I have been debating lately on what gun to use during the early youth gun hunt here in Ohio. Well, I have a friend back from college who said he would let me shoot his 12 ga.
It is a Winchester 1300, rifled barrel, scoped, and 3 inch magnum deer hunting gun. I shot a total of about 5 times, 3 at 40 yds. It kicks so much you can't be accurate! He shot it and was pretty much using the truck as an anchor and he shot about a 8 inch pattern, I on the other shot the target 1 time at 40 yds., and I can take the kick, but I can't be accurate with something like that!
Everyone thinks you need a 3- 3 1/2 inch slug to take a deer! You don't, because I have used a single-shot 20 ga. with a smooth bore, beaded sight and rifled 2 3/4 in slugs and I have tore through targets (in the circle) at over 50 yds. (plenty far enough for a shotgun).
Basically I'm trying to say you don't have to overkill the deer, I know folks who use decked out .410's and they are just like a rifle, only with a bigger bullet. I think if the gun kicks too much to even hit the target, there is no need to take it hunting. After all, deer are tough, but they aren't abominal robots here...