If I'm in a ground stand, I want a scoped 12 gauge with a rifled barrel shooting something like a remington copper solid. I have complete confidence out to about 130 yards with this set-up. Ammo is really expensive but it shouldn't take more than 1 shot. If I'm up in a treestand, pushing brush, or at the waiting end of a deer drive, I'm carrying somethinglike a remington 1100 with an improved cylinder smoothbore slug barrel andwinchester super-x slugs(inexpensive)sighted in dead on at 50 yds. I have a scoped winchester pump with smoothbore barrel which is pretty accurate out to 100 yds (about a 3" group) and plenty deadly. My Ithaca deerslayer II with a rifled barrel will shoot sub 2" groups at 100 yds. Ultimately it is the type of hunting you plan to do that will decide it. I personally feel that if you plan to shoot with open sights, there is no need for the rifled barrel. I've found accuracy is more dependant on a good scope than a rifled barrel. If you definitley want a scoped gun, I would recommend the circle-x reticle because it will give you a much better opportunity to find a running deer in your scope picture.

KEJ