if you HAD TO CHOSE between a 222 or a smooth bore 20 knowing your shots would be less than 50 yards which would you take ?

.222 they are making some deer size game loads with them now and they work. i had a pest permit last year and shot 10 does ranging from 160-425 with a .223 and they all dropped with in 20 yards of being shot. placement is key though. you can look up ft-lns of energy for each load at 50 yards but in ohio id have to use the 20 because its slug guns only

I'd take the .222, but if you don't have a lot of experience shooting deer, then I may opt for the 20.

It all depends on what you can shoot better. If the 20 ga will shoot 2" groups at 50yds...then it would be great. It it shoots 10" groups at 50 yds (which some smoothbores will do) then it is worthless.

they both shoot well but I was leaning towards to 222. My father in law gave it to me and I was hoping my son would get his first deer with a "family " gun

I'd take the 20 with a rifled slug.

Under 50 yards I would take the 20 ga, BUT!!! as with anything else a person should have the "Right tools" for the job. and if I wanted my son to get his first deer I would make sure he had the right tools to do it. To me (and this is just my opinion) a person hunting deer with a smooth bore shotgun is just wasting their time, You never know where they are going to hit, and that is just a fact!!! for under $200.00 a person can pick up an H&R tracker II with a rifled barrel, granted it is a single shot but hay!!! Learn to shoot. I for one think smooth bore shotguns should not be allow for deer, nor a 222, I know they will do the job if proper shot placement is used, But for the most part, anyone using a smooth bore shot gun doesn't know much about shot placement, and as to the 222 there are just better calibers, JMOP Doc

These can be had for well under 2 bills in 20 or 12, no reason to use a smooth bore

222
IMO

222 just in case that deer shows up at 100 yards..

Teach him shot placement, patience... the fact he'll be dealing with pucker-factor and how to handle that, then get him enough practice and let him hunt... with the .222. It's a very accurate gun... or so it seems because no one worries about the report or kick.

iSnipe