A Horse Apiece

[TrapperReady]

Whichever euphemism you prefer...

A coin toss.
Six of one. Half dozen of the other.
A horse apiece.
50/50.

With the Wisconsin gun deer season beginning in almost exactly 12 hours, I'm in a bit of a quandary. I had been laboring under the assumption that the area in which I'll be hunting is shotgun only, but found out today that it is just inside the rifle boundry.

Now I have to decide which gun to use:

1) A Remington 870 with a rifle-sighted smoothbore barrel. I would be shooting Brenneke KO 1oz 12ga slugs. Open sights.

2) A Marlin 336 in .30-30. 170 grain Remington Core-Lokt bullets. Open sights.

Normally, I'd opt for the rifle... however, where I am hunting the maximum length shot is only a tad over 100 yards. It's far more likely that most shots would be around 30-75 yards. At those ranges (up to 100 yards), I can consistently keep my groups well inside a deer's vitals with either gun.

I'm interested in what you would choose in this situation, and why. Which do you think would be most effective (in terms of bringing the deer down quickly) for a "shoulder shot" at the ranges I've described?

 

[Oldnamvet]

You got ready for the shotgun. Ranges are well within its limits. Go with that. If you happen to stray a little over the line into the shotgun only area for some reason (tracking a deer?), you are still OK. A 12 gauge slug is going to nail a deer just as well as the 30/30 at those ranges.

 

[sm]

Shotgun

Trapper,
I know you can shoot , especially a shotgun. If you have been shotgunning a lot, as I suspect you have, then for sure shotgun as it is more familiar to you.

I'd say rifle if the terrain was tough and hard to get in and out of, being as the carbine excels in this.

I think of you more as a shotgunner, as One the Shotgun is an extension them, even in brush, harder terrain - shot gunners, just seen to be a natural carrying, and using one.

 

[TrapperReady]

Thanks for the replies. I decided to use the shotgun... but I'll admit that I did take the .30-30 along in the truck "just in case".

BTW Steve, about 9:30AM on Saturday I took a decent-sized button buck (thought it was a doe when I shot) which was running hard across the field in front of me. The angle was about like shooting high-house station #5, except at a little over 50 yards. I put the sight in on the deer, followed it for about 20 feet, pulled ahead a bit and shot. BANG... FLOP.

Now I've got to run out and get some sausage made!

Thanks again!

- Mike

 

[sm]

Danged ole clay shooters - taking running game with a scattergun. Got the gall to refer to the shot as : "high house station #5" as well.

Congrats on the deer and nice shooting - even if you are danged ole shotgunner...

One can't buy skill and targets. Me

Heard another member around here, friend took a deer with muzzleloader at 317 yards - and was verified with range finder.


Put that in your Extreme Ultimate and smoke it!