Why are shotguns so reviled for big game hunting?

[BSA1]

I have noticed that on many of the various TV shows about living in wild Alaska a short barrel 12 ga. shotgun is most often the weapon of choice for self-defense from bears. I suppose a fine point can be made about the difference in self-defense and hunting but the obivous point is the effectiveness of a big hole.

 

[Hammer059]

I don't hunt. But at 50 yards with the bead sights on my Mossberg 500 I can shoot softball sized groups with rifled slugs. And in Pennsylvania hunting at distances much more than that is mostly a fantasy. I'm sure if I slapped some rifle sights on it, I could be shooting groups that size out to 100 yards.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I Love my shotguns for hunting hogs and deer stand no chance with the right loads. I use my rifles for country for when land tends to be very flat or hilly but in the woods my Shotgun is the goto.

 

[bearcreek]

I don't hunt.

That's obvious. Shot opportunities over 50 yards are very common in PA.

 

[JShirley]

I had realized rifles were better before the end of my first successful deer hunt...27 years ago.

The big advantage of a shotgun is its versatility. The fowling piece* was the poor man's gun, able to be pressed into multiple roles, but only excelling at close-range fire.

Modern ammunition refinements have extended the practical range of the shotgun, but inexpensive modern rifles from companies like Howa, Savage, and Remington still give better options for dedicated deer hunters. As always, those who can only scrape up enough for a single budget firearm can do more with a shotgun.

*the main practical difference between a musket and a fowling piece was a bayonet on the former

Also see
http://www.jaegerkorps.org/neumanNRA.html

 

[Hookeye]

Running game........pump gun might be a bit better than a bolt rig.
Lots of pump shotguns.

Tree farm, two man drive, buddy got too far ahead and kicked up an 8 pt.
I had to shoot from the line back, so when the deer hit the line I fired, and fired, and fired.

This on a pine/hardwood tree farm, trees where the deer was.........were tall enough to hang a stand. I was in the lower edge (field all on a slope) and in a shade kill area, where any trees barely stood above the waist high grass.

Saw "4 pts" on one side (deer was huffing loud and moving at mach dammit).
He was 2 rows in (big tree rows).

He hit the line and I blasted . Maybe 19 yds the first shot.Perpendicular to me, he maybe ran another 15 tops by my last shot. Yup.

Cuz said it sounded like an auto. Boom Boom Boom.

Then a lot of loud wheezing back at the edge of he tree farm.

I hit the deer right at the neck, front of shoulder (almost lead it too far).
Through the trees.

Not once, not twice, but all 3 shots connected.
Could cover the entrance pattern of the three with the palm of your hand.

Deer was fatal hit at 1st shot, others just sped things up.

But that pump gun, moving deer...........and making all that noise............sure was fun.

I've shot other deer with multiple good hits, with pump guns. High comb stocks, triiger jobs, scopes mounted low on receivers..............very rifle like.

Like a pump gun so much, I'll be on the hunt for a pump .35 Rem.

Never bought into the bolt action slug craze that hit IND years ago. My pumps shot under 2" at 100 and had rapid fire capability.

Plus the Mossberg and Marlin bolt guns were ugly and not good on ergonomics. Browning A bolt was maybe tolerable............but with 870 Express and Special Purpose shooting as well as they did, at those prices..................to heck with an A bolt.

Never shot a deer with a 20 gauge, but bet a small frame shotgun would probably feel quite rifle like. Do remember Remingtons short run of 1100 LT 20's rifld with cantilever, high comb walnut stock set. They sold like pancakes.
Not cheap either. Lengels (decent sized shop, great folks) couldn't get them fast enough.

 

[sheephearder]

I grow up on a sheep ranch in Washington State. A rifle was common in most sheep camps with an occasional handgun. We wintered in the Yakima Valley and rented pasture from the local farmers, a 12 ga shot gun was what most of them kept on the back porch.

In the late 60s and early 70s, after a run of bad luck, I ended up doing most of the herding, my main gun was a 357 mag Ruger Blackhawk. There were a number of coyotes that fell to it but a 20ga with buck worked better when a coyote would jump out the brush at my feet as I came round the band. The point and shoot of the shotgun was deadly at close range where the 357 was better at 40yds or more. Under 40yds it is hard to beat a shotgun JMHO.

 

[JShirley]

Under 40yds it is hard to beat a shotgun JMHO

At that range, you can hit with a rifle, too- and a rifle can also shoot to 100 yards and much further.

Hookeye, I have a .35 Whelen slide-action Remington 7600 with a peep sight and shortened stock.

 

[grter]

"Why are shotguns so reviled for big game hunting?"

Ignorance. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

Within it's range a shotgun is a very flexible tool that can be loaded with a good variety of different types of ammo in addition the big old heavy slug load.

I doubt a rifle for example would be very good for bird hunting and it certainly cannot effectively shoot any kind of shot loads (some of which would do just fine on a lot of big game at closer ranges) and hold as good a pattern as a shotgun.

With a shotgun the shot pattern can be adjusted with different choke sizes too and not to mention different shot sizes, weights, powder charges etc. The variety from which to choose from is pretty broad. I don't have to be a champion hunter to figure that out.

Is a rifle better to have overall than a shotgun that answer depends on what the primary use is going to be and I just am bewildered at the sea ignorant answers that come from experienced gun owners who totally rely on their own ancedotal experience to come up with their unrealistic conclusions.

I have great respect for ancedotal experience and do not blow it off however one should also realize it probably is not the one solution in a very diverse world.

As a doctor once said ancedotal experience is not practicing medicine. Different situations require different tools and practices some of which we may have little experience in like me who has zero experience in hunting.

Why should I of all people have to be the one to remind those who have much more experience.

 

[Grunt]

Well, the lack of any real range is a big problem with it. Maybe out east where there is woods it might have its place but out here where 200 yard ranges are pretty much considered point blank shooting, shotguns are worthless. I've been hunting now for a little over 30 years and have never used a shotgun on big game nor have I ever heard of anybody else doing it around here either.

 

[Hookeye]

.35 whelen..........cool cartridge.
Buddy had one, cranked up it was fun to shoot (700 classic).

I'm looking for a .35 Remington, since my state runs a cartridge spec on case size (minor trim of .35 rem makes it rifle legal for deer). I have a Contender rifle currently and bought a Ruger #1 to rebarrel, but if it shoots good might snag a 760 Remington.

As for hunting with shotgun.... I don't own just one gun.
I have rifles, bows, handguns, and MZ.

And rather dislike changing barrels.
Prefer to have a gun set up for a specific purpose (why I had 3 contenders at one time- I don't switch barrels LOL).

So the "diversity" of a shotgun.......doesn't matter for me.

It simply has no selling point. Even way back when funds were low, I set up a deer shotgun (one purpose).

 

[Hookeye]

I tolerate 11 crappy months just to come alive during deer season.
Have no problem using a dedicated deer shotgun.
Just not what I want to run at the moment (did go old school for fun in 2006 with smoothbore and took my deer clean).

 

[Hookeye]

After being scent free and silent for bow season........it's kinda nice to break out the boomers.

If I don't spot the hit, I most certainly hit them again. I'll shoot until the deer is down if I don't spot the hits.

Eh, making repeat good hits is fun (the more noise you make, the more fun you might be having.......kinda like sex LOL).

Waste of meat? Don't shoot moving deer? Whatever.
I don't pop my doves sitting in the pine trees and my geese aren't on the ground before the boom either.

Around here many hunters are on small parcels. If your wounded deer jumps a fence it might not be your deer. Having a deer taken by some jerk landowner, neighboring hunter or trespasser sucks.

Shoulder shoot the deer, and hit them more than once if need be (with whatever gun you choose).

That way the critter rides home in your truck.

Pump guns, why even pump shotguns.........offer fast followup shots. That can be a good thing.

 

[browningguy]

I don't know of anyone that reviles shotguns for big game hunting. But most hunters use the best tool for the job. A shotgun is the best deer gun in very limited circumstances. And I shoot shotguns a lot.

 

[TimSr]

For ages Ohio was a shotgun only state, your rabbit gun was also your deer gun, and the guys who used the same gun for everything didn't have trouble hitting what they were shooting at. Sure, accuracy limits your range, but when most of the deer are almost within archery range, it's not much of a factor. As for effectiveness, a 12 guage foster slug probably holds the record for least amount of distance traveled after being shot before dropping. You just have to shoot some paper and know your guns accuracy with a specific ammo and you had your max distance.

 

[Hookeye]

I'll take a pump shotgun for deer over an auto or single shot.
They're lighter, offer fast followup and even if running smoothbore and fosters............they're mean on deer to 75 yards easy.
Rifled bore and sabots, double that distance.
The specialty slugs aren't cheap, and recoil is high. It is what it is.
If you can afford a dedicated slug gun, and can take the thump..........go for it.
You'll keep your freezer full and put plenty of antlers on the wall.

 

[red rick]

If I shoot slugs it's with my Savage 220 bolt action 20ga. and I don't think the recoil is bad at all . Now 3 1/2" 00BK is a different story out of my SX3 12ga. .

 

[Frostbite]

Because rifles are much better than shotguns for big game hunting. Better accuracy, best range, and, for the vast majority, lower recoil and a lot better sighting system.
Some calibers are also less expensive to practice with in order to become an adequate shooter for hunting. As for speed, for which the pump shotgun is appreciated, must I really mention some rifles come in semi automatic form (as do some shotguns)?
I would use a shotgun to hunt deer without hesitation, with either buckshot or slugs, if I had to. I would guess over eighty percent of the deer I have taken were within shotgun range. But given the choice, I take my rifle. A sixty yards shot is possible with a shotgun, it is easy with a rifle.
Between my muzzleloader and my shotgun, I am unsure. I have had great success deer hunting with my muzzleloader in season, I never tried my shotgun on big game during rifle season because rifles were always allowed where I have been hunting.

 

[entropy]

Some shotguns can shoot slugs very well.
But they kick.
And many folks don't limit variables (buy ammo from one lot #, test different types of ammo to see what is best, experiment for cleaning interval and required foulers).

Many folks set their sluggers up with less than ideal sighting systems.

And even with all that done, many shoot them from lead sleds and funky body positions on the range..........and wonder why in the field the shot goes other than aimed.

Worked gun retail in a predominately shotgun state. The avg deer hunter is clueless. And many of them cheapskates.

They don't help the idea of shotguns shooting well.

My rigs, smoothbore or rifled...........100 yards is a gimme. 150's were too

Did have one smoothbore that was 100 yd max. It was a cool old 870P running Activs. I wanted to run that, so tested for its limits and stayed with them.

Easy 75 yard rig. Of course the 8 pointer gets nuked at 25.

Best was 870 w rifled bbl. Receiver D&T. Leupold compact 4X. High comb stock, trigger job. Sub 2" @100 yds with WW HI Supremes (sold the gun when they stopped making that slug).

Impressive performance on deer. Folded a few with double lung hits.

If I had to go smoothbore, I'd get an old Mossberg 500 w 24" bbl and receiver D&T, add a cheekriser to the stock and an offset safety.
If I was to go rifled..............I'd buy my old 870 off my hunting bud (had two that shot great, but that one slightly better).

But my state went PCR...........so I run a trimmed .35 Rem in a TC Contender rifle. And even that might get shelved for a Ruger #1 rebarreled to .35 Rem.

Very similar to my experiences also. Worked in a gunshop and found many of the rifle hunters were clueless, even more so the slug hunters. I had, and still have a Hastings Cantilever rifled barrel for my 870, and am very confident shooting Hornady SST's to 150 yard with it. But WI went all rifle several years ago, so it's my backup gun now.

 

[Hookeye]

"Rifles are more accurate and have less recoil"

Well I had a Big Bore 94 in .307 Win that couldn't keep all shots on an 8x11" sheet of paper at 50 yards. Tried both factory loads at the time.
Buddy thought the gun beautiful (and it was) and he had some magic he could work.

He sold it because it sucked for him too.

Recoil was pretty stout.
But that might have been due to the lack of any real recoil pad.

An 1100 slug gun with a decent pad isn't bad recoil wise. Hell, you could even drop to a 20 gauge.

Not all shotgunners are lacking in sophistication, firearms knowledge or shooting skill.

Many are Fudds. Toting a rifle doesn't automatically eliminate one from being a Warner Brothers character.

Shotgun accuracy? I had two tuned 870's that put 5 shots at or under 2" at 100 yards. Repeatably.

 

[Hookeye]

Worst shotgun was 835 w rifled cantilever bbl.
Polished the bore to reduce fouling, it still shot 2 3/4 and 3" sabot slugs horribly.
Finally got it to print about 3" at 125 yards (bud's range) w 3" fosters.

Dumped a doe down a big hill............90 yards. She took maybe 3 steps tops.
Buck in the field..........just over 150 yards. Nailed him right where aimed.
He hauled arse down the fencerow and ended up piling up within 10 yards of the doe.

Cool neighbor drove his truck to my deer and brought them around so I didn't have to drag

In fighting to zero that %$#@ Mossberg I fired 90 slugs in 2 days from the bench. Deep down in my shoulder it was mighty sore.
My wallet was rather tenderized as well.

 

[Hookeye]

When IN was a mostly shotgun state.........

My rabbit gun was an 870 Special Field 20 ga.
My deer gun was an 870 rifled bbl 12 ga (pre rifled bbls the M500 seemed to be the go to rig, shot good to 150 yards the three I had ).
And I had an 1100 of some sort as well.

Didn't double duty a shotgun for deer and anything else. Deer guns were scoped, receivers D&T, stocks high comb.

 

[Hookeye]

I have only needed a followup shot once.
(more anecdotal BS to follow)

Season was tough, heard a car beep at the highway 2nd Sat morning.
Deer crashing to my side, back and forth in the pine/hardwood farm.
Trees shorter then, most about 5 or 6 ft. Was in stand of old growth by the barn.

Saw flashes of deer and antler, off and on (deer grunting all the time). Finally in one tree missing spot he shows. It's where my safe shot angle is almost gone.
Have to take him.

I'm in a big tree, 25 ft up. Have to stand on my tiptoes to clear a big branch from another tree close by.

Hearing that deer for 45 minutes, then finally getting a rushed shot...........yeah. my trigger finger became a crowbar and I flat out yanked it.

NEVER done that before.

But I just did.

Recoil was stout, since I was shooting a 12 ga slug gun (WW HI Supremes, my fave slug of all time). The gun seemingly pumped itself (smooth plus recoil plus I'm used to pumps). The 4x Leupold compact was back on the deer and the 2nd shot folded him.

Fast second shot. Gun never left my cheek. Shot D was only 50 yards.

If I had flubbed it with a rifle, esp a bolt gun.................or in my prev post on the mover...........if I had flubbed the 1st or 2nd............the 3rd was on the money (shooting through timber you track the deer and shoot, you don't try to poke it through holes......just let the lumber eat what it must, shoot and swing........continue).

Pump rifle might have had similar success, or maybe semi auto.

The fact that I was using a shotgun instead of a rifle ............the deer wasn't any more or less dead.

Blasted a 10 pt with kickers with an old smoothbore 500. That deer ran by me in a thicket twice, at 80 to 90 yards. Too thick for any shot (plus he was too fast for that distance).

Shot him chasing a doe corssing by my stand. Ist shot perfect, 2nd shot hit tree by muzzle as I swung through tracking him. 3rd mirrored first shot and he somersaulted and lay dead.

Cheap smoothbore with fosters. Bam Bam Bam.
Caught movement, heart shot the followup deer at 75 yards, went on my antlerless tag.

That camo (black and green) synth smoothbore was probably the better of the 3 I had. Ugly to look at. Shot pretty.

Stopped my LGS today, beater Ithaca 51 deermodel on the rack. Front sight gone.
Tempted to buy it just because. Silver solder on a new sight.

 

[336A]

I don't revile them I actually prefer them for the type of hunting that I do. I hunt in thickly wooded areas and swamps, typical shot opportunities on deer range from 10-40 yards. At those ranges your typical Hi Power rifle cartridge is going to ruin a lot of meat, with a shotgun slug you can eat right up to the hole. The other reason I like deer hunting with them is nothing puts deer on the ground as fast as a shotgun and slugs. I've used various rifle cartridges over the years from a Marlin .44 mag carbine to my 7MM Mag. When taking the classic behind the shoulder shot(which I always try to take) nothing anchors deer as authoritively as a shotgun slug. All of the deer I've taken with a shotgun and slugs have always dropped where they stood. That has never been the case when I was hunting with rifles, as matter of fact it was the performance of a certain cartridge that almost cost me a deer not on one but two occasions.

 

[Sav .250]

Where did you get that information ?