Slugs vs. Buck shot for Deer

[dfaugh]

OK, after many years of not hunting, I'm going out again this year...

Now, I must use a shotgun for deer, and currently the only one I own is a Mossberg 500A "Special Purpose" with a 20" cylinder bore. I can't afford a new gun just yet, so I'd like to make do with this one...I'll be hunting on my own property, from a tree stand (more like a tree condo, built out of scrap lumber) that overlooks 2 or 3 game trails. There's a whole flock of deer out there (they sometimes come right up into my yard)...There's lots of brush and such so most likely I won't be shooting at more than 30-40 yards (probably 25 is more realistic)....

Now I don't expect this gun to be very accurate with slugs (going out next week to try a few), so I'm considering using 00 buckshot. However I've never used buckshot on deer and don't know what to expect. Will I destroy alot of meat? Don't think its a problem, but will I get a quick humane kill?

Any/all replies appreciated!

 

[Lennyjoe]

I prefer slugs over buckshot.

I have shot deer with both and in my opinion the slug puts them down quicker.

If your using a smooth bore barrel then use the rifled slugs. Pumpkin balls is what we used to call them. They will be plenty accurate out to the distance you plan to shoot.

 

[dakotasin]

s.d. is fairly lenient on what can be used for big game. however, one of the no-no's is buckshot... tells me that buckshot is too unreliable in an average shooter's hands.

based on that, go w/ slugs.

 

[stevelyn]

Go with the slug. Buckshot loses its oomph fairly fast. Then there is the problem with pattern dispersion where you could get all 9-12 pellets to hit and have none hit the vitals.

 

[ACP230]

I shot a three point with buckshot some years ago.
He fell immediately, then got up again.
I shot him with another load of buck and he went down again.
He was still moving when I got up to him so I shot him again with a slug.
I'd use slugs.

There's a thread in the shotgun forum about groups shot with slugs you might find interesting.

 

[OH25shooter]

What does your state require by law?

 

[scout26]

Check you state regs, as some do not allow buckshot. But even if they do, slugs are more effective. Buy a couple of brands and see what flavor your gun prefers. DO NOT USE SABOT SLUGS, they just will not shoot well in a smoothbore. Rifled (Foster) slugs are cheaper ($2-$3 for a box of 5, vs. $10-$15 for Sabots) and are designed for smoothbore. Try Brenneke's, they always worked well in my 500 smoothbore, YMMV.

 

[Art Eatman]

Since your gun is cylinder-bore, I'd definitely favor slugs. I'd think that the pattern would spread fairly quickly with buckshot.

Art

 

[erik the bold]

Definately slugs.........

If you can swing it, take that old Mossy and replace the barrel with one of the Slugster rifled barrels. Makes a big difference in accuracy

 

[one-shot-one]

or

if you can swing it $$ wise, you could buy a 20" bbl. with threaded chokes and vent. rib buy a rifled choke tube and "bolt" on sites.
i did this with my mossy 500 w/ usable accuracy (inside 3") out to 50 yards with sabots or rifled slugs.

 

[Specialized]

Try the new Federal Vital-Shok TruBall slugs in your smoothbore. They're made specifically for that purpose, and they're getting rave reviews. I saw a video of a 100-yard test with them, and they were getting 4" groups... That's really great for a smoothbore! Hope this helps -- good luck.

 

[JShirley]

You might find you're more accurate than you'd think with a slug. Two seasons ago, I shot a running doe just behind the head in thick brush.

I use a cylinder bore Mossberg.

You may find widely varying accuracy, depending on ammo. I've had good luck with Remingtons.

Good luck, be safe, and have fun.

(Oh- for the record, I have little use for buckshot. It does work great at a couple meters on armadillo, though!)

John

 

[Sunray]

You don't need a new shotgun. Your Mossberg will be just fine. You do need to spend some time on a range though. You'll have to find the best load and sight in same as you would a rifle. No buckshot though. It's not reliable nor accurate enough. Try as many brands of slugs as you can to find the one or two that shoots best out of your Mossberg. Look at Brenneke slugs.

 

[444]

I agree completely.
I think you will be surprised at how accurate your shotgun will be with slugs. I guarentee it will be plenty accurate for any shot you might want to take.
Instead of buying anything, what you need to do is go out and shoot your gun on paper. And I mean more than a couple slugs. See where it hits. If you want to get fancy, buy as many brands of slugs as you can find and see which ones shoot the best. I bet any of them will be good enough.

I shot a deer a couple years ago with a 1 oz Winchester slug. The only reason I shot the deer was just to see how well a slug worked on deer. I had previously only shot deer with rifles and muzzleloaders. I was really impressed with that HUGE hunk of lead. Slugs are awsome.

 

[Byron Quick]

I haven't seen a problem with buckshot effectiveness. I've only killed deer with rifles and pistol. But I've watched others kill with shotguns. People who run their meat through cubing machines don't care for buckshot, though.

I'd go the slug route that everyone else suggested if I couldn't use a rifle.

 

[killzone]

Slugs

If it is over 25 yards I would use the slugs,,, Buck shots are perfect for protection and for backup gun,,,

 

[22-rimfire]

Smooth bore shotgun>> go with slugs (the ones with the grooves in the slug). As said, the sabot slugs are for rifled barrels and give poor results in a smooth bore shotgun.

You might consider reading the article in the October 2005 American Hunter magazine. Many of the available slugs are reviewed or discussed. Their test of the 12 gauge 2 3/4" Federal Truball gave approximately 2" groups at 50 ( 1.8") and 75 (2.1") yards from a Remington 870 cylinder choke. Winchester Power Point rounds gave 2.3 to 3.2" groups at 50 and 75 yards. Shooting was done with a scope mounted on the shotgun, but you get the idea on what is possible in terms of accuracy from a smooth bore. No drop at 50 yards (sight in range). They show a 7.3" drop from line of sight at 100 yards and 15" at 125 yards in the Federal TruBall. The Power Points gave 4.7" drop at 100 yards and 9.9" drop at 125 yards. In terms of deer, that means you hold a little high out past 50 yards.

I found the article interesting concerning accuracy for woods type applications from a shotgun. I was considering getting a rifled barrel for my 870. Probably won't bother since I usually hunt with either a rifle or handgun. Shotgun option in my state would apply to WMA hunts.

I would suggest you shoot the gun on a paper target to see where it hits relative to the sights. Traditional shotgun sights are poor, but they work. Shooting on paper will increase you confidence level or prompt you to consider a scope.

 

[45Badger]

Slugs, for all the reasons mentioned above.

I'd add- you have a much better chance of humane and quick kills. Bad shots happen from time to time. Wounding a deer with one or two pellets isn't a nice thing to do to the deer. It could take hours or days to die, take you forever to track and find (if you do), and you'll feel like crap when it's done.

 

[sm]

Slugs

 

[scotjute]

I've always preferred #1 Buck or # 0 Buck. Don't care for slugs or #00 Buck or # 4 Buck. But was using a full choke shotgun with 28-30" barrell. With 20" barrell and cylinder bore, suppose the slug is the way to go if you can get any kind of accuracy with it.