Largest Animal Killed With a 20 Gage?

[scotjute]

Always used a 12 gage whenever I needed a shotgun. Have started using a 20 gage for less recoil, noise, and gun weight. Never known anybody to have used
the 20 gage for any large game, so I'm curious as to what big game the round can take. Besides the animal, I'd like to know the size shotshell used, and distance if you remember. Thanks.

 

[rcmodel]

Strange question.

I'm pretty sure a lot of deer have been killed over the years with slugs or buck-shot.

I'm pretty sure too a 20 ga slug would kill an elephant if you shot it in the right place.

But that does not make the 20 ga an elephant gun.

What exactly is it you want to hunt with one???

rc

 

[Water-Man]

The Brenneke Heavy Field Green Lightning is a good slug for deer, rated at up to 100yds.

 

[mavracer]

Several people have killed the African big 5 with a 44 magnum handgun and the modern sabot 20 gauge slugs have better external ballistics.

 

[SVTOhio]

I know many people that think a savage 220 slug gun in 20 gauge to be the premier slug gun for deer hunting. We never felt undergun as children turkey hunting with my dad. My brothers and I shot quite a few turkeys with 3" nitro mag #4 shot.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have family members that hunt bear in MI and they frequently use 20 ga slugs to kill them. Usually get through and throughs as well.

They have used Brenneke 2 3/4 and 3" as well as Lightfield Hybrid sabots of 2 3/4" size.

Myself, I have shot mule deer, blacktail, whitetail, and wild swine with nary a problem besides getting into range. I use an H&R Tracker II rifled bore or Browning BPS smooth bore with 2 3/4" Lightfields or 2 3/4 Brennekes respectively.

 

[Murphys Law]

A farmer/acquaintance of mine has routinely taken an eight pointer for the last five years that I've known him with an old ratty 20 gauge smooth bore Mossberg pump and standard foster slugs. The woods he hunts are thick and all of his shots are under 50-60 yards max. He's never had to track one so I would say its plenty adequate for deer and black bear for those conditions.

 

[rule303]

I know of several 300lb+ black bears being taken with 20ga slugs out to 50 yards or so. I would not feel undergunned with a 20ga for anything I would hunt with a shotgun, the only exception being long range waterfowling with steel shot. Some of the new slug loads pretty much duplicate original .45-70 loads, and I don't think there is an animal on the planet that hasn't been taken with a .45-70 at some point.

 

[scotjute]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Most I might ever use the 20 gage for would be deer or possibly black bear. Sounds like using slugs is what most are using for larger game. I will swap out my full choke for one better fitted for slugs and see how shooting with slugs go.

 

[HankB]

Considering that elephants have been killed with .22 rimfire, I'm sure someone, somewhere, sometime, killed one with a 20 gage.

Even if the elephant only expired after reducing the hunter to a greasy smear in the bushveldt.

 

[MCgunner]

Considering that elephants have been killed with .22 rimfire, I'm sure someone, somewhere, sometime, killed one with a 20 gage.

Even if the elephant only expired after reducing the hunter to a greasy smear in the bushveldt.

Unless, of course, said great white hunter was backed up by a PH shooting a real gun who saves his bacon, 600 nitro express or some such. Then said hunter goes and gets famous for "killing an elephant with a 20 gauge". Hell, I can HIT an elephant with a 20 gauge, it's a BIG target, even just the head!

 

[WestKentucky]

In college I had a bunch of friends from Illinois. They all owned dedicated pump guns in 20ga with rifled barrels. They claimed that 20 ga had better numbers than 12 in every category except energy, but was a lot more accurate.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Most I might ever use the 20 gage for would be deer or possibly black bear. Sounds like using slugs is what most are using for larger game. I will swap out my full choke for one better fitted for slugs and see how shooting with slugs go.

Try Brenneke 20 GA 2 ¾'' K.O. slugs.

1 oz slugs at 1470 fps or so.

Deaf

 

[alexander45]

Considering your average 20 Guage slug is well over 300 grains and tend to be going 1200 fps at a minimum I can't think of much if sny thing that wouldn't die

 

[Plinkin' Logs]

Not sure if any of you watch "Life Below Zero" on Nat Geo channel, but the Hailstones harvest caribou swimming across a river in their boat with a .22LR to the back of the head.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Considering your average 20 Guage slug is well over 300 grains and tend to be going 1200 fps at a minimum I can't think of much if sny thing that wouldn't die

Brenneke slugs are 430 grains at are at 1470+ fps!

Makes a .44 magnum look puny.

Deaf

 

[mnrivrat]

20ga is what I have used for everything except water fowl since the steel shot requirements.

Largest critters I have used it for have been white tail deer. No problems with that and I would love to get a chance at a T-Rex but their tuff to find these days. Saw one once thru the bottom of a bottle of Tequila - quick bugger cause he was gone by the time I lowered the empty bottle from my lip !

For you non believers -

I realy think they would take Elk or Moose with good close up shot placement. If they can do it with a bow and arrow, I think the 20ga. would handle it .