Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
It is a skill. Most people don't have the opportunity to practice running shots and so they basically suck at it.
Will a semi-auto get you more game than a bolt-action?
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It is a skill. Most people don't have the opportunity to practice running shots and so they basically suck at it.
T.R.
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When I was a teen living in rural western Pennsylvania, running shots during organized drives were common. Most guys hunted with Winchesters or Marlins in 30-30 and many deer were downed. The occasional wounded deer was followed up with a trained dog owned by a neighbor. We perceived nothing wrong with shooting a running deer.
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EIB0879
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I grew up using semi-autos for hunting. Rem 742s in 30-06 and a BAR in 7mm RM. They are good for follow up shots. I know some people that blast away and can't hit anything. My sister uses an AR10 clone and can put them on the ground.
I hunt with bolt action and lever action rifles now. I don't have the energy to dress out two or three deer at a time anymore.
I hunt with bolt action and lever action rifles now. I don't have the energy to dress out two or three deer at a time anymore.
I have a straight-stocked, Rem1100 Special Field, 12 gauge that handles very well and has a 21" barrel that's great in the pucker and is very quick! It also doubles as a "house gun".
JP
Fixed it for ya
Only if the rifle is equipped with iron sights. The low comb of the 19th Century does not work well with optics.
d2wing
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I like that straight stock 1100 a lot. That would be a great bird gun.
40-82
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Very true.
earlthegoat2
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I had a Browning Gold Upland configured just like that. I have also had the 870 Special Field and Browning BPS Upland all with straight stocks. I like the straight stock but I only ever bought them because I liked the short barrel. With Browning, you can either get the youth model or the Upland which have the short barrel. Right now I have a youth model BPS. Never should have gotten rid of that Upland. Or any of them for that matter.
I am currently on the lookout for a Browning Citori Upland 20 ga.
I've used it for a walk-about shotgun for grouse hunting when I walked woods roads, but we mostly ride/hunt the haul roads in a truck these days and it's easier to load a O/U and most times only take one or two shots. It's kind of a pain to load 3 (or 4) rounds in the semi-auto, after getting out of a truck, then emptying the gun prior to getting back in the truck without firing a shot. We walk the narrow, haul roads quite a bit, but still like our O/Us 20s for that because they're lighter to carry loaded and offer instant choke order.
I've even used a Bore/Full choke combination in my O/U. The full choke is used for longer shots at the road, and if the bird walks into the woods. Sometimes the "Bore" choke tube works well, especially when the leaves are still on the trees. Sometimes my son will walk in the woods with the dog and I'll walk the old road, keeping us aligned and hopefully get birds that fly across. The woods are often difficult to walk, due to tree-harvesting methods and young growth. At 76, I'm not as good at walking some of that terrain, but can handle the flatter terrain of the haul roads.
I just weighed both guns and they are exactly the same...6.4 lbs., but the 12 weighs more loaded and I usually put 3 in it. The O/U is also newer and I love to carry it, but the semi auto works well on woodcock or ducks when I need 3 shots or extra shot count. It's great to have options, whether I choose the best gun/choke for the conditions, or not.
I might say the same about hunting deer with a shotgun, which is IMHO a less-lethal weapon that often results in no blood trail to follow, especially with buckshot. The difference between a good hunter and a poor one is that the good hunter will try to take high-percentage shots commensurate with his/her ability. However, I've yet to meet a hunter who has never shot at a deer and not been able to recover it. There are too many variables, including darkened woods that hide a branch, or a deer that walks behind a tree that is not visible, due to conditions.
A shotgun doesn't guarantee a killing shot and limits range considerably. Anyone who's hunted much has probably wounded quarry and not recovered them, but making a strong effort to find a wounded animal separates the good hunters from the also-rans. I've encountered people who walk woods roads, shoot a deer and never step one foot into the woods to recover them. Some women are particularly bad, but men do it too. I've found about a dozen dead deer that others had left in the woods. It's never a pleasant thing and I make every effort to make a clean shot. Crap happens though and all we can do is make the best effort we can under the conditions and to pass up low-chance shots.
d2wing
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I used to be a good tracker. I have tracked a lot of deer. I seem to have lost the vision to pick out tough ones now days. I have lost 2 deer out of over a hundred. Both were shot with a 20 gauge slug and got into swamps where I lost them. I tracked a doe hit a couple times with slugs that went over a mile on dry ground. Still alive when I found her buried in tall grass.
I've never owned a centerfire pump, semi-auto, or lever-action hunting rifle, but have had about 12 bolt actions of various chamberings, including .30-06, .22-250, 6mm Rem, .270 Win, and .243 Win. The .30-06 and .270 Win have taken the most deer for me. Of all, the .270 has been responsible for the most quick kills, including a left-handed shot on a running deer, from a tree stand when it was headed directly away from me, but only about 40 yards.
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At one time I switched from a bolt action squirrel rifle to a Ruger 10/22, thinking quick follow-up shots would be beneficial. I did that for 2 squirrel seasons and probably a dozen hunts. In my experience it was no help. I really liked my bolt rifles better and found the true route to success in terms of bagging game was making sure you have a good shot in the first place. A few times, just for fun, I shot rapid fire at a running squirrel or rabbit, even hit a few rabbits. But, generally found I didn't like that kind of hunting. I just built an AR style .223 in preparation for coyote calling with the same goal, having more shot opportunities on doubles. Calling them in behind a bolt gun has cost me some opportunities in the past. I'll let you know how it goes. And BTW, I've never shot at a running deer. All seven of the deer my buddy and I have taken in the last 4 years were shot with bolt rifles; all one shot and all dropped in their tracks.
A single shot shouldn't make a hunter focus any more than a different platform. If it does, that person needs to use a single shot.
While deer hunting, I've shot two deer at the same time with a bolt gun.
There were five. I shot the front one and swung on the back one killing it when it paused. If it had kept running, it would have lived. Because I wouldn't have shot.
I've been shooting flying clays, crows woodcock, ducks, grouse, pheasant and ground quarry including woodchucks, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, deer, moose, turkeys, rats, etc. Moving quarry shots are almost second nature, after 65+ years of competitive rifle, shotgun, and handgun shooting (police combat matches/instructor, benchrest, rimfire, centerfire, skeet/trap, turkey shoots), plus varmint and game shooting. Grouse and woodcock shots are probably the most difficult, due to trees and brush that get in the way of the view, the swing, and/or shot charge.
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d2wing
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I agree. I love grouse hunting but I am getting too stiff and slow. Still fun though. I am still good on pheasants .Don't see many of either anymore.
d2wing
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I have hunted with all of them. I am comfortable with all of them. I mostly hunt with bolt actions now. Birds I use an O/U mostly but often change to semi-auto in either.
Having a part-time gunsmithing business, I've fired rifles of about all types, but being a reloader, prefer bolt-actions.
bassjam
Member
I personally don't know anyone who hunts deer with buckshot, but a 1oz 12 ga slug is certainly NOT less-lethal weapon. I've never taken a shot further away that 35 yards, which is certainly well within the range of a slug gun. And I've been lucky in this regard, but I've never had a deer take a single step after being shot.
I'm just saying that shooting at a running deer considerable limits your ability to make a lethal, humane, kill. I know someone who blew a deer's nose off doing just that. He found tons of blood initially, but he eventually lost the trail and I'm sure that deer died a painful death.
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WisBorn
Contributing Member
Is there any place in the US that it is still legal to use buckshot to hunt deer?
mcb
Member
I believe it is legal here in Alabama and several other south east states.
Having grown up in Ohio doing all of my deer gun-season hunting with a slug gun the problem with a shotgun slug's lethality has nothing to do with its terminal ballistics. Terminally a 20ga or 12ga Foster or Brenneke style slug is absolutely devastating (even internet bear-threads acknowledge this fact) The problem is the external ballistics are not great with those very un-aerodynamic projectiles and that problem is compounded by the fact that so few shotguns have good sights for shooting slugs. Not to mention due to cost and recoil few hunters do more practice than a few shots right before season trying to hit the proverbial paper plate at 30-40 yards and call it good enough.
Slugs from a good slug gun shot by someone that practices are very effective deer cartridge/gun for short to moderate ranges. With some of the sabot slugs and fully rifle slug guns they are legitimate 200 yards guns in the right and practice hands.
Robbins290
Member
In Maine its legal to hunt with buck shot. Even 22 mag is legal. this is off the Maine website.
Illegal equipment: Deer may not be hunted with the use of dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps, set guns or any firearm using .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, except that .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridges are permitted. Deer decoys are legal.
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting-laws/deer-hunting.html
Illegal equipment: Deer may not be hunted with the use of dogs, artificial lights, snares, traps, set guns or any firearm using .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges, except that .22 caliber rimfire magnum cartridges are permitted. Deer decoys are legal.
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting-laws/deer-hunting.html
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I lived in Illinois for a few years. When I did I bought and used a Savage 220 bolt 20ga to hunt deer with. Sold it when I moved. The rifle grouped good out to 200 yards with a good sabot slug. I didn't get the chance to fill a tag with it though. I didn't even think about a semiautomatic slug gun for the task, but had friends that loved their auto loaders.
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