I have booked my deer hunt for next year. My guide said that some of the areas we will hunt will be for shotguns only. Never hunted deer with one so I will be shopping for one. Any recommendations ? What would you consider the best/most accurate for deer hunting?Prefer a semi automatic only

Best scope?

Anyone have one they would possibly consider selling that would fall into this category ?

Thanks for looking...

If you are looking for semi's then Rem 1187 (12 and 20ga) come to mind as well as Mossberg 930 slugger.

I picked up a 930 last year and my dad eventually bought it from me and got it dialed in quickly with Hornady SSTs - and I even used it on my IL buck this year.

Over the years of hunting in the mid-west I have a long love/hate relationship with slug guns. They are usually finicky till you find the right ammo they like and finding that can come quickly or it can be an expensive ($3/shot) and recoil intensive process.

If choosing between the Rem and Moss - see which fits you better and which safety location you like better and then fire away.

On another note, almost all slug gun areas I know of also allow muzzleloaders as well. If you are going to be in a blind or sitting a stand that over looks more than 50 yards, I would really encourage you to go that route if possible.

Can't tell you the best, but Dad, Lil Bro, and I have sure managed to stack them up with our 1187s.

I can tell you one thing for sure, you may go through a pile of different slugs before you find the one that shoots decent. My shoulder was about to tap out before I settled on a load for my Hastings bbled 1187. I ended up having the best luck with 2-3/4" Winchester 385grn Partition Golds. Dad and Lil Bro both went with Rem bbls and had good luck with the Rem AccuTip ammo.

Another note is don't shy away from the 20ga offerings. They perform just as well as the 12s IME. Lil Bro's rig is a 20ga 1187 shooting the 3" Rem ATs. If I were to buy another slug gun, it would be a 20ga.

Good Luck,

loder

In some places (like the town I live in), you can use a muzzle loader or pistol in these "shotgun" areas. Personally, I'd choose a modern, inline muzzle loader over a shotgun if possible. Likely better range and accuracy. The handicap, of course, is the slow follow up shot.

Best of luck,
Rob

SAVAGE 220

+1

Not a semi-automatic. But, very accurate and more comfortable to shoot.

In my humble opinion, there are many better options for slug guns that an 1100 or 1187. Go to a gun shop and fondle a Browning, Beretta, Benelli, or Winchester. I would look to cantilevered rifled barrels with slug gun scopes. 150 yards is easily doable and 200 yards is not out of the question. Savage makes a bolt action slug gun (212 or 220) that by all accounts is a real tack driver. Slug guns have came a long way since the old Foster style slugs that only shot 50 yards accurately. 50 yards now is a layup.

I have the Savage 220f. It is darn accurate with Remington Accu-tips

I'm not sure if you have a budget, but if you're looking for a the finest semi-auto available, check out the Benelli M2.

You won't find a finer semi-auto.

If you're looking bolt, look towards the Savage 220 and the Browning Abolt.

This is my experience as well. I have an 1100 with a cantilevered, rifled barrel. It shoots a number of 2-3/4 loads into 4" at 100. Rem accutip go into 3". I went this route since all I had to buy was a barrel to put on my existing gun, and it turned out well. Also, my buddy got an 870 in 20ga for his wife. It actually shoots better, and hammers deer. Another buddy went 20 ga after seeing how well it performed, both in terminal performance, recoil and flatness. I would go 20 ga if starting over.

As mentioned above, most slug areas allow muzzleloaders. This may be a good way to go, but follow ups...well you know that part.

I have one of the ABolt 12a rifled slug guns. It shoots slugs as well as any gun on the market. They are Cadillacs. If you want to spend the money they are worth it in my opinion. If you are on a budget I would look at the Savage 220 and spend the money you saved on some good optics.

I don't hunt in a shotgun only area, but if I did, I'd own a Savage 220.

The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter is very accurate. I had great success with a 20 ga before our county converted to allow rifles

Yep this
I use an A Bolt but have set up Savage 220's for friends
The Browning is better quality but much more money also 12 ga vs 20 ga
Browning missed the boat when they re-introduced the Abolt and didn't come out with a 20 ga version

Savage 220 for a dedicated slug gun. 1187 with cantilevered barrel if you ever need it for other shotgun chores.

Dan, have the Savages been fairly consistent as far as which slugs they prefer, or is it a spin of the wheel and experimenting with several different brands before finding what they like best?

The savage 220 is the most accurate slug gun I have been around. The plastic magazine is a bummer though.

We can't use riffles here, so we have to use a slug or a muzzle loader. For years I used a Rem. 1100 with a Hastings barrel and open sights. I tried a lot of different ammo and landed on Breneke Gold Magnums 3". I've killed a lot of deer out to 100 yards with no problem. It's very accurate. Now they've upgraded those and are now called Breneke Magnum Crush 3". The 1100 shots them smooth as silk. It seems to take care of the recoil.

One of my employees will swear by the Lightfield Sabot. I ran those through the 1100 years ago and it was all over the place. Slugs can be finicky and some work better than others in different guns.

About 10 years ago, I got a slug barrel for my Encore. It kicks like a mule but 150 yard shots are good with little drop. Make sure you get a SLUG scope with at least 5" of eye relief. Not knowing any better, I originally put a regular riffle scope on it and now have a permanent scar between my eyes. Now I have a Nikon Slug Hunter 3-9x40 with a BDC reticle with a 5" ER. With this ammo, the BDC doesn't really come into play because you will sight in at 100 yards.

I got this 8 pt. last week at 100 yards.

Correct

Those leave much at the line,to heavy and slow they dorp off like a rock after 125 yds
I used to shoot Brenneke out of my Marlin 512 Slug gun

Yea, they are heavy, 1 1/2 oz. The old version only shot at about 1400fps. The Crush shoots at 1600fps. They're not quite as bad as the Gold were. But then again, I've never really shot at a target over 100 yards. You're probably right.

Savages 220's prefer 2 3/4" Remington accutips,they will shot Lightfields but again you are leaving stuff at the table with them
They also shot the discontinued Federal barnes expanders
I shot those from my 12 ga Abolt and have about 10 boxes stashed away to last me.


This is a 5 shot group at 200 yds with the A bolt and 2 3/4" Federal barnes expanders

I've shot more accurate slugs at 100 yds from the A Bolt
Remington Buckhammers were very accurate as well as Lightfields but when things get stretched out to 200 yds
The Federal Barnes shined....at 100 yds they are inside 3" but held that at 200 yds

This is at 100 yds



This is at 200 yds

The Remington AccuTips are the most accurate out of my 220f with the Hornady SST's a close second.

I grew up in shotgun area always hunted a old Ithaca 37 16ga. Love the gun retired it back to bird and small game.You left alot of info out of your question such as budget and end use is this a one time hunt or will you deer hunt shotgun over the years and what distances you looking to shoot. I personally always preferred pump shotguns so i will start there the most common choice is Remington 870 which is a fine gun and i own 3 one being a dedicated turkey gun. The new Ithaca's are nice well built guns and pricey. Mossberg has always had a weird feel to me both them and Winchesters i handle rattle to much for me.
One more topic rifled vs smooth bore to me if under 150 yds smooth bore all the way.Foster slugs half to 1/3 price of sabot and accurate enough. The rifled barrels seam to be more finicky of which sabot they shoot good.I bought a Hastings cantilever for my 870 and I can't shoot any better with it then i can with the smooth bore at 100 yards. Which is the distance for my hunting.

Ok break down of pumps
REM 870
Ihaca 37
Mossberg
Winchester

Semi's is not my area i've only shot a remm 1100 and 11-87 and a Franchi 48 with slug barrels of the 3 i preferred the 1100.All with slug barrels I have friend withe bennelli m2 and he swears by it.

Bolt again little experience. I've shot the old mossberg bolts and they suck in my opinion. The savage 220 is amazingly accurate.The most accurate slug gun i've shot and no idea what slugs as was a friend's friend at the range.Absolutely no experience with browning abolt's but haven't ever heard anything but good thing's about them.

Sum it all up if money is no worry and gonna continue to hunt deer in shotgun only.
SAVAGE 220 or BROWNING Abolt but these a dedicated to slug use only no bird barrel as with pump or semi.

Budget a little concern or also want quicker follow up shots hunt bird and small game.This probably also cheapest route
Rem 870

bird hunt or sport shoot like trap or skeet also.
Rem 1100

If you are looking one time only hunt i would borrow if possible or buy the 870 and resell after

In closing these are my opinions based on my experience. Thankfully my area changed to rifle. If you were close i would invite you over and let you try a multiple of options.

I use the Benelli M2 20ga.I get 2.5"groups at 100yds with the Hornady 250gr ftx slugs.I also have an extra slug barrel and forend if you are interested.

A lot of good suggestions here. I am a 20g man myself and have been using an H&R Ultra for years and years. I would like to try the Savage 220 someday though. I do run an 11-87 with open sites once and awhile when I feel like spooking deer.

dvdgeorge, you have a line on those Buckhammers? I haven't seen them for a few years now. Really shoot good for me.

Here you go: https://www.tarhunt.com/

Nope wished I had stocked up on them as the were cheap to boot

Do you have a shotgun now? Many brands have rifled barrels available for a fraction of the cost of a new gun. I've never shot a slug gun so I can't comment on how accurate any of them are.

Slugs? If so, then the Savage 220.

Buckshot? Then the shotgun itself doesn't matter. You need a choke that patterns the buckshot well, and a shotgun that fits you well (sort of like a bird gun).

If you're Hell bent on a semi-auto, don't f'k around; get the Benelli SBEII, get a good rifled slug barrel or an excellent choke for the buckshot, and carry on.

This is what the buckhammers would do at 100 yds

I have 2 Ithaca 37 Deerslayer II in 20 gauge. They are pump guns I know but totally reliable. Free-floated barrels screwed into the steel receiver like a centerfire rifle. Tapped for scope by factory. I would be willing to sell one of the guns which is the Storm model, parkerized plus synthetic stock. Send me a PM if you are interested. These guns shoot the Remmy accu tips very well.

Yep......

Over the past 20 years I've lived in a shotgun only area of the state and have owned and hunted with a number of slug guns with all types of actions. All had fully rifled barrels.

Slug guns I've owned include an Ithaca 37 Deerslayer II, several Remington 870 pumps in both 12 & 20 gauge with both factory and Hastings cantilever barrels, a Remington auto 1100 & an 11-87 in 12 gauge, numerous H&R single shot Ultra Slughunters in 12 & 20 gauge, 2 Benelli M2s autos in 12 & 20 gauge, a Mossberg 695 bolt action and 2 Savage 220 bolt guns.

Most were fairly accurate with the slugs they preferred especially the Savages, Benelli's and the H&Rs. In my opinion NOTHING compares with a Savage 220 for a dedicated slug gun.

I have zero experience with slug guns, so here is my dumb question. Are single shot guns more accurate than repeating slug guns, do they give any sort of advantage?

Stonecutter,


You should have bought a 20 gauge slug barrel for your T/C Encore, Half the recoil and still kills them dead. Nice Poolesville, Md Buck by the way. A Mike Bellm 1X hinge pin will tighten up your groups...just sayin.

Doc

My T/C Pro hunter slug gun 20 gauge has shot one home groups and is under one inch at 50 yards for 3 shoots and have shot inch and 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards when I am up to the task. I do handload my own 20 gauge slugs using the Hornady .452 250 gr and 250 gr HP bullet.

I have seen the New England firearms shoot some great groups but testing the different slugs gets expensive to find the right load for your gun. I have spent a small fortune on factory slugs. I found sabots and loading data from a Gun shop in New Jersey and am now loading slugs for $1.35 each.

The most accurate repeater is the Savage 220-F, Followed likely my the Rem 870. Hornady test guns for slugs are Remington 870's but they have added other test guns. A 20 guage slug gun is more than adequate, no different than a .50 cal muzzle loader.

T/C twists the 20 gauge slug barrels 1 /28. The industry rarely marks the rifling twist on slug barrels and I don't "WHY"!!! In most cases rifling twist is all over the place. From 1/24 to 1/34. If your shooting .452 diameter bullets in most 20 guage slugs a 1/28 to a 1/30 will should give your great groups.

Doc

I was very impressed with an Ithaca Deerslayer that an old friend of mine had. I never knew a slug gun could shoot so well. If I were looking for a dedicated slug gun, that is where my search would end.

I was unaware of that class of accuracy from shotgun slugs. I suppose the trigger quality figures into it. I'm guessing the T/C Pro Hunter and Savage 220-F have better deer hunting triggers than pump and auto shotguns? I may start getting my act together and get a 20 gauge with a view of hunting some mid west shotgun states like Iowa or Illinois.

I killed lots of bucks in southeast Alabama when running dogs using a Remington M870 with 26" barrel and 000 buckshot! Contrary to popular opinion...the best patterns were always gotten using full choke!