IF ya got a 12ga. handy go for it. Rifled slugs have killed deer for decades prior to the advent of rifled barrels. Also, not all rifled barrels are good for rifled slugs (seems the rifling on one may be counter to the other-barrel to the right and slug to the left-this is not always the case but often enough to be a serious problem). So with RIFLED slugs stick with a smooth bore gun and have fun.