Deer Slug Gun: 20 Ga. vs. 12 Ga. ??

Troutman10 · 01-10-2008, 08:14 PM

I'm looking to buy a Browning BPS Deer gun w/ Cantilever barrel soon. I noticed it comes in 12 or 20 gauge and is good for ambidextrous shooters. What are some of the positives and negatives of both 12 and 20?Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Mr. Longbeard · 01-10-2008, 08:55 PM

I bought a 12ga but had a lot of people say the 20ga is more accurate... I just like putting big holes in deer

Dick Metcalf did a article on the 20ga slug... Check out G&A web sight... they have a vidoe clip of ol DM shooting a doe with a 20ga slug...

Paul L Mohr · 01-11-2008, 07:13 AM

If you are talking modern sabots then a 20 ga is fine. I just sold my slug gun (12 ga HR Ultra) and if I were to get another dedicated slug gun I would get a 20 ga. With the modern sabots the ballistics are very similar to a modern inline muzzle loader. More than enough to kill deer beyond 100 yards. Now if you were talking smooth bore I might suggest the 12 over the 20 because the rifled slugs have pretty poor ballistics and the 12 ga would actually offer an edge. However with modern sabot slugs I don't think the 12 ga offers you anything but more recoil

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I also might suggest a 12 if you were going to use the gun for multi purpose hunting, like if you were getting a combo model with a deer barrel and smooth bore barrel. However in reality a 20 ga smooth bore will do everything a 12 ga will as far as velocity goes, it just throws a few less bb's to do it.

The BPS's are nice slug guns I think you will be happy either way. My next pump WILL be a BPS.

Paul

LeeinVa1 · 01-11-2008, 07:30 AM

I have a browning A5 12 ga and the browning BPS in the 20 ga. shot many deer over the years with both. i recently switched to the BPS for a couple of reasons. one was the weight, the other was the new ammo for the 20 ga. both will kill deer out to 100 yards with no problem. by the way, cabelas does handle a scrope mount for the BPS and it does keep the scope a lot lower on the gun. i just mounted a red dot on mine, but have not taken it to the range yet.

Hunting the North · 01-11-2008, 09:33 AM

Troutman10. I noticed you have the same set-up as I do as far as the Rem 870 with cantalever scope mount and Nikon 2-7x 32mm Prostaff scope. Mine performs awesome on deer. Just wondering my you wanted to get a browning 20ga.?

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Subject:

eldeguello · 01-11-2008, 09:33 AM

Before the advent of rifled slug barrels and sabot type "slugs" (which are nothing but big bullets), the12-Ga. had a decided advantage for shooting deer and bigger game. Using a sabotted bullet, this is no longer true-the"20 is plenty". In addition, you can get the 20 in a lighter platform.

RugerMike · 01-11-2008, 11:49 AM

I have a Bronwing BPS Game Hunter synthetic with rifled sights and 3 chokes $300 if interested?

Old/New · 01-12-2008, 08:12 AM

I have a 20ga on order for my Pro Hunter. It's all you need with Sabots.

01-12-2008, 09:19 AM

IMO, the 12ga just packs a much better punch. Still has more energy out to 100 yards than the 20ga. And at 100 yards, sometimes that where the slug power starts degrading quick. I use the sluggun more than the rifle in MD, and IMO, the 12ga slug still does not do the damage as a 30-06 or 308.

Will_C · 01-12-2008, 04:03 PM

Although I am out of the slug gun game now (rifles were legalized 3 years ago in my area), I shot slugs for 20 years. If I had to shoot them again, I would go with a 20 gauge. The ballistics of today's sabots in a 20 gauge rivals that of my muzzleloader, and I have shot enough deer with that to be impressed. The recoil of slugs is awful, but in a autoloader the 20 should be around .308 level, much nicer than a 12.
Will