"Tactical" shotgun for deer?

Aahzz · January 3, 2002, 04:04 PM

OK, here's the question. I have yet to hunt, but I'm planning to give it a shot next season (was going to this season, but birth of first child made life WAY too busy!). In CT, I'm limited to shotgun on public lands. I'm currently in the market for an HD shotgun, with the Benelli Nova currently leading the pack. Will an 18.5" cylinder bore suffice for deer? I know it'll handle rifled slugs, and it has rifle sights rather than a simple bead...what else would I need? Obviously, a seperate gun set up for deer would be a better choice, but do I have a chance with something like this?

Biathlonman · January 3, 2002, 04:18 PM

Sight it in with your given rifled slugs and go hunting...

Should about cover it

!

Simply smooth bore shotgun with rifled slugs is all we can hunt with in Ohio and every year you can count on our family bringing home a whole bunch of venison!

inGobwetrust · January 3, 2002, 04:37 PM

Aahzz,

I've shot a 200 lb. boar with my Beretta 1201FP. I used Breneke slugs and they worked great. Range was about 40 yards. Deer should be no problem if you do your part and keep your shots in the range that you can hit at.

Art Eatman · January 3, 2002, 05:16 PM

It's not particularly different than a rifle, other than the relatively shorter ranges involved: Sight it in appropriately for the trajectory, and then bite the bullet

and spend the money for a box or two of practicing.

I always suggest offhand shooting or from a hasty rest, and at a small target. If you can hit by that method, you'll generally do okay.

Art

C.R.Sam · January 3, 2002, 06:11 PM

Art n the others right. If you shoot it well enough to be proficient enough for home defense......plenty good for fillin the freezer.

Sam

labgrade · January 3, 2002, 06:52 PM

All my shotguns are tactical.

Just got back from shooting some PMC Brenneke slugs. Out of 2X stock 870s - one with an 18" iron-sighted bbl, the other a 21" vent rib w/double bead, ~1.5" from the first & ~3" with the latter.

Plenty good for deer.

Dave McC · January 4, 2002, 02:29 AM

My deer gun doubles as a backup HD tool, and my HD shotgun has taken quite a few deer. Both are 870s, have extended mags, peep sights, cone and trigger work, and the other bells, whistles, fuzzy dice and fender skirts.

One groups its slug of choice into a bit over 4" at 100 yards, the other less than 5". Between them, at least 10 deer this last decade. The older one has also done well in the shotgun leg of 3 gun and "Practical" matches, and I've done demos with both when instructing that impress the heck out of tyros.

You might want to check out the Shotgun BB and the Archives, this has come up plenty.

January 3, 2002, 04:04 PM	#1
Aahzz Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: CT Posts: 211	"Tactical" shotgun for deer? OK, here's the question. I have yet to hunt, but I'm planning to give it a shot next season (was going to this season, but birth of first child made life WAY too busy!). In CT, I'm limited to shotgun on public lands. I'm currently in the market for an HD shotgun, with the Benelli Nova currently leading the pack. Will an 18.5" cylinder bore suffice for deer? I know it'll handle rifled slugs, and it has rifle sights rather than a simple bead...what else would I need? Obviously, a seperate gun set up for deer would be a better choice, but do I have a chance with something like this?

January 3, 2002, 04:37 PM	#3
inGobwetrust Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 179	Aahzz, I've shot a 200 lb. boar with my Beretta 1201FP. I used Breneke slugs and they worked great. Range was about 40 yards. Deer should be no problem if you do your part and keep your shots in the range that you can hit at. __________________ "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" George Orwell

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January 3, 2002, 04:18 PM	#2
Biathlonman Member Join Date: February 4, 2001 Location: Kentucky/Ohio, both Posts: 98	Sight it in with your given rifled slugs and go hunting... Should about cover it ! Simply smooth bore shotgun with rifled slugs is all we can hunt with in Ohio and every year you can count on our family bringing home a whole bunch of venison!

January 3, 2002, 05:16 PM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	It's not particularly different than a rifle, other than the relatively shorter ranges involved: Sight it in appropriately for the trajectory, and then bite the bullet and spend the money for a box or two of practicing. I always suggest offhand shooting or from a hasty rest, and at a small target. If you can hit by that method, you'll generally do okay. Art

January 3, 2002, 06:11 PM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Art n the others right. If you shoot it well enough to be proficient enough for home defense......plenty good for fillin the freezer. Sam

January 3, 2002, 06:52 PM	#6
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	All my shotguns are tactical. Just got back from shooting some PMC Brenneke slugs. Out of 2X stock 870s - one with an 18" iron-sighted bbl, the other a 21" vent rib w/double bead, ~1.5" from the first & ~3" with the latter. Plenty good for deer.

January 4, 2002, 02:29 AM	#7
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	My deer gun doubles as a backup HD tool, and my HD shotgun has taken quite a few deer. Both are 870s, have extended mags, peep sights, cone and trigger work, and the other bells, whistles, fuzzy dice and fender skirts. One groups its slug of choice into a bit over 4" at 100 yards, the other less than 5". Between them, at least 10 deer this last decade. The older one has also done well in the shotgun leg of 3 gun and "Practical" matches, and I've done demos with both when instructing that impress the heck out of tyros. You might want to check out the Shotgun BB and the Archives, this has come up plenty.