Stevens 320 Security Lineup: Thumbhole, Pistol Grip, Rail, 20 Gauge

Same short pump, four different ways to hold and equip it. Here is how to choose without reading four separate reviews.

One shotgun, four personalities

The Stevens 320 Security keeps turning up when people ask for a value-oriented home-defense pump. We already cover the basics in separate pages for the 12 gauge and the 20 gauge, and our budget shotgun comparison puts it next to the Maverick 88. This page is the map: four configurations in the catalog, what actually differs between them, and which household each one fits.

Every one of the four is listed with an 18.5-inch barrel and 5+1 capacity. What changes is the stock, whether there is a rail, and the gauge.

Specs here come from the product listings. For weight, overall length and the exact rail and sight details, check the manufacturer's specification sheet for the model you pick.

The thumbhole: a different way to hold it

The Stevens 320 Security with a thumbhole stock swaps the pistol-grip feel for a stock with a hole your thumb passes through, so your hand sits behind the receiver in a more rifle-like position. People who dislike how a pistol grip pulls their wrist or who feel more comfortable with a conventional grip often prefer it.

What to weigh:

• Shouldering. A thumbhole generally lets you build a more natural cheek weld than a pistol-grip stock. A better fit means better accuracy, and accuracy is what keeps shots from straying.
• Recoil. Gripping style does not change the energy of a shell, but how comfortably you can control the gun does affect whether you keep practicing.
• Sights. This listing mentions a bead sight. A bead is fine for pointing a shotgun at close range once you know where it patterns, but it gives you little to work with in dim light unless you add something. That is one more reason to equip a light.

The pistol grip: the common choice

The pistol-grip Stevens 320 Security in 12 gauge is the version most buyers picture. It places the hand low and close, and it is a familiar layout from other short defensive pumps. If you have shot a Mossberg or similar pistol-grip pump, the geometry will feel known.

The catch is control. A pistol grip on a heavy-recoil gauge can be punishing, particularly for newer shooters, and the temptation to skip practice because it hurts is a safety problem in its own right. Fit matters more than looks. If you can, handle one at a local dealer before you buy.

The rail version: for lights and optics

The Stevens 320 Security with a rail is the one to look at if your plan involves mounting a light or a red dot. A weapon light is a standard recommendation for any gun that lives for home defense, because you must identify who or what you are looking at before you decide anything. Read our weapon-light guide for why.

Two cautions. First, a rail is a mounting surface, not a complete system. Check where it sits, what it accepts and whether the light you want will clear the pump. Second, a shotgun-mounted light means the muzzle points wherever you are lighting. Do not use a weapon light to search your house; a handheld flashlight is for looking, the weapon light is for when you have already decided you need the gun.

The 20 gauge: for the person who will actually practice

The 20 gauge pistol-grip version matters mostly for a specific kind of household: one where a smaller-statured adult or a recoil-sensitive shooter is going to be the primary user. A 20-gauge shell generally carries a lighter payload, so recoil is gentler in a gun of comparable weight. That is a practical advantage, because a gun that is pleasant to shoot gets practiced with.

The trade-off is payload. Our 20-gauge guide goes through how to think about it. Ammunition selection matters more here, because you will want a load designed for defense and you will want to see how your particular gun patterns it. Do not rely on anyone's claim about spread at a given distance; patterns vary by gun, choke and load, and your own paper at the distances in your house is the only answer that counts.

Which one, for whom

Pick the thumbhole if you dislike pistol grips, you want a more rifle-like hold, and you are comfortable with a bead sight plus a light you add yourself.

Pick the pistol grip if you want the most conventional short-pump layout and you have practiced with a gun like it.

Pick the rail version if a mounted light or optic is part of your plan from day one.

Pick the 20 gauge if recoil is the obstacle between you (or your spouse, or an older teenager under supervision) and regular practice.

Skip the whole lineup if you want the deepest aftermarket and parts support. Mossberg-pattern guns have a much larger ecosystem, and our classic pumps comparison is a better starting point.

Equip and store it properly

Whichever you choose, the gun is only part of the purchase. Plan these together:

1. A light, mounted or handheld, so you can identify before you act.
2. A proven buckshot load that you have patterned in your gun. Our buckshot buyer's guide covers common choices.
3. Hearing and eye protection for practice, because a shotgun is loud and the debris at the range is real.
4. A long-gun cabinet or safe with a real lock, placed where children, guests and burglars cannot reach it. Hiding a gun is not storing it.
5. Instruction from a qualified trainer. Pump guns reward a complete stroke and a practiced routine.

Bottom line

The Stevens 320 Security is one shotgun in four outfits. Choose the stock and gauge that let you shoot and train comfortably, add a light, and treat storage as part of the price. If the fit feels right in the shop, the rest is practice.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.