---
title: "Is the 20-Gauge Enough Gun for Deer?"
date: "2006-04-25"
modified: "2006-04-25"
authors:
  - name: "Outdoor Life Online Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-online-editor/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2006/04/20-gauge-enough-gun-deer/"
categories:
  - "Big Game Hunting"
  - "Guns"
  - "Hunting"
  - "Shotguns"
---

# Is the 20-Gauge Enough Gun for Deer?

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/22/UZVFWBZ2J2NK52A7GPY3S5U74Y.jpg>)

[![Express\_buckhammer\_big](<https://mikehanback.blogs.com/bigbuckzone/images/express_buckhammer_big.jpg>)](<https://mikehanback.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/express_buckhammer_big.jpg>) My post “Indiana Man Drops Monster with a 20-Gauge” was read by thousands who came from forums all around to gawk at the 234” non-typical freak that Jack Keihn killed last November. If you missed it, check my Big-Buck Tales category; here’s one more photo of the gnarly beast below.

A whole bunch of people posted threads like “cool buck, but why is Hanback making such a big damn deal about Jack shooting it with a 20-gauge?”

Got me! Yes, I admit to being a slug-gun newbie. I can tout the ballistics and virtues of the .270 all day[![April\_25\_06](<https://outdoorlife.blogs.com/bigbuckzone/images/2008/01/28/april_25_06.jpg>)](<https://outdoorlife.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/28/april_25_06.jpg>) long. But a shotgun for deer? Hah. *I know nuth-tink!* (Trivia?) I just figured nobody in his right mind would use a pip-squeak 20 when you could go with a big-stocked, thick-actioned, ass-kicking 12 with the heaviest chunk of lead you could sling at a buck.

I hate feeling and sounding ignorant, so you boys out in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois or any other shotgun area educate me. What’s your gun, a Remington? Mossberg maybe? Twelve or 20? Scope? What’s the best new or old slug on the market? How far can you shoot a deer with one of those dang things (100 yards?). Got any knock-down power to it? You never know, I might pull a tag for shotgun season in Iowa, and I don't mind saying I need all the help I can get.