I have many different caliber rifles and shotguns. I have killed deer with all of them. I think that you are a fool if you think that a shotgun cant kill deer as well as a rifle. A dead deer is a dead deer. Its all about shot placement. I have killed deer at 225yds with a shotgun and it went 35yds. I have killed deer with my 7 mm mag that ran 100yds. A shotgun is just as sufficient of a deer gun as a rifle. As long as you have the right combination. A fully rifled barrel and sabot slugs with good optics and plenty of range time they will never let you down. I like hunting with both. Now if you are gonna be able to shoot over 200yds I would take the rifle..