Deer Hunting, need a judgement call

[bluemike807]

Im a student living away from home, but able and eager to go out for Deer this season. My problem: the only guns I've brought with me are those I can use to plink cheaply, and shoot trap with; an SKS and a 12ga Remington 870.

I'm confident and capable with both, but I realize neither is really perfect for deer.

So which should I use? I have 28" and 18" barrels for the 870 (the 18 is smoothbore) and the SKS has a folding stock; but only iron sights.

I'm thinking slugs in the 12ga? Its more compact, and lightweight. The bush I'll be hunting in is New Brunswick scrub, no shooting distances greater than perhaps 50m.

Advice?

 

[Rascal]

Sks has similar characteristics of a 30-30, and at 50m , a young students eyes should be good to go on the iron sights

 

[gps]

I'm thinking slugs in the 12ga? Its more compact, and lightweight. The bush I'll be hunting in is New Brunswick scrub, no shooting distances greater than perhaps 50m.

Advice?

Nothing wrong with that at all. Just make sure you're proficient at hitting your target under realistic hunting conditions.

Really, either firearm would be fine out to 50m so long as you do your part.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

I'd take the SKS, get some soft points and good to go, no F-class distances though.

 

[IMagius]

We've been using 870's with slugs for deer for generations here in Ontario ... up to 100 yards if needed with rifled slugs. In heavy brush with shorter ranges (<50 yards), I'd take the 12 gauge over a rifle any day - the slugs will punch through any foliage without issues.

 

[patricksbb391]

Either choice would do the trick. Soft points as noted earlier for the SKS, and Challenger slugs if they still make them for the smoothbore.

 

[mlehtovaara]

I'd vote 12 guage if either barrel proves to be accurate at 50m.

Problem for me is sighting with a bead sight. Just not accurate enough for me.

If you have a vent rib, you can get a set of fiber optic sights to mount on it for $50-$70.

 

[sjemac]

Shoot both at the range. The one that puts inside a pie plate reliably at the longest range is the one to go for.

 

[cosmic]

Take the shotgun, bring some birdshot along. If you see a grouse, it could mean one less meal of Kraft dinner.

 

[mwjones]

Box of winchester super x 1oz rifled slugs: 8 bucks. Go buy 2 boxes, test fire 2 or three with your 18" barrel, and have fun. My mossberg will put all slugs on a 6" pie plate all day long at 100 yards using the 18.5" security barrel.

 

[Canadian_Zuk]

either one is solid 100 yard deer killer. take which ever you feel more confident with.

 

[brybenn]

Take the shotgun, bring some birdshot along. If you see a grouse, it could mean one less meal of Kraft dinner.

Truest statement of the year right here

 

[Gunslingr]

My .02 would be to take the 870 but thats cause I love and am real handy with mine. Pick the one you can reliably shoot accurately (minute of deer) out to 100m just to be on the safe side.

 

[Ganderite]

If your SKS has been zeroed, it is an excellent 50 yard deer rifle.

Have you tried your 870 with slugs? The sabot slugs are fantastic in a rifled barrel. the rifled slugs work well in a smooth bore.

Try the 870 with slugs before deciding to use it.

If it was me I would use the SKS (with soft point ammo, of course).

 

[huntinguy]

i dont mean to hijack the thread, but my predicament is very similar. except i own an sks, but not a modern shotgun. so, do i buy a 2 barrel shotgun combo or a new deer rifle. decisions decisions! haha.

on the other hand, i was shootin soft point ammo offhand with the sks yesterday, and group an honest 5 inches at 40 yards or so. i believe i can tighten that up with some effort, i wasnt trying very hard.

 

[captonion]

So which should I use? I have 28" and 18" barrels for the 870 (the 18 is smoothbore) and the SKS has a folding stock; but only iron sights.
Advice?

If the 18'' barrel is a slug model with rifle sights on it I would go that route...If not then SKS..

If it does have the rifle sights, they are far better than whats on the SKS. The 870 is also easier to carry, and shoulders nicer than the SKS.

 

[JamesM]

Well since you need to be accompanied by a guide in NB see if you can borrow a gun from them if you lack confidence in your set up.

 

[jaydog]

Whichever one you are a better shot with. At 50m they are both very lethal to deer. While you are at it, splurge on the hunting ammo- that will make a big difference.

 

[doublelung]

The 870 has been knocking down deer in Ontario for years and years.... If it was me thats what would be at my side...

dl