Effectiveness of buckshot on deer

Man the last deer I shot was with 12 gauge buckshot 9 pellets, it was at about 20 yards and I've never seen something drop so fast on the spot. Well maybe sheeps and pigs being killed for slaughter on the farm
 
There are a lot of buckshot haters on here. I've seen too many deer fall to it to be one of them.

One of the biggest issues, is folks that just point in the general direction and yank the trigger, or shoot too far. Yes, it's got a spread pattern, but it's not huge. It's particularly easy to miss a close running shot using a gun with a bead sight. Buckshot does not penetrate brush, and pellets are easily deflected, but with shot, you have more chances of at least one pellet finding a clear space, assuming you aimed well.

The ribbing at camp for those guys that missed was pretty good. How many pellets in that load? 9? You mean you had 9 chances and still missed?
:)

But on the other hand, one of our more successful doggers always packed a shotgun with 2 buckshot and a slug follow up loaded.
 
I'm not a buckshot hater, but I am not a buckshot user either. I prefer to place my bullets exactly, not "hope" one of them hits something vital. The problem with buckshot is not when it is used appropriately within range, the problem is when the user makes a poor decision to shoot beyond the consistently lethal range... that is where the deer takes one pellet in the jaw, one in the guts and one in the ass. By all means use buckshot where legal, just know it's limitation and yours and stay within them.
 
30-40 yards maximum range and it is quite deadly. I have taken many and can attest to its effectiveness. Also seen people attempting to use it past 50 yards with poor results and have skinned a few deer and found 000 and 00 ought buck just under the hide that obviously did not penetrate worth 💩. I wish I knew how far those shots were taken from? But obviously too far.
 
hoytcanon said:
I'm not a buckshot hater, but I am not a buckshot user either. I prefer to place my bullets exactly, not "hope" one of them hits something vital. The problem with buckshot is not when it is used appropriately within range, the problem is when the user makes a poor decision to shoot beyond the consistently lethal range... that is where the deer takes one pellet in the jaw, one in the guts and one in the ass. By all means use buckshot where legal, just know it's limitation and yours and stay within them.
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I'm in the same boat. I see buckshot much like I see straight wall rifle cartridges. Of course they work within their limitations, but I have no particular reason to use them.

Of course there are always exceptions, I'm quite interested in the 360BH, not because its straightwall, but because I want a 35cal.
 
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It's certainly effective on Bucks at close range, beyond say 25 yards I'd pick a 22 WMR were it legal. Oh, and I'd go 000 and a tight choke and pattern it.
 
Buckshot can be extremely effective on whitetail deer, unfortunately, it also causes more than its fair share of wounded and lost game. Through seven seasons of guiding, followed by 32 years as a wildlife protection officer, I can confirm this. To many hunters don't understand it's limitations and misuse it.

A few years ago, after a fifty year hiatus, they reopened our hunting zone to deer hunting and permitted the use of shotguns and muzzleloaders. Many local budget conscious hunters didn't want to invest in new sluggers or muzzleloaders so they just dug out the old smoothbore single or pump from the closet, bought a box of buckshot and headed for the woods without even trying to pattern their gun first. What a disaster! Our local bloodhound handler never had so much work in his life.

The lesson to be learnt, know your weapon and ammo's limitations and apply them in the field.
 
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I've never hunted deer with buckshot. But if I were in a situation where it might be appropriate, I have a Browning A-5 Magnum that I have patterned with Winchester 3" 000 loads. Patterns were predictably excellent, and I am confident that the gun would be very effective at buckshot range.
 
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