BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[redneckhunter]

Hey guys, I have a single shot 20 gauge, And deer season will be comming up soon. If yall had to choose between using a slug for deer or buckshot for deer, which would it be? My terrain would be wooded/hilly and my shots would be mostly under 10-15 yards.

[Whelland]

With a 20 gauge, I would use slugs.

[Hammer1]

I'd use slugs also for two reasons:
If you can't hit a deer with a slug at 15-25 yads you need some practice and you may just get a shot that is just a bit far for buckshot.
Only you really know, have a good hunt :thumbsup1:

[saskie]

Definitely slugs for a 20ga

[ChesterGolf]

No question that I'd use the slugs. One good shot is all you need. :thumbsup1:

[jim muir]

If you were shooting a 12gauge at those close ranges buckshot would be an option(if legal), Myself I'd rather shoot a slug any day.

[Illinois_Dave]

I know where I hunt in Illinois, it illegal to use buckshot. Brenneke (sp?) makes a good 20 gauge slug, as well as the Remington sluggers.

[Tatertot45]

We can't use Bckshot in Mn. I would still use slugs and have used Brenneke alot. They consistently group bettter than any other slug i have tried. I hate the bite into my wallet, but a box of 5 will last 5 seasons. :)

[atomikall]

Challenger cutters. (Slugs) Amazing slug slug if you can get some.

[Kirrmeister]

I also would use slugs in this cal. A good shot with a slug is much more deer like as a buckshot.

Regards

Kirrmeister

[atomikall]

Just wondering if you have tryed the new premier accubond sabots from winchester.

[maineguide]

I would use a slug in a 20 ga. I would also use 3" mags if the gun will take it.
There is nothing wrong with useing buckshot. I have killed deer at 30 yards with it. But buckshot does funny stuff if you have not shot with it before. Like at 40 yards it will rise instead of dropping. So you should shoot with it at different ranges to see what it will do. This is just my 2 cents.

[aloft52]

Buckshot has one use in my opinion, combat situations where it is better to wound and maim which is precisely what it does, and not only to the animal you are shooting at, but to anyone else around subject to the spreading pellets. Rarely do you get a clean kill, in fact the motto of some advocates of it is to get a few pellets in the animal to slow it down for the kill. Another factor is it tends to encourage hunters to take pot shots under the spray and pray rule.
Slugs, and be sure of your shot. I killed many deer with a Wards Western Field single shot 20 gauge in my youth.
Just my opinion.

[AmericanHuntress]

This will be my fourth year deer hunting and I prefer buckshot for my 20 ga. shotgun. I have harvested a buck every year with it and have dropped them in their tracks, every time, using buckshot. Of course they were both a distance between 60 to 80 yards away with nice clean shots and there was Never any damage to the meat. That being said, I prefer to use slugs with my 12 ga.
Happy Hunting.

[Sage of the Sage]

Most people are voting for slugs, but I don't know if I'd do that. I'd probalby opt for buckshot. Unless you're using a rifled barrel your range will be about the same: 30 yards at most (I'd think). It seems easier to hit the vitals with a spread than with a single slug. Besides, your singleshot 20 gauge likely only has a bead for aiming, not open sights or a scope. It seems a bead would lend itself more to firing a spread of buckshot. That's my opinion, though.