What’s the best load to deer hunt with using a 12-guage shotgun?
November 11th, 2009 by eranio
On opening day, I’m going to be walking around in a very thick brushy area. I’ve never used a shotgun hunting before, and want to know what is the best thing to use: rifled slugs, or 3" 00 buckshot?
Posted in best shotgun
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Slugs anyday of the week.
I had a bad experience with buck shot before. I was within 40 yds. Shot 4 times and did not kill it.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
If it’s a thick area I would definitely recommend the 3" oo. And ask anyone that’s been hunting Louisiana’s pine thickets and cut overs one time and see if they tell you that buckshots not for deerhuntin.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Rifled Slugs no ifs ands or buts.*
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Go with the 3" 00 buckshot. You won’t need to be as accurate.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
how about 000 buckshot. You will be close anyway in thick brush. Not as messy as you may think.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Slugs I shot a 9 pointer and hit him in his gut, but still dropped him at 45 yards, but buckshot at ranges closer than 20 yards
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Sabot slugs and nothing else. Don’t cheap out, it’s just a few buck and they will fly straight every time. If you have a smoothebore you can use the full gauge rifled slugs.
Buckshot is NOT for shooting deer people!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
In thick brush the slug would penetrate better, but thick brush also reduces visibility (for seeing target AND what is beyond the target!), therefore the 00 would work well also, at up to 20 yards.
To DJ, JUST WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALLED IT BUCK SHOT!!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
OK clear and concise
thick and brushy area= 30 yard to 50 yard shot
shotgun with smooth-bore- rifled slugs
shotgun with rifled barrel-sabot slugs
check out the horndary sst slugs…..
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
3" 00 or 000 Buckshto. The slugs would be great but you have to be more precise. Since you are walking, you’re probably going ot jump the deer, and they are going to run FAST. The buckshot would do better for close in.
What I do is load the in this order:
Slug
Buckshot
Buckshot
That way it fires two buckshots and then one slug.
Hope this helps!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:23 am
If you have a rifled barrel or can use screw in choke try the Hornaday 12 GA SST SHOTGUN SLUG it is a black powder jacketed bullet with a sabot that I can get a 1” group at 85 yards where as the standard slug gets a 2.5” group. Deer hunting you need to be able to place shots to get a clean kill and buck won’t do that
Rob