My old Browning was 0-15 last fall. It’s gotta be the gun! Can anybody advise on a rifled barrel shotgun w/scope for next year? 20 ga better than 12? What will shoot 200yds with accuracy? Love my muzzleloader, but there are times when you need to keep shootin’! Thanks for any advice!
Are you shooting a scope now? When you target site, what grouping are you showing? It’s best to do some testing before you conclude a cause.
Are you shooting a scope now? When you target site, what grouping are you showing? It’s best to do some testing before you conclude a cause.
Maybe this……
Quote:
What will shoot 200yds
…….is the cause of this
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My old Browning was 0-15 last fall
Maybe this……
Quote:
What will shoot 200yds
…….is the cause of this
Quote:
My old Browning was 0-15 last fall
I have shot my buddies Rem. 870 and it is very accurate. He bought it with a slug barrel so it is geared for deer hunting. I don’t remember the brand of the scope, but it is a very cheap model and it works well. The gun is also very light so it is a good stocking gun. I would be leary of the 200 yd shot with a slug.
I have shot my buddies Rem. 870 and it is very accurate. He bought it with a slug barrel so it is geared for deer hunting. I don’t remember the brand of the scope, but it is a very cheap model and it works well. The gun is also very light so it is a good stocking gun. I would be leary of the 200 yd shot with a slug.
There is ammunition………..that you will PAY for………but it is available and will reach 200 yards quite readily. Shop around for the those that know what you need so you can sight that doggie in! It’s all trajectory and if you can site ’em into a tight group, do it!!!
There is ammunition………..that you will PAY for………but it is available and will reach 200 yards quite readily. Shop around for the those that know what you need so you can sight that doggie in! It’s all trajectory and if you can site ’em into a tight group, do it!!!
I’ll be honest and stand up with my 200 yard shots.
I shoot an 12 ga. 870 with a Hastings 24″ cantilever rifled barrell.
Scope is a Simmons 4x.
Ammo is Federal Barnes Expanders. $11 per box of 5. 2 3/4″ in 3/4oz.
At 100 yards, I’m in a 2 to 3 inch circle. @ 200 yards, I have a 6 inch drop.
I’ll take a deer @ 250, as long as I have a good rest and the animal is holding.
The gun is as accurate as it can get. The reason for the 2 to 3 inch grouping is all because of me. It took me a few years of trial and error to reach this level, but this is the best combo I’ve put together. My nephew has the Browning A-Bolt in 12 ga. That gun, I can shoot more accurately than my set up. I would also shoot with great confidence at 250 yards. He has a Leupold 2.5 x 7 scope. Shoots the same slugs as I do.
Not to brag, but I shoot more than the average “joe”, so that is where my accuracy does come into play.
This gun setup will do what you want it to do. But it is also only going to shoot as accurate as YOU can.
Get to the range and shoot, shoot, shoot.
I will personally shoot 100 rounds of 22 ammo with a scope prior to shooting my slug gun each year (same day at the range), just to get into the “rythym” again. I shoot trap during the summer, so I need to refine my finger squeezing in the fall.
There are guns out there that can do it, but make sure you have a scope and you are shooting quality ammo. Bad ammo will give you patterns as high as 15 inchs on some guns @ 100 yards.
The rest is on you…………
I’ll be honest and stand up with my 200 yard shots.
I shoot an 12 ga. 870 with a Hastings 24″ cantilever rifled barrell.
Scope is a Simmons 4x.
Ammo is Federal Barnes Expanders. $11 per box of 5. 2 3/4″ in 3/4oz.
At 100 yards, I’m in a 2 to 3 inch circle. @ 200 yards, I have a 6 inch drop.
I’ll take a deer @ 250, as long as I have a good rest and the animal is holding.
The gun is as accurate as it can get. The reason for the 2 to 3 inch grouping is all because of me. It took me a few years of trial and error to reach this level, but this is the best combo I’ve put together. My nephew has the Browning A-Bolt in 12 ga. That gun, I can shoot more accurately than my set up. I would also shoot with great confidence at 250 yards. He has a Leupold 2.5 x 7 scope. Shoots the same slugs as I do.
Not to brag, but I shoot more than the average “joe”, so that is where my accuracy does come into play.
This gun setup will do what you want it to do. But it is also only going to shoot as accurate as YOU can.
Get to the range and shoot, shoot, shoot.
I will personally shoot 100 rounds of 22 ammo with a scope prior to shooting my slug gun each year (same day at the range), just to get into the “rythym” again. I shoot trap during the summer, so I need to refine my finger squeezing in the fall.
There are guns out there that can do it, but make sure you have a scope and you are shooting quality ammo. Bad ammo will give you patterns as high as 15 inchs on some guns @ 100 yards.
The rest is on you…………
Well put Gary! 
I also have a Hastings barrel on my Remington and can “reach out and touch” the deer. Practice is very important, as well as the ammo. I have found that using cheaper ammo will hurt a grouping. The other thing that I do that might seem a little odd, is carry a pair of shooting sticks. Nothing helps out a longer shot like a steady rest.
Well put Gary!
I also have a Hastings barrel on my Remington and can “reach out and touch” the deer. Practice is very important, as well as the ammo. I have found that using cheaper ammo will hurt a grouping. The other thing that I do that might seem a little odd, is carry a pair of shooting sticks. Nothing helps out a longer shot like a steady rest.
hi Ted,
I have a Mossberg model 695, boltaction slug gun. and I only shoot the Federal Barnes Expander sabot(their 3/4oz is a little flatter traj then the 1oz). very tight groups, a wonderful deer gun. Gary put it best, practice practice, and that means at the RANGE. This last season at the range I was making 2″ groups, and a guy next to me was not hitting the target at all with a vent rib and bead, he had NO idea where that slug was going, and that was at 50 yards, same gun at 200, and it could be 3 to 5 feet off. If a person can not make consistent groups (3 shots) at 100 yards, then maybe that person should put in alot more practice, or not hunt. Did you go look in the foot prints of the 0-15 deer you shot at and look for hair and blood, and put in an hour of time to see if it was a hit or miss or not?? Bullet placement only in a few areas of a deer will drop it right where it stands. Most of the time they will run off a short distance to a couple hundred yards before they fall over. Forgot the 200 yard shot with a slug gun until you can have some successful seasons inside 100 yards. We as hunters owe it to the deer (and the resource)we decide to shoot, to do it as cleanly and as humanely as possible. To do anything less does not give that deer the respect it deserves, and we’ll wound too many animals, and not find them. Take the time and be a good shooter, or you’ll never be a good or successful hunter. Jack.
hi Ted,
I have a Mossberg model 695, boltaction slug gun. and I only shoot the Federal Barnes Expander sabot(their 3/4oz is a little flatter traj then the 1oz). very tight groups, a wonderful deer gun. Gary put it best, practice practice, and that means at the RANGE. This last season at the range I was making 2″ groups, and a guy next to me was not hitting the target at all with a vent rib and bead, he had NO idea where that slug was going, and that was at 50 yards, same gun at 200, and it could be 3 to 5 feet off. If a person can not make consistent groups (3 shots) at 100 yards, then maybe that person should put in alot more practice, or not hunt. Did you go look in the foot prints of the 0-15 deer you shot at and look for hair and blood, and put in an hour of time to see if it was a hit or miss or not?? Bullet placement only in a few areas of a deer will drop it right where it stands. Most of the time they will run off a short distance to a couple hundred yards before they fall over. Forgot the 200 yard shot with a slug gun until you can have some successful seasons inside 100 yards. We as hunters owe it to the deer (and the resource)we decide to shoot, to do it as cleanly and as humanely as possible. To do anything less does not give that deer the respect it deserves, and we’ll wound too many animals, and not find them. Take the time and be a good shooter, or you’ll never be a good or successful hunter. Jack.
Very well said Jack. I couldn’t agree more.
Gator Hunter
Very well said Jack. I couldn’t agree more.
Gator Hunter
Very well said!! We need to forget the fact that we have autos and pumps with multi-shot capcities and fling lead. Take the time practice and learn your weapon and your own limitations. Imagine they are all single shots and make it count !! 
Very well said!! We need to forget the fact that we have autos and pumps with multi-shot capcities and fling lead. Take the time practice and learn your weapon and your own limitations. Imagine they are all single shots and make it count !!
Hey Sarge and Ted, thats what my dad told me. Always shoot thinking you have only one shot to feed yourself. A perfect gun to learn shooting deer with to me would be a simple break open type of 12 gauge, one shot chamber one chance, one shot. I do know this that a guys got to practice. My way of really sighting in any gun to see where its hitting is lay it on a sandbag and find the spot you want to use in the rear and front sight. After you’ve found those spots in the sights always use them. Set your shotgun on the bag and use the spots in your sights and aim dead on for the first shot. A thing to keep remembering is leave your eyes open and look for where the slug hits the ground or backstop. Save your old milk jugs from around your house and fill them with water and use them and aim dead on for your first shot. Shoot 5 to 10 times at the very same spot to make shure your sighting in at the same spot because of flinching, kicking of recoil, pulling it into your shoulder too hard etc. With these shots you should be able to see if its hitting high, low or left to right. You’ll see your shot drop or shoot high then and be able to adjust acordingly on your rear sight by moving it forward or backward, this raises your rear sight up or down. If its hitting high adjust the rear sight down. Slugs hitting low then raise the rear sight. For your windage, slug hitting left or right, always adjust your rear sight to the opposite direction of where your slugs hitting from the target. If the slugs hitting left of the target, adjust the rear sight to the right. If your slugs hitting to the right, adjust your rear sight to the left. If you have adjustable front sights always move the front sight twards where the slugs hitting. If you have a non adjustable front sight or pin then rely on your rear sight for all your elevation and windage adjustments. If theres no front pin or rear sights than pick an imaginary front and rear sight to shoot from consistantly and just keep shooting until you can raise your gun confidently remembering your sighting until you can get consistant groups, or consistant hits in the milkjug. You just have to find out where your guns hitting and go from there. If your shooting with an auotmatic shotgun that close to a full choke your shooting over the top of your animal. On a 40 yrd shot with an automatic with a full choke aim at the bottom of the deers ribs and you’ll hit dead center. If your aiming at a deers heart you’ll hit the spinal column or over the top of him. Some guys shoot over thier deer using an automatic thinking a dead on aim is the way to aim, aim at the lower most ribcage and shoot there and you’ll hit close to dead on at about 40 to 50 yrds especially with a full choke automatic. A deer slug barrel desighned for slugs is the best way to go for shooting slugs accurately. Take the advice from the guys posting here because a good slug barrel is the way to go. It’ll drive them home everytime.
Hey Sarge and Ted, thats what my dad told me. Always shoot thinking you have only one shot to feed yourself. A perfect gun to learn shooting deer with to me would be a simple break open type of 12 gauge, one shot chamber one chance, one shot. I do know this that a guys got to practice. My way of really sighting in any gun to see where its hitting is lay it on a sandbag and find the spot you want to use in the rear and front sight. After you’ve found those spots in the sights always use them. Set your shotgun on the bag and use the spots in your sights and aim dead on for the first shot. A thing to keep remembering is leave your eyes open and look for where the slug hits the ground or backstop. Save your old milk jugs from around your house and fill them with water and use them and aim dead on for your first shot. Shoot 5 to 10 times at the very same spot to make shure your sighting in at the same spot because of flinching, kicking of recoil, pulling it into your shoulder too hard etc. With these shots you should be able to see if its hitting high, low or left to right. You’ll see your shot drop or shoot high then and be able to adjust acordingly on your rear sight by moving it forward or backward, this raises your rear sight up or down. If its hitting high adjust the rear sight down. Slugs hitting low then raise the rear sight. For your windage, slug hitting left or right, always adjust your rear sight to the opposite direction of where your slugs hitting from the target. If the slugs hitting left of the target, adjust the rear sight to the right. If your slugs hitting to the right, adjust your rear sight to the left. If you have adjustable front sights always move the front sight twards where the slugs hitting. If you have a non adjustable front sight or pin then rely on your rear sight for all your elevation and windage adjustments. If theres no front pin or rear sights than pick an imaginary front and rear sight to shoot from consistantly and just keep shooting until you can raise your gun confidently remembering your sighting until you can get consistant groups, or consistant hits in the milkjug. You just have to find out where your guns hitting and go from there. If your shooting with an auotmatic shotgun that close to a full choke your shooting over the top of your animal. On a 40 yrd shot with an automatic with a full choke aim at the bottom of the deers ribs and you’ll hit dead center. If your aiming at a deers heart you’ll hit the spinal column or over the top of him. Some guys shoot over thier deer using an automatic thinking a dead on aim is the way to aim, aim at the lower most ribcage and shoot there and you’ll hit close to dead on at about 40 to 50 yrds especially with a full choke automatic. A deer slug barrel desighned for slugs is the best way to go for shooting slugs accurately. Take the advice from the guys posting here because a good slug barrel is the way to go. It’ll drive them home everytime.
Jacks right Ted, i got very close to a doe one year, so close that when i shot she couldn’t tell where to run away from the sound of my gun. I thought could i have missed her and as she was walking away i drew down on her back leg and shot there and down she went. I walked up to her and seen that the first shot went right through her so fast in her vitals that she didn’t feel it, so its often hard to tell if a deers been hit or not, I always check for blood following its trail for atleast 100 yrds after a close confident shot.
Jacks right Ted, i got very close to a doe one year, so close that when i shot she couldn’t tell where to run away from the sound of my gun. I thought could i have missed her and as she was walking away i drew down on her back leg and shot there and down she went. I walked up to her and seen that the first shot went right through her so fast in her vitals that she didn’t feel it, so its often hard to tell if a deers been hit or not, I always check for blood following its trail for atleast 100 yrds after a close confident shot.
Good information passed onto you Ted. Use it and trust me.
Again, I’m not trying to brag, but 2 years ago, I won a case of beer by outshooting my buddy with his 30/30 @ 150 yards. I was using my slug gun……………..I shot 5 out of 5 coffee cans of water. He only took out 3 out of 5.
You got to practice. Most of my shots have been under 100 yards. But my biggest buck came @ 100 yards. My only shot was me standing with no rest, freestyle. I dropped him in his tracks. Why? Because, wherever my crosshairs lay, is where my slug goes. The rest is on shooting technique.
The absolute best shot I’ve ever seen was my father about 10 years ago. He was 68 at the time. He shot a buck on a dead run at 225 yards with his slug gun. One shot and the deer rolled. Perfect placement right through the boiler maker. My father can shoot the heads off of wooden match sticks @ 50 feet. He is the one who taught me how to shoot.
Practice, practice, practice…………..
And as Jack and Rock said, follow up with your shots. Deer do go a long ways without showing blood. Just because they don’t drop, doesn’t mean you didn’t connect!
Good luck!!!
Good information passed onto you Ted. Use it and trust me.
Again, I’m not trying to brag, but 2 years ago, I won a case of beer by outshooting my buddy with his 30/30 @ 150 yards. I was using my slug gun……………..I shot 5 out of 5 coffee cans of water. He only took out 3 out of 5.
You got to practice. Most of my shots have been under 100 yards. But my biggest buck came @ 100 yards. My only shot was me standing with no rest, freestyle. I dropped him in his tracks. Why? Because, wherever my crosshairs lay, is where my slug goes. The rest is on shooting technique.
The absolute best shot I’ve ever seen was my father about 10 years ago. He was 68 at the time. He shot a buck on a dead run at 225 yards with his slug gun. One shot and the deer rolled. Perfect placement right through the boiler maker. My father can shoot the heads off of wooden match sticks @ 50 feet. He is the one who taught me how to shoot.
Practice, practice, practice…………..
And as Jack and Rock said, follow up with your shots. Deer do go a long ways without showing blood. Just because they don’t drop, doesn’t mean you didn’t connect!
Good luck!!!
I think you should do a better job of scouting. I shoot a 870 with a red dot scope and I wont take a shot over 75 yards. You should be able to set a stand or pick a crossing spot in a deer drive that should bring the deer by you . ALWAYS check that the wind is in your face and pick out a spot and stay still .If you are driving deer it is important to protect your self ,get behind a tree . It will make you less noticable. Closer shots are lot easier than shelling out a bunch of $$ for a new rig.
I think you should do a better job of scouting. I shoot a 870 with a red dot scope and I wont take a shot over 75 yards. You should be able to set a stand or pick a crossing spot in a deer drive that should bring the deer by you . ALWAYS check that the wind is in your face and pick out a spot and stay still .If you are driving deer it is important to protect your self ,get behind a tree . It will make you less noticable. Closer shots are lot easier than shelling out a bunch of $$ for a new rig.
Dave;
I hear what you are saying, however not all country is the same. Some of the places I hunt, the deer literally wander the hill sides. You have no clue where they are going to pop up. Sometimes I need that extra distance.
But the difference in hitting a target at 75 yards, as compared to 150 yards is only 2 fold.
What I’m referring to is “minute of angle”. @ 100 yards, 1 minute of angle is 1 inch. If you strectch it out to 200 yards, that is only 2 inches. If a person is capable of holding a 4 inch pattern @ 100 yards, then the same is true for 8 inch pattern @ 200 yards.
Now, if a person cannot hit a deer @ 100 yards, becaue of a 20 inch pattern, they might be successful @ 50 yards with a 10 inch pattern.
I’ve seen plenty of hunters miss deer @ 40 yards. It wasn’t the gun, it is the shooter………
It is all confidence and practice.
Dave;
I hear what you are saying, however not all country is the same. Some of the places I hunt, the deer literally wander the hill sides. You have no clue where they are going to pop up. Sometimes I need that extra distance.
But the difference in hitting a target at 75 yards, as compared to 150 yards is only 2 fold.
What I’m referring to is “minute of angle”. @ 100 yards, 1 minute of angle is 1 inch. If you strectch it out to 200 yards, that is only 2 inches. If a person is capable of holding a 4 inch pattern @ 100 yards, then the same is true for 8 inch pattern @ 200 yards.
Now, if a person cannot hit a deer @ 100 yards, becaue of a 20 inch pattern, they might be successful @ 50 yards with a 10 inch pattern.
I’ve seen plenty of hunters miss deer @ 40 yards. It wasn’t the gun, it is the shooter………
It is all confidence and practice.
I agree with Gary. I have an 870/Hastings combo that I could shoot 2 inch groups easily at 100 yards. One year I outshot my 30-06 at 100. I was using the 1 oz Barnes Expanders at the time (3/4 came out the next year), and I fely I could “hold-on” at 125 yards, and hold 3 inches high at 150, and hit a deer vitals with confidence from a decent rest. I would think with the 3/4 oz slugs, 200 would be doable, but after that range many slugs start to tumble.
We can use rifles now and I never use that gun anymore, but I can’t get myself to sell it because I like it so much.
Practice, and knowing your gun, load, and trajectories are the keys to long range shooting. Use a rest, or a prone or seated position whenever possible. I know someone above said they have shooting sticks, that will be my next investment. Also, long shots are running deer are tough, you REALLY need to know your load and trajectories then. Especially with slower moving slugs.
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