20G Slug vs Deer?

[iMoses14]

I'm new to deer hunting. I'm going out opening day with my father-in-law and sister-in-law. I don't wanna keep bugging them with questions. Lol.

I'm gonna be using a Remington 870 20 gauge with 20" smooth bore (cylinder) barrel. I picked up a box of Winchester Super-X 3/4oz Rifled Slugs.

How effective will these be? What's the max distance I should take my shot at?

[ar15jules]

Go buy several more boxes. Go to a range and shoot.... Consider it research. You will be able to answer all of your questions. If you do your part, slugs are devastating on deer.
Jules

[G23neverjams]

Well....

To give you an idea, stick a gallon jug of water at 50 yards.
Shoot said jug.
Laugh your butt off as it turns to mist.

You will be pretty dang confident about dropping a deer at that point. I would have no qualms about taking a deer at 100 yards. 150 may be pushing it. More of a concern with accuracy from your shotgun however. The slugs will do their job at that range, however you will have drop to factor in. They definately drop off once you hit and pass the 100 yard mark. The scopes meant for slug guns are much like crossbow and muzzle loader scopes. They come with range hash marks specifically for that reason.

Put a few boxes of the slugs (and a few other types for seeing if one will give better accuracy) and see how your shotgun does with them and how YOU do with them.

The more practice you have, the more confident you will feel.

[keystoneman 85]

That 20 GA slug will be as devastating as any high caliber rifle. Keep your shots to where your comfortable. I've never had to take a shot beyond 100 yards in the PA deer woods, but that's the area I hunt.

My H&R slug was accurate in 20GA out to 150, but I never went further based on the area I hunt.

[thefirstndsecond]

Well,

20GA smooth bore will not get great distance. It probably will be 75 yards and in.. but check your slugs and shoot the gun.

If you had 20ga rifled slug gun with 385 grain sabots well.. I would say your range would be about 125 yards or so.

I have a 12ga slug H&R ultra slugger rifled bull barrel that will shoot and kill deer my distance 150 yards. anything after I do not want to try.

The 20ga is fine for deer. Check your slugs and how far they drop but usually 20ga smooth bore... 75 yards or so.

[Hersh5317]

I also recommend finding a pair of sights that mount to the vent rib. They will greatly increase your accuracy.

[soup]

Buy a few boxes of various brands of slugs and pattern them at 50 yards. Then buy what gives you the best groups.

When it comes to slugs my shotgun will shoot Remington pretty well but hates Winchester. Federal are decent enough. My buddy with the same brand shotgun has completely different results.

[bigandy1966]

Save up a few bucks and get one of these,

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/3-0408059

Thank me later.
The 20 ga is a fine slug launcher, get sabots like Breneke, or Remmington copper solids.
I believe the 20 Ga slug has a higher velocity and flatter trajectory due to higher chamber pressures than the 12 ga, as well as less felt recoil. I/E better ballistic co-efficient. I could be wrong though

[Pector55]

Well,

20GA smooth bore will not get great distance. It probably will be 75 yards and in.. but check your slugs and shoot the gun.

If you had 20ga rifled slug gun with 385 grain sabots well.. I would say your range would be about 125 yards or so.

I have a 12ga slug H&R ultra slugger rifled bull barrel that will shoot and kill deer my distance 150 yards. anything after I do not want to try.

The 20ga is fine for deer. Check your slugs and how far they drop but usually 20ga smooth bore... 75 yards or so.

I set up a 20 gauge with a 4x scope for my son's first gun. This post sums up our findings. At 100 yds the groups were all over the place and I wouldn't risk that shot. Most shots in the woods are in the 50 - 75 yd range anyway so that is what we practiced and we felt confident in the accuracy. We never once questioned the damage. ;-)