Some shotguns can shoot slugs very well.
But they kick.
And many folks don't limit variables (buy ammo from one lot #, test different types of ammo to see what is best, experiment for cleaning interval and required foulers).
Many folks set their sluggers up with less than ideal sighting systems.
And even with all that done, many shoot them from lead sleds and funky body positions on the range..........and wonder why in the field the shot goes other than aimed.
Worked gun retail in a predominately shotgun state. The avg deer hunter is clueless. And many of them cheapskates.
They don't help the idea of shotguns shooting well.
My rigs, smoothbore or rifled...........100 yards is a gimme. 150's were too
Did have one smoothbore that was 100 yd max. It was a cool old 870P running Activs. I wanted to run that, so tested for its limits and stayed with them.
Easy 75 yard rig. Of course the 8 pointer gets nuked at 25.
Best was 870 w rifled bbl. Receiver D&T. Leupold compact 4X. High comb stock, trigger job. Sub 2" @100 yds with WW HI Supremes (sold the gun when they stopped making that slug).
Impressive performance on deer. Folded a few with double lung hits.
If I had to go smoothbore, I'd get an old Mossberg 500 w 24" bbl and receiver D&T, add a cheekriser to the stock and an offset safety.
If I was to go rifled..............I'd buy my old 870 off my hunting bud (had two that shot great, but that one slightly better).
But my state went PCR...........so I run a trimmed .35 Rem in a TC Contender rifle. And even that might get shelved for a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .35 Rem.