RE: buckshot
"Slugs are always better than buckshot. Buckshot doesn't work very well unless you get a tight pattern and hit the deer with the full load, if you can hit him with that you can hit him with a slug. "
This was one of the most ignorant replies ever posted on this board. He has obviously never shot a deer with both buckshot and slugs. Members should refrain from posting answers if they don't know what they are talking about.
I have shot many deer with both. Inside of 40-50 yards, on deer, a properly patterned shotgun loaded with buckshot, is as deadly as any high power rifle. Slugs are too.
Take a brown paper bag and nail it sideways to a tree, so that it resembles a deer's torso. The distance at which you can consistently keep 4 pellets on the bag is your max range. Try several brands.