Rifle vs. Shotgun Hunting

[plinkomatic]

I'm looking to get into hunting, and I'm wondering what the advantages of hunting with a rifled shotgun and slugs are over hunting with a rifle. I'm in it for the game meat, not so much the trophy. Thanks for the help.

 

[Superbrad]

I'm looking to get into hunting, and I'm wondering what the advantages of hunting with a rifled shotgun and slugs are over hunting with a rifle. I'm in it for the game meat, not so much the trophy. Thanks for the help.

Being limited to slugs is not an advantage... it's a disadvantage.... if you are allowed to use rifles where you hunt I highly suggest you start researching them....

 

[dead meat]

Depends on terrain, if your hunting deer or moose in heavy cover a shotgun is not a disadvantage, if you hunt the open long range then a rifle is better. Give us a little more info when you want opinions and advise.

 

[farmer47]

the advantages of a shotgun over a rifle are that you can hunt waterfowl right on up to deer with the proper barrels and shot loads or slugs.distance can be a real disadvantage with a shotgun as shots with bird shot are around 40 yard limits as are buckshot loads . slugs will reach out 125 yards or more .some areas are limited to slug hunting only so a rifle is not an option. a rifle on the other hand can not be used to hunt waterfowl. the rifle has the advantage of reaching out on distance on large game so i guess it depends on what you plan to hunt .

 

[brybenn]

In real hunting the difference is in effect range. Rifles can reach out and deliver more energy. Shotguns with slugs are very effective inside 100 yards. Terrain and game determine which is best

 

[Claybuster]

The only reason to hunt game with a shotgun instead of a rifle is if the law requires it. Otherwise I'll take a rifle every time.

 

[plinkomatic]

meat, you're right, I was a pretty vague. I'm going to be hunting Mule Deer mostly in Southern Sask. Sounds like a rifle is better suited.

farmer, thanks for the side by side. That was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[blueflash]

If your on the prairies, and have the chance for long range hunting, then a rifle is a clear choice. Something like a flat shooting 7mm rem mag is a good choice. If your hunting area offers only 150 yard shots & under, then a shotgun is good, and then you have a gun that you could use for waterfowl hunting also. A rifled barrel shotgun with good sabots, is quite accurate. Then just switch out the barrel to a smoothbore, and hunt waterfowl with shotshell. You can buy shotgun combo's, that come with 2 or 3 different barrels, and if its a remington or mossberg pump, then you will spend less $$ on the combo, over a quality single rifle.

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

For southern Sask I would find a nice flat shooting medium sized rifle in the 270 or 7mm range and go hard, don't feel you NEED a magnum by others opinions, accuracy trumps all!!

 

[albertaal]

You'd be at a big disadvantage if you decided to have a slug shotgun as your deer rifle in S. Saskatchewan. Get a good bolt action with a decent scope in one of the calibers that Kelly recommends, and you'll be ready to go.

 

[blargon]

meat, you're right, I was a pretty vague. I'm going to be hunting Mule Deer mostly in Southern Sask. Sounds like a rifle is better suited.

farmer, thanks for the side by side. That was exactly what I was looking for.

Sounds like a .257 WBY would fit there...leave the shotgun for ducks.

 

[hakx]

I'm looking to get into hunting, and I'm wondering what the advantages of hunting with a rifled shotgun and slugs are over hunting with a rifle. I'm in it for the game meat, not so much the trophy. Thanks for the help.

If you are a new shooter, I don't recomended shotgun slugs. Start with a .243 or someother mild recoiler centerfire. The only advantage offered by shotgun is an extended season in some areas.

 

[FlyingHigh]

only shotgun i'd use in Sask for hunting would be one for birds. all other hunting would be with a rifle. as others stated, a .270 or 7mm is perfect for deer on the prairies.

 

[VLT79]

Every year Mulies are shot in southern Sask. with bows...they can also be shot with ease with a slug gun at 4-5 times the distance!

A 26" or 28" barrelled 12 gauge shotgun with an extra rifled slug barrel is the "jack of all trades". I recommend a slug barrel that has an integral scope mount topped with a low powered scope (1.5-6x) versus the one with open sights. Today's rifled barrels and sabot slug technology shouldn't be compared to slugs and smoothbore slug guns of yesteryears. Premium sabot slug ballistics are equivalent to modern muzzleloader rifles and many will shoot 1" groups at 100yds. Range can be stretched to 200yds...250yds is possible with the right combination under ideal conditions.

The one downside is that premium sabot slugs are ridiculously over-priced which means that becoming familiar with the firearm at distance will cost you a small fortune!

For the beginner it's probably wiser to buy both a shotgun and a rifle. There are lots of quality products out there at affordable prices. Don't shy away from the "used" stuff...there are good deals to be found there as well!

 

[mlehtovaara]

What or who ever gave you the idea that there was any advantage to hunting with a shotgun over a rifle.

I am in an area with shotgun only deer seasons, and every year so far there has been several occasions where a rifle would have meant a dead deer, and the shotgun just wasn't up to the task.

Passing on shots becomes a big part of the game hunting with a shotgun.

Sabots, and rifled barrels are beginning to change that, but they are way to expensive for me to get in the kind of practice shooting I want to do.

 

[Silverback]

I have successfully hunted mule deer in southern Saskatchewan with a Hawken style percussion muzzle loader but if you want to maximize the potential for success in your hunt buy a rifle.
Like others have said go with a 270 Win or something else that is fairly flat shooting.

 

[boss-hog2]

Swede 6.5x55 or 260 Rem will cover anything in Sask--North or South

 

[regulate34]

i am getting into slug hunting. not beacuse i have to but because i want to. but in BC i hunt areas that distance is not a issue. i flat open country you need to reach out and touch you game. you can get into the gullys and push the bush with a slug gun. their is a hunting style for each area and wepon choice

 

[blasted_saber]

The only time I take a shotgun deer hunting when im hunting is when im pushing through the middle of a swamp, where shots will typically be less then 10 meters, and im more likely to see a grouse then a deer.

Other then that, rifles all the time.

I wouldnt mind a slug gun on a bear bait either, but again, less then 30m.

 

[Scart]

It's more difficult to hunt with a shotgun, which is why you can go hunting in the "pre-season" with the archers and muzzleloaders. Around here that get's you a whole extra month of hunting.