Realistic range for buckshot on deer

[mcb]

If you find them Federal makes a LE 00 buckshot load (
LE13200 or
LE127 00)
that when we shot them about 10 years ago went into a group of about 8" at 25 yards from a slug (no choke) shotgun barrel

Both of those loads use the Flight Control wad. It is impressive what you can do with that wad. Federal also uses the Flight Control wad on some turkey, water-fowl (Black Cloud) and upland game loads (Prairie Storm). If you want tight patterns that wad is pretty spectacular.

 

[Sarge7402]

Both of those loads use the Flight Control wad. It is impressive what you can do with that wad. Federal also uses the Flight Control wad on some turkey, water-fowl (Black Cloud) and upland game loads (Prairie Storm). If you want tight patterns that wad is pretty spectacular.

That I did not know. Only that it shocked the instructors and students alike and I believe increased sales slightly for federal.

 

[Picher]

I've killed deer with Brenneke-type slugs out of my 20 gauge, but stopped using slugs after one failed to penetrate a small fir tree that a deer was standing behind. Adequate rifle rounds are way better, especially for shots over 40 yards. I've used .243 Win where we don't expect to encounter a small tree in front of a deer, but prefer the .270 or .30-06 for greater surety. (However, it's always better to not hit anything between you and the quarry.)

 

[Loyalist Dave]

If you find them Federal makes a LE 00 buckshot load (
LE13200 or
LE127 00)
that when we shot them about 10 years ago went into a group of about 8" at 25 yards from a slug (no choke) shotgun barrel

Yeah, that reminds me, one needs to look at the MV on the box as well. The Federal LE buckshot loads are about 1145 fps, and other brands seem to hover between that and about 1200 fps, BUT some Remington is listed at 1325 fps, and Hornady 8-pellet "Critical Defense" loads for 12 gauge are listed at a whopping 1600 fps. IF that last choice patterned out at 25 yards, you sure wouldn't need to worry about penetration I bet.

LD

 

[FL-NC]

For my 870 with 20" Carlson Remchoke barrel with a factory mod choke screwed in and 3" #1 buckshot from Winchester, I am looking at a max of 50 yards, with the pattern rapidly falling apart after 35-40.

 

[tactikel]

You must pattern your gun and load. At whatever range you can put 3-4 00 buckshot in a 7" paper plate is your answer.

 

[Legionnaire]

Lots of good advice here. Need to pattern your load.

That said, I'd prefer slugs. I have taken many deer with 12-gauge slugs, ranging from Foster and Brenneke type slugs through a cylinder bore under open sights to saboted slugs through a rifled bore with a 4X scope. The latter is quite capable out to 125 yards. Buckshot has no appeal to me for hunting purposes.

 

[FL-NC]

Lots of good advice here. Need to pattern your load.

That said, I'd prefer slugs. I have taken many deer with 12-gauge slugs, ranging from Foster and Brenneke type slugs through a cylinder bore under open sights to saboted slugs through a rifled bore with a 4X scope. The latter is quite capable out to 125 yards. Buckshot has no appeal to me for hunting purposes.

Personally, I have no use for a shotgun unless I'm killing something with feathers. They are used around here with buckshot on deer by those who like to hunt with dogs. Not my thing, but I can see why it would be a good choice for that purpose.

 

[Legionnaire]

Shotgun isn't my first choice for deer, either, but I have hunted in a number of shotgun-only areas. You work with what you can.

 

[redneck2]

Few years ago indiana was shotgun/muzzleloader. I had an 870 with a rifled barrel and a 4x scope. I could routinely hit a tennis ball size target at 125 yards off a rest. Killed a moving coyote at 140 yards using Remington Copper solids.

Rifled barrel with the correct sabot slugs is a different world from typical Foster slugs in a smooth bore. Be advised that they kick the crap out of you, but they work.

When I lived in Michigan I knew several guys that hit deer with buckshot and didn’t recover them. Each pellet is roughly the same as a .32 acp. Not a lot of punch IMO.

 

[Keyfer 55]

I hunted deer with dogs several years ago in north Alabama ,I like 3in. 00 buckshot out to 45 yds for me ,
The longest kill shot I've seen was my Bro. shot a small buck around 70 yds. 3 pellets hit it, one struck center chest, one struck left front leg shattered the leg bone below its joint, one struck the hind leg center ham aera. I was surprised at how far away it was and the amount of damage it did.

 

[redneck2]

3 pellets hit it, one struck center chest, one struck left front leg shattered the leg bone below its joint, one struck the hind leg center ham aera. I was surprised at how far away it was and the amount of damage it did.

He was lucky that the one in the chest happened to be lethal. Had the pellet that hit the chest hit a few inches off, you’d have a severely wounded deer that could get away.

This isn’t war where a severe wound is as good as a kill. IMO, a Hunter should have aimed fire, or use a shotgun on small game that has enough pellets to hit vitals multiple times.

 

[Bayourambler]

I wouldn't shoot one past 20 yds with buckshot. I have heard way too many lost deer stories with buckshot shot at 35 -40 yds. If I have to use a shotgun I'll take a slug any day over buckshot.

 

[DM~]

Any time a hunter looses a deer with buckshot at 35 yards, it's a HUNTER problem not a buckshot problem!!

They obviously didn't do THEIR home work!!

DM

 

[red rick]

Very true DM , if you don't pattern your shotgun you don't know what its doing at any distance . I am confident with shots at 40 yards with my shotgun , because I patterned my gun up to that distance with a few different choke tubes and buckshot brands until I get the best pattern and a pattern that I am confident will kill deer . In my 40 plus years of hunting I have had 2 deer that I hit and were not recovered . One was shot with a shotgun and the other a rifle , both were hunter era and not the firearm .