Best Slug Guns: OL Picks the 15 Best Shotguns for Deer Hunting
We rank the 15 best shotguns for deer hunting. The list includes the classics along with the newest, most advanced slug guns on the market.
Today, slug guns have evolved far beyond the smoothbore spray-and-pray guns that you hoped were at least minute-of-vitals accurate. Modern slug guns will punch clover leafs at 100 yards no problem. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENTAdvertisement |
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Comments (13)
bought an ultra slugger in 94 to use in Iowa. good shooter but not dependable. 4 years ago killed a 150 class 10 pt next day tried to shoot a doe would not fire. sent back to NEF.for complete rebuild worked great till last monday shot a 170 class 10pt at 80 yards he ran past me at 30 yards tried to shoot again gun did not fire luckily this first shot killed him.have a870, 1100 ,bps,11-87 or sx2 for slug barrels need sugestions
Wow, is that Jeff's TarHunt actually pictured in this article? I'm impressed.
I have owned a TarHunt, an Ithaca Deerslayer III, and an H&R UltraSlug Hunter . . . all in 3" 12 Ga. All three of these guns are long distance shooters from the get-go and I wouldn't hesitate to take a 150 yd. plus shot at a good buck with any of the, The key is to find each guns favorite slug and that can be an expensive proposition. My TarHunt preferred the Lightfield EXP slugs, my Deerslayer III preferred the 3" Remington Copper solids, and my UltraSlug prefers the untipped Federal Barnes Expanders in 3". If I am hunting from one of my tree stands, I prefer to use my H&R UltraSlug. If I am still-hunting I prefer to use my Ithaca DeerSlayer III. I recently sold my TarHunt because I couldn't see (or rather my wife couldn't) tying up $2,800.00 in a DSG I wasn't using that much. I have mounted a 3x9 Nikon Slughunter scope with the BDC reticule on both of my slug guns and have also added Limbsaver recoil pads to both. The UltraSlug may be just the tiniest bit more accurate than the DeerSlayer III but it is one heavy brute. That weight does not bother me when I'm in one of my tree stands but it takes a toll if you are a stillhunter. Some people grouse about the UltraSlug only having one shot. Well, I've taken 9 deer now with it in NJ, Ohio, and Maryland and none of those deer moved more than 3 feet after my one shot before dropping stone dead. Experience has taught me that after the first shot your deer is either down or gone anyway. So let your buddy impress his friends with how fast he can empty his magazine while you gut your deer.
I used A Ithaca Deer Slayer for many years. One Shot One Kill on last 8-10 Deer, Love it. For some reason I bought A Winchester SX3 Deerslayer, Had A great shot about 75 yards, Shot 4 times and A really nice 10-12 point just kept looking my way & still never busted me.Before I could get reloaded,Watched him turn & walk back up valley ware he came from. I was pissed.About 35 yds,There was A 2"branch had 4 holes directly in front of ware Buck was standing.Real small pattern but cant eat A branch. Was useing 2&3/4slugs.What should I have done different? Used 3 1/2 Mag slugs or stuck with my Ithaca? Bye the way, Got the SX3 for half price when some guys wife found out he bought it from Cabelas or would never got it.
Yeah that TarHunt is crazy..I would never pay that much for a slug gun, but to each their own.
All I have now is my Browning Sweet 16 - I want a 20 gauge, either auto or pump. Local gun shop has two Winchester 20 gauge pumps, one the Express (I think it is), and the other is the lower end model. Express is $350, other is $300 - I know nothing about the Winchester pumps. Are these the same as the one in this article?
at what point do we begin to realize that these are just large bore rifles and that shotgun only seasons are a thing of the past.
I got a 20 gauge H&R ultra slug hunter with a Nikon 2-7 scope. Dropped 3 deer in the last 2 years between 75-150 yards all heart shots. This Gun is awesome.
Scared me for a minute. That TarHunt costs more than I spent on both vehicles sitting in my driveway! Glad to see you also kept the normal person in my with the reviews.
All 15 of these guns will do anything you need to do within reason.
Check out gunbroker.com they have most everything up for auction.
Anyone know how much the Mossberg 695 would cost?
New or used?
Savage! either one.
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at what point do we begin to realize that these are just large bore rifles and that shotgun only seasons are a thing of the past.
Anyone know how much the Mossberg 695 would cost?
New or used?
All 15 of these guns will do anything you need to do within reason.
Scared me for a minute. That TarHunt costs more than I spent on both vehicles sitting in my driveway! Glad to see you also kept the normal person in my with the reviews.
I got a 20 gauge H&R ultra slug hunter with a Nikon 2-7 scope. Dropped 3 deer in the last 2 years between 75-150 yards all heart shots. This Gun is awesome.
Check out gunbroker.com they have most everything up for auction.
Yeah that TarHunt is crazy..I would never pay that much for a slug gun, but to each their own.
I have owned a TarHunt, an Ithaca Deerslayer III, and an H&R UltraSlug Hunter . . . all in 3" 12 Ga. All three of these guns are long distance shooters from the get-go and I wouldn't hesitate to take a 150 yd. plus shot at a good buck with any of the, The key is to find each guns favorite slug and that can be an expensive proposition. My TarHunt preferred the Lightfield EXP slugs, my Deerslayer III preferred the 3" Remington Copper solids, and my UltraSlug prefers the untipped Federal Barnes Expanders in 3". If I am hunting from one of my tree stands, I prefer to use my H&R UltraSlug. If I am still-hunting I prefer to use my Ithaca DeerSlayer III. I recently sold my TarHunt because I couldn't see (or rather my wife couldn't) tying up $2,800.00 in a DSG I wasn't using that much. I have mounted a 3x9 Nikon Slughunter scope with the BDC reticule on both of my slug guns and have also added Limbsaver recoil pads to both. The UltraSlug may be just the tiniest bit more accurate than the DeerSlayer III but it is one heavy brute. That weight does not bother me when I'm in one of my tree stands but it takes a toll if you are a stillhunter. Some people grouse about the UltraSlug only having one shot. Well, I've taken 9 deer now with it in NJ, Ohio, and Maryland and none of those deer moved more than 3 feet after my one shot before dropping stone dead. Experience has taught me that after the first shot your deer is either down or gone anyway. So let your buddy impress his friends with how fast he can empty his magazine while you gut your deer.
Wow, is that Jeff's TarHunt actually pictured in this article? I'm impressed.
bought an ultra slugger in 94 to use in Iowa. good shooter but not dependable. 4 years ago killed a 150 class 10 pt next day tried to shoot a doe would not fire. sent back to NEF.for complete rebuild worked great till last monday shot a 170 class 10pt at 80 yards he ran past me at 30 yards tried to shoot again gun did not fire luckily this first shot killed him.have a870, 1100 ,bps,11-87 or sx2 for slug barrels need sugestions
Savage! either one.
All I have now is my Browning Sweet 16 - I want a 20 gauge, either auto or pump. Local gun shop has two Winchester 20 gauge pumps, one the Express (I think it is), and the other is the lower end model. Express is $350, other is $300 - I know nothing about the Winchester pumps. Are these the same as the one in this article?
I used A Ithaca Deer Slayer for many years. One Shot One Kill on last 8-10 Deer, Love it. For some reason I bought A Winchester SX3 Deerslayer, Had A great shot about 75 yards, Shot 4 times and A really nice 10-12 point just kept looking my way & still never busted me.Before I could get reloaded,Watched him turn & walk back up valley ware he came from. I was pissed.About 35 yds,There was A 2"branch had 4 holes directly in front of ware Buck was standing.Real small pattern but cant eat A branch. Was useing 2&3/4slugs.What should I have done different? Used 3 1/2 Mag slugs or stuck with my Ithaca? Bye the way, Got the SX3 for half price when some guys wife found out he bought it from Cabelas or would never got it.
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