20-gauge Marginal for Deer?
Question:
> >A 20 gauge slug is marginal at best for deer. > Normally I would let even a wrong-headed opinion go unchallenged, but > the above statement is completely foolish and irresponsible with the > facts. > First of all, I’ve shot three bucks and two does with a 20 gauge using > four Foster slugs and one saboted slug, and one small doe with a 12 > gauge using a Foster slug.
First of all, John, you conveniently deleted what I wrote immediately before the sentence of mine that you quoted. I’ll paste it back: <<You’ll probably hear from someone who hunts deer and/or ducks with a 20 <<gauge, but I would get a 12. And you could also kill a deer with an ice pick if you got up close enough and stabbed it in the right place. That’s not the point. Loads vary, but the average 12 gauge slug has 2400 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. The average 20 gauge has only 1400 foot-pounds. > A 20-gauge sabotted slug alone is .40 caliber (a 12-gauge sabotted slug > is .50 caliber). And of course the Foster slugs are even bigger. > Since when did .40 caliber bullets — a caliber bigger than the most > popular safari cartridge — become marginal for deer? Rather than being > "marginal at best," within in its range, a 20 gauge could be called > overkill at worst!
Caliber does not translate directly into stopping power. Consider a .30 Carbine or a .32-20 Win. Neither of these are very good for deer, but they are larger calibers than the .243, .25-06, and .270, which are three excellent deer calibers. > I agree 20-gauge shells are more expensive.
Gee, thanks. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
The first deer I killed was with a Stevens 20 ga single shot. The doe died instantly. I was within 20 feet. The load was high brass #2. I have gone on to take several other deer with a 20 Ga. I carry Winchester saboted slugs in my vest when squirrel hunting, and twice this has paid off. The gun is a short range affair, I would not take a shot past 40 yards or so. The remark was made here that the 30/30 is a marginal deer round. If used within its limits, you are hard pressed to find a better deer rifle. Where I hunt, in the lake fringe swamps in North Fla, your .243 or .260 etc are a handicap. The 30/30 or the .44 Mag is a much better choice. Not because of the cartridge, but because the rifles chambered for these rounds are handier, and quicker to shoot with their peep sights or a 2.5x 20mm tube Weaver. Sam in Gainesville Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
I’ve used 20-gauge slugs since 1983 and they work fine for me. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>A 20 gauge slug is marginal at best for deer.
Normally I would let even a wrong-headed opinion go unchallenged, but the above statement is completely foolish and irresponsible with the facts. First of all, I’ve shot three bucks and two does with a 20 gauge using four Foster slugs and one saboted slug, and one small doe with a 12 gauge using a Foster slug. A 20-gauge sabotted slug alone is .40 caliber (a 12-gauge sabotted slug is .50 caliber). And of course the Foster slugs are even bigger. Since when did .40 caliber bullets — a caliber bigger than the most popular safari cartridge — become marginal for deer? Rather than being "marginal at best," within in its range, a 20 gauge could be called overkill at worst! I agree 20-gauge shells are more expensive. John Hanka Minneapolis Minnesota USA Share what you know. Learn what you don’t. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
