870 vs 30 06??

[Hunter8]

Hey everyone just curious about what yall think. I usally deer hunt with my 30 06 but got to thinking about using my 870 with slugs. Any opinions out there on which is the better of the two for deer?? Im still leaning towards the 06 but would like some feedback.
Thanks

[davet]

i would think depending on where you shot the dear you might not have much meat left if you used 870

[The Dawg]

How far do you want to shoot? If its outside 40-50 yards, I wouldn't use an 870 but that's my opinion. 06 you can go to 400 if you're capable (and still be called a hunter, and not a sniper ;) )

[russm]

Get a rifled barrel for the 870, I've got the rifled 19 inch barrel and I know it's good out too 100 I haven't tried any further than that

[monasheemountainman]

Two totally different cats. The '06 is arguably the best all around caliber for the majority of big game in north America. The other is a shotgun with a maximum hunting range of 50 yards. The 30-06 is definitely a better option as far as practicality goes, but of you wanna practice your spot and stalk and a little different style of hunting try the slugs.

[Gateholio]

I don't see any upside to using a shotgun with slugs compared to a centerfire rifle.

[rocksteady]

Depends on your usual shot distance.. You don't say where you are from.. If you hunt in the ugly salal pits on the coast where your furthest shot would be 40 yards, an easy swinging 870 with slugs could be more suitable than a scoped 30-06. Just like a camera "point and shoot", no need to aim...

As far as meat damage with a poor hit with a slug (1100 fps) compared to an 06 (2700 fps), there May be less damage. A bigger hole yes, but the bloodshot May not be as extensive due to the slower velocity...

[gunpower]

If you know how to use your shotgun, you can shoot a heck of a lot far than 40-50 yards ,if using a slug.
I have over the years used mine to shoot at 100 yards with no problems. Not a great grouping but good enough to knock down
deer or elk with it.
Believe it or not, the old timer that taught me to shoot could put two shoots side by side at 200 yards. he grew up in the late 1800's,
He use to pack a side arm on his hip at the old age of 13. He shot more types and owned more firearms than you or me will ever own.
He past away back in the late 1980's. Boy could that man shoot!
May he be resting in peace.

[Hunter8]

Cool thanks guys appreciate it. Maybe ill try it out at some point. Ive seen some youtube vids with guys using a shotty with slugs but wanted to hear some input on it. Ive also took into consideration hydrostatic shock and meat damage.

[Wade]

What sort of terrain are you hunting in? In open country I would go with the -06. In thick bush areas like 50 yard or closer go with shot gun

[Fred1]

06 Dont waste the time and $ pissin around withe the slug gun. Save that for the birds

[Gateholio]

I've shot deer at a few paces in thick cover with a scoped centerfire rifle. It's not a handicap.

[igojuone]

Depends on your usual shot distance.. You don't say where you are from.. If you hunt in the ugly salal pits on the coast where your furthest shot would be 40 yards, an easy swinging 870 with slugs could be more suitable than a scoped 30-06. Just like a camera "point and shoot", no need to aim...

No need to aim, you are kidding right? Forty yards with a slug in the proper setup is a piece of cake, if you aim, and 100 yards should be easily done with some practice.

[Moose Guide]

If you know how to use your shotgun, you can shoot a heck of a lot far than 40-50 yards ,if using a slug.
I have over the years used mine to shoot at 100 yards with no problems. Not a great grouping but good enough to knock down
deer or elk with it.
Believe it or not, the old timer that taught me to shoot could put two shoots side by side at 200 yards. he grew up in the late 1800's,
He use to pack a side arm on his hip at the old age of 13. He shot more types and owned more firearms than you or me will ever own.
He past away back in the late 1980's. Boy could that man shoot!
May he be resting in peace.

Shotgun aint legal for elk!

[rcar]

Hey Hunter8

I hunted deer in Ohio in the late 90's for a couple of seasons and reg's forced hunters to use shotguns at that time....after some of the things I saw, thank god the 12ga. bullets couldn't travel more than 100yds. Anyway, my thought is that I saw a lot of deer taken with a 12ga. and as has already been mentioned, if you don't hit the lungs on a good broadside shot, you are going to lose a LOT of meat. Deer don't have a lot to begin with so my suggestion would be to sight in your 30-06 with a 150gr bullet for deer.

Additionally, why would you choose to limit yourself on distance? 50yds for a 12ga and 200yds for the 30-06? If you are looking for a stalking challenge, talk to some of the archery guys here for an alternative to a rifle.

[rocksteady]

No need to aim, you are kidding right? Forty yards with a slug in the proper setup is a piece of cake, if you aim, and 100 yards should be easily done with some practice.

Guess I should have been more clear... Shots under 40 yards... I have hunted some nasty crap and the deer come by at single digit yardage... Thats where the shotty with slugs works better...

[Hunter8]

Hey im hunting in region 8 so a bit of both worlds but mostly thinkin about cut blocks. Interested in both methods but mostly wanting to do some treestand hunting. Id be stoked to make a good shot with the 06. Its cool to see all the different opinions coming in which is what I wanted.

[Gateholio]

In BC, the hunters that choose a shotgun over a rifle is a miniscule number. Mostly only hunters that are hunting in restricted shotgun only zones. I think I've met only one hunter that willingly chose a shotgun to hunt deer when he could have been using a rifle.

[kyleklassen]

Guess I should have been more clear... Shots under 40 yards... I have hunted some nasty crap and the deer come by at single digit yardage... Thats where the shotty with slugs works better...without aiming?

[biggyun68]

I only know of folks using a shotgun for two reasons: Because they have to by regulation or they were bird hunting during deer season and took a few slug rounds with them in case they lucked out and saw a deer: This was coastal conditions.

[1/2 slam]

I don't see any upside to using a shotgun with slugs compared to a centerfire rifle.

Very true. The only time I would use a shotgun is if their are restrictions requiring it.

[aggiehunter]

then I would suggest a shotgun season only on deer from Sept 10th to the 30th....iffin nobody uzes one...chuckles...

[riflebuilder]

Used a shotgun on Van Isle in shotgun areas, a Rifle s far superior in balistic and terminal performance than a shotgun under most conditions. The shotgun with buckshot is a 3-40 yd weapon with good slugs and a rifled barrel it shtreaches out to 100-140yds. A decient rifle 30-06 gives you an effective range exceeding 400yds with practice. So unless you are crawling in thick bush with very limmited visability go with the rifle

[Foxton Gundogs]

Use a shotgun because you HAVE to (ie: VI Shotgun with shot only zone) Use an '06 because you CAN everywhere else:mrgreen:

[revarchery]

There is no advantage to use a shotgun or muzzleloader in BC if there were extended seasons for either I would have both. Rifle all the way. If you want to do the shotgun by all means but when that mega buck walks out at 250yds it's not my problem, and I don't want to hear any crying.

[rocksteady]

without aiming?

Not really aiming so much, but point in the general direction of... No real need for extreme aiming when its only 10 yards away and you got a shotty in your hands...