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

If you like getting your teeth loosened with every shot, get a 12 ga. I have a Remington 870 that shoots great 1-1 1/2 at 100, but the recoil is breathtaking. That sucker kills on one end and maims on the other. Put a Knoxx Spec Ops stock on it and it's better, but certainly not pleasant. Bought a Savage 220F camo (20 ga), but it came in 4 days B/4 deer season. Had a scope problem, then couldn't get the best ammo for it (Remington Accu tips). Changed the scope and never got it sighted in in time to use it, but when sighting in with the bad scope, it was MUCH more enjoyable to shoot. From what I've read, within reasonable ranges, it's just as effective as the 12 ga. Dead is dead. If I need more range, I'll just use my Savage 10ML II muzzleloader.

Are the standard barrel 20 GA H7R guns tapped for scope mounts? I saw a 12 GA that wasn't. I know the heavy barreled model is, but I want a light and handy gun. Have used muzzy's for years in the Ohio gun season, but the cleaning required is getting old.

Is there enough "meat" on the 20 to have drilled and tapped if not done at the factory?

The Tracker II barrels are not, but there is plenty of metal to drill and tap the 20 gauge. Not so with the 12, some smiths will do it but the margin for error is small. This year H&R came out with a lightweight that is drilled and tapped and comes from the factory with a base. So far, the new lightweight is not showing up in the accessory barrel program.

My local gun shop got in a combo gun with a .357 mag barrel and the lightweight 20 gauge barrel. He had a customer who wanted to buy the .357 for his kid, but didn't want the slug barrel. Long story short, I had him fit it to my 12 gauge frame. short job and it fits perfectly. I paid $100 OTD for barrel and fitting. Also, while I was there I had him bob the hammer on my gun so that regular height rings work. All in all a good day.

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm not a fan of any of the slug gun options, the H&R is a no-frills solid gun and it's light. How does yours shoot?

Ohio allows pistols with straight walled cartridges, I wish they would allow rifles chambered in the same. My Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag would be ideal for the thick woods I hunt in SE Ohio.

I've been thinking about hunting the midwestern states and have zero experience with shotgun slugs.
What is the effective accuracy range of a 20 ga slug and 12 ga slug?
What are most of you using for scopes?

150 yds is reasonable and a 2x7 or a fixed 4x will gett'er done

Thanks George,
Within 150 yards has worked for most of my rifle deer, it seems shotgun hunting is not the handicap I used to think.

Is the H&R as comfortable for handling and shooting as an Encore?

The H&R is Awesome. I have the 20 gauge Bull barrel & its all as accurate as my Savage 220/ 20 gauge. The only difference besides performance is price & single shot vs. bolt action. Taking 150 yards shots is no prob. for the Savage or H&R.

I have an H&R 20ga,I prefer the Savage bolt,Marlin 512 and especially My Browning A-Bolt....but I dig bolt actions YMMV

I love the bolt also. The older Browning Bolt Slug Guns are EXCELLENTT!!!!

I was just thinking with a long shotgun barrel + the action length of a repeater, the overall length would feel really long to me.
What length barrels do most use for 20 ga slugs?

My old man took a Mossberg bolt action in 410 ga and mounted a scope on it. basically a 45 cal. rifle. Worked well out to 125 yards.

Sort of like a 45 caliber rifle that is shooting low-ish velocity 90 grain bullets. I shudder to contemplate the sectional density or BC of that little pill. Numbers aside, the 410 slug at 100 yards+ is a recipe for a terrific crippler.

.02 and all...

I like the medium bore rifles but prefer something on the order of an ounce or so.

Mostly opinion.