Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 20 ga for deer hunting.

My wife wants to deer hunt this year,we live in a slug only zone.She is some what recoil sensative,the only shot gun she likes to shoot is a 410 and I feel its to light for anything
but 25yds.I have the chance to pick up a Rem 1100 auto in nice shape
for 300.00,to my way of thinking with a 2-3/4 slug this is as light a recoil as I'll get.Anyone have a better option.
Thanks, Bob.

You shouldn't have any problem. IMHO recoil sensitivity can be a mind over matter thing; to a certain degree. Seen tons of deer whacked with a 20 ga. too.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

If I was a slug hunter, I'd be using the 20ga myself. Unless she insists on the .410 I'd skip it. If she does use it, it's probably best to keep it to bow hunting range on the shots.

I have 3 pards shooting the Remington 1100 LT in 20 gauge, all 3 shoot the Remington 20 gauge "Accu-tip 20 gauge slug ammo.

The accu-tip slug ammo is scary accurate in all 3 slug guns and really puts the deer DOWN.


Doc

Bob,
That's exactly how I'd role in this situation.
A friend's wife is one of the most petite gals I've ever met -
she handles the 1100 like a dream and recoil is not a problem.

If she's not used to an auto, I might advise she not lean against a tree (when shooting) with the ejection port side to the tree.

A friend of mine bought a Savage bolt-action 20g for deer hunting this year. After mounting a scope on it and sighting it in, I am impressed.

You will have absoultely NO problem putting a deer DRT with a 20 gauge.

My wife shot her first deer with a Rem 1187 20 ga auto in '09.

That was with the standard barrel and an imp cyl choke.

I really want to get a fully rifled barrel for that gun.

As far as recoil goes its like with any slug gun. They kick when shooting at a target. They don't kick when shooting at a deer.

Is a .410 legal in MN? I do not believe it is legal down here. Might want to do a quick check before going down that road.

Frankly, a good muzzleloader might be a better set up for her with respect to carrying and range. Just another idea anyway.

The 410 was banned for a long time but now its legal again,but It
dose not change the fact that its prety darned marginal.
Thanks for the replies guys,I had not thought of black powder that would be an option.Its been years since I hunted with one.
But unless I am sitting with her I dought she would be inclined
to load it herself if a second shot was needed.Shes interested but I do want to keep it simple,But I probabally will hunt with her this season and just guide her through it.Id really like to see her fill her first tag.It would be as fun as taking one myself.

.410 has been legal for as long as I can remember. It was to be my first gun to hunt deer with. Even at the ripe old age of 12 I knew to beg for something different, which we didn't have. My dad had one rifle and 1 shotgun, the .410 single shot. My uncle let me borrow his .303 britt. That thing was a POS now that I look back on it.

Yep, .410 sucks, my cousin got stuck with using one for a couple years and all we did was chase down his cripples. Only kills he made were at about 30 yards or less.

Kid can shoot so I dont think his ability was the issue.

There are some great 20 ga slugs out there today. Recoil shouldn't be an issue with a good gas operated auto-loader.

Think I'd pass on a .410 though and not legal in WI.

Trust me. It will be MORE fun than taking one yourself. I laid on a hillside alongside my wife (both with buck only tags) when her deer came out. It was a fork horn so I whispered "its got horns, you wanna shoot it?" She said "yeah" So she "aims" and shoots and I see she made a good shot as he mule kicked and took off. I said "you got him!" She OPENS HER EYES and said "I DID????" haha I'll never forget that. 5 minutes later a big bodied old swamp buck comes sneakin through and I dropped him with one 12 ga slug to the shoulder. Our season was done and I was 10 times more excited over her deer than my own.

Then I made the mistake of insisting she help process the deer since she shot one and turned her off deer hunting.

I think the 2 3/4" Remington solid copper 20 gauge slug is pretty soft shooting. I assume the 1100 is a rifled barrel.

Ernie

If the 20 you mentioned is in good shape, grab it for $300 if she wants it or not...a good deal on a heck of a squirrel and rabbit gun too.

Think if you check the ballistics they will be near the standard .45-70 loads.

My daughter and I both use 20 ga. slug guns in Mass. Very accurate, light recoil as compared to a 12 ga. and work very well on deer. The comparison above to the 45-70 is not far off. If she's comfortable with the 1100 buy it.

I have taken two does with my Mossberg 500c 20 ga pump. Slugs were Remington foster style. Worked fine.

I was in the local gunshop the other day and a young man brought in his .410 semi-auto because it wasn't ejecting shells and he needed it ready for deer season (opens two days from now). The shop owner laughed at him, obviously not the kid's first trip in, asking if he'd given up the 12 ga. The kid said he tried it last year and couldn't kill anything with it, so he's going back to the .410 that he'd killed several deer with before. This is in Minnesota, and yes, the .410 with slugs is legal.