Can you use a 20 gauge shotgun for deer hunting?
To take down big, tough deer, you’re going to need a lot of firepower. 16-gauges gauges can get the job done, and 20-gauge shotguns are easier for smaller hunters, but almost every deer hunter during shotgun season is toting a 12-gauge shotgun, while some will go even larger with a 10-gauge.
Will a 20-gauge drop a deer?
An old rule of thumb is that it takes 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to kill a deer. I know several people who have gone to 20 gauges for deer because they kick less and shoot just as flatly as 12 gauge loads. In the 20 gauge, I personally would want to use a rifled barrel with either Partition Gold or Platinum tip loads.
What is a good 20-gauge slug gun?
1: Savage 212 and 220 Savage introduced the bolt-action 20-gauge Model 220 in 2010 and quickly followed that success with the 12-gauge Model 212 in 2011. Both guns are here to stay.
What is the best caliber for deer hunting?
Best Caliber for Deer Hunting
- 7mm-08 Remington.
- 280 Remington.
- 7mm Remington Magnum.
- 30-30 Winchester.
- 308 Winchester.
- 30-06.
- 300 Winchester Magnum.
- You might be surprised by the number of hunters that use the 300 as their primary deer rifle. An exceptional round for long range, it gives no quarter in performance on whitetail.
How much does a 20-gauge slug drop at 100 yards?
A comparable 20-gauge 2 ¾-inch Foster sighted in at 50 yards drops about 6 inches at 100 yards and its energy diminishes to less than 800 foot pounds….Speed and Energy.
| Distance (yards) | Drop (inches) | Foot Pounds of Energy |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | +2.26 | 1,820 |
| 125 | +1.74 | |
| 150 | 0.0 | 1,362 |
| 175 | -1.96 |
Can you hunt squirrel with a 20-gauge?
Hunting Squirrels with a Shotgun The ability to hunt diverse game species with the same gun throughout the year, whether in dense pine stands or thick briars, make shotguns hard to beat. You will often see a mix of 12- and 20-gauge guns. The most common shot size for squirrels in lead is #6.