Slug gun. 12 or 20 gauge.

[Arkansas Paul]

I'm thinking about getting a slug gun for whitetails. I have never deer hunted with a shotgun before, just wanted to do something different. I'll probably go with a Remington 870. My question is, does the 12 gauge give that much more range and knockdown than a 20 with slugs? If the performance is close, I would like the 20 for less recoil. By the way the stand I will be using it on will not present a shot over about 80 yards.

 

[Whitman31]

IMO 20ga is more than enough for 80yds. Would you go with a rifled barrel or smoothbore?

 

[Dirty Bob]

For deer, I think I'd go with 12ga. More slug choices, heavier slugs with stronger construction, and a larger diameter wound channel all would make me lean toward 12ga.

The Remington 870 is great, but what about a semiauto to soften up recoil?

OTOH, if recoil is a problem, my 20ga 870 is much easier to shoot with buckshot and/or slugs than the 12ga. pump I've tried. I have an older 870 that's built on a 12ga frame. The extra weight helps a lot. YMMV, of course.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[Whitman31]

Although I agree with Bob on the 12 gauge's selection of slugs, I don't see how they are constructed any differently. The larger diameter is a trade-off for a ballistically better shaped round. The 20ga slug will be longer and slimmer, more like a rifle bullet. The 12ga slug is about a long as it is round...

Both are more than capable of taking down whitetails...

The 12ga, 870 with magnum slugs kicks like a mule. My old C-to-C 20 gauge does too, but it has a fixed full choke. It shoots slugs magnificently, even though everyone says use a cylinder choke.

 

[earlthegoat2]

A 20 is you will need for deer. True there are more slug options for 12ga but the ones you have in 20 will do the job fine. Deer are some of the weakest game out there and I have seen them cleanly killed more than once with a 28ga as well as a 410. Wouldnt really recommend the 410 though.

 

[shootistpd27]

I would stick with a 12ga. I dont know why but the rounds are alot cheaper.

 

[cornman]

A .410 slug is enough for deer.

 

[Dirty Bob]

What I don't like are the hollowpoint 20 ga. slugs. I have not shot any game with one, but I have been disinclined to trust them after reading the Box O' Truth report on the 20 gauge. Their slug penetrated two jugs and then came apart. Water jugs are a pretty extreme test on a bullet, but I was thinking about 20 ga. slugs and wondering how they'd hold up if they hit a deer's rib or shoulder on the way in.

The Box O' Truth page is here:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot22.htm

On the other hand, 12 ga. slugs have a fine reputation against deer. I haven't read reports on the efficacy of 20 ga. slugs vs. deer, but if the members of THR report good results then I believe them. I do note that Brenneke USA (www.brennekeusa.com/) offers 2-3/4" and 3" 20 ga. Brenneke slug ammo, if someone were using a 20 ga. and wanted to hit the deer with something more potent than a 20 ga. Forster-type slug.

For home defense, however, I completely trust the 20 ga. with buckshot. I use the Winchester #3 Buck load, with 20 pellets. In my Remington, I can keep almost all of the buckshot on a paper plate out to 15 yards, without much effort. Recoil is quite manageable.

I hope some of ya'll have had success in 20 ga. vs. deer and can educate me in the error of my ways. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[earlthegoat2]

If the BoxOTruth would have used a 7/8 oz slug instead of a 5/8, the results could have been different.