Hi, I'm new to the forum. I recently bought a Mossberg SA-20 tactical. I didn't really need it. I already had a 12 gauge home defense shotgun and a 20 gauge pump but something about the gun appealed to me.
On the first trip out, it failed to eject any of the Wally World low brass 7/8 oz. Winchester steel base shells. It had no problem with 1 oz. loads or slugs.
I then polished the chamber, cleaned it thoroughly and lubed the operating parts. On my second trip out, it ejected about 95% of those same shells. An occasional one still hung up, either stove piping or still remaining in the chamber. Everything else fed, fired and ejected fine. The cheap Winchester shells just dribbled out of the gun, landing at my feet. However, empties from 1 oz. shells and slugs were thrown quite a distance away. With 1 oz. bird shot, I can pull the trigger as fast as possible and it will not hiccup. I'm hoping that running a few more shells through it will help with the lighter loads.
It must have been a new old stock gun as the tri-rail on the mag tube came stock. I understand that the part is no longer sold with the gun due to issues with BATFE. However, the bolt release button is not hard to press. While it definitely won't go off if you just brush it, it doesn't take that much effort to push it. Also after the bolt closes, you can load the magazine without pushing the button again. So it is the later style but still had the tri-rail so I'm assuming it was made sometime in 2012
I like the tri-rail but I'm torn between adding a Choate mag extension or just leaving it as is. If I add a mag extension, I will lose the tri-rail. One reason why I put the red dot on there is that the ghost ring sight needs to be raised to its highest position to hit point of aim with slugs at 25 yards. The problem is that when you rotate its elevation screw to allow that, the screw comes loose and falls off with recoil. The rear sight is a poor copy of someone else's design. It would be nice to find a decent replacement.
I like the size too. It's light but not puny. It is close to the same length as my 12 ga. 870 home defense gun but it is slimmer in all dimensions. The recoil is negligible, especially with the 7/8 oz. loads. You can double and triple tap (that was fun
) and still keep the gun on target. So far every one who has seen it at the range has asked to shoot it and they have all been complimentary of it. This is one gun that is just plain fun to shoot.
My only hope is that someone will come out with more accessories for it. Choate makes +2 and +3 magazine extensions for it but that's it. I would like to see a single point sling attachment point between the receiver and the stock and maybe a folding or adjustable stock of some kind. I would also like to see a fore-end with some picatinny rail and tape switch attachment points like Magpull has for their SGA fore-end.