Personal shotgun or borrowed rifle for deer?

[Eb1]

At 115 yards I can hit a 6" paper plate all day long with a 28" 12 gauge and Winchester Foster slugs with 2 beads as sights. Maybe you flinch on the shotgun. With 3" slugs you can easily take deer past 100 yards and beads for sights.
My choke is Improved Cylinder. The gun is a Maverick 88.

 

[Sav .250]

Sounds like some serious range time should be in the mix. If he can handle the 30-06,
then IMO that would be the better weapon.

Nothing wrong with the shot gun as many a deer have been taken by them.

Bottom line, let him select the one he is more comfortable wit.

 

[Frostbite]

Thank you. It gives me a better idea of what can be accomplished with such a gun and practice. Your experience demonstrates that my friend's shotgun would most likely be sufficient for its intended use: although shots passed 115 yards can present themselves, I would say 90 to 95% of the possible shots which presented to me up to this day were within that range.

My deer were taken within shotgun distance most of the time; not all the time, but most of the time, although never with a shotgun.

My friend's shotgun came with only a modified choke, do you think it would have a negative effect on slug shooting? Chokes are available at the store if it is something that must be taken care of.

I will enjoy that trip to the range when we compare his ability with the shotgun and the rifle at 100 yards. I think I will bring one of my .22’s!

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Why not scope his shotgun and let him use it that way as opposed to using the beads alone.

I think letting him hunt with his gun is the best choice, due to familiarity, etc that has been discussed previously.

But assuming his gun is better at putting lead on target than he is, adding a scope to his gun would help him shoot his gun more accurately, right? Especially if the gun already has drill/tap holes from the factory (don't know about that, but would be worth it to look).

If the holes are already there from the factory, it would be super easy to add a scope and start practicing with his shotgun right away. That'd be the route I'd go.

 

[Frostbite]

I will have to check with him for the holes, I do not remember if they were already there. It is also a good idea, thank you. I like how highroaders expand the array of possible solutions to this dilemma. More options to present to my friend seems better to me.

 

[TimSr]

You are right about the possibility of a shot within 50 yards. Do you think some kind of sights should be added at all since you oppose the use of a scope? I prefer to take aim at the animal before I shoot, but know some consider it a handicap when using buckshot. I would favor slugs over it, but my friend might feel different about this.

I hunted for years with smoothbore and just a front bead. As long was he can level it with the top of the barrel, he will be fine.

Definately use 1 oz slugs. Buckshot is for very short range and German Shepherd size deer. 3" magnum is waste of recoil and money, with velocity gains that are minimal. Try the regular 2 3/4" Federal, Winchester, Remington and you'll probably find something you like.

Punch holes on a large target with a centered bullseye at 50, 75, and then 100 yards for kicks just to see where it hits. See where they shoot in reference to your Bulleye. Forget the paper plates. You want to see where it actually hits. If you know its shoots tight, but a foot low at 75 yards, you can still make a hit every time. This simple setup has taken more Ohio deer than any other, and its extremely effective. Most smoothbores with a slug they like are effectively accurrate at 50-80 yards. Yours might be better. I don't know what planet they shoot 200 yard foster slugs through a smoothbore, but it would be quite irresponsible on a live target.

 

[Eb1]

Mossberg 500 and the Maverick have hole for mounting a rail so you can put a scope on the shotgun.
As far as a paper plates go. Use a marker and make a black circle in the center. If you shoot at the circle, and it doesn't hit the plate then you need to put the plate closer. I agree at using a large target to see where it hits, but then you you'll have to remember the hold over, etc.
I guess I am just lucky that I don't have issues shooting a plate at 100 yards with a smooth bore shotgun. And you are correct that a 2 3/4" foster slug is fine for 100 yard shots on deer through smooth bore shotgun if your shotgun like shooting slugs. I find that the Winchester 2 3/4 slugs shoot best in my shotgun.

 

[IdahoSkies]

I believe the novas come drilled and tapped for a scope mount. Look on the receiver there may be some little plastic studs. Those are the scope mount holes. Pop th out from inside the reciever.

I have one in 20 gauge and love it. It's really handy and if he likes it and feels comfortable with it let him use it. Scope it and get him some range time.

If there are not holes on the top of the reciever I believe some side saddle scope mounts that attach via the trigger group pins are also available. Check out midway and brownells.

 

[Frostbite]

My Winchester SXP is drilled. I have the rail and the mounts. I have not asked my friend about his Nova yet. Will email him after this. Side saddle mounts will not be an option at this point, too many other good options are readily available. Fall is coming fast.

Thanks for the confidence vote on the slugs. I have seen good results with buckshot posted on Youtube, but I am still of the opinion that a slug is preferable if the shotgun must be used in that kind of hunt, when it is allowed, of course.

I am sure 2¾" slugs are sufficient for the job. After firing 3" rounds, all I could appreciate more with them was to stop shooting them. They were 3" magnum 000 buck if memory serves me. Nothing fun. Satisfied my curiosity and decided 2¾" 00 buck would be the buckshot load I would use if need be, anything requiring more impact would receive a 1 oz slug, also from a 2¾" hull, instead.

The friend I am trying to help prepare for hunting was very found of the fact that his shotgun can shoot 3½" rounds. He considered this a big advantage on my own shotgun. Since I have not seen any 3½" slugs at the store, I guess they are not very common over here and he will have to pass on that option.

We will first use big targets at the range, and then, if we have the time and will, some paper plates, just because it is fun to shoot paper plates. I will have to bring my twelve gauge too, it likes shooting paper plates with slugs. Don't want to make it jealous.

I am currently preparing bass opening on Friday morning. My better half is not cooperative with regards to myself being on the lake, an hour away from where I live, at 5:00 AM. I think sleeping on opening day is way overrated.

 

[kapie]

Let the man use his shotgun.The weapon he is used to. Plenty of people shoot deer with slugs.

 

[TimSr]

If you put a scope on a man's rabbit and squirrel gun for short range deer shots, you are not helping him.

 

[Patocazador]

For slugs an IC choke usually works much better than a modified one does. I agree with the 2 3/4" W/W slugs from a smoothbore. However, 3" magnum 00 buckshot holds 15 pellets whereas 2 3/4" magnum 00 buckshot holds only 12. That's 20% more pellets. Use a modified or full choke with the buckshot and keep your shots within 35-40 yds.

 

[gspn]

Times change, but hunting remains an important part of who I am. I want others to enjoy it too. I cannot express how much I would like my now two years old heir to become a hunter and a fisherman when he grows up. We are on the right road: he caught his first two fish last weekend at my father's place, and he enjoyed it very much!

I very much admire everything you said there, and I wish you the best of luck in protecting, and passing on your way of life.

 

[gspn]

If you can get a bit of range time have him shoot both under realistic field conditions.

I frequently see discussions about shooting white paper plates. That may work in broad daylight for target practice, but deer are brown and blend in exceptionally well with their surroundings. I've hunted mule deer in wide open areas of MT and had them dang near disappear if I didn't keep a close eye on them. Furthermore I can attest that a white paper plate is no approximation for a whitetail deer in the woods in the last fading minutes of legal shooting light. Under many circumstances you won't be able to see your bead at all, much less find where to hold it on the deer that's 50 or 100 yards away standing amid the vegetation and deep shadows of the woods.

I'd shoot both shotgun and rifle under circumstances you're likely to experience on your hunt. If you're hunting wide open areas, by all means practice like that. If you're hunting in the woods, I would make sure to give him a little exposure to that scenario when deciding which gun to use.

I started hunting with a 12 gauge smoothbore and killed my first deer with it. I shot a buck with a slug at a distance of roughly 7 yards from the ground. I bought a rifle that next year and haven't used the shotgun on a deer since. I killed one with the shotgun and the next 100+ with rifle, muzzle loader, and bow.

 

[Frostbite]

Thank you gspn, I appreciate your comment.

Range time is definitely on the menu. It is Father's Day tomorrow and we both are lucky enough to still have our dads alive, so it has been postponed to next weekend.

I checked with my friend and he said his shotgun receiver is drilled for the scope and he already owns the rail to accommodate such an aiming device.

Taking into consideration comments made so far, we will bring the following to the range next weekend:

His shotgun, so he can see what he can do with it as it is, using slugs for sure and maybe buckshot if the range officer allows us to do so, which is uncertain to say the least, it is normally not allowed, but they let me do it when not too many people are there, so attendance will most likely be the deciding factor.

I will also bring the .30-06 pump rifle and let him enjoy it after rechecking the zero with the aperture sight.

I will bring my shotgun scope too. It is already in the rings, so we should have to just put it on his rail to use it. Thinking about this, I will take along my guns toolbox. It might just prove useful.

For myself, I will also bring the shotgun for slugs fun with the desert paper plates and the .22 for target shooting.

Water, I must not forget to bring water. Thirst is a terrible thing when one does not have water.

Caught a seven lb pike yesterday, lost it because the fish chain did not hold it. Fun and frustrating. The bass all outsmarted me, some very nice ones escaped after a good fight. Oh well, I went to the restaurant with my dad for lunch and he took the bill. Everything was not lost!

 

[WV_Gunner]

In my state, shot isn't even allowed on deer, only slugs if it's a shotgun. I say go ahead with the shotgun. A shotgun really is a do it all gun. What rifle can you easily hunt small game with but not being overkill and hunt large game with but not being under gunned? That being said I was raised with rifles and I've hunted only squirrel with a shotgun. A lot of people use single shots with slugs and just a brass bead. I've never even seen one with 2 beads. I'd say an inaccurate setup with a moderate shooter should be good to go for at least 50 yards hunting.
Another thing to consider, almost no one will say this but I will, being not great at the range isn't the same as being a horrible shot when they are hunting. I've been impressed with my shots while hunting but not the happiest while target shooting. I am also one of the few who doesn't like scopes. Every deer I've killed has been with one however. Everytime I go to change it up I never see a deer. I say get him comfortable shooting and possibly bring targets fun to shoot at. Makes a huge difference. Gallon jugs that filled with water and frozen are the best. Make sure he doesn't concentrate too long on the target either. Once it's identified it needs shot. That's my problem, I try to hard to make my shots perfect at the range and it makes me worse. But when I'm hunting I just pull the trigger and it's perfect about every time. Teach him where to aim for at a deer too.

 

[Frostbite]

We have a lot in common. I am not one of the best at the range, and even if the guys are nice and say it is because of my equipment (humble, like my bank account), I think the range is a little like golf in the way that a big part of the game is in the head of the participant.

When I am more relaxed and nobody watches, I shoot my best groups. When a guy is shooting his magnum short barrelled rig just beside me and the range is full, not so much.

However, I have hunted with guys who are better shooters than I am, or at least say they are, and they miss regularly on a deer, which has not happened to me that often.

I like to think it is because I am lucky, but I have learned over the years that some hunters just could not kill a deer at ten yards if their lives depended on it. Some call it buck fever, but the best explanation I ever heard came from my uncle: there is a lot more room beside the deer than on the deer!

I will definitely show my friend some pictures illustrating the kill zone on the animal at different angles. If memory serves me, I think there was a thread about that here on THR. Will pray to find it. If I do not, Google images is always there.

I fully agree with the idea that a shotgun is sufficient to kill a deer, but I am of the opinion that when it is readily available, an appropriate caliber rifle, like the .30-06 previously mentioned, is a better tool.

I will offer my friend an opportunity to test his ability with both weapons, using different sight systems, and let him choose whichever he prefers.

After all, it will be his choice, not mine, but I feel like I am helping him more in his introduction to deer hunting this way then by just giving him a tap on the shoulder and saying good luck on opening day.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I think you're doing it right. And I agree with your feelings about rifle v. shotgun.

Hoping your friend will remain open to alternatives and be willing to try new things.

Happy Fathers Day to you.