I have shot alot of deer with slugs, and two with 00 buckshot. I won't ever shoot 00 or 000 again. Up close, it can be ok, but out at 40yards, it just ruins good meat and I have had to finish off with a slug anyway. I hate the stuff. And you have tospend a decent amount of time patterning it to get even a 8" pattern at 40 yards.

Yes you can shoot sluggers or foster type slugs in a smoothbore, but I recommend a modified choke, and better yet, a rifled extended choke. Also, I highly recommend some decent sights.The bead on a shotgun covers the entire vitals when a deer is at 40 yards.