00 buckshot or a slug
 

hi iam going deer hunting in a couple months and iam wondering if i should use 00 buckshot or a slugin my 12 guage. My gun has a modified choke if that matters and the shots would be less than 40 yards?

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG AND SHOULD I MENTION SLUG SLUG SLUG SLUG.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

What kind of gun? If you have screw in chokes, you need to buy the most open choke that you can for your gun. You can not just throw a slug in any barrel.

If you are going to be still hunting, I would go with a slug, but you need to MAKE SURE it is safe first. I thought about shooting a slug out of my 11-87 a couple years back out of the regular barrel. So I called Remington. They told me that it would be safe if I put the Improved choke in it and shot a certain kind of slug. I can't remember which kind of slug it was.

If you are going to shoot slugs, I would strongly suggest to save alittle bit of money and buy a slug barrel. You can buy one for Mossberg 500 and 835's pretty cheap. Also for Remington 870's pretty cheap.Other brands such as Browning or if you buy a high brand barrel like a Hastings, it will be a couple hundred dollars. With all that said, a slug barrel would give you a lot better accuracy.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Unless you are fully visually impaired in both eyes, use a slug. That way you'll hit 'em where you'll do the least damage to any meat.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Well...you have a few options. If you have the money to sink into a slug barrel, B Square mount, and a scope...then I say shoot slugs until your shoulder turns purple. If you don't have the money to do that I would suggest that you shoot buckshot. I have killed many deer with buckshot over the years and I haven't ever considered it too damaging to the meat. If you have a screw in choke system then I would recommend that you go out and get one of those extended extra full chokes or compensators and use buckshot. 40 yards and in is prime buckshot territory!

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

SLUGS ,No comparison

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

totally agree........

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Slug if you have the equipment and you are safe. Buckshot if you are hunting in dense cover and you still need to be safe. I shoot both using different guns and it all depends if I am hunting one area or another area. One area I always use buckshot because the cover and bushes are so dense. Another area the woods are a bit more open and I am adjacent to a field...so a slug is more favorable and the weapon of choice,.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

do you have a rifled barrel for your shotgun? if you don't then you need to go with buckshot.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Moose, shoot the 00 buck... your shoulder will thank you for it and you dont have a rifeled barrel for your 12. Rifeled slugs are notorously un-accurate.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

DITTO! And depends in what kind of cover you are hunting.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

smooth bore....slug/rifled slug rifled barrel.....rifled slug or sabot


oobuck is like hitting with 9 ....9mm bullets..its a heavy hit but its all over the place

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

How many guys in here have shot a deer at forty yards with 00 buckshot???

I have and let me tell you, it does the job! Just make sure to try a few different brands to see how your gun throws them.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I would bet that most of the votes for slugs have never killed a deer with buckshot. Using a modified choke and under 40 yards, buckshot would be my choice. I use 3" magnum 00 buckshot regularly and have never lost a deer or hog. A couple of years ago, I bought a Patternmaster choke specifically for shooting buckshot and am not sure that it is any better than the flush mount modified that I had been using. I have killed deer out to almost 50 yards using a modified choke, and I have NEVER had to blood trail a deer that I have shot with buckshot. I have killed around 12-15 deer and numerous hogswith buckshot, andnot one has ever taken a step after being hit.

I used to have a rifled barrel for my Benelliwhich shot slugs very well, but I have tried and tried to find a rifled slug that I could get to pattern out of my smooth bore barrel. I have trieddifferent brands and have never been successful getting under a 6" group at 50 yards (which is not acceptable to me).

Good luck with your choice of ammo.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I am a rifle hunter, and a muzzloader hunter. I have never shot a deer with buckshot our slugs.

I would see how your shotgun shot the slugs before I made my decision.

I have experimented with slugs out of my shotguns, and If I had to use them, I don't think I would be real confident with my accuracy out to any distance past about 40 yards.Of course they are smoothbore, and the 12 guage that I have probably played around with the most is modified choke shooting just the plain Remington rifled sluggers. I just don't see how you take very good aim with a smoothbore with just the bead for a sight.
I have always thought of getting a slug barrel, but I love my muzzle loader to much to spend the $200.00

This is my question. To those who have experience with buckshot, where do you take aim on a broadside deer standing 40 yards away? I personally would not want any pellets to hit south of the diaphram.

C. Davis

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

SLUG. YOU WILL HIT THE ANIMAL, JUST AS EASILY WITH BOTH IF COMFORTABLE WITH THE SHOTGUN. WITH SLUG YOU CAN SHOOT FROM FARTHER AWAY IF NEED BE. HERE IS THE DESCIDING FACTOR, A SLUG WILL PUT A CLEAN HOLE FROM ONE END OF THE ANIMAL AND OUT THE OTHER. THE HOLE WILL BE LARGE ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULD BLEED QUICK AND ALLOW FOR EASY TRACKING IF IT DOES RUN ( BUT IT WON'T GO FAR ). THE MEAT WON'T SWELL TO LOOSE THE BLOOD TRAIL. THE IDEA OF 00 IS THAT IT IS EASIER TO HIT A VITAL, BUT ALL THE ENTRY HOLES CLOSE QUICK FROM THE SWELLING OF THE FLESH, PLUS EXIT HOLES ARE MINIMAL. LIKE MOST OTHER OPINIONS, SLUG, SLUG, SLUG. I'VE NEVER LOST A DEER WITH A SLUG. PLUS WITH A SHOTGUN, IT IS MY TYPE OF HUNTING, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I only use slugs

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I'm not a big fan of buckshot so I would say a slug. Most guns will shoot a rifled slug out to 70 yards pretty well. Sights would help quite a bit though.

Just make sure you get rifled slugs because the fins will collapse when they go thru the choke. For 2-3 dollars a box it couldn't hurt to try them and see what happens.

I agree with the others, if you want longer range and more accuracy get a rilfed barrel and possibly a scope. The down side is saboted slugs are 10 bucks and up for 5 rounds! I just got some federals with the barnes exanders and it cost me 41 bucks for 15 rounds!!

Paul

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

When I am going to hunt in thick cover or in the swamps, I prefer the 00Buck.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Obviously check your laws here in Minnesota buckshot is not even legal to hunt deer with.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

This may be one of the most ridiculous statements I have read on this board in some time. If recoil is going to be the deciding factor inrecommending ammuntion to this individual perhaps we should not be having this discussion at all. The difference in recoil between shoot 9 .33cal projectiles out of a 12ga or one standard rifled slug is so negligeable in the field as to make its discussion laughable.

As far as acuuracy you say rifled slugs are " notorously un-accurate.", compared to what? A benchrest rifle? We are making a comparison here between 00 buck and a rifled slug at 40yds.

Virtually all modern shotguns are capable of shooting at least 2in groups at 40 yds with rifled slugs. If a gun that shoots 2in at 40yds is not accurate enough for a shooter, that individual has no place shooting at living game.

Let me make it clear, I have nothing against buckshot. I simply want this individualmake his decision based on fact., not on some random statement that has no merit.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

It's hard to beat the smashing knock-down power of a 12 gauge slug! However, you will need an Improved cylinder choke and some sort of sight (fiber optic atleast). This would put ya in the game for some serious firepower. Here in IL we take out slug guns seriously. :D Most use cantilever scope mounted fully rifled slug guns that shoot todays modern sabots into 4" or less groups at distances between 100 and 200 yards!

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Since the rest of us are posting "random statements", what sources validate your information?

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Retrieverman,

Your statement does not pose a direct question. What specific information would you like validated?

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Clear examples of random statements....Although they may seem to make a point there is no context to support them whatsoever.....

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

My question is directed at your entire post. What makes you an expert on slugs and buckshot?

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Retrieverman,

Since itwas clearfrom your last two posts that you never intended to discuss the subject matter of my original post, I wondered to myself why any poster here would intentionally start making inflamatory remarks for no particular reason?

ThenI remembered another instance about a month ago where I saw this occur on another forum. After a quick perusal using the boards search function I was not at all surprised to find that in fact it was you, Retrieverman. In that instanceyoueven ventured so far off topic that your posts began to use the "fight" in almost every paragraph.

Well I am sorry to inform you Retrieverman, that is not what the rest of us are here to do. As you have already made it clear multiple times that you can not discuss the topic at hand without attempting to initiate personal attacks I find no point in responding to, or acknowledging any of your posts.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I vote for buckshot again!

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Retrieverman, just because you have never had the right comination
to shoot sabots or shooting the right ones and spending alot of time
at the range testing and doing research, don't speak for everyone else.

I have hada 200yd range on my property since 1967 and do all the
testing and research with smooth bore and rifled bore guns. Have
tried just about every combo and every ammo out there.

I shoot a BRN A-5 with a Hastings Paradox barrel with a Simmons shotgun
scope. I can put everyone in a 6" pie plate @ 75-80yds using Win. BRI sabots.
You say that is not acceptable to you, well all the vitals on a deer are in a 8"
circle. I have the recovered expanded sabots on the shelf for display. Some
expanded to 60-65 and 70 caliber.


Sabot slugs
These days most of the major shotshell manufacturers also offer sabot slug loads for 12 and 20 gauge shotguns. These are for use only in fully rifled barrels. How a long arm with a fully rifled barrel can be termed a "shotgun," I fail to understand, but that is beside the point. These loads are essentially equivalent to the kind of loads used in modern, high performance muzzleloading rifles.
Since the Remington catalog is still open in front of me, I will use their sabot slugs as representative of the type. Bear in mind that, as with sabot bullets for muzzleloaders, they're plenty of variations available.
Remington offers 12 and 20 gauge Premier sabot loads with both JHP bonded lead core bullets and solid copper hollow point bullets. The former are called "Premier Core-Lokt Ultra," and latter are "Premier Copper Solid."
The 12 gauge Core-Lokt Ultra sabot bullet is a .50 caliber, 385 grain HP semi-spitzer. The catalog MV is 1900 fps and the 100 yard velocity is 1648 fps. The ME is given as 3086 ft. lbs. and the remaining energy at 100 yards is 2325 ft. lbs. The trajectory of that load looks like this: +1.8" at 50 yards, +2.4" at 100 yards, and +/- 0" at 150 yards.
The 20 gauge sabot bullet weighs 260 grains. It also has a MV of 1900 fps, and its velocity at 100 yards is given as 1615 fps. The ME is 2084 ft. lbs., and the remaining energy at 100 yards is 1506 ft. lbs. The trajectory of that load looks like this: +2.0" at 50 yards, +2.7" at 100 yards, and +/- 0" at 150 yards.
As I wrote at the outset, this are similar to the ballistics obtainable with high performance, .50 caliber, inline muzzleloading rifles. Accuracy is apparently not quite as good as the best muzzleloaders, as Remington claims consistent 2 1/2" 5-shot groups at 100 yards. But that is impressive accuracy from any kind of shotgun--even if it is really a rifle!
Clearly, the use of these sabot bullet loads completely negates the rationale behind the "shotgun only" deer hunts. Not only are these shotguns with rifled barrels technically rifles, they shoot like rifles. In fact, they equal traditional big game rifle cartridges such as the .45-70 and .38-55.
For example, a .45-70 rifle shooting a 400 grain bullet (BC .214) at a MV of 1900 fps has a trajectory that looks like this: +2.1" at 50 yards, +2.8" at 100 yards, +/- 0" at 150 yards, and -7.2" at 200 yards (Speer figures). That is a very similar trajectory to the Remington Core-Lokt Ultra loads described above.
The Hornady .45 caliber, 300 grain XTP-Mag sabot bullet used in their 12 gauge factory load has a BC of .200, which I suspect is not much different than the BC of the Remington sabot bullet. Holding a scope's horizontal crosswire level with a buck's back should put the bullet into the heart/lung area at 200 yards.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

First of all, I am speaking for no one except myself. I shared my experience and cast my vote for buckshot. I HAVE had great luck with saboted slugs out of a rifled barrel, but it doesn't sound like this gentleman has a rifled barrel which makes this a mute point.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

You sure don'tcome across as having much.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I have shot plenty of buck shot and plenty of slugs and I think that the slugs kick much harder than the buckshot. Also, I have shot plenty of deer with buckshot, here in NJ that is our only choice, and the wayI see it, if I have more than 2 seconds to make my shot at 40 yards and in with buckshot I will show you a dead deer every time. Also, inside 40 yards I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with buckshot on a dead run. I have killed plenty in this fashion, and I would NEVER attempt that shot with a slug. You can say what you like, but you will never convince me that buckshot won't kill deer effectively at 40yards. I have a remington 870 with a 28 inch barrel and an X-tra full turkey choke that puts all 12 pellets of 00B magnums in a pizza box at 50 yards.That WILL KILL any deer it hits at that distance. As far as tracking them and blood trails, I wouldn't worry about it. The buckshot has always knocked them right down for me. Completely different from hitting them with a rifle bullet.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

You sure don'tcome across as having much.
[/quote]

DITTO!!!

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

To figure on the knockdown power, would you rather get shot one time with a .223 or twelve times instantaneously with a .22LR? That is probably your best comparison from buckshot to a rifle bullet. The shotgun usually knocks deer down when it hits them. I have had them get up, but they have never gone far.

I like slugs but if you don't have a rifled barrel and a scope you can certainly have success with buckshot!

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Tom,
You sound like you have a lot of experience with buckshot. I have always used a rifle or muzzloader, but I am curious. Where do you like toaim at a broadside deer, and how fast do they go down after being hit with a load of 00 buckshot? Do you get complete penetration?

C. Davis

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Slugs are legal in New Jersey

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Totem,

I am sure Tom is aware of the laws. I believe he was discussing his interpretion of hunting in NJ.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

I would like to add....

Oh never mind.

RE: 00 buckshot or a slug
 

Mr Davis
I am not Tom and probably don't have his experience, but I have never had a deer take a step after being hit with buckshot.I have never counted pellets but probably 50% have passed through on the 12-15 deerthat I have killed, however I can't recall ever having a pass through on a hog. I have been using Remington 3" magnum 00, but I found a deal on Federal 3" magnum 00 and will be shooting them this year. Depending on distance, I aim for heart/lung or maybe slightly higher past 30 yards.