12g vs. 20g for deer

[bdg146]

It looks like my next gun will be a T/C Encore, for which I will eventually be picking up a rifled slug barrel for whitetail deer hunting. I've used both my father's and uncle's 12 gauge slug guns before, and they've performed great. I've often thought, however, that a 12 gauge slug is probably more than necessary for deer, and buying a 20 gauge slug barrel for the Encore is somewhat tempting. I've never used a 20 gauge slug for deer. Does anyone here have any opinions on the two?

 

[viking499]

Get a 20 guage and shoot the Hornady slugs.

 

[MCgunner]

.308 trumps both.

20 gauge slugs make a helluva thump on the target board at 50 yards. 100, though, you'd better be using sabots and a rifled barrel cause a foster slug is 10" down and pretty week. The 12 carries more energy out there at 100 for sure.

 

[Zundfolge]

.308 trumps both.

Yes, but in some states you can't hunt with a rifle, only a shotgun.

I'm thinking 20ga slugs would be better than 12ga because they're going to destroy less meat.

 

[viking499]

I like the Hornady SST slugs.

12 Gauge 300 gr. SST Slug 8623
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 50 yd 100 yd 150 yd 200 yd
2000/2644 1816/2196 1641/1793 1482/1463 1341/1198

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 50 yd 100 yd 150 yd 200 yd
-1.5 2.4 2.7 0 -6.7




20 Gauge 250 gr. SST Slug 86232
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 50 yd 100 yd 150 yd 200 yd
1800/1798 1628/1471 1470/1200 1331/983 1212/815

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 50 yd 100 yd 150 yd 200 yd
-1.5 2.5 3.3 0.0 -8.2

 

[Okiecruffler]

I used to do alot of hunting on public land where rifles were not allowed. Had an old mossy 20ga bolt with notch and bead sights and throwing federal pumpkin balls. Of course this was pretty thick woods and shots were usually around 50 yrds, but never had to track a blood trail far. With these new fangled slugs and rifled barrels with scopes I'm betting a 20ga would be a pretty decent buck thumper.

 

[CajunBass]

I'd say as long as you stick with slugs, a 20 would be fine. If however you think you might ever want to use buckshot, go with a 12. AFAIK, the biggest buckshot you can get in a 20 is No. 3.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've killed a few deer with 20 gauge slugs. The Rottweil Brenekkes are excellent.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

There was a renewed interest in 20g slug guns a few years but I don't think it took off. Ithica made a sweet 20g deer gun. 20g is plenty, but you will find that the 20g inventory of slugs is less than half that of th 12g, but once you find the right slug, it won't matter any more.

 

[bdg146]

Of course a .308 will trump both... but as Zundfolge said, some places you cannot use rifles, which is exactly why I'm looking into getting a slug gun. The 20 gauge slug barrel for the Encore is fully rifled, so with 20 gauge sabots and a rifled barrel, I should be ok out to 100 yards, right? I can't see myself shooting any farther than that anyway, since I'm hunting in fairly thick woods.

Like lovesbeer99 said, I wonder if finding 20 gauge slugs will be a problem though. Guess that's one thing to keep in mind before making my decision. Thanks for the opinions everyone.

 

[Buckwacker]

Here in Indiana, I have been using shotguns to hunt whiretail for over 30 years. I have slug barrels in both 12 and 20 for my Encore. Both are great. This year I went to the SST slug and they are even better. I shot my buck this season from 150 yards with the 20. It was dead before it hit the ground. A twenty guage loaded with the Hornady SST slugs is very hard to beat these days! Good Luck!