Shotgunning Deer
 

What are some of the guns you guys use to hunt deer with shotguns? i have a 20 guage 870, do you think that is enough gun?

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

yeah you can do it with a 20 guage, but Iwouldnty try it. I dont shotgun deer hunt here, too many wackies who shoot at movement durin shotgun season...


-Travis-

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

]\boy i here ya on wackies., her in mn where i live the just expanded the shotgun zone that has been that for years to rifle ., ouch ., !!!! im NOT goin to even be close in that zone., but as far as a slug gun? see if you can get a slug barrel for it ., i use a 870 12 ga. with a slug barrel ., and so does alot of others around here do ., i dont hunt with the slug gun anymore cuz i use either bow or muzzleloader but i hope this helps you out ., and good luck to you this season.,p.s. if yo uare useing the 20 ga. with a smooth barrel ., you are goin to have to practice since the bullet will come out in many differnt ways .,im sure there is more people here that can explan that better .,

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

yea id go for a bigger gun. i think you are taking a risk goin with a 20 gauge

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

The 20ga kills LOTS of deer every year. And they can't tell the difference between it and a 12. As long as you can hit where you are aiming, it is fine. Remember, you are hunting deer, not buffalo.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Shot placement kills deer , not the loudness of theboom .
I took the first deer of the season last year with a 20 gage Charles Daly field pump loaded with plain old cheap foster style slugs , it was more than enough gun for the task . I wouldn't go as low as a .410 , but a 20 gage is plenty .

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Practice, Practice, Practice and know it's limitations! Sure it will!

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Down here Shotguns usually mean "buckshot," not rifled slugs like some places!
As far as buckshot goes, I don't like it! Short range, and no expansion, equals lost deer, regardless of the guage!
Now if we are talking rifled slugs, The 20 should not be far behind the 12 guage, that is knowing your own personal limitations!

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

kshafer...If you are hunting with slugs then kevin and rebel are exactly right...a 20 gauge slug is plenty...but...Are you asking because you are hunting in a state that allows buckshot??? If so, you do need to be sure and try several brands of buckshot and different chokes...With smaller bores, I like to drop down to #1 buck...and start with an improved cylinder choke, and work your way up...Deer with buckshot are usually killed within 25-40 yards...If you can keep 4-5 in a 8x11 piece of paper (turned horizontal) you are good to go...Good Luck

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

The 20 ga. is really .54 Caliber so it is plenty to take a deer.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

I have shot a couple deer with my 20 gauge 870, it gets the job done, and the slugs shoot flatter than a 12 gauge. however the only thing i dont like about it is that the two deer i have shot with it, neither of the slugs exited which made tracking a pain

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

A 20ga. slug will kill a deer dead, no problem. I started with a 20, then went to a 12.(fosters and smoothbore)I've been in the market for a single-shot fully rifled slug gun, and you know what, it'll be a 20, not a 12. the 12 just does TOO MUCH damage to salvage all the meat.

Ifyou can use both, why would you ever use buckshot over slugs???

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

I've been hunting deer with a 20 ga in Illinois since 1986. I have never shot thru a deer.....ever. The slug is designed to tear a big hole, mass trauma, its not a FMJ.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Your 870 20 Guage is PLENTY of gun for deer!
Here in Indiana we can't use rifles for deer so most people use a shotgun and I've seen lots and lots of deer taken down with a 20.
I agree with some of these guys, get a rifled barrel and some good sabots. JMO but I'd use Winchester Partition Gold Sabots. A little pricey, but man do they shot straight and just about knock one off it's feet!

Good luck

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

12 gauge NEF Pardner Slugger 2.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

I live in delaware. We are only allowed to use shotguns. I have been hunting with them for deer since I was 8 years old. A 20 gauge is more than enuff gun. If you can kill a deer with and arrow a lead projectile that expands and has knock down will deffinetly do it. I use a 12 gauge H&R slug gun. They make the same gun in 20 gauge. Alot of my friends have them and they shoot deer out to 200yds. It all comes down to shot placement. Heck if you could sneak up on a deer you could kill it with a number #2 pencil if you put it in the right spot.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Killed lots of deer with a 20 gauge 870 here in Ohio. 100 yards would be no problem, if you can hit the vitals.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

i use a Mossberg bolt action 12 gauge with Remington Copper Solid slugs and it is deadly but the 20 gauge is a great gun. I hunt in Ohio and the biggest buck I have ever seen on the ground was killed with a 20 gauge 870. It was killed by a 69 yr old half deaf man and it scored 170 3/8

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

My son (13 yo) uses an 870 20ga, rifled barrel, saddle mounted Bushnell holosight. Accurate and deadly to 100 yards. For hunting we use the Federal sabots with the barnes expanders. The 20 gage has more energy and velocity at 100 yards than a 12ga foster from a smoothbore, and better accuracy.

If you are looking at longer shots, I'd recommend an investment in a cantilever rifled barrel, and put on a scope/sight of choice. I know a number of guys using red-dots that love them in the woods. I also use a Bushnell holosight and find magnification is not needed, and would be a hindrance in most cases. I do have a 3-9 Bushnell scope on my muzzleloader though.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

Lightfield 20 guage slugs in a rifled barrel are plenty for deer.:)

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

I`ve shot 5 bucks with my ithaca 20ga. I would be still hunting with it but my wife took it over 3 yrs ago. Now I got a 12 ga. just make sure you know limits and practise shooting:D

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

My Benelli Super 90 12 ga./Patternmaster choke comboand 3" magnum 00 buckshot has pilled up more than a dozen deer at distances out to 40 yards. I have personally never had a deer take a step after being hit with buckshot. Many of the places where I hunt arethick and don't allow shots over 25-50 yards,andmy weapons of choiceare my shotgun or 30/30 for this kind of hunting.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

I just bought a rem. 11-87 in 3 1/2" mag. Can you get 3 1/2" slugs or is 3" the limit?

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

heck, I shot my first deer w/ a .410 slug., Ive even used 20 ga. buckshot. If you aim right, the deer will drop.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

My brother and I both use Mossberg Slugster 12 gauges.

RE: Shotgunning Deer
 

If your 20 gauge is a rifled barrel, try the Lightfield EXP sabot slugs. I know from experience they do the job right!