When shooting slugs I personaly like a rifled barrel with a scope. But like everyone else is telling you it won't make you a better hunter. Sounds to me like you need more scouting time and better stand placement. Most deer are shot with in 50 yards so distance shoulden't be an issue. Hunting is suppos to be fun and has many parts to it not just shooting a deer. Get out in the woods and fields find those deer runs follow them try to figure out why the deer are using that run and when books and vidios can give you a few tips at first but belive me when I tell you its all foot work to get down and durty. Its all fun and all parts of the puzzle and when a hard worked plan comes together you just feel that much better about it. Good luck and stay with it. It took me 9 years to get my first deer so I know your fustration but it seemed like after the first one they all started comming. And its been 25 years since that first one and the excitement is still there for each and everyone since. One thing I did do all the way back to that first deer is keep a log of each deer I have ever shot I write stuff like weather, temp. how I was feeling exactatly what happened. And reading back the other day most of my deer came on a day I really didn't think I was going to see a deer. It was one of the best idias I ever had. Keep your head up and get to work and have a ball. Mike