Deer hunting question

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
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12 gage or 20 gage?

Fully rifled barrel or smooth barrel?

Combo or dedicated deer gun?

Scope or open sight?

Pump or semi-authomatic?

New or used?

Thanks.
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,474
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Originally posted by: spidey07
deer hunting with shotgun?

in that case, get one big slug.

I wonder if they make single slug shells? :D
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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Deer hunting with a rifle isn't even hunting. It's like playing basketball against a 3 year old.

At least with a shotgun you need to be under 50 yards for a reasonable shot. Gauges aren't *that* important. A 20 guage will drop a deer just as well as a 12 if your shot is good, it just won't leave as big a hole :) If you are hunting from a stand you'll get less of a kick from the 20 as well.

A 20 gauge semi-auto would be a good "beginner" gun. There's no reason for a scope. You shouldn't be shooting any further than 50 yards and if you need scope for that you shouldn't be hunting.

A slug has a HUGE fall off. Any further than 50 yards and your accuracy goes to crap and you'll be gut shotting the deer if it doesn't drop to the ground or jump when it hears the shot.
 

CubicZirconia

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2001
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If you are hunting from a stand you'll get less of a kick from the 20 as well.

Not necessarily. In general, yes, but a good 12 gauge will kick less than a cheap 20.

I've only hunted deer with a shotgun a few times. I used an old open-sighted pump 20 gauge. Semi-auto is definitely not necessary- chances are you won't be shooting that much anyways. I'm not sure on the scope issue. The longest shot I took with that gun was 55-60 yards, and that was pushing it. But from that far away a scope really wasn't necessary. It's basically just point and shoot from that close in. I don't see any reason why you couldn't buy a used gun, especially if this is your first one. I don't pretend to be an expert on this, but If you're only going to be using this once a year and you're not all that serious about it, I don't see the need to spend a lot of money on it. Then again, I purchased my .270 brand new and I only shoot it 3-4 times a year, so who am I to talk?

A slug has a HUGE fall off. Any further than 50 yards and your accuracy goes to crap and you'll be gut shotting the deer if it doesn't drop to the ground or jump when it hears the shot.

So very true. This becomes clear when you set up a target and take some shots from 60-70 yards. Aim for the top and hope to hit the bottom. I'm glad I hunt with a rifle.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
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I've always liked over/under shotguns, thought they may not be particularly suited for deer. IMO if you cant get em in two shots or less, then let the deer go; no need for a pump action.
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
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Deer hunting with a shot gun is usually done on the east coast, on the west coast you're not likely to ever see a buck within 50 yards unless you bait (illegal). It's uaully done w/ rifled slugs rather than shot. The slugs will get through small branches better but lack range. It's not uncommon for rifles to be sighted in at 300 yards.
 

CubicZirconia

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2001
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Deer hunting with a shot gun is usually done on the east coast, on the west coast you're not likely to ever see a buck within 50 yards unless you bait (illegal).

You're forgetting about the midwest. Plenty of people are forced to use shotguns here.

IMO if you cant get em in two shots or less, then let the deer go; no need for a pump action.

If you take 2 shots at a deer with a shotgun you had better find it lying on the ground somewhere because it most likely is either dead or dying. Unless of course A) it was too far away for you to be shooting at it in the first place or B) you're a terrible shot and shouldn't be hunting anyways.
 

Tea Bag

Golden Member
Sep 11, 2004
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Try to find a gun with a slug barrel or a gun with an interchangable barrel for slugs. Most slug guns are chambered for 2-3/4 to 3 inches, and the barrels are usually short, between 26-28 inches.

Hit up your local sporting goods store, you should be able to find a good deal on a 12-gauge (which I would reccomend for deer). If you really want to buy a new gun, I would suggest this. An entry-level gun from the best shotgun manufacturer, IMHO. :thumbsup:
 

burnedout

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Originally posted by: Riprorin
12 gage or 20 gage? 12 guage

Fully rifled barrel or smooth barrel? Smooth, if you wanna use the weapon for other game with different loads. Use the same brand and type of slugs when practicing with the weapon.

Combo or dedicated deer gun? Combo, unless you only intend on hunting deer

Scope or open sight? How well can you shoot with open sights?

Pump or semi-authomatic? Pump, in my opinion. However, when hunting for deer with shotgun, I've primarily carried either semi-auto or single shot.

New or used? Compare prices. Unless the ownership history of the weapon is known, I usually purchase new

Thanks.
These are just my opinions. Others have their own which may be perfectly valid.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: Tea Bag
Try to find a gun with a slug barrel or a gun with an interchangable barrel for slugs. Most slug guns are chambered for 2-3/4 to 3 inches, and the barrels are usually short, between 26-28 inches.

Hit up your local sporting goods store, you should be able to find a good deal on a 12-gauge (which I would reccomend for deer). If you really want to buy a new gun, I would suggest this. An entry-level gun from the best shotgun manufacturer, IMHO. :thumbsup:

Benelli makes very nice shotguns, but man, what I would give for a Holland and Holland or a Purdy.
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
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why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: Ameesh
why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.
:Q :confused:

I didn't see any mention that he was hunting for sport. Hunting for sport, period, is lame.. IMO.

The skill needed to hunt with a bow&arrow makes it very slightly more.. sporty, but I would never hunt for fun. It would be for the meat.

A gun is quick and humane. The "No sport" aspect is what is appealing to someone like me who would only hunt for food.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: Ameesh
why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.

be a man, use your hands
 

nan0bug

Banned
Apr 22, 2003
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a real man would bait and drop from a tree to kill the deer with nothing more than a knife.

:p
 

KC5AV

Golden Member
Jul 26, 2002
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A good starter shotgun would be the Remington 870 line. You can buy them with or without the rifled barrel. They are an inexpensive gun, and unless you plan on putting thousands of rounds through one, it should last forever, or until you are ready to upgrade.

 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: Ameesh
why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.

Is he allowed to use a compound bow, or is that not as manly as a recurve? Most hunters eat what they kill. The animals you eat at a restaurant or buy in a supermarket are at lot more defenseless than the deer he's hunting, and killed in a far less manly manner.
 

CubicZirconia

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2001
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Originally posted by: Ameesh
why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.

Congratulations for crapping on a perfectly good thread. 21000 posts and you still don't know how to behave.
 

midwestfisherman

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2003
3,564
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Originally posted by: Ameesh
why not just get an uzi or a bazzoka, there is hardly any sport in killing a dear with a firearm. now if you hunted with a bow and arrow or a knife i'd give you respect but killing a deffensless animal with shotgun is lame. if you need to compensate for your small penis buy a sports car like a normal person rather then going around killing animals.

STFU dumb @ss thread crapper!