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Post by rangersedge on Oct 6, 2016 23:14:41 GMT -5
Considering purchase of a dedicated slug gun for deer hunting. Looking most seriously at either the Savage or the Browning bolt guns. Handled both. Liked the feel of the Browning better, but it is a lot higher and the Savage has a good reputation too.
Which one would you choose, which caliber would you pick, and why?
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paulg
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,420
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Post by paulg on Oct 7, 2016 6:24:28 GMT -5
A co-worker bought the Savage a few years ago. I shot it. We were on a 100 yard range and it would keep everything in a nice 2-3 inch group for me. That says a lot about the gun as I'm not a world class shooter by any stretch. Of course it was scoped. I do remember it having an ammo preference. I think it preferred the Remington slugs over the Hornady he had but there wasn't a dimes worth of difference between Remington and the Hornady. Back then Remington was hard to find here. The Hornady was everywhere. I do remember it had a good kick to it even in 20 gauge. I saw a few videos of folks shooting the Browning slug gun and the Savage was every bit as accurate as the Browning and at a much lower price. The fit and finish of the Savage was good. Nothing fancy but it's a working gun not a show piece and the price reflects that. I don't think you'd be at all disappointed in the Savage. The one I shot is a good gun. The Browning is a very nice gun but as you alluded to, it comes at a price. Hope this helps you a bit.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Oct 7, 2016 6:45:00 GMT -5
I'm no expert on slug guns, but I believe I would go with the Savage. During the 1990's, I killed a couple dozen deer using a scoped Remington 1187 12 ga. Semi-auto on Remington Farms in Md. as a guest of Dupont. Based on that experience, and what I saw killed by others during that 10 year period, I would not use less than the 12 ga.
All the slugs used were Remington, with the last couple of years being their Brenneke- type slug.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Oct 7, 2016 19:15:54 GMT -5
I have no experience with bolt guns, but my Benelli and Beretta autoloaders will shoot 6-8" groups at 100 with smooth barrels or rifled and iron sights, plus you get the bonus of less felt recoil, a damn good "social" gun, and a good bird hunting gun.
My Super Black Eagle with rifled barrel and optics shoots Hornady sabots into 4-6" groups at 100.
Trapr
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woody
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,116
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Post by woody on Oct 8, 2016 8:24:13 GMT -5
I would get a Savage 220. Everyone I know that has one loves them and they shoot great. We no longer are restricted to slug guns. Changed the law 4 years ago but I hunted with an 870 20 ga. for 15 years. I shot a ton of deer with it and Lightfield slugs. Lightfields are great slugs. Heavier than most for the gauge. 7/8oz in the 20 ga. Most guys gave up they 12 ga. for 20's. with all the excellent saboted slugs out there now days there is not much need to beat yourself up with a 12 ga. The only slugs that never performed very well were Remington copper solids or any Remington slug for the most part. They make execellent guns but their slugs were always garbage. Nobody I know shot them. Even the old foster type slugs. Federal and Winchester were always the best sellers. I always shot open sight since most my shots were less the 70 yards. But a scoped up 20 is a god 125-150 yard gun. With the saboted slugs in the 260-300 gr range you can consider it balistically equal to a heavier loaded 45-70.
Probably one of the best and most accurate slug guns ever made were the Ithaca Deerslayer II In 20 ga. They shot like a rifle with Fedreal Barnes Expander slugs. They had a fixed barreled action. My dad still,hunts with his.
There is still a lot of guys in my area that never changed to a rifle when they became legal and continue to,shoot there slug guns. Nothing drops a deer like a shotgun slug!!!! Plus they are just comfortable with them at our hunting distances. I probably will never look back to slug guns since I can now shoot a levergun but may take the 870 out a few time this year. Especially if we are doing drives.
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cj3a
.30 Stingray
Posts: 403
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Post by cj3a on Oct 10, 2016 18:39:14 GMT -5
In NJ we are required to used slugs. Everyone seems to going to the twenty gauge. I have a Ithaca with the rifle barrel in 12 which works well enough not to spend the money on a twenty.
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Post by rangersedge on Oct 11, 2016 11:43:54 GMT -5
In IL, we are restricted to slugs, revolvers or muzzleloaders. I had purchased a .460 bone collector with thought it'd be my longer range weapon, but... some wrist issues have prevented me from shooting it much.
I've thought seriously about that Remington muzzleloader, but not a big fan of the whole muzzleloader regimen.
Rationally, I think the Savage 220 is probably the best choice for the money. I just much preferred the handling of the Browning a bolt. Just seemed much more "polished" (i.e. shorter, smoother bolt throw, more sleek, shouldered better for me, etc).
Reality is that I don't have time to go hunting this year anyway and still have most of three deer in freezer from last year so i shouldn't even be thinking about it. Probably wouldn't be if not concerned the a bolt will go out of production.
... I think I may have just talked myself into buying a new AR15 and bunch of magazines / ammo instead... I've shot plenty of deer with my existing guns and the election is more likely to adversely impact purchase of the AR15 and accessories...
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Post by BigBore44 on Oct 11, 2016 21:21:26 GMT -5
I'm also in slug gun/handgun/ML Territory. My 1st was a Mossberg 500 12ga Trophy Slugger, shot the old Rem Copper Solids Awesome. Accurate and Deadly to 125yds. I now use my TC Encore 20ga rifled slug bbl. Shoot SST Slugs and it is just Scary accurate. Love this combo. I thouroughly enjoy the shortguns (handguns) SRH 44, & 454, 44's of many flavors  best though. But on occasion bust out the TC 20ga in certain areas. I always wanted to try a bolt action slug gun but, never seen where I could really improve much on what I had already... Muzzleloader's, Toooo many to list  Keep us in the loop on your decisions. Good luck.... BigBore44 |
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Post by rangersedge on Oct 13, 2016 21:48:23 GMT -5
Life is complicated. Had decided to purchase two daniel defense m4a1 and a bunch of mags then was told at lunch today by a neighbor about recently, with two others, spotted the biggest buck any of them had ever seen on our property. Given the people involved, probably safe to say that means at least 180 and likely bigger... maybe I need to find time to get a permit and go after all... I saw one about three years ago (about two weeks after shotgun season) that was likely 200+. I've about reached the point where I'd rather see them in the field than on the wall though.
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Post by BigBore44 on Oct 14, 2016 7:56:53 GMT -5
Life is complicated. Had decided to purchase two daniel defense m4a1 and a bunch of mags then was told at lunch today by a neighbor about recently, with two others, spotted the biggest buck any of them had ever seen on our property. Given the people involved, probably safe to say that means at least 180 and likely bigger... maybe I need to find time to get a permit and go after all... I saw one about three years ago (about two weeks after shotgun season) that was likely 200+. I've about reached the point where I'd rather see them in the field than on the wall though. I'd say give it a go. You might enjoy it again....? What state if you don't mind me asking? Good luck BigBore44 |
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Post by rangersedge on Oct 14, 2016 8:01:03 GMT -5
Illinois
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Post by rangersedge on Oct 14, 2016 8:08:42 GMT -5
Oh. I like hunting and fishing. Just not much time right now.
I think I will likely try to purchase a permit if too late to get landowners and try to go at least a couple times. I could use the peace and tranquility if nothing else. If I do, i will probably just take an old 870 with rifled barrel and SW vcomp .44 that have acounted for quite a few deer overy years.
I have asked that the two daniel defense m4a1 be reserved.
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ProGun
.30 Stingray
Posts: 246
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Post by ProGun on Oct 18, 2016 20:23:43 GMT -5
Oh. I like hunting and fishing. Just not much time right now. I think I will likely try to purchase a permit if too late to get landowners and try to go at least a couple times. I could use the peace and tranquility if nothing else. If I do, i will probably just take an old 870 with rifled barrel and SW vcomp .44 that have acounted for quite a few deer overy years. I have asked that the two daniel defense m4a1 be reserved. I shot a bunch of deer with an 870 where we lived in Upstate NY before they started allowing rifles. Did a lot of accuracy testing with slugs at 100 yds with a cantilever rifled barrel on said 870- Federal Slugs perform consistently. Hornady SST's were awful (group wise, not speaking terminally). If I had it to do over again, I'd use a 20 gauge 1100/1187 with a cantilever rifled barrel. That'd rival those bolt actions for accuracy, just have to dig deeper into the wallet is all... |
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,745
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Post by cmh on Nov 8, 2016 14:32:51 GMT -5
One word..... TARHUNT 😉
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best though. But on occasion bust out the TC 20ga in certain areas.
