Single Shot 44 mag vs 20 ga on deer

[ldlfh7]

I have a NEF 20ga and a 44 mag barrel to compliment it.
Within 50 yards I can hit something the size of coffee cup with either.
44 mag gives me a little more accuracy out to 100 yards but my deer hunting spots are never much more than 50 yards and usually closer. Which would you choose with these circumstances? 44 mag JHP or 20 ga rifled slug?
Either way I am realistically only going to get 1 shot.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

that's a coin toss for me the 20ga is more powerful. then the 44 magnum
is but they will both do the job but i would pick the 44 mag just because
i no that i would shoot it a lot more then the 20ga

 

[Bull Nutria]

44 mag much more accurate to 100 yds
Bull

 

[buck460XVR]

If you were shooting sabots outta a rifled barrel, I'd say the 20ga. But since it's just Forstner type rifled slugs, I'd go with the .44 mag.

 

[336A]

I hunted with a Marlin .44 magnum thinking that it would be a superb short range deer hammer. I was sadly mistaken with that train of thought twice. The first was a spike horn buck taken at 40 yards using Win White box 240gr JSP. After the shot the buck bolted towrd a nearby swamp. He didn't quite make it but he made me go through some nasty thick stuff. When I took up his trail I was amazed that there was no spoor in the snow indicating a hit. I took up his trail and didn't find any blood until I got about 25 yards in, then it was only pin head sized dropplets. I finally found him 100 yards latter, there was a exit wound however blood was only coming from the entrance wound.

Upon dressing him out I found the bullet centered the heart without expanding, which explains why he traveled so far. The next time I used the .44 magnum it was with a MAX load of H110 behind a Hornady 240gr XTP-HP. This time the shot was all of 30 yards. At the shot the buck took off through the woods headed for... you guessed it the thickest stuff available. I found him 150 yards later. With the poor performance that I experienced, coupled with more expensive reloading components, and the lack of affordable ammo or any ammo for that matter I sold that rifle immediately. Heck I haven't seen any .44 magnum here in more than a year.

I replaced the .44 with a NEF 20GA single shot shotgun and used it to harvest a nice whitetail doe. The terminal performance was light years ahead of what I experienced with the .44 magnum. I shot the doe from 40 yards away, she made a short stiff legged 20 yard jaunt and crashed, there was no shortage of spoor, or of a blood trail either. The terminal performance was no different than the deer I've taken with my 12GA. The Remington Slugger HP Slug wreaked havok on the internal organs, the trauma was immense. When you hit a game animal with a properly constructed slug things stop happening quick. Also don't be fooled by foster slugs they can be quite accurate from a smooth bore once you find the ammo it likes. How accurate can a rifled slug from a smoothbore be? Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNTyCcip-ks

Now I'm not advocating anyone should be shooting that far at game animals with a shotgun and rifled slugs. I posted that video to show that a rifled slug from a smoothbore can more accurate and dangerous than what most people think is possible. Given my experience having used both the .44 magnum from a rifle and a 20GA with slugs for deer, I'd pick the 20GA everyday and twice on Sunday.

 

[Patocazador]

The 20 ga. slug out of a barrel that shoots it well (Imp.Cyl.) is my choice. The mass and diameter of that slug are going to drop that deer a lot better than a 240 grain .44 bullet. If you can neck shoot the deer consistently, then either one is OK. If it's body shots, pick the shotgun.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

If you were shooting sabots outta a rifled barrel, I'd say the 20ga. But since it's just Forstner type rifled slugs, I'd go with the .44 mag.

I agree with this.

 

[gamestalker]

At close range like that the 20 ga. is probably the best option. But I don't have a lack of confidence in the 44 mag. either, and have dropped a few deer with it, no problems. H110 / 296 and a decent bullet, ya buddy! It really comes down to personal preference IMO.

GS

 

[Vern Humphrey]

44 mag much more accurate to 100 yds

And that's why I'd choose it over the 20 ga.

 

[RPRNY]

In southern NY where it's shotgun only, I use the 20 ga with Rio Brenekke slugs (available from BPI). I've never seen a 100 yard shot down here. The Rio Brenekke makes quite a hole and doesn't surface detonate on impact like Fosters can.

 

[flipajig]

I'd choose the 44 you use a cast Boolit not a hard cast but one that is a mix of Wheal weights and soft lead with a 240 to a 310 grain Boolit you will get the same results. Lead Boolits have been used for years apon years. Eather one will get the job done but I would preferr the 44. A 50/50 mix works great I would also Gas Check it also may not need one neco use fit is KING.
Flip

 

[mcappys]

50 yards and under I'd go the the 20ga

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The 20 gauge was one of the most popular hunting guns for deer in the colonies and Canada for more than a century. That's with a slower moving round ball..., with a modern Brenneke or Foster slug...no worries.

LD