Shotgun gauge for deer

All I own is the 20 ga. With the rifled barrel and sabot slugs it's absolutely deadly on game. Stick on the bird barrel and it's great for upland game birds. Considering that all I use it for is deer, partridge, and turkey, I love it. It's lighter & handier than my brothers 12 ga.. I haven't hunted duck or geese, but my feeling is that I would want to go to a 12 ga. for those pursuits.
 
I cant see a 20 being a poor choice. find a slug that works and stick with it. Sure 12 ga has more variety but once you find what works you dont need anything else.




If a 20 gauge wont kill a deer I'm not sure what to say about this:
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.410 loaded with winchester 3" 1/4 oz fosters. Bear was roughly 350-400 lbs.
 
I have some Bear Soviet made 3" slugs that are very accurate at 50 yards from my .410/.22 Savage 24.Crude steel cased ammo but hits with authority............Harold
 
javman said:
Just curious as to what gauge everyone uses for deer hunting. Is there any range/accuracy difference between them. I already own a 12 gauge Remington 1100 for clays but am weighing my options for deer hunting. The cost of a cantilevered slug barrel for my 1100 or the cost of a pump combo with 2-3 barrels. If I go the pump combo route should I consider going to 20 gauge to expand my usage options say for grouse or whatever. Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated.
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your shotgun shold do just fine with rifled slugs i have taken one with a model 12 with a IC choke and a bead its all about practice practice practice dont eed a rifled barrel or a scope
 
I like the my 12 gauge...I've shot a buck with my Mossberg 535 rifled deer barrel at 90 yards with a ballistic tipped hornady round...quite accurate up to 100 yards...Use any shotgun/rifle you are comfortable with and within regional restrictions of shotgun/rifle use...again, it's not about how much shotgun/rifle you have, it's about shot placement...That shotgun is nice because you can use, 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 rounds...
 
Are you planning on using buckshot or slugs? Big difference in what would be 'satisfactory'. The 12 gauge you have is fine already for both. If you want a different gun and are planning on using slugs then anything from a 410 and up with kill deer (depends what is legal in your province though). If you're talking buckshot then your 12 is perfect. When I shotgun hunt it is in shotgun only areas and here in BC shotgun only areas means you can only use buckshot so the bolt action 12 ga. comes out for me.
 
kyle700 said:
I cant see a 20 being a poor choice. find a slug that works and stick with it. Sure 12 ga has more variety but once you find what works you dont need anything else.




If a 20 gauge wont kill a deer I'm not sure what to say about this:
318251_4174034918499_1342962570_n.jpg

.410 loaded with winchester 3" 1/4 oz fosters. Bear was roughly 350-400 lbs.
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BADASS man, nice bear!!!
 
Zanelike said:
Are you planning on using buckshot or slugs? Big difference in what would be 'satisfactory'. The 12 gauge you have is fine already for both. If you want a different gun and are planning on using slugs then anything from a 410 and up with kill deer (depends what is legal in your province though). If you're talking buckshot then your 12 is perfect. When I shotgun hunt it is in shotgun only areas and here in BC shotgun only areas means you can only use buckshot so the bolt action 12 ga. comes out for me.
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the little .410 is something people bash alot but out to 25 yards or so a .410 slug will do the job on deer and as seen in the pic above black bear although it would not be my first choice for that
 
antiqueguy said:
your shotgun shold do just fine with rifled slugs i have taken one with a model 12 with a IC choke and a bead its all about practice practice practice dont eed a rifled barrel or a scope
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mine neither, did it mostly because its a lot easier to pack around and haul up a tree stand than my 26" barrel mossberg pump lol.

I'm back bowhunting again this year so I don't think the little boito will be coming out for bears.
 
antiqueguy said:
the little .410 is something people bash alot but out to 25 yards or so a .410 slug will do the job on deer and as seen in the pic above black bear although it would not be my first choice for that
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Absolutely, that's what I was saying. What you have to be careful with though is what is legal to use (minimum requirements for certain species, etc.). In BC minimum bore size for big game is 20ga when using a shotgun.
 
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I have taken my biggest buck to date a 126" big body buck with a 12g 00buck load he went only 50 yards and I shot him at 25 yards. I was skeptical to that point would gladly hunt again with trust that 00 rules!!!

Zanelike said:
Absolutely, that's what I was saying. What you have to be careful with those is what legal to use (minimum requirements for certain species, etc.). In BC minimum bore size for big game is 20ga.
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Treebeard said:
I have taken my biggest buck to date a 126" big body buck with a 12g 00buck load he went only 50 yards and I shot him at 25 yards. I was skeptical to that point would gladly hunt again with trust that 00 rules!!!
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It's used for grizz defence so no reason it shouldn't handle a deer! The great thing about buckshot is it works really well in the thick stuff, which is mostly what I hunt. You can punch right through the bush.
 
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