Hunting With Buckshot

[Mccallister25]

Alright guys.. Iv asked this question in the hunting section a few months back, but Id like to revisit it. Id love to get some opinions from true gun guys, who have un-biased opinions and know a good bit about what they are talking about.

I know this is a hunting question, and I already have an open thread pertaining to the same thing in the hunting section, but I figured since were talking about shotguns and ammo, maybe it would be cool to post here also.. Also, this sub forum gets a lot more replies during the offseason than the hunting forum. If this gets closed, Ill understand, but here goes..

 

This past year was my first season hunting deer with a shotgun. I shot at a smaller buck with it on Thanksgiving morning with 000 buck out of a barrell with a built in full choke. Hind sight is always 20/20, and looking back on it Im pretty sure I made a poor shot. The buck was quartering toward me at 20 yards, give or take a few. I tracked blood for what seemed like a mile through the woods, only to find that the blood trail suddenly stopped cold. Absolutely no signs of anything after that last drop.

The very next afternoon I sat on the same stand, with the same gun and ammo and took a doe from the same corn pile. Dropped her where she stood.. Difference is, the doe was broad side when I shot her.

 

I have tried to do extensive research on various websites, and also Youtube on hunting with buckshot and find that the replies are about 50/50. Some will tell you NO WAY should you ever hunt with buckshot, and others will tell you that the anti buckshot hunters have no clue wat theyre talking about. I have a 400 yard field I hunt over with my .30/06 but the particular place I hunted with my shotgun is woods, in a semi suburban area. Its not in any kind of city limits, so shooting the gun is fine, There are just too many houses on the opposite side of the woods that prevents me from shooting my rifle, or any kind of slug. Some have told me to look into a compound/ cross bow, but the confidence just isnt there for me. So the question for you guys is; How do YOU feel about hunting with buckshot if Im 20 or less yards from my target, and have completely open shooting lanes? I have also patterned 00 and 000 buck from said gun, and the 00 patterned much better on paper than the 000 I was trying to use for the deer this past season.

[F14A-B]

I have killed a lot of deer... With a shotgun.... But I used slugs... 50 caliber rated.... Flat puts them down, coyotes with 00 or even 4 shot in thickets at 20 yards.... 23 yards that's the longest shot I ever took with a 12 gauge,hunting deer. I killed a 24 pd turkey with 3 1/2 inch magnum at 44 yds. I believe a slug still gets it done better, I think 00 buck is 30 calibur rating... It's good, but slugs destroy!

[Mccallister25]

It's good, but slugs destroy!

I completely understand that, and I respect that, but there are just too many houses through the woods for me to feel comfortable letting slugs go flying through the trees. I also have that built in full choke, so Id have to purchase a new barrell even if I wanted to shoot slugs.

I personally feel like I have fairly good odds if I keep my shots within 20-25 yards and have a deer standing broadside, but thats just my opinion and it may not be worth much. Their are a lot more people in here with a lot more knowledge and experience than I have.

[RoLo]

At close range, there's no deadlier weapon than a shotgun (nothing comes close)

The majority of deer I've taken were felled with a 12-ga shotgun using magnum 00 buckshot.
A shotgun also excels in brush, where the single bullet from a rifle is easily deflected by one thin branch.

The popularity of the 30-30 and 35 Rem is due to their 'brush-bucking' tendency,
but they don't hold a candle to a 10 ga or 12-ga shotgun.

Rifled slugs are superb, and offer greater distance and greater accuracy than shotshells,

but there again, it's a single projectile that's subject to deflection.
Many deer felled by a shotgun is the result of one pellet in the lungs or spine.
For this reason I prefer 00 buck to 000 buck, which offers an extra pellet (9 over 8).

 

For hunting over fields, swaths and open woods I use a 270 Remington 700 with a 4x Redfield

 

Roger

[Lund Explorer]

Alright guys.. Iv asked this question in the hunting section a few months back, but Id like to revisit it. Id love to get some opinions from true gun guys, who have un-biased opinions and know a good bit about what they are talking about.

I know this is a hunting question, and I already have an open thread pertaining to the same thing in the hunting section, but I figured since were talking about shotguns and ammo, maybe it would be cool to post here also.. Also, this sub forum gets a lot more replies during the offseason than the hunting forum. If this gets closed, Ill understand, but here goes..

 

This past year was my first season hunting deer with a shotgun. I shot at a smaller buck with it on Thanksgiving morning with 000 buck out of a barrell with a built in full choke. Hind sight is always 20/20, and looking back on it Im pretty sure I made a poor shot. The buck was quartering toward me at 20 yards, give or take a few. I tracked blood for what seemed like a mile through the woods, only to find that the blood trail suddenly stopped cold. Absolutely no signs of anything after that last drop.

The very next afternoon I sat on the same stand, with the same gun and ammo and took a doe from the same corn pile. Dropped her where she stood.. Difference is, the doe was broad side when I shot her.

 

I have tried to do extensive research on various websites, and also Youtube on hunting with buckshot and find that the replies are about 50/50. Some will tell you NO WAY should you ever hunt with buckshot, and others will tell you that the anti buckshot hunters have no clue wat theyre talking about. I have a 400 yard field I hunt over with my .30/06 but the particular place I hunted with my shotgun is woods, in a semi suburban area. Its not in any kind of city limits, so shooting the gun is fine, There are just too many houses on the opposite side of the woods that prevents me from shooting my rifle, or any kind of slug. Some have told me to look into a compound/ cross bow, but the confidence just isnt there for me. So the question for you guys is; How do YOU feel about hunting with buckshot if Im 20 or less yards from my target, and have completely open shooting lanes? I have also patterned 00 and 000 buck from said gun, and the 00 patterned much better on paper than the 000 I was trying to use for the deer this past season.

 

I would agree that you made a poor shot.  Quartering towards you, the pellets probably had the power to punch into leg muscle and chest, but not enough to hit any vitals for a killing shot. 

 

I've seen a lot of hunters show up at our gun club's sight-in days that haven't considered the limitations of their choice of weapon or shells.  If you are going to continue using buckshot, you need to consider a combination of pattern, penetration, and foot pounds of energy at each possible range you may be faced with.  This can vary on your shotgun, barrel length, choke, and the brand and size of the shell.

 

Buckshot does work within it's limitations, once you recognize the ones you have, the less chance of another wounded deer escaping.

[Mccallister25]

Lund, and Rolo I appreciate those posts. They are very insightful, and I can tell you guys know a thing or two about your firearms. There's no doubt Im gonna continue to use the buckshot. I'll go with a 00 this year as apposed to the 000 of last year though. I wanted some un biased feedback, and yall delivered. I love my rifle, and would much rather hunt with it, but for safety reasons, its gonna have to be buckshot. Ill practice more discipline this year, and wait for a broad shot as apposed to the quartering shot. Would a quartering away shot be deadly?

[RoLo]

I doubt that you'll regret that decision.
When I lived in New Jersey ("shotgun-only" state), Hunterdon County boasted one of the highest deer kills per sq. mi.

in the nation. Hit broadside within 25 yards, a buck commonly goes down like a sack-of-potatoes.

As much as I thrill to taking big game at 50 yds and woodchucks at 200 yds with a 270 rifle,

in wooded close-quarters I have far more confidence in my 12 ga Remington 1100.

After all is said and done, no weapon can compensate for a poor shot.

 

Roger

[Mccallister25]

Hit broadside within 25 yards, a buck commonly goes down like a sack-of-potatoes.

Also how I feel. I mean I have one doe under my belt to show for it, but on the other hand I dont understand why so many people will tell you that even under the most ideal circumstances buckshot just dont have the "oomph". I think this comes from people trying to take 50+ yard shots, or just havent patterned their guns.

[jhoffman]

I dont think youre supposed to choke buck shot, I could be wrong but I know for example with waterfowl loads if you put that through a full choke you are askn for trouble.

[Mccallister25]

Iv always heard that certain buckshot patterns great with a full choke. A slug on the other hand will blow the barrel if equipped with a full choke.

[RoLo]

buckshot just dont have the "oomph".

 

'OOMPH' is exactly what defines a shotgun, that's a statement you will NEVER hear from a seasoned scattergunner.

What would you rather use for home security, a rifle, a handgun or a shotgun?  (There's no contest).

 

The choke controversy is based on the premise that a full choke may result in peripheral "flyers".

A 'flyer' is a deformed pellet that flies outside the main pattern. This is controversial though, for example,

in your 'quartering to' example, the theoretical flyer might enter the neck spine, jugular vein or femoral artery.

A Modified Choke should be your best bet, and you'll never be more than half wrong 

 

Roger

[VolFan]

My old 870 Wingmaster patterned for poop out of the full choke with 00 buck. Modified was where it held a killing pattern out to 35 yards. It almost seemed like in some of the shots the pellets bounced off each other. 35 is the max I would go, and only if your gun patterns well at that range and it's a broadside shot. Front quartering is bad news; you have too much meat/bone for the pellet to punch through. Quartering away or broadside is best. Each of those pellets has approximately the energy of a 9mm out to about 35 yards, so look at it from that optic.

[F14A-B]

I would only add that lead slugs as in Winchester one ounce has a dramatic drop from 50 to 100 yds... So if you're hunting with houses or stockyard critters it may not work for you.... But we use slugs in my state... For Safety reasons, I live in the lower ind. lots of massive hills and valleys, this south part of the state can support center fire rifle hunting, the other 2/3 of the state cannot.... So it's slugs..... I had only one pass thru on a young doe... Double lung shot... Other than that... Never a exit wound.... Massive energy transfer and much safer than a rifle and more effective that buckshot.... My suggestion was of a better round for hunting with a 12 gauge.... You can use it or not... I have never wounded a deer either. I set up like a bow hunter and if you do that why are you not killing you're deer? Buckshot is not ideal for greater than 20yds. The deer I kill would run away 330 pound animals it takes massive power to drop them and a well placed shot. I have killed way too many to even debate it.

I only suggested it as a sure fire way to put you're deer down and still be safe doing it.... A lead slug is not a center fire bullit. It's safer than you are thinking.... Study it more, learn about it all then you can decide better

[Catt]

I chamber a 00 buck shot, then it's a slug, followed by another buck shot.

I shoot a Ithica model 37 Featherlight

[Mccallister25]

I chamber a 00 buck shot, then it's a slug, followed by another buck shot.

I shoot a Ithica model 37 Featherlight

So when you hit em with that first round of buckshot, do they typically go down more times than not, or are you having to hit em with the slug also?

[crazyjoeclemens]

Illinois does not allow buckshot on deer, but it sure does put a hurtin on the coyotes. I don't have any objections to using buckshot as long as it's legal in your location and you do everything in your power to make a quick, clean kill with it. If it was me, I would get out a large cardboard target and pattern test it out to the max range you'll be using it at. That way you know where it's hitting and what the pattern looks like when it gets to the target. Do that, and you'll be a lot more confident and successful with it.

[F14A-B]

Well good luck BigBlock.... I know you're issues with a tight choked shotgun... Slugs/ cheap lead, called pumpkin balls have been made under sized for years... Liability ,no barrel blow outs... Remington have always been smaller than Winchester (diameter) but I understand you're concern with safety, to be sure..... Practice with you're buckshot at 20 to 25 yds. Then you will be know the spread on diffrent brands..... One final suggestion.... Perhaps a stand 8 to 12 feet up... Shooting down with a slug? Well it's a very safe shot! Good luck my man! Kill those deers!

[Mccallister25]

Well good luck BigBlock.... I know you're issues with a tight choked shotgun... Slugs/ cheap lead, called pumpkin balls have been made under sized for years... Liability ,no barrel blow outs... Remington have always been smaller than Winchester (diameter) but I understand you're concern with safety, to be sure..... Practice with you're buckshot at 20 to 25 yds. Then you will be know the spread on diffrent brands..... One final suggestion.... Perhaps a stand 8 to 12 feet up... Shooting down with a slug? Well it's a very safe shot! Good luck my man! Kill those deers!

I appreciate ya! Iv patterned my gun several times in the past and somewhat know my limitations. I'll probably do some more tests soon, just to be positive. I want to try a paper plate test. Ill fef. Be posting on here when the season starts up and keep everyone in the loop.

[RoLo]

So when you hit em with that first round of buckshot, do they typically go down more times than not, or are you having to hit em with the slug also?

 

Whether it's big game, small game, waterfowl or vermin, I put EVERYTHING on the first shot.

I treat all my guns like they're single-shot firearms, where follow-up shots are few and far between.

 

Roger

[Catt]

So when you hit em with that first round of buckshot, do they typically go down more times than not, or are you having to hit em with the slug also?

One of the most desirable traits of the Model 37 is its abaility to drop shells at you feet instead of flying across the land scape.

If I determine the path the deer is on will not lead it within 00 range I can quitely eject a round and have the extended range of a slug.

[Lund Explorer]

I chamber a 00 buck shot, then it's a slug, followed by another buck shot.

I shoot a Ithica model 37 Featherlight

 

Ooh, I had one of those Ithica Featherlights that I gave off to a grandson.  Great shotgun that I used for pheasant hunting.  My shotgun for deer hunting was a Remington 1100 chambered for 3" Magnum.  Bought it as a goose gun, but an extra slug barrel let it do double duty.  I did the almost the same thing.  Buckshot followed by a tube full of slugs, even though I could have just loaded that last three rounds with birdshot because by then the deer was usually out of range and the only goal was to make him run faster!

[clayton86]

Can't use it here in NY for deer it's slugs only. I use #4 buck for coyotes and shoot out to 70yards and roll em.

[shanksmare]

Catt,

My cousin used a set identical to yours for many years deer hunting in the scrub oaks of SE Massachusets. Mass. mandates the use of shotguns only. Like you he alternated buckshot and slugs with a buckshot shell generally in the chamber. If presented a close running shot he was ready with the buckshot. If he was presented a longer standing shot he would eject the buckshot and use a slug. He used a 12 gauge Ithaca Model 37 Deerslayer.

 

I personally never used buckshot. It's use is fine if you confine your shots to 25 to 30 yards. Longer shots can present problems. Buckshot are round balls so frequently the wounds made by them close up and you have little or no blood trail.

 

Years ago a group of guys showed up at the R &G club ro which I belonged to sight in their shotguns in preparation to a hunt on Nantucket Island. They shot rifled slugs at a 4' x 4' target. After about 6 boxes (150 shells) they had managed to hit the target once in the upper right hand corner. On Nantucket they used buckshot and all got a deer. So it can be very effective if you choose to use it.