Slug guns again. 20 vs 12?

[chcltlabz]

I currently hunt where rifles are not allowed.  I'm generally a bowhunter or use my muzzleloader, but I bumped the scope on it (and consequently missed a nice buck several times), and that tells me I need a backup gun for when I can use a slug gun.

I looked into getting a barrel for one of my other shotguns, but it will cost as much as a slug gun combo will, so I think I'm going that route.

I like the idea of having a 20 gauge since I don't own one, but am I going to have problems with the smaller 20 gauge slugs?  I don't want to have to track deer far just because I am using the 20.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

[davisd9]

A 20 ga is more than enough for any deer.

http://www.randywakeman.com/Slug_Guns_Twenty_Gauge_Vs_Twelve_Gauge.htm

[R AJ]

The Federal Truball is an excellent slug for smooth bores.
The Remington Accu-Tip is my choice for rifled slug barrels.

Both are bad medicine for deer of any size in America. You will not be disappointed in 20 gauge slug performance
on deer.

[TrackeySauresRex]

The Remington Accu-Tip is my choice for rifled slug barrels.
You will not be disappointed in 20 gauge slug performance
on deer.

^ what he said. Savage 220 gets my vote with that accu-tip. Dead accurate!

[timberchicken]

I have a savage 220 and my dad has an h&r 20 both shooting 3" accutips. Both are 150+ yard guns. If I had to do it again I would by the h&r and with the money saved by a better scope. I put a leupold 2x7 power shotgun scope on dad's gun and it is awesome.

[renegade19]

I shoot an H&R 20.  You won't have any problems with well placed shots.

[Bigspurs68]

Me and my girls shoot a savage 220f. It's a tack driver and never fails to put deer down fast. I watched my oldest girl who is 12, shoot a 141" 10 pt last year at 173 yds. He went 40 yds. The 20 makes me leave my 12 at home. We shoot 3" federal trophy copper slugs.


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[alclark2]

I bought my wife a 20 gauge 500. I take it whenever I can. I had the same concerns with 12 vs 20. Once I got to see a few exit wounds... Game over! 20 gauge all the way.

[chcltlabz]

Thanks guys.  I really appreciate all the input.  I was leaning towards the 20 gauge just to have one, but was a little concerned with knockdown. 

If I end up with a new gun, I think it will be in 20.

[surehuntsalot]

I have an 870 20ga that has put a many a deer and hogs down with Brenneke slugs

[cphill]

I been hunting with a 870 20 ga 18 in barrel  with the cantilever mount for 2 years and shooting horaday slugs . I have killed one as far as 135 yards and dropped it in its tracks...12 ga is not needed in slugs or turkey loads but thats my opinion

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[Gut Pile]

Just got a Savage 220, put a Nikon scope in it, using Remington Accutips / deadly accurate!!! I have never hit so many bulls eyes in my life while sighting in. Also got a nice deer at about 75 yards exactly spot on / it maybe went 20 feet. I would highly recommend this gun. They worked out the bolt issues from a few years ago. This gun is amazing !!

[30_06]

20ga would be my choice for sure.

[opster246]

I have the H & R 20 ga that shoots Remington Copper Solids and Hornady SST's real nice.  Low recoil and puts the deer down.  I have read that you should have 1000 ft/lbs of energy for clean kills.  The Remington Copper Solids show 983 ft/lbs at 100 yds.  Not to say the 100+ yd shots are not honestly putting deer down in their tracks, it just makes me wonder if that isn't like stretching the 40 yd golden rule for turkey.  I have seen gobblers go down at 58 yds with the Winchester Longbeards, but that's stretching it a bit!  No regrets with the 20 ga.

[allaboutshooting]

I currently hunt where rifles are not allowed.  I'm generally a bowhunter or use my muzzleloader, but I bumped the scope on it (and consequently missed a nice buck several times), and that tells me I need a backup gun for when I can use a slug gun.

I looked into getting a barrel for one of my other shotguns, but it will cost as much as a slug gun combo will, so I think I'm going that route.

I like the idea of having a 20 gauge since I don't own one, but am I going to have problems with the smaller 20 gauge slugs?  I don't want to have to track deer far just because I am using the 20.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Illinois is a slug gun state. I spent many decades successfully hunting with slugs. We had a lot of deer on our property and all around us, so my situation may not be typical but I did evaluate a number of slugs, barrels and guns.

The bottom line for me was that 12 gauge Brenneke 2.75" K.O. slugs with a 1 oz. "hunk of lead" was the very best of all slugs out there. I shot them through a Shaw custom barrel on my SBE and then through a smoothbore barrel with a Briley rifled choke tube and that same gun with equal accuracy.

100 yards would be a very long shot for me however and most of mine were 70 yards or less, usually much less.

Several years ago, a major producer of sabot and rifled slugs, sent me boxes of all the 12 gauge slugs then on the market and asked that I evaluate them for accuracy. I used that same Shaw custom rifled barrel to do that work. They were all pretty good but again, the K.O. was just as good or better and punched a big hole. They added bonus is that they are very inexpensive.

The Savage 220 may be the most accurate 20 gauge slug gun on the market today. It has a great reputation with shooters that I know personally. If I were going to buy a 20 gauge slug gun, it's the one I'd get and I'd pair it with the 20 gauge version of the K.O. slugs. I'd don't think you could go wrong there.

Thanks,
Clark