Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Whats best 12 ga or 20 ga Slug gun?

I'm going to purchase a new rifled slug shotgun for next years Ohio deer season and would like to hear the opinion's of guy's that have much more experience than me in this matter, I'm looking at the savage 210/220 series slug guns and I don't know enough to make an informed decision. What are the advantages of each? I want Lot's of energy, most shot's will be well less than 100 yds as I hunt the wooded hills of Southern Ohio......Thanks 547.

I just bought the 220f,20 ga.I haven't shot it yet so I can only comment on the trigger and how it feels in my hands.

it feels like a rifle,like no other slug gun I ever had,I like the balance,it isn't a pheasent gun forced to be a slug gun.
the trigger is really nice too,I don't think I will mess with adjusting it.
everyone of my friends that hunts with 870,BPS,37 type slug guns is looking to get one.

just my .02

Having hunted with a shotgun for deer for over 40 years, I have some opinions about 12 & 20 gauge guns. I would encourage you to go with a 12 gauge for a variety of reasons, but truthfully, get the one you shoot the best. I hunted for 35 years with a smooth bore 16 gauge Ithaca Deerslayer and it killed tons of deer as long as I hit them in the right spot. I switched over to a fully rifled 12 gauge about 15 years ago to get extended range & accuracy & have loved it. The 12 gauge will kick hard & if it has an impact upon your shooting, the 20 gauge could be your best bet. If you are more recoil sensitive, shoot the 20 if it is under 100 yards. It will do what you want if your aim is true.

It is pretty hard to argue with the effectiveness, on whitetails, of a 12 ga slug, from the Foster up thru the sabot stuff. There were some sorry sabots during the early years of their appearance of the scene. Due to the sabot, the projectiles were near 20ga in diameter, but due to design & poor metal, they were very poor killers. The BRI, after Winchester bought them, is one example that I had a lot of bad experience with. (Good hits on different deer that were lost to other hunters or required excessive trailing.)
I think that if you are willing to spend the money for the better 20ga sabot, like the Hornady, & they shoot well out of your gun, the 20ga today has a lot going for it. It will prob. be in a 3" case, so factor that requirement, & cost in.
The beauty of the 12ga., in todays market, is that there is a bunch of good ammo offered, so it is a sure bet that you will easily find something that will shoot well out of your barrel. AND, there will be 2 3/4" versions that work admirably. The 20ga is a far more limited.
My last 2 cents: I figure on about $100 to trial a variety of sabots to find "the one" for any new gun, or barrel. The price ain't going down on the good stuff.
Good hunting, & let us know what you work out.

Kinda what I was saying fishdog - the 12 gauge has tons of offerings compared to the rest. Like the 50 cal muzzleloaders - it is where all of the development has taken place.

7mmStwer- Its exactly what you were saying. I'm just bigger winded.:)

The 20ga has plenty of power and velocity for deer, hogs and bear.
The Savage 220f is simply fantastic. I'm really glad to have one.
No more beatdowns from a 12ga 870!

Thanks for the knowledgeable advice men, I'm new to this slug hunting stuff but going by what you guy's with experience are saying I think I will go with a 12ga as I'm not too recoil sensitive and as a couple of you mentioned the wide variety of ammo choice is also a big plus, I did look at savage arms site and they no longer list the 12ga model, I hope they didn't quit making the thing as the Camo 12ga model 210 slug warrior is the gun I have in mind............Thanks again 547.

do your self a favor and handle a 220f before you buy.
good luck.

Def the Savage 20 or 12 gauge Bolt Action. Just dropped a nice 8pt w/ the 20 gauge that field dressed 182 lbs. I shoot the remington accutips and they clover leaf all day long at 100 yards. I posted these pics before but here they are again. ( Yes I know the group is a little low but it's been adjusted and it shoots these groups all day long.)

Rick any luck lately?

no Rug,I'm one and done,too busy and too broke to pay for another permit.

Had the wardens check us yesterday.

Glad it was just checking!

Its when they start writing that it gets serious!

Damn Ruger! Thats one accurate slug gun!!!!. That's a fair sized buck, did the 20ga slug exit the off side of the deer? Thats important to Me..........Thanks 547.

I'm going with the new Savage 220 personally. Plenty of updated slug offerings in 20ga now a day!

CLB

I'm glad you posted about those accutips. I have been meaning to give them a try. They expensive?

Nice deer too!

CLB

sorry for the noob question, but why hunt deer with a shotgun instead of a rifle?

Well, in CT unless you have private land permission you have to use a slug gun on State Land. So, I always keep one on hand. The private land in CT we hunted this year borders a very productive tract of State Forest so I might actually use the slug gun a bit next season.

CLB

Oldmanms2003,We were all legal, They were very serious and highly professional.They were very pleasant to deal with.

547, Yes the Accutips will exit.

CLB, They are priced in the ball park. A little bit higher than most. The gun also likes the Federal w/ Barnes Expander.

Ivan, No rifle hunting allowed in NJ, If so the wardens would have wrote me up and prob confiscated firearms, truck, etc....