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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
You would have to pattern test your gun, it's choke, and your loads to answer your question.
I would say as far as your gun, it's choke, and your loads can keep all the shot inside a 9" paper dinner plate target.
However far that turns out to be is the Max range you should try to shoot a deer and recover it.
rc
I would say as far as your gun, it's choke, and your loads can keep all the shot inside a 9" paper dinner plate target.
However far that turns out to be is the Max range you should try to shoot a deer and recover it.
rc
WestKentucky
Member
How far will it kill a deer is a much different question than how far you should try to kill a deer from. RC nailed it on that last bit, but assuming a lucky shot it could be a long way. Im not recommending that you attempt such a shot, but I suspect that it will carry enough velocity and therefore momentum to do some nasty damage at a fairly long range.
243winxb
Member
Buy shells that have granulated polymer buffer in them. They produce tighter patterns. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/74...-2-copper-plated-buckshot-18-pellets-box-of-5 The buffer & copper plated shot help keep the shot round. This makes tighter patterns.
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Scooter22
Member
Didn't know anyone still shot deer with Buck Shot with all the good slugs available. Learn something new everyday.
My 20 gage 26" barrell with full choke placed three #3 buckshot in pie plate at 60 yds.
Not sure if I would shoot a deer at that distance nor did I do multiple tests to see if that result was standard or a fluke.
My longest shot to kill a deer with a 12 gage was at 40 yds. Have not used the 20 gage yet for deer.
My longest shots with 20 gage full choke were at 40 yds with # 4 standard shot for marauding dogs attacking goats. # 3 buck patterned very well for my gun at that distance.
Your gun's choke, barrell length, shot, etc. will all effect that distance.
Not sure if I would shoot a deer at that distance nor did I do multiple tests to see if that result was standard or a fluke.
My longest shot to kill a deer with a 12 gage was at 40 yds. Have not used the 20 gage yet for deer.
My longest shots with 20 gage full choke were at 40 yds with # 4 standard shot for marauding dogs attacking goats. # 3 buck patterned very well for my gun at that distance.
Your gun's choke, barrell length, shot, etc. will all effect that distance.
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CajunBass
Member
Many hunt clubs that hunt with hounds limit hunters to buckshot only. There are still some localities that flat outlaw them.
I've personally never killed a deer with anything but buckshot. RC is right. You have to know YOUR gun/load, and you have to limit yourself to shots inside that range. Don't let the fact that you hear someone brag about making a long shot fool you. I remember one fellow in my club who killed two does at a stepped off 80 paces. I helped drag them out and stepped off the distance myself. That was a pretty long shot/shots, but it was pure, dumb luck. The fact that he did it twice, doesn't change that. He should have never taken those shots. I wouldn't have. And I told him the same thing.
Generally speaking, and this is GENERALLY, thiry-five yards is about tops for any buckshot. I've never known anyone who used #4 for deer. People who used a 20, and there were a few, used #3 buck. I never killed a deer with a 20, but that's what I kept in my squirrel hunting vest "just in case."
Personally I preferred No 1 buck. Max number of shot, for the size/weight of the individual pellets.
LeonCarr
Member
Several companies (Rio is the first that comes to mind) manufacture 00 Buckshot for the 20 Gauge. Well, the ones I have measured come out to about #1 Buckshot, but they are advertised as 20 gauge 9 Pellet 00 Buckshot. I would use this and pattern test this first if using a 20 gauge with Buckshot for deer.
As far as range goes, for me the maximum range is the range it would keep all the pellets inside a paper plate.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
As far as range goes, for me the maximum range is the range it would keep all the pellets inside a paper plate.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Sunray
Member
Three #3 buckshot in pie plate at 60 yards is miraculous. It's 15% of your original load actually hit the target. Mind you, I'm not seeing any ballistics anywhere. One site indicates the energy is extremely low under 1,000 fps though.
Buckshot of any kind is best left to riots in phone booths. It's unreliable.
Buckshot of any kind is best left to riots in phone booths. It's unreliable.
DM~
Member
I think my uncle, who I know for a FACT, shot/killed over 150 whitetails over the years with buck shot, would call BS on that statement.
He knew his shotgun well and went through a few over the years, until he got one that threw buckshot the way he wanted it too...
He did use a 12ga. though, and absolutely knew he would get every deer he shot at, at 50 yards or under...and the deer either fell right there or didn't go any further than a rifle "lung shot" deer.
DM
MCgunner
Member
I did it at 35 yards. Several 3 buck hit his head, 5 in the neck.
Yes, buckshot remains popular for thick cover deer hunting - even in 20 gauge as this video illustrates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDMN4PlcZA
The 9 pellet 20 gauge loads are indeed listed as #1B these days:
http://rioammo.com/law_enforcement/rio_LE_buckshot.html
CajunBass
Member
I must have been half asleep the other day, I totally forgot about No 2 buckshot in a 20 ga. That's been the preferred load in a 20 around here for years. Not 3's or 4's. I don't know what I was thinking.
Duhhhhhh
Duhhhhhh
Killled my first deer with the 20 gage. # 3 Buckshot at 35 yds with full choke. Deer dropped and did not get up. Looks like about 9 pellets hit and broke 1 rib, 2 legs, and elsewhere in the torso. Quite effective. Not sure I'd want to use it past 45 yds, regardless
of my previous patterning. Of course with a more open choke, the range would be shortened.
of my previous patterning. Of course with a more open choke, the range would be shortened.
red rick
Member
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Congratulations on your first 20ga. shotgun kill .
One of my friends took a young fellow hunting with us last week and he also killed his first deer with a 20ga. .
It was a good day for the youngsters , they killed 3 that day . None of us old folks got any that day .
One of my friends took a young fellow hunting with us last week and he also killed his first deer with a 20ga. .
It was a good day for the youngsters , they killed 3 that day . None of us old folks got any that day .
Interesting thread as I have shot only 20ga since the steel shot laws for waterfowl were inacted here (Minn.)
I don't think it is legal to use buckshot for deer here. I had to stop hunting some years back already so not sure of todays law.
What sort of fasinates me is the use of shotguns in other parts of the country.
Here I have always used .22 rimfire for small game like rabbit and tree rats - never a shotgun. Here they(shotgun) are used for flying objects like qual, pheasant, and duck.
In deer season they are mandated with slugs for most of the southern half of the state.
Personaly I am uneasy with buckshot for deer , but with no experience I have to reserve that opinion.
I don't think it is legal to use buckshot for deer here. I had to stop hunting some years back already so not sure of todays law.
What sort of fasinates me is the use of shotguns in other parts of the country.
Here I have always used .22 rimfire for small game like rabbit and tree rats - never a shotgun. Here they(shotgun) are used for flying objects like qual, pheasant, and duck.
In deer season they are mandated with slugs for most of the southern half of the state.
Personaly I am uneasy with buckshot for deer , but with no experience I have to reserve that opinion.
Buy 12ga and try Hevi-Shot BK. It should extend your range by about 10 yards if that matters to you. The 20ga is only good against little birds by those who can not for physical reasons handle light 12ga. There are plenty of lower recoil (lower velocity) loads for the 12 so "legendary" recoil is poor excuse.
CajunBass
Member
I assure you sir, that used within it's envelope, buckshot is quite effective on deer sized critters. That range is generally inside of 50 yards, and I personally have never killed one that far away. I'm more comfortable inside 35 yards. I'm not sure how many deer I did kill with buckshot, but I never lost one. That I do know.
It's funny. For a while I lived in "rifle country" and tried hunting with a rifle. I found I couldn't adjust my mindset to take advantage of the longer range a rifle offered. I tended to "look" at the same "inside 50 yards" area I have always "looked" at. When I did see a deer outside that envelope, I couldn't stop myself from thinking "too far." I never took those shots. It didn't matter what I knew I could do at the range. I just couldn't make myself shoot at deer that far away. I was sort of like "Maverick" in Top Gun..."the shot's not right."
Never did get one with a rifle.
GooseGestapo
Member
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My experience with #4 buck is that it is pattern dependent, 25-30yds. But even at that, be ready to shoot again, and again.
12ga with 00-buck isn't a great deal better. 50yds with best pattern.
I've taken deer with 20 and 12ga. I have no qualms using 20ga or #4buck, but then I load my own buckshot. .31" rb in 20ga (approx #1, 10pellet, #4 22pellets; 00-buck in 12ga, 12pellet in 2.75"; 15 in 3").
Pattern YOUR gun and learn where it patterns. Modified choke often patterns better than full choke with large buck shot. Full usually better with #4.
12ga with 00-buck isn't a great deal better. 50yds with best pattern.
I've taken deer with 20 and 12ga. I have no qualms using 20ga or #4buck, but then I load my own buckshot. .31" rb in 20ga (approx #1, 10pellet, #4 22pellets; 00-buck in 12ga, 12pellet in 2.75"; 15 in 3").
Pattern YOUR gun and learn where it patterns. Modified choke often patterns better than full choke with large buck shot. Full usually better with #4.
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