SHOTGUN OR RIFLE

[whitetail23]

GETTING READY TO BUY A NEW DEER GUN RIFLE OR SHOTGUN? CAN ONLY SHOOT A 20 GUAGE IN A SHOTGUN CAUSE OF THE RECOIL

[8pt172]

Depends where you hunt and what animal you will be hunting.

Many STates do not allow rifle hunting. So if you will be hunting in one of those States, then it would be a shotgun. Get one with a rifles barrel and a cantelevor for a scope.

If you plan on hunting out West then go with a rifle.

I use a 7mm mag when I hunt areas with long range shot potential. But if my longest shot is 100 yards, nothing beats the knock down of my slug gun. With the Winchester Supreme Slugs, I have killed a buck out to 174 yards. They really shoot well.

[brian]

Not sure what your question is. Are you asking for advice on which gun to look at, i.e caliber? Most medium game rifles are going to have a decent amount of recoil as we as high brass in even a 20 gauge due to the light weight if the gun. Of course the 20 will have a little less. You need to look at the ballistics of a 20 ga. slug and make sure it has enough energy out to the distance you intend to use it at. I personally do not know what the ballistics are on slug gun due to the fact that I do not shot them. But I can research this if you would like me to. I get a real kick out of researching ballistic tables and firearms. Its a hobby that my wife would rather me not have. LOL It usually proves to be draining on the check book. Let me know partner, I will be glad to help you out if I can.

[brian]

The 20 Ga in Federal Barnes Xpander has 1224 fps at 125 yards and the energy is 909 foot lbs at 125 yards with a drop of -2.8 in. at 125 if sighted in at 100 yards. If the distances that you are going to shoot at are less that 150 yards I think this is a good choice. I personally would not use this gun for anything larger that medium sized game and would not try a shot on a game animal past 150 yards due to the lack of energy.

[Kt29]

If one could use either a shotgun or a rifle for deer hunting and recoil was a factor, my choice would be a .243 or a 7MM-08 over a shotgun. Not that much recoil with either of these two rifles, but one could, if needed, install a limbsaver recoil pad to them and have less felt recoil yet. Also fun to get another firearm. :)KT

[xtremesportsman]

Depending on the rules and regulations in the area you will be hunting wold be my decision maker. I have a few rifles as well as shotguns and I have hunted with both shotgun and rifle. I prefer hunting with the rifle though for accuracy and simpicity. My choice for deer wold be a .243 or 7mm 08. Nice guns that you can shoot smaller game with as well. Flat shooters and long shooters. for my everyday NY brush rifle I will take my M77 ruger 30-06 or in heavy brush I will bring my marlin 35. I like the marlin for heavy brush and drives. It is a light gun and a quick shooter.

As for shotguns, If recoil is an issue for injury, you may want to shoot 2 3/4 loads from a slug gun in 12 gauge. But I have found in the past not all slug barrels (rifles) are the same. Some shoot some slugs where other s don't. My set up is a Remington 870 with a rifles cantalever barrel and a red dot scope. here where I hutn in NY is 3 motnhs of bow and one month (Jan) of shotgun. I do partake inn this shotgun hunt now and again so I keep this gun sighted in.. But sighting in any shotgun cost a bit of $$$ unless you;re a lucky one. Bring many different boxes of slugs with you and try them all. You will have some that just don't group or stay tight. I finally got turned on to the remington buckhammers. I use 2 /34 because you really don't need more. The gun is good for out to 200 yards now, but it is sighted in at 100 yards. These rounds in this gun are tack drivers. But it took me a long time to find a sabot slug that worked well and hled a consistent group... My nephew has the identical set up as mine in 20 gauge.

[xtremesportsman]

One yother thing with the shotgun. <Look around for the combo pack. rifled slug barrel and 28" bird barrel. Then you have a gn suitable for both upland and deer.