kodiakhuntmaster

Looking for a brush gun. The 12ga shoots great out to 75 yards and the 30-30 is close to the same without a scope (I don't want one for this). Here's my setup,

30-30 marlin with 150g. win. superx power point.
Mossberg 500 12ga. smoothbore with federal 1oz. 2 3/4" rifled slugs

Shots will be around 75 yards at the most. Which would you choose?

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

nodose

i'd take the mossberg.

boltman

I'd take the 30-30 any day. A shotgun is a poor choice for deer unless you're using buckshot under 40 yds.

PaulBear

well both are good but you state that the shotgun is a smoothbore,slug's dont work well out of a smoothbore they tend to drop drastically or tumble,I myself use a 30-30 winchester and I hunt brushy area's the longest shot I have is 100 yard's,I have used a shotgun but I used buckshot,I just purchased a REmington deer slayer combo so I will be trying that out with slugs that has a rifled barrel to it I have just never liked using slug's out of a smoothbore

cardeer

In brush I will take a good rifled slug gun anytime.I shoot a mossberg 500 with the new supreme gold slugs.A 2 inch pattern at 100 yards and puts a 2 inch hole straightr thru the body

Brampton Mike

Shotgun all the way....never never use buckshot!!!! Buckshot is for sissies!!!!!! I have an 870 pump gun with a rifled barrel on it & can hit 3" groups at 100 yds....i've taken lots of deer with my trusty old Remington 870...I don't leave home without it..just my .02 cents worth..Brampton Mike

knobby

wow boltman lol <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> A shotgun is a poor choice for deer unless you're using buckshot under 40 yds.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote> ??? Tell that to the 15 or so deer Ive taken with one at all kinds of distances and only once have I had to shoot more than once at any particular deer.

first off a shotgun (slug gun) is a great weapon for taking deer or even Grizzly Bears for that matter lol and my LAST choice for ammo would be buckshot

kodiak I am not familiar too much with 3030s but I will tell you that 75 yards is getting out there very close to the maximum for a smoothbore shotgun as far as accuracy. I would guess the shotgun would have more knockdown power at ranges under 75 yards tho....its awful hard to beat the power of a 1 or 1.25 ounce chunk of lead at short ranges. I grew up using slug guns in Ohio so the shotgun would be a natural first choice for me

** I almost got him but I refuse to take a marginal shot **

Natty Bumpo

If your 12 ga shoots great out to 75 yards use it for your brush gun. That 1oz slug is 3 times heavier than that 30-30 bullet.

Shot many a deer with my 870 with a smoothbore and 1oz. rem sluggers. Now I have a rifled barrel on it and it is more accurate at longer ranges and with a sabot round. I like fed premium rounds.

I like to aim high on the shoulder on broadside shots and it knocks them flat. Too many other hunters out during gun season, I dont want the deer to run off.

On the same exact hit a 12 ga slug will stop a deer much faster than a hit from a 30-30. Or any other deer rifle caliber at that range.

Tazman

Man my 2 favorite choices for deer, hmmmmmmmm, well if all your shots will be 75 yards or less I would go with the 12 gauge, a slug will knock a deer flat on its rear, the knock down power is great, however the 30-30 is also a deadly weapon on deer at that range.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

RonM

In the State of Delaware we dont have even that much choice, it is a shotgun state and most everyone uses slugs, albiet many do use buckshot, and the rifles slug barrels are becoming more popular, smoothbores still do the job. A slug ,properly placed will knock the biggest buck off his feet.