Focusing on the shotgun this year.

[336A]

I've decided that this year is going to be the year of the shotgun for me. I plan on using it almost exclusivley, an exception will be for squirrels when I want to get after them with my .22. I know that some folks look at shotgun hunters and think that they're handicapped for some reason. I don't really see it this way. For hunters like myself that hunt in the timber and thick timber where 100yd shots are the exception and not the rule the shotgun is a wonderful tool.

The last day or so I've been thinking back on all of the deer that I've taken. Of all of the deer that I've shot all but one could have been taken with my shotgun, the average distance of my shots are 60yd. I also noticed that all the deer I've taken with my shotgun have dropped instantly. I've never experienced this type of performance when hunting with my rifles. All the deer that I took with my rifles always run about 50 or so yards. Shot placement whether shotgun or rifle is usually behing the shoulder. The only one that wasn't was the one i took last deer season which was straight on between the front shoulders with a Brenneke K.O. slug.

Heck I'm even thinking about getting a NEF Pardner single shot and using it to add a bit more a challenge. So who else is going to use their shotgun primarily this hunting season?

 

[huntsman]

A shotgun is all I ever use, partly because of state law but mostly it's what I was raised up with.

 

[336A]

It was all I used to use as well huntsman until I was able to use rifles. Then I got all caught up in using rifles. It dawned on me though that I never was handicapped with the shotgun and slugs on deer.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, to each his own. I've always preferred rifles for bigger game and squirrel, shotguns for birds and rabbits. On my daily walks out back to check my hog trap, I have taken to carrying my old 12 gauge Spanish built SxS loaded 00 in the mod barrel in case I stumble upon a hog and number 4s in the full choke for small game or a shot at a crow or something. It's my combo gun. But, I plan to hunt bow season this year with my compound (just set up a new ladder stand for the purpose yesterday) and I'll likely hunt gun season with either a handgun or my CVA Wolf .50 caliber. You could think of the Wolf as a slug gun, I guess. My new place is thick woods and a shot over 50-60 yards is unlikely, beyond 100 is impossible. I COULD use a shotgun, though, if I wanted to. Now, on my place in Calhoun County, I'll probably use either my .257 or my .308 this season. I've taken one there two years ago with my CVA Wolf and one this past season with my old SKS (long story as to why). I have shot deer and hog there with .30-30 and .357 pistol/revolver, too. All others I've shot there were with sporting rifles, .308 and .257 Roberts.

 

[336A]

A 1oz load of #6's makes for a good squirrel load when their up in the tree tops. I donn't like shooting up in the tree tops at squirrels at with the .22.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, but shooting squirrel with a shotgun is cheatiin'. I like to use my .22 pistol, either my Ruger Mk2 (scoped) or my TC contender. They're more accurate than most rifles, especially the TC. I haven't been shooting much .22 lately, though. No body has ammo.

 

[iShoot17]

The only thing I have ever tried hunting with a shotgun.. I had mixed emotions for a while, but then I lost a few squirrels to too much damage. I told myself I wouldn't use one again for squirrels. I like using the CZ HM2 and LR much more and try to keep the shots on the ground of lower on tree trunks. I have never used shotgun for deer, but assume it would give quite the challenge. I have had the opposite effects though, and have had all but one deer move more than DRT (went 35 yards). Most of my shots are high neck shots to break the spine immediately and drop them, with exceptions being bucks that I may want to mount (haven't had one yet that really seemed worthy of the cost!). I have picked up a Ruger SBH Hunter in .44Mag though to try hunting deer with, it is my new challenge!

 

[ldlfh7]

I deer hunt with a NEF single shot 20 ga and have had great success. I do not take shots much over 50 yards and the deer keep falling.

 

[Patocazador]

336A: I've noticed the same "down right now" response to deer shot with slugs. I've shot about a dozen with 00 buckshot as well and almost all of them went less than 50 yards but almost none dropped in their tracks. My muzzleloader with maxi-balls drops them the same as a shotgun slug. I have always thought that, in both cases, it was due to the huge chunk of lead that hits them.
Elmer Keith was probably right.

 

[627PCFan]

Hunted squirrels for years with my shotgun, then switched to the 17hmr because its such good practice. For deer, the Muzzleloader is all that makes it to the field for meat these days. Something to be said for knockin um over

 

[MCgunner]

I've only had ONE deer in a couple dozen killed with the lowly .25, a .257 Roberts, NOT drop DRT. That was because of a failure to expand from a 117 Interlock which I no longer use on deer. Believe it or not, a 100 grain .25 caliber Sierra Game King bullet at 3130 fps muzzle velocity is instant death placed in the boiler room, not even a neck or head shot, at least in my experience. I like the big .50 caliber 385 grain Minie balls from Hornady, but they're not the end all to deer hunting. Shotguns are fine in the woods, but I've hunted out in West Texas and New Mexico in my life and out there, NOBODY uses a shotgun, NObody, except maybe on turkey. And, heck, it's legal in Texas to take Rio Grandes with a rifle, which I would use if I ever went turkey hunting again, .22 magnum.

Oh, that one deer that didn't drop DRT with the .257, I still got him, ate him, he was delicious.

 

[336A]

MCgunner I"m not talking about or even mentioned hunting out west with a shotgun. I"m talking abut hunting in heavy timbered areas. However with modern ammo and a rifled barrel the modern shotgun is now capable out to 200yd, that is of course with sabot ammo the gun likes. When I got old enough to go deer hunting I remember reading a article about the then state of the art BRI Sabot slug. In that article there was a picture of the proprietor of the BRI slug with a antelope that he took at 140yd IIRC, that was unheard of back then for a shotgun. So it is possible to make 200yd shots with a properly set up modern shotgun using sabot ammo.

As so often happens with young people, I got all caught up in the latest and greatest gadgetry craze. I worked my rear off that summer on the farm for a new rifled barrel for my Mossberg 500 and Winchester Hi Impact BRI slugs. Much to my dismay I took my deer at a whole whopping 40yd, so much for all the expensive gear. As I get older I seem to find myself getting wiser, I haven't used that rifled barrel in 11 years. With the cost of sabot ammo today it will probably stay in the safe for a long time.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm a rifleman at heart. I enjoy MOA or less accuracy, working up handloads, shooting 'em over the chronograph, working up drop tables and calculating the statistics of the load. I like all that. Shotguns are boring, a big, short chunka lead at low velocity. Oh, they work, they're just boring. Actually, deer hunting is boring. I prefer duck or goose hunting with my boring shotguns to deer hunting, so yeah, I'm a shotgunner, too, but wing shooting. For woods hunting deer and hogs, I'm really getting into my black powder and my bow lately, though. Neat thing about the woods, does limit the distance you can see or shoot. I'll probably try to take one with my .45 Colt Blackhawk, soon, too. After I accomplish THAT (done it with my .357 Blackhawk), maybe I'll finally do it with my Ruger Old Army cap and ball. But, I've never had the urge to shoot a deer with a shotgun. How boring. Now, 10 gauge magnum T steel on a rice field over a spread of rags, now we're talkin'! That's NOT boring even if it's a shotgun I'm shooting.

BUT, to each his own, different strokes......

 

[627PCFan]

"As so often happens with young people, I got all caught up in the latest and greatest gadgetry craze"

Dont knock those BRI slugs. Id pass on those Hornady SST's any day of the week. Sometimes the old stuff thats still around is still around for a reason

 

[336A]

Oh I'm not knocking then 627PCfan they work very well. As a matter of fact I still have some of the original ones when they were sold under the supreme line. Anymore though I just stick with brenneke or regular foster slugs.

 

[herkyguy]

I have a new 1187 in 12 gauge for this coming deer season. some of my stands are pretty thick and it should do the job at ranges of about 20 yards. I'm planning on using buckshot. other stands give me a 150 yard shooting lane, so i'll stick with my rifle for those. i shot a buck last year with a GP100, but lost him so i won't be doing that again.

 

[Patocazador]

I got a rifled Hastings barrel for my 870 about 10 yrs. ago. I went through 6 or 7 boxes of expensive saboted slugs trying to find the most accurate load. It turned out that the most accurate was 'el cheapo' Winchester Forster slugs. A box of 15 costs about $12-14 at WalMart.

 

[MCgunner]

I've got a box of 5 Winchester 3" mag 1 ounce 12 gauge foster slugs. I'm a little scared to shoot the danged things in my old double, kicks like hell in the first place. LOL Stock don't fit perfect and the thing is pretty light. I should pop one in one of my pumps, though, just to get my shoulder ready for goose season.