Deer hunting with a shotgun

[Glockster35]

I will soon be moving to Goldsboro NC, and am interested in getting a new shotgun for deer hunting.

I have specifically been pondering either a Mossberg 500 combo, or a Remington 870 combo. I won't make a final purchase until late July (most likely).

I think I would want the combo to have both a smooth bore for waterfoul...etc, and a rifled barrel for slugs.

Do most hunters prefer to use some sort of red dot scope, regular rifle scope or open sights? What sort of distance should I expect with a rifled barrrel?

I am new to both deer hunting and shotgun ownership, so take it easy on me.

 

[bowfin]

A rifled barrel is definitely superior to a smoothbore barrel when it comes to range and accuracy. A scope would be my first choice as to sights.

Effective distance depends more on the shooter than the gun / cartridge combo, I would say the distance depends on whatever yardage you can hit a paper plate with boringly consistency.

Okay, with that said, most rifled slug guns can easily shoot out to 100 yards with enough power and accuracy to kill a deer. The sabot loads can push that to 150 yards, and maybe more.

Most of my slug experience as of late was trying to get a smoothbore to shoot decent groups. I can't say as I was successful. The cost of a good rifled barrel for a Remington will run the same price as a H&R Ultra Slug Gun, and they usually shoot pretty well, but you are a one shot wonder with one of those. That wouldn't deter me, but it might some people.

 

[Rpriestlyjr]

Either one will do the trick, just make a decision on how fat your wallet is (or will be).
If you plan on using sabots, you'll have to go with a rifled barrel.
But keep in ming, in NC many hunters run them with dogs. Therefore the deer will be scootin'. You may end up just using a bird barrel with 00buck.
For sights, you really can't go wrong in the woods with the plain, open sights that come on the barrel. All of my shots have been within 100 yards easily, and a scope is not needed unless your eyes aren't all that good. Anad if the deer is moving, you'll get a better sight picture without a scope.
For ranges, keep 00 buck within 50 yds, slugs (all) within 100 and you won't go wrong. The slugs will drop dramatically past 100.

 

[Glockster35]

Excellent information guys, keep it coming!

 

[Fred Fuller]

One of the great advantages of modern shotguns is their modularity. With a basic gun, an extra barrel or two, and a handful of accessories you really can have a gun for all seasons. A longer barrel (26- 30") with screw-in choke tubes is good for wingshooting, waterfowl, small game hunting or clay games. A short (18- 20") barrel with rifle type sights is good for home defense and big game hunting.

I prefer smoothbore barrels as rifled barrels do not digest buckshot very well- it often causes leading and almost always leads to 'donut' patterns. That is, the rifling swirls the buckshot in its trip down the bore and the centrifugal force it imparts opens up the pattern very quickly, leaving a hole in the middle. Some short barrels are fitted (or can be, in the aftermarket) with screw-in choke tubes, this allows the option of using a rifled choke tube if desired- or whatever degree of constriction is needed.

Welcome to NC, hope you and the family enjoy the new duty station,

lpl/nc

 

[Rupestris]

OT but,
Mi brother-in-law retired from the Air Force. His last base was Seymour Johnson AFB. He liked it there so much he stayed in the Goldsboro area of NC. Nice part of the country. I've played the golf course on base. Not too bad for gub'ment links.
I can't remember what plane was his but it was a KC-10.

As for hunting, the lay of the land there is pretty flat. Its well east of the mountains and has a lot of corn and bean fields. I think a rifled slug barrel would do well there.

 

[wdr270]

Hey guys. Newbie from NC.

I'm from an area about 45 minutes south of Goldsboro in Southeastern NC. The terrain is very similar to Goldsboro and there are plenty of deer if not the largest bodied that you'll see.

We use rifles for the most part as its so flat and the local fields can be fairly large and clear enough for shots as far as most are comfortable making. I also use a rifled slug barrel on one of my 870's from time to time though, especially when I hunt in the pine thickets near my house.

Since baiting is legal here if you plan to put out corn or something similar and plan to use a rifled slug barrel then I would suggest putting your corn pile within 50-70 yards that way if a buck hangs up and doesn't want to come in closer you still have a margin of error.

I honestly don't know very many people besides myself who use slugs as most who use shotguns use buckshot. It works but past 25-35 yards it seems to wound a bit too much for my tastes.

Hope this helps a little bit.

 

[danurve]

The combo's are a good way to go for a set of barrels. Just in case you have or pick up a 12 smoothbore / vent rib with screw in chokes you can get an extended choke that is rifled for sabots. They run about 50 clams but compared to the cost of a spare barrel - food for thought.

 

[scout26]

Yep, I got a Mossberg combo with the "Adjust-a-comb" stock. Use the 28" barrel for upland game, the rifled barrel with rifled sights for deer, (Until Mrs Scout bought me the cantilevered scope mount barrel for my birthday a few years back), and the 18.5" for Home D.

For deer hunting diffently get a rifled barrel and try out different Sabot loads. They shoot flatter and farther (125-175 yds, YMMV) then Rifled Slugs through a smooth bore.

I think this would do you good. Adjustable comb stock, rifled barrel with built in scope mount and 28" field barrel with screw in chokes. Add a decent scope and 18.5 barrel for HD (roughly another $50-$60) and it's all good for less then $500 (depending on the scope) out the door. You've got a deer, upland game and goblin getter. Only thing left to do is BA/UU/R

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3163666

 

[swampdog]

I use a 870 with a smooth bore 20" barrel for slugs.
The ironsights work fine for brush work.
The rifled slug barrel I used to have had a cantilevered scope
mount and would hold good groups out to 150 yards with a
four power scope. I tend to use a rifle more than anything so
I ended up getting rid of it. The rifled barrels kick much harder
than the smooth bores and buckshot does "donut", as was mentioned.
If you have to use buckshot, don't stop and admire your handy work
when you shoot one. If he's still moving you should still be shooting.
I've seen deer dropped at 100 yards with buckshot but I've also seen them
take off after catching a load in the shoulder at 25 yards. I try not to use
it, but sometimes you have to. It works great for pushing through cutovers
at midday. I've had them jump up literally at my feet. That will wake you up.
I use a full choke and try to limit my shots 30 yards.

Welcome to NC, it's still a sportman's paradise.

 

[wdr270]

I use a 870 with a smooth bore 20" barrel for slugs.
The ironsights work fine for brush work.
The rifled slug barrel I used to have had a cantilevered scope
mount and would hold good groups out to 150 yards with a
four power scope. I tend to use a rifle more than anything so
I ended up getting rid of it. The rifled barrels kick much harder
than the smooth bores and buckshot does "donut", as was mentioned.
If you have to use buckshot, don't stop and admire your handy work
when you shoot one. If he's still moving you should still be shooting.
I've seen deer dropped at 100 yards with buckshot but I've also seen them
take off after catching a load in the shoulder at 25 yards. I try not to use
it, but sometimes you have to. It works great for pushing through cutovers
at midday. I've had them jump up literally at my feet. That will wake you up.
I use a full choke and try to limit my shots 30 yards.

Welcome to NC, it's still a sportman's paradise.

I can't agree with you more on that one about the buckshot Swampdog, I've also seen some long shots with it but its kinda like having that golden BB and shooting the whole magazine at the deer. I killed my first deer with buckshot along with several others and it does have it uses and I try to always have a shotgun loaded with it nearby when I'm tracking a wounded deer in thick cover.

I've done some playing around with rifled slugs and one of my 870's that I mounted turkey sights on its rib. I could hit a pie plate consistently at around 80 yds offhand and could easily switch to buckshot if needed as I had a modified tube in the barrel. It worked but its a bit unwieldy compared to the 20 inch slug barrels for them.

 

[damascusblade5]

870

No doubt the 870 is superior.Most mossbergs have aluminum revievers that cannot be tapped.Mossbergs are also notorious for being noisy when they pump.If you go with an 870,you would be wise to get an Express with one barrel,then add a Hastings cantilever rifled barrel.The advantage is that you can switch barrels and your scope is always mounted to the deer barrel.I shoot an 870,Hastings barrel,thumbho;e laminated stock,and no hesitation taking a 150 yard shot with sabots.

 

[scout26]

Most mossbergs have aluminum revievers that cannot be tapped.

Hmmmm, looking at the receivers of the 3 Mossberg 500's that I own, all three were pre-tapped at the factory.

Mossbergs are also notorious for being noisy when they pump.

The rest of the deer herd is already in turbo mode when I rack the pump, as there was this real loud ka-boom and one of their relatives crumpled to the ground. I don't think they even noticed/cared about the "chunk-chunk" noise I made as they hauled butt through the woods.

The advantage is that you can switch barrels and your scope is always mounted to the deer barrel.

Yep, we agree there. But to answer the original questions.

Do most hunters prefer to use some sort of red dot scope, regular rifle scope or open sights?

Depends on the area you'll be hunting in, and your preferences. I have a scope on mine. I want Bambi DRT.

What sort of distance should I expect with a rifled barrrel?

0-200 yards, really depends on you and the ammo. I personally won't shoot at anything beyond 125 yrds.

 

[mp510]

I am an 870 fan. I use an 870 in 20 for deer hunting, and I like the action a lot more than the mossberg action. I have chosen the Remington other times over Mossbergs as well. Personal preference pretty much. I don't like the mossberg action. It seems a lot cheaper than that of the Remington, but you will pay more if you follow my advice.

 

[BradleyW]

I prefer the Mossberg over the 870, I have taken 50 or more deer with a Mossberg 500 loaded with Winchester 3" 00. I now use a Bennelli SBE, although I still shoot the same 3" 00, I beleive it hits harder.