20 Gauge for Deer?

[Double Drops 24]

Has anyone ever had any issues with less knock-down power of a 20 gauge on deer? I'm really considering getting a 20 ga. H&R but I just want to make sure I won't be disappointed that I didn't get a 12 gauge.

[cjwink]

A 20 guage slug is more than enough to kill a deer..

[Hunting the North]

I suggest using Hornady's SST 20 ga slug for energy and accuracy.

[fishnski18]

have harvested plenty of deer with a 20 gage. only problem i ever had was using remington slugger rounds. shot a doe at 50 yards she ran off, i gave her some time and took up the trail it was geting late and i only was getting body blood so i let her go over nite. the next day we looked for hours and lost the trail. about to give up i checked on more thicket,and found a bedded doe that was acting weird so i took a head shot and she went right down. once i saw the deer i knew it was the one i shot the day before. she had doubled back on her own trail. i had hit her square on the shoulder but the slug never made it into the chest cavity just broke the bone and brused the ribs the slug fragmented into nothing. i was very surprised. the slugs are great if you hit behind the leg but hardly produce exit wounds, have seen good resolts with the 20 gage sabots. i use buckhammers in my 12 and would use them in the 20 .deer dont move much when you hit them with that much lead.

[salukipv1]

I use a 12ga, but if I were to get a new slug gun for deer it would be a 20ga hands down, without thinking twice about knockdown power.

[BOWHUNTERCOP]

I have the H&R Ultra Deleuxe in 20ga. using Hornady SSTs, this combo isa true track driver. Today's 20ga. is more then enough for deer, it is equal to that of a .50 caliber muzzleloader

[SwampCollie]

ORIGINAL: BOWHUNTERCOP

I have the H&R Ultra Deleuxe in 20ga. using Hornady SSTs, this combo isa true track driver. Today's 20ga. is more then enough for deer, it is equal to that of a .50 caliber muzzleloader

x2

Heck a 20 gauge ain't all that far off from a .45-70. Most modern muzzleloaders are WAY over powered for killing a deer. Well... certainly more than you need anyway...

But yes, a 250 or 275gr (whatever 5/8oz is) slug going 1900 or 2000 fps is more than enough to go through a deer end to end. And the often slight recoil of a 20 gauge will help you put it where it needs to be better. Trajectorys are often a bit flatter with the 20 as well.

Only issue is SELCTION of ammunition... but as the 20 gets more and more popular with the deer/slug crowd, you'll see more and more offerings. Most folks can find something that will put three slugs on a post-it at 100 yards.

[oldsmellhound]

I would consider the 20 gauge to the PREFERRED round for deer-sized game, especially if you are using sabot rounds. The 12 gaugeworks, butmany people have trouble shooting well with them because of the violent recoil with slugs. Personally, I use a muzzleloader, but several of my hunting buddies use 20 gauges. I've seen them to be very deadly with deer and usually shoot very accurately with rifled barrels and sabot rounds. My one friend uses an H & R fully rifled 20 gauge single-shot with Lightfield slugs - he's taken deer out to 120 yards consistently.

[Maine Shooter]

As mentioned, the 20ga is quite a deer getter. Try different loads to see which your particualr one prefers not just which one looks the coolest.

[burntmuch]

My 20 guage H&R USH loves the hornady SST. ragged hole at 50 yards 1 1/2 to 2 inch group at 100. plenty for deer