I like his articles. Don't always agree with all of it, but they are informational. I personally think the 20 gauge is a fine weapon for deer. You have to take into account for geography though. In my neck of the woods 100 yards is a fairly long shot. Most around here consider 150 long range. At least when deer hunting.

Now if you lived out west it would be a different story. A slug gun would probably be useless to you.

I don't always go by what the math says either. Some loads, especially rifle loads will claim big numbers, but don't really transfer any where near that energy to an animal or traget. Where as a slower slug inside of 100 yards transfers a great amount of energy because it holds more momentum and has more surface area when impacting a target. I can shoot a large piece of fire wood with a 30-06 and it will zip right thru the log. Probably not even moving it. And even if it stops it the log stays upright. I can do the same thing with a slug and it will nock the log over and roll it on the ground.

I have noticed the same with arrows. When you do the math most arrows produce simular KE out of the same bow. The heavier arrow will be a bit higher, but not much, less than a ft/lb sometimes. Yet the the difference betwee a 320 grn arrow and a 450 grn arrow when the hit the target is quite noticable.

Not that rifles are not effective, obviously they are. It has a lot to with bullet design though. With the better bullets and the high velocity they attain the hydrostatic shock is pretty imressive. But at close ranges the simple heavy lead slug is VERY effective if placed in the right spot.

Just my opinions any way.

Paul