far as I could go in my particular shooting bay) and the slugs hit right at the point of aim when sighting with a six o\u2019clock hold. Not that it matters as the sights are fully adjustable for windage and elevation, I was just pleasantly surprised that it was right on out of the box. The Federal buckshot loads patterned evenly from the cylinder bore barrel (there are no choke tubes on the model tested here) and from a distance of 10 yards, the pattern was about 13 inches in diameter. Patterns will vary widely depending on your specific choice of ammo, so be sure to test whatever load you choose so you know exactly where pellets are going and whether you need to make any sight adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>[one_half]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66342\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66342\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14-400x210.jpg\" alt=\"The fore-end has wide ridges for grip and a memory bump to aid hand placement.\" width=\"400\" height=\"210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14-150x79.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-14.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66342\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fore-end has wide ridges for grip and a memory bump to aid hand placement.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half]<\/p>\n<p>[one_half_last]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66343\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66343\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"The rear sight is also well-protected and is fully adjustable for windage and elevation.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-18.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66343\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The rear sight is also well-protected and is fully adjustable for windage and elevation.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n<p>One minor gripe I have with this gun is the placement of the slide release lever. If the fore-end is locked forward, and you haven\u2019t fired a shot, you need to depress this lever to operate the pump action. It\u2019s located on the left side of the receiver at the rear of the trigger guard. I may be a total spaz, but I can\u2019t reach it without significantly breaking my firing grip, and I have reasonably large hands. Maybe that\u2019s by design, but I would prefer to be able to operate all the controls easily from the firing position.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66334\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66334\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-large wp-image-66334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"The crossbolt safety is just forward of the trigger while the slide release catch is behind on the left side. \" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-4.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crossbolt safety is just forward of the trigger while the slide release catch is behind on the left side.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>To unload the magazine tube, you can simply cycle the fore-end and run shells through the chamber and out the left side ejection port. If you don\u2019t want to do that, you can depress a shell catch lever inside of the magazine well. It\u2019s not a particularly graceful move on this gun with its smaller 20-gauge well, but it\u2019s doable. This negates the need to chamber and eject rounds if you\u2019re more comfortable with that approach.<\/p>\n<h2>The Real Deal On Recoil<\/h2>\n<p>When I want to speak like a real, grown-up ballistics engineer, I totally cheat and plagiarize material from my buddy\u2019s book. Andrew Chamberlain wrote <em>The Cartridge Comparison Guide\u2014<\/em>:it\u2019s a ballistic freak\u2019s dream come true. Want to compare energy, momentum, and recoil in terms of real math? You can find all that in the guide. So I did.<\/p>\n<p>[one_half]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66344\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66344\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"I tested the Stevens 320 with bird shot, buck shot, and slugs. \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-16.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I tested the Stevens 320 with bird shot, buckshot, and slugs.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half]<\/p>\n<p>[one_half_last]<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_66345\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\" title=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66345\" title=\"4 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-66345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"With a little patience, you can unload the magazine tube directly through the loading port. \" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-17.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66345\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">With a little patience, you can unload the magazine tube directly through the loading port.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how the math works comparing down range energy, momentum, and recoil between similar 12- and 20-gauge shotguns. For example purposes, we\u2019ll assume that each gun weighs eight pounds and that we\u2019re firing \u201caverage\u201d #4 buckshot. For consistency of terminology, think of a rough analogy of the difference between energy and momentum like this. Foot-pounds of energy measures destructive power. A high-speed drill bit has lots of energy. Momentum measures the ability to move mass and penetrate. A bowling ball has lots of momentum. You really want both.<\/p>\n<p>A 20-gauge launching one ounce of lead (24 pellets) at 1,100 feet per second generates 15.73 foot-pounds of recoil energy. An \u201caverage\u201d 12-gauge #4 buckshot load with 28 pellets leaving the muzzle at 1,330 feet per second generates double the recoil, with 31.5 foot-pounds.<\/p>\n<p>But what about energy on the receiving end? That same 20-gauge load develops 1,343.1 foot-pounds of energy to the target and 78.6 lbs-ft\/second of momentum. That\u2019s in the same ballpark as a .300 Winchester Magnum. Not too shabby.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, a 12-gauge creates more energy at the target, a lot more, with 2,277.6 foot-pounds of energy and 110.2 lbs-ft\/second of momentum. However, as we all know energy and momentum aren\u2019t free, and you pay for that big time when it comes to recoil. That\u2019s why many 12-gauge loads can whomp you with double the felt-recoil of a comparable load type in 20-gauge.<\/p>\n<h2>The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s what choosing a gun like this chambered in 20-gauge instead of 12 allows you to do. You can get a simple, reliable, and inexpensive pump shotgun that won\u2019t beat the hell out of whoever shoots it. Pumps are easier to build than semi-automatics, but with no \u201cbleed off\u201d of recoil energy from the action, you\u2019ll feel it more when you shoot them. Since they\u2019re simpler to make, they\u2019re less expensive to buy. Also, with no finicky recoil or gas-operates action, they tend to function. If you consider the 20-gauge instead of 12, you also have a gun that anyone in the household can control and shoot. After all, getting shots on target is everything, and most people can do a better job of that with a gun they can control. It also helps to have a gun that\u2019s not abusive as family members are more likely to practice with it.<\/p>\n<p>I like this gun. Chambered in the smaller 20-gauge bore, handy to maneuver, and pleasant to shoot, even with full-power defensive loads. I\u2019m asking the Stevens people if I can send them a check instead of returning this one.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.savagearms.com\/firearms\/model\/stevens320pump\" campaign=\"Stevens320-20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">https:\/\/www.savagearms.com\/firearms\/model\/stevens320pump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To purchase a Stevens 320 Pump on GunsAmerica.com, click this link:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=Stevens%20320%20Pump\" campaign=\"Stevens320-20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\">https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=Stevens%20320%20Pump<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve fired different types of shotguns, it\u2019s obvious that recoil can be all over the map. Some load and gun combinations are relative pussycats, allowing one to fire hundreds of rounds per day with no ill effect. Others make you want to start sticking safety pins to your shirt and run for the nearest safe space. With recoil in mind, I got an itch to check out a 20-gauge pump shotgun for home defense. That brought me to the Stevens 320 Pump in 20 gauge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":66328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,262,694,892,863,38,209],"tags":[845,132,102,108,844,696,640,628,821],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-66326","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-defensive-use-of-firearms","9":"category-gun-reviews","10":"category-columns-home-defense","11":"category-pump-shotguns","12":"category-gun-reviews-shotguns","13":"category-tom-mchale","14":"tag-20-ga","15":"tag-buzz","16":"tag-feature-articles","17":"tag-guns","18":"tag-home-defense","19":"tag-pump-shotgun","20":"tag-self-defense","21":"tag-shotgun","22":"tag-stevens"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review - Authors\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun - Full Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019ve fired different types of shotguns, it\u2019s obvious that recoil can be all over the map. Some load and gun combinations are relative pussycats, allowing one to fire hundreds of rounds per day with no ill effect. Others make you want to start sticking safety pins to your shirt and run for the nearest safe space. With recoil in mind, I got an itch to check out a 20-gauge pump shotgun for home defense. That brought me to the Stevens 320 Pump in 20 gauge.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/mygunculture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-12-20T16:47:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-08-20T12:06:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Stevens-320-12.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1199\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"374\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tom McHale\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@http:\/\/twitter.com\/mygunculture\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tom McHale\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/home-defense-honey-light-kicking-stevens-320-20-gauge-pump-full-review\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tom McHale\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0d300d007eac411171a5b1eff424c4de\"},\"headline\":\"$264 MSRP Stevens 320 20-Gauge Pump Home Defense Gun &#8211; 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