For deer, all you need is a pump. The only issue is a pump kicks those 3" slugs alot more than a auto. A good recoil pad can help. I have took alot of deer with my old 870 but didn't have a scope. A few years ago, I got a Browning gold with a cantilever barrel cause I wanted scope mount and only trust a cantilever. It is just as accurate and more than the 870, except its an auto. Thing is out of 9 or so deer shot with it, I have yet to need the auto feature. So I kinda wish I would have just got a cantilever barrel for the 870 and bought the browning for duck only. Now duck you need the auto IMO.