Slug Gun Hunting

[Jbaj1]

Thanks for all the info! Very helpful!

[JDHasty]

We use Ithaca Deerslayers (rifled and plain slug barrels), Deerslayers IIs and H&R Ultra Slugs.  I am just fine w/any of them.  The H&R used to be particularly good price before they stopped making them.  The Deerslayer II is my preferred gun.  12 or 20 doesn’t matter.  I used to contribute more than I do now.  You can probably find old posts, here is one. 

By the way, the Ithaca 37s I own have fantastic triggers.  I don’t know how many I have, but a bunch.  I’ve never handled a 37 with a crap trigger.  The H&R triggers aren’t the best and need work.  An Ultra Slug in 20 ga is a lot nicer to your shoulder.  They weigh a bit more, but are still handy. 

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,193502.0.html

[huntnphool]

Hoping @M_ray chimes in, he’s had success with slug guns.

[bb76]

I've done some island deer hunting for a number of years. Over that time, I've taken deer with both slugs and buckshot. I've used both 16 gauge and 12 gauge shotguns. When I use slugs, I use rifled slugs out of a smooth bore. All of my shots are under 20 yards.

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[Trigger05-11]

For the last 12 seasons I have shot a Remington 870 in 20gauge when I am in my firearm restriction unit. It has a little 18inch rifled barrel and 2-7 Leupold mounted on it. I shoot Hornady SST’s. 

It will consistently shoot paper plates at 125 yards. Great in the brush being so short. Rifled barrel for accuracy. Recoil isn’t bad. I have about $425 into the rifle and scope (all new and on sale). I would rather hunt with this than any of my other rifles.

[dagon]

i live in a firearm restricted zone (unit 564). pretty thick brush where I go. I've use an old 12 gauge remington auto 5 with 00. Works great out to 40 yards. Maybe a bit further but that is my longest shot. The deer hit the ground before my shell did.

[Mulie87]

Do it! Slug guns are awesome. I hunt Whidbey Island with a Savage 220 20ga rifles barrel and 3x9 scope. It’s a deer slayer, you won’t be disappointed.

[Bob33]

I hunt with both a Remington 870 20 gauge with rifled barrel, and a Savage 220 20 gauge. Both are definitely sub minute of deer. The 870 has a shorter barrel which is more handy to carry; The 220 has a slight edge in accuracy but not enough to worry about on the 870.

Put on a low power scope (2-7 or 3-9) and you should be very satisfied with the package.

[Widgeondeke]

Not much new info to add, just stating my opinion which is similar to others.

My son & I have harvested 5 deer on San Juan islands. When he was younger.
We have a H&R 20ga with a 3-9 scope. It shoots great and we have made shots from 60-120yds.
I shot smooth bored slugs, but they weren’t as accurate

We tried a few different types of ammo and found it shoots solid copper best. Hornady SST is our go to. Winchester not so much and kicked more

[BigredRusch]

My vote is to pick something with multiple purposes.

Background: I live on Whidbey Island and hunt blacktails every year. Started with a 12 gauge and quickly realized 12-gauge is literally overkill. Do the math on a 12-gauge 1 oz slug going 1500-1800 fps at 30-60 yards. Meat loss is guaranteed.

I sold my 12-gauge and went to using my 50-cal. muzzleloader with 250 grain copper sabots. This doubles for muzzleloader elk, deer, etc. Another good option is a 20-gauge turkey gun with a rifled choke.

At the end of the day just about anything will ethically kill island deer.