ths78

"Slugs are always better than buckshot. Buckshot doesn't work very well unless you get a tight pattern and hit the deer with the full load, if you can hit him with that you can hit him with a slug. "

This was one of the most ignorant replies ever posted on this board. He has obviously never shot a deer with both buckshot and slugs. Members should refrain from posting answers if they don't know what they are talking about.

I have shot many deer with both. Inside of 40-50 yards, on deer, a properly patterned shotgun loaded with buckshot, is as deadly as any high power rifle. Slugs are too.

Take a brown paper bag and nail it sideways to a tree, so that it resembles a deer's torso. The distance at which you can consistently keep 4 pellets on the bag is your max range. Try several brands.

timbercruiser

I've killed over 100 deer with 00 buckshot and I will guarantee within 50 yards it is a deadly load. Don't underestimate them.

13pointjomc

Ok,i'll use buckshot in the thick stuff,because a limb will deflect a slug a little bit.If buckshot will kill a deer under 40 yards, i want 00 buckshot!Full choke should keep em' in a tight pattern.I'll pattern first before i hunt.

nchawkeye

Don't assume that the full will pull them in tight, sometime it scatters them...As I mentioned, my Browning prefers an Improved Cylinder and will put 5-6 pellets into a horizontal 8 1/2 X 11 piece of notebook paper at 40 yards...I prefer to take a newspaper, open it up, tape that 8 1/2 X 11 piece of notebook paper in the middle and check at 40 yards, that's as far as I like shooting any game with a shotgun using pellets...

Buckshot is deadly if the gun is patterned and shots are kept within this pattern...Just like any weapon, if used properly it's deadly...

Centaur 1

I've been hunting in a shotgun only state since 1971, I know more about killing deer with shotguns than the majority of hunters. So before you go and post nasty replies maybe you should accept the fact that others might have findings of their own, talk about ignorant replies. More deer are only wounded by buckshot and just considered a miss by the hunter than any other load, just ask your local taxidermist or deer processor. Nothing bugs me more than this spray and pray mentality that so many buckshot users have, if the brush is too thick or the deer is running maybe you shouldn't shoot. Think back to the hunter safety course that supposedly took; how can a hunter positively know his target and beyond if it's obstructed by brush, or keep track of what's there if the deer is running. Now that's ignorant. Hunters like that should take a lesson from bow hunters, if everything isn't perfect they don't shoot.
As far as me having the qualifications to make this post, I do. How many of you have had your best friend shot and almostkilled from people who hunt like your talking about doing. He was 137 yards from the two guys who shot him, they knew he was there but the lost their common sense when they saw a running doe. The deer in question was only 25 yards from him but he didn't shoot because the others were on the other side. The other two emtied their guns at a deer that was running at over 100 yards from them. He lived, but onlyafter a long stay in the hospital, got out two days before christmas.His son was only a couple of years old when this happened. I went and got the boy a christmas tree, bought the presents and wrapped them. Thank god he lived.
All I'm trying to say is, if you don't have a clear shot with nothing behind your deer, why would you shoot? I find a lack of safety to be totally irresponsible, the other people out there have families and loved ones who want to see them return at the end of what's supposed to be a fun day.

bryant1

A properly patterned shotgun with 00B-000B in a 3" or better yet a 3.5" load will effectively kill a deerwithin 0-60 yds, the problem you have is you don't getmany exit wounds with buckshot. Therefore, not much of a bloodtrail.I shoot a beretta model 592 12-gaugewith afull choke and itwill hold a pattern to put 9-10 00B buckshotin a paper plate @ 40 yds.

bigmike924

the 3in gives u alot more powerto blow through. some 2 3/4 i seen dont go out the other side at 75 to 100 yrds i perfer 3in mag from winchester. BUTslugs are better by far. I would use what ever make u feel 100 percent confident to use so u dont pull when u shot an thats why 90percent of people miss deer.

Remfire

My Rem 1100 and 870 just pattern best with Winchester # 1 load.

remingtonshooter1

hey man im going to tell you what is techniclly right. You have to try all kinds of loads in your gun. ALL guns will shoot different loads differently. My mossberg shoots remington loads tight at 45 yards. Yet my cousins benelli could only get two pellets on a paper plate at 30 yards. So like i said you have to test them all

remingtonshooter1

what are you talking about centaur 1i have hit a deer with one pellet before and taken it out . you just have to hit him in the lungs or an other vital