If you had one shot at a large game animal under 100 yds.would a 12 ga. good slug gun hold up to a say 30.06,308....?

Man, I have butchered dozens and dozens of deer. dozens by slugs, and more by rifles. One thing I can say, is a slug makes a nice exit and a big hole, but a 270 or 06 under 100 yards melts the lungs, causes extreme trauma to the heart, liver, anything around. A good boiler room shot from a high powered rifle is much more devastating than a slug.

Its a give and take however, the slug doesn't need all that hydrostatic shock but makes a big hole.

If I had the choice I would pick a high powered rifle. I have to use a shotgun or muzzle loader where I live. If that change I would probably own a .243 as soon as I could afford it.

Paul

Provided they are both effectively accurate to 100 yards I honestly don't think the dead animal will ever know the differance. All of the cartridges you listed are more gun than will ever be needed to efficiently and effectively kill deer, elk or moose.

Remember that there are 12 ga shells that fire a 45 caliber rifle bullet (385 grain Nosler partition) at 2000 fps. This essentially duplicates a heavily loaded 45-70 or a 450 Marlins ballistics.

At 100 yds, 30 cal no question. I shot a deer this past weekend through the ribs with a 12 ga slug at about 40 yds. Even at the shorter range the slug did not exit. I'm a big fan of two holes. Most slugs are running out of steam at 100, while 30 cals are still zipping.

out of steam at 100 yds ?I need to check on that ,would think more at 150-200 yds. I would think most sabot slugs are deadly at 100 yds.

Oh sure, they can kill an animal, but I think the question is which would you pick.

I know all the deer I have shot at 100 yards, have very minimal damage with slug at 100 yards. If you hit them in the lungs, it will exit. Hit anything along the the way, I doubt it.

But a 30-06, with the correct bullet won't have nay

Yea, i would take the rifle too.but here in n.j . no rifle deer hunting,so hopefully I will make a trip to p.a. on n.y.
can you rifle hunt in MD ?

what type of cover and terrain are you hunting in??? if it's close extremely brushy stuff i would go with the shotgun but if it's relatively open i would go with the centerfire rifle.

i have a hard time believin that a slug didn't exit a deer ar 40 yards from anywhere. ive shot a deer at like 150 yards and it went clear through.