ORIGINAL: DM
"If" i was given the choise of shooting a deer with a slug gun (you pick the ammo) or a properly loaded 30-30, (you pick the range) i wouldtake the 30-30 every time!
All of the medium power range of deer rifles out perform a 30-30, and they easily out perform a shot gun slug too. (if they are properly loaded) I just don't understand why someone who can hunt with a rifle, and owns both firearms, would pick a slugfor close range and a rifle for further out.
The rifle will work at both ranges, it's the obvious choise.
Drilling Man
I do. I live in a rifle county in MD and pretty well use my slug gun for everything there. It has given me so many one shot kills, I am beginning to think its just a charmed gun. I know thats silly, but when you have confidence in a firearm, that means alot. I took a 45-70 out first day lat year and lost a deer because it ran 20 yards on the neighboring property. And I have almost a dozen deer cartidges. Alot of my friends give me a hard time. But its a semi with a 2X scope so its perfect, and I am hunting on a small plot of land and like the followup, and even though you don't see this massive hydroshock inside the animal, you always get a big entrance and big exit.
Second benefit, is the land I use this gun on is a finger goin thru two horse farms. I feel better shooting a slow 1oz slug than possibly killing a 1 million dollar horse with a 150gr 3000fps 06.
when I go hunting in other states or swamps, I take the rifle.