Hey Slug Hunters !

[Shawnee]

Reason for this poll/thread is a lot of people are required by law to hunt deer with shotguns yet here at THR there doesn't seem to be any "sticky" or special thread or anything to present noteworthy data for people who have to use shotguns for deer. I saw some random posts about slugs here on the "shotgun" board but nothing that brings much noteworthy slug-hunting (or buckshot hunting) info into one convenient, coherent place.

The poll is sorta to see how many of you "Sluggers" are out there and how much interest you might have in developing some form of Slug Gun/Equipment "FAQ" thread or something similar here.

Even though I live in Ohio (Motto: "We only have Cleveland because Canada won the toss"), where centerfire rifles are not permitted to hunt deer during any deer season and most people use shotguns - I've never used a shotgun for deer (My .44 SBH is legal.) So I don't know much about the use of slugs and slug guns.

 

[Speedo66]

Some counties in NY are shotgun only(one is bow only), so I've hunted a few times w/ a shotgun.

I took my first deer with one. It was a shot at a running deer from about 25 yards. The slug hit it in the neck & knocked it off it's feet. Talk about a brush gun, the projectile wasn't deflected by a branch, it took it with it.

I found a piece of branch the width of the slug inside the deer's neck.

The shotgun was a smoothbore full choke w/ a vent rib & no sights other than the front bead. I just lead it like a bird and got lucky.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A large portion of MD is Slug only.

Instead of a sticky, I suggest using the advanced search feature.

Entering Slug brought up 186 threads, Slugs 210.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Dave...


That's kinda my point, Dave - a lot of people won't/can't take the time to read down through all the posts on 186 threads looking for the answer to a couple questions. I know I sure wouldn't.

I was thinking if there is enough interest maybe Folks could put together a "FAQ about Shotgun Deer Hunting" or something. If there isn't enough interest - no big deal.

 

[foghornl]

All of Ohio (as Shawnee pointed out) is shotgun/slug only for modern long guns; handguns require a minimum .357 calibre and 5" barrel.

I use the PMC brand of 'rifled slug' in my smoothbore Maverick 88, then the next best brand, although by only a smidge is the Brennekke 'KO'. Winchester slugs in the silver box are acceptable, Remington "Sluggers" are useless in MY shotgun....Your Mileage Will Vary.

Since I don't have a rifled barrel or choke tube, I don't use the Sabot Slugs...have tried them just for grins...very poor accuracy 1 in 5 hit a 9" paper plate @50Yds

 

[HB]

The first time I went deer hunting I used a 20 gauge slug out of a smoothbore. The second or third day of the season, a decent 6 pointer walked in about 50-60 yards from me. I got ready and took ashot but missed completely :banghead:....... Missouri is not a sluggun state so the next weekend I picked up a nice .30-30 for $190 and it has done a good job on deer.

A 60 yard shot was a little long but still should have been do-able but no luck. It wasn't me I don't think, I had shot maybe 10 boxes of ddiffernet slugs to practice. Federal, Winchester, Remmington and even the old Activ's
The gun shot ok but I much prefer a rifle even at close range. It allows you to shoot through a hole and not have to wait for a clear shot that may never come. I do feel however that a dedicated slug gun would be an excellent deer gun.

HB

 

[Shawnee]

Thanks Guys... you gave me an idea for two more polls.

 

[Water-Man]

Back in the 60s & 70s in Western N.Y. State. Used a Remington 1100 12ga. modified barrel. Range wasn't too good but it worked.

 

[ocharry]

hi shawnee,,i have hunted deer for alot of years with a slug gun in ohio,,we moved to missouri in 2000 and now i get to use a rifle

i used an 870 and 1100 both with remington smooth bore slug barrels,,they both like remington 1oz sluggers pretty good,,and the 1100 is just a tad better at 50 yrds. ,,,i think cuzz the recoil is a lot less,,,man that 870 will get your attention,,,not so much when you are hunting but it is a big WOW or should i say OUCH factor from the bench

big thing is to keep the lead out of the barrel,,,them punkin balls really start to lead the barrel after about 10-12 shots,,,,my experience is keep it clean and it will put the shot on target if i do my part

also i have only had a few and very few not go through the animal,,,,the one that didn't go through that really sticks in my mind was a 35-40 yrd shot that was a pipe line,,,he(the buck) was facing me,,,he caught me slipping through an opening in the tree line and there we stood facing each other,,,,him snorting and pawing the ground and me standing there frozen with my uhhh hanging out,,,,it was a slow and i mean slow quarter turn and the gun coming up,,funny thing he never wavered,,,put one right in the white spot on his chest,,, he reared up and went right on over with a red fountain spewing out,,,when he landed on his back the antlers stuck into the ground,, i still have trouble believing he let me make the turn and bring the gun up and shoot him......that was 20 years ago and i can still see it unfold just like it was yesterday

i have a few other stories,,,,but i'm sure you all don't want to listen to me,,,but i can tell ya,,,, a shot gun slug will damn sure GIT R DUN

hope this is what you were looking for

ocharry

 

[Dave McCracken]

Shawnee, I'm not crazy about a messa stickies at the top for logistic reasons. I thought long and hard about adding On Fighting Shotguns before I did, and now it's morphed into a discussion on best single shots.

Feh....

 

[Bartkowski]

Allegheny county has a doe season to control the population so if I haven't filled my tags I will go for some in allegheny.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Dave...


Yeah - I'm not exactly a fan of "stickys". Don't really know what the best way to make the info easily findable for people is. May not be enough folks who care anyway. That's why I did the poll.