12 or 20

[langcjl]

I am having a hard time deciding between 20ga and 12ga for my new slug gun. I just started hunting this year and took 3 deer with my 16ga smoothbore. I know the limitations of that set up, It has a bead sight on it, so all my shots were at less that 30yds. I would not go any farther than that with that setup and would never have to in the place I hunted this year. I would like to get a better set up so I would have the option of trying some more open areas. The 16ga really knocked them down, no deer ever took another step after I hit them. With this in mind I really dont have any concerns about the knock down power of a 20ga. I am mostly wondering about the farther out shots. Are you giving up anything with the 20 over the 12. I would prefer a 12 I think, but I was looking at the Americal Barrel Co. website and they say they shot 4" groups at 200yds with the 20 and the same groups at 150-175 with the 12.(info on that site is a little sketchy and that is how I interpereted it when they wrote that they"put a four inch ragged hole" in the target at 200 yds. Like I said I probably would go with a 12 unless there is some advantage to the 20. Does anyone more knowledgable than me have a good opinion on this? I am not looking to shoot 200 yds, I have never seen a deer that far away and I am probably(I know I am) way more conservative in my shot selection than I have to be, but I want to cover all bases here. Thanks for the help. BTW The shots mentioned above were made with REM Sluggers. FYI

[langcjl]

Here is that web site   http://www.americanbarrelcompany.com/
Anyone ever use these barrels?

[SDS-GEN]

Pick one.  Either will do fine on deer out to 100 yards, if you have a scope and a sabot that your gun likes you can probably go 150.  Trajectory differences are because the 20 gauge slug has less weight and probably a higher BC.  Forget most of the stuff you hear about 200 yard shots.  Can it be done?  Sure.  But consider, the wind can push a big slow moving (realatively) slug a long way, vertical angle will also play some havoc on your shot, plus the animal can move a long way in the time it takes for the bullet to arrive.  Most guys can't tell 125 yards from 200 in the field without a rangefinder, and I suspect that is what many of these "long range" deer kill stories stem from.

[NYH1]

I've never heard of American Barrel Company but I'm certainly going to look into them. I have a Remington 11-87 premier 20 gauge that I'm going to set up for deer hunting next year.

As far as 12 or 20 ga. go's, I prefer a 20 ga. for deer hunting, that's just me.

[varmitbob]

I have a 12ga. and my daughters have 20ga shotguns.  All the deer they have killed are just as dead as the ones killed by my 12 ga.  The 20ga they have is an 870 Youth with a rifled open sight slug barrel.  Excellent choice, only modification was fiver optic sights.  They are short, manuverable, and accurate.  If I did not already have my 12 ga, I would have the same gun.  I am 6'3", and it shoots very accurately even in my hands.
If one of them stays home when I go out rabbit hunting, I use one of their 20ga with the smooth bore barrel.  When you are in thick brush, it is very maneuverable.

[Redhawk1]

Either one will work, I just prefer the 12 gauge.

[Ranger J]

If recoil is no problem for you go with the 12G, as it usually throws a larger piece of lead.  If you are hunting in a state where you are restricted to shotguns you are probably much more likely to get 50 yard shots than 200 yard shots.  At least this was my experience when I lived in Illinois.  I had two shotguns that would shoot 3-inch groups with good old Foster type slugs at that range and if I did my part they would bring down just about any deer.
RJ

[lil_hunter12]

right here in kentucky i use either my handgun or a shotgun with slug. i shoot a 12 gauge with remington sluggers. i fired 1 shot at a running deer this year and she didnt go 10 feet past where she was when i shot. i would take the 12 gauge.

[NYH1]

I called American Barrel Company today. They're coming out with a bunch of new 20 ga. barrels this spring and summer. The guy I talked to said they make slug barrels for both Benelli and Stoeger. He said they've been going with a faster twist in their barrels and it's improved accuracy quite a bit. I was going to get a 21 inch fully rifled Remington barrel with the cantilever scope mount for my 11-87 20 ga. I wanted to go with a 24 inch barrel buy nobody makes one for it. American Barrel Company is going to make a 22 inch barrel with the cantilever scope mount. With the faster twist the 22 inch barrel might work better for me overall. I think I'm going to hold off to see what they come out with.

Cabela's sells American Barrel Company shotgun barrels.

[Lawful Larry]

I use a Rem. 870 Express Magnum in 12 ga.  I am thoroughly happy with it, but if I had to do it all over again I would have gotten the 20 ga.  The results would be the same at less recoil.  I have two bad shoulders and any help is much appreciated in the recoil department. 

I would go with a dedicated fully rilfed slug gun if you could afford the luxury.  I use other shotgun for other game. 

[emsemt911]

I went with the 20.  I see no real difference between the two except for the 20 has lighter recoil.  That is what made up my mind

[myronman3]

i killed a bunch of deer with a 20 gauge. 20 gauge slugs are pure death on venison.   i would choose a 20 over a twelve any day.

[Myron_Holley]

Either one is good. Family has hunted with slug now for 4 generations. From Smooth to rifled barrel. Most slug shots are from 20 to 50 yards. Normally thats it. How ever some times not often you need to reach out a little longer.  There are some folks out there who are not really the sharpest knife in the drawer that claim you can not shoot over 100 to 150. We meaning my family have in the past went up to 200. When at the range each year we check to see how it shoots all over again. Max at 200. Yes barrels can be and are bent slightly and they can and some times do shoot differently from time to time. (you can not see it but its there) Each gun is different and will shoot different. SAME MAKE AND MODEL, CHOKE, ETC.  If you have a gun that your happy with and can handle thats the best there is for you. I shoot the 12 gauge,  as that is the set up I have chosen when younger. Kept family fed for 25 years. One son shoots the 16 gauge and again is deadly with it. Other shoots the 20 and again I would not want to be on the receiving end when he shoots it. Deadly. [yep thats you myronman]  Personaly if I was going to start again mainly for deer. It would be the 20 because of the recoil. I personaly have a AXE to grind with Rem and Savage gun repair department so with that in mind. {note I have many friends who have both and love them} I have found for the money to go with the Mossberg 500  as the choke tubes are interchageable with the old Browning, Winchester, thompson center, etc. For best results go to the rifled Browning tube. Its lots cheaper than a rifled barrrel and just as accurate, I prefer the sabot. Of course make my own. But on factory ammo have found in the foster type slug the active is one of the better ones generally speaking. But then again have had some guns that shoot the remington best. You just have to play with it. In factory sabots again you have to play. [YEP IT COSTS]  Here it seems that Brenneke is one of the better ones. In ameriacan ammo Winchester, Followed by Federal, by Rem. But again remember I have that doubble bitted axe for Rem. Which ever you go with recoil is the main thing to think about for the  future as you get older you do become recoil sensitive. 

[varmitbob]

I have a 12ga, but both of my daughters have 20 ga Youth Remingtons.  If I had it to do over, I would have a 20 ga youth myself.  Light, short, easy to maneuver, very accurate, and kills the deer just as dead.  I am 6'3" and it shoots accurately for me, so it small size is not an issue.

[FLNT4EVR]

I've used  12 ga   pumps and autos for years. Last year I got one of the last tracker 1 barrels for my Handy 20 ga. It's light to carry and fast on the target. sighted at 75 yds I have no problem with shots to 100. The 20 kills em just as dead and slugs for the smooth bore are 1/4 or less the price of saboted slugs. I have never had a need for the rifeled barrels.