I had planned on going south and participating in some hunts in an area that allowed buckshot. So I did some studying and patterning. Lots of patterning.
The real answer bottom line here is you need to shoot some different loads and see what groups well for you at various ranges.... It seems like everybody you ask has a different opinion and that's probably because everyone's gun groups a little bit differently.
I did not try #4s. But there are people who swear by them. That's allot of holes on target if it's close, so I don't doubt it's effectiveness. Key word :up close.
Shoot them and see! Make your decision based on what the patterns are telling you.
also if anybody reading this is a member of a club or knows of a club that allows guests to hunt PM me. I've always wanted to hunt deer with dogs and shotguns and I've got a pump gun patterned and ready!
-Jake