20 gauge buckshot for deer

wyleekyotee

wyleekyotee

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I'm considering a new location for deer hunting this year, but its proximity to residential dwellings makes it necessary to use buckshot, rather than my beloved Swedish Mauser. The only shot gun I have right now is a Cooey 20 gauge, and I was wondering if anyone has ever taken deer using a 20 gauge with buckshot. Just to be clear, it's a model 84, and thus, will only take 2 3/4 loads. With regard to range, 30 yards or less will be my 'kill zone', just in case there are those who think I'll be making 100 yard gut shots.

From what I've read on U.S. forums where hunters regularly deal with buckshot only zones, it's totally possible if your shot pattern is good and you are looking at 30 yards or less. It also seems to be the case that the only main difference between the 20 gauge and the 12 gauge is the amount of shot, not the hitting power.

Just wondering if anyone has actually done this. Any thoughts - or preferably experiences?

Wylee
 
I would suggest not doing so friend. I once used 20 gauge buckshot (#3) to harvest a jackrabbit on the prairies of South Saskatchewan. The harvest was underwhelming with this 2 3/4 inch chambering. One lucky pellet hit it's heart at a distance of about 28 yards.

I'm going to suggest that unless you are standing on it's back when you pull the trigger, you stand in greater chance of merely wounding the deer and perhaps just feeding the local coyote population on that very evening of your hunting trip. I disagree with your assertion that 20 gauge is merely a slightly lighter load then the 12. Bigger buckshot pellets and more of them is the better formula here. Even a single 00 pellet weighs about 55-60 grains. The biggest buckshot pellet is just the #3 for the 20 bore 2 3/4 inch chambering in factory ammunition.

A 16 gauge would be a better jump upwards instead with #1 buck, and even much better, with a 12 gauge using Winchester Supreme using 3 inch magnum, copper plated and buffered buckshot of adequately size.

Animals deserve a cleaner harvest. May I suggest you purchase 20 gauge slugs instead or otherwise get a bigger shotgun with heavier buckshot.

my 2 bits only.......
 
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Brutus said:
I would suggest not doing so friend. I once used 20 gauge buckshot (#3) to harvest a jackrabbit on the prairies of South Saskatchewan. The harvest was underwhelming with this 2 3/4 inch chambering. One lucky pellet hit it's heart at a distance of about 28 yards.

I'm going to suggest that unless you are standing on it's back when you pull the trigger, you stand in greater chance of merely wounding the deer and perhaps just feeding the local coyote population on that very evening of your hunting trip. I disagree with your assertion that 20 gauge is merely a slightly lighter load then the 12. Bigger buckshot pellets and more of them is the better formula here. Even a single 00 pellet weighs about 55-60 grains. The biggest buckshot pellet is just the #3 for the 20 bore 2 3/4 inch chambering in factory ammunition.

A 16 gauge would be a better jump upwards instead with #1 buck, and even much better, with a 12 gauge using Winchester Supreme using 3 inch magnum, copper plated and buffered buckshot of adequately size.

Animals deserve a cleaner harvest. May I suggest you purchase 20 gauge slugs instead or otherwise get a bigger shotgun with heavier buckshot.

my 2 bits only.......
Click to expand...

my 2 bits is the same as your's!
 
Buckshot smaller than #1 (IIRC) is illegal for big game in Ontario. What do Nova Scotia's game regs say about it? Having said that I witnessed a good sized buck killed with a 20 gauge slug and it worked real well.

Darryl
 
Dumptruck said:
Yup. Slugs should be allowed anywhere that is shot gun only and are much safer and humane due to better accuracy.
Click to expand...

Slugs carry one hell of lot more energy longer distances and penetrate much more than any load of shot. There for I can think of many areas and times buckshot may be preferable, for example here in NB provincial law requires 400 meters from a residence or place of business for a rifle, or shotgun firing a slug or single ball however all you need is 200 meters for shot. Also in denser populated areas I would feel more comfortable with shot just in case it carried to an unintended area. Not denying that slugs are more effective at longer ranges and offer better accuracy at those distances than buck shot. However inside 30 yards for my best gun, load and choke combo (it will vary some from individual to individual) buckshot is very effective and lethal/humane and there are some locations it would get the nod over a slug.
I personally can relate to the OP's position but can't recommend a 2 3/4" 20 bore load for that situation, for me it was part of the push that drove me to pick up a bow and coupled with a much longer season I am very glad I did.
 
NS Regs say buckshot must be of .24" diameter or larger. 24 diameter is #4, though generally I think only #3 is available here. I have to think that, assuming a good shot pattern, a group of 20, .25 cal balls going in the neighborhood of 1,200 fps would have some hitting power.

No one agrees?
 
Measure out 30 yards, place a clean cardboard box or similar out, with a paper plate taped to it.

Shoot a shot at it with the buckshot you can get. Count holes. The plate is about the size of the kill zone on a broadside deer. Note that. Broadside. Clean on the side or only a wee bit off kilter, preferably tilting away from you, so the foreleg is not blocking the shot.

Same test with a gallon milk jug of water or ice.

Betcha it is not as impressive as you thought it would be.

If slug is not an option, try to find a larger gauge shotgun, I think.

Cheers
Trev
 
"Probably more deer taken in the early part of this century with 20g buckshot than anything else"....once read that, but can't relocate the source. Just saying, why not test out your ballistics with 00, and see how it feels.
 
I use buck shot for deer as well ,but you have to spend some time testing your gun and loads ,not all are the same ,.if you are in a tree stand and shoting down I would say use a slug ,I shot all my deer with a 20g sabot slug gun and it is easy a 100 yards gun ,,,,Dutch
 
I killed a decent black bear with Remington #1 Buck out of my 16 Browning it worked well. The bear was about 25 yards away. Shoot yours on some pattern paper to see what is your max range. I like to see at least 5 of the big pellets in a heart lung sized area. My Remington 1100 16 gauge choked MOD will maintain that score to about 30 yards.

Darryl
 
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