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How far can you shoot a deer with a slug?

Author

Sophia Bowman

Updated on March 16, 2026

How far can you shoot a deer with a slug?

The best of today's slugs and slug guns can deliver accuracy as good as many ordinary hunting rifles out to 100 yards, 150 yards, and even beyond.

Similarly, you may ask, how far can you shoot a deer with a 12 gauge slug?

150 yards

Furthermore, can you kill a deer with a slug? An increasing number of people are learning that, in their population-dense areas, the only way to hunt deer with a firearm is to use a slug gunotherwise known as a shotgun loaded with "slugs." Depending on the gun and the slugs in question, some modern slug guns are capable of producing clean, ethical harvests at

Furthermore, how far can you shoot a slug accurately?

about 50 yards

How far will a deer slug travel?

I would say that a slug shot horizontally will only travel about 300 yards if you are lucky. If you are lifting your gun to compensate for shooting at an animal it may reach 400-500, but not much further than that.

Can a 12 gauge slug kill a bear?

Sure. At close range, 12 gauge shotgun slug will kill just about any animal that ever walked the Earth. 12 gauge pump shotguns are preferred bear defense guns by many knowledgeable people living in areas with high grizzly densities. They are definitely adequate grizzly defense guns.

How far will a 12 gauge sabot slug travel?

Maximum responsible range for sabots lies between 125 and 150 yards, although when the XP3 and SST slugs first came out I shot eight-inch groups with both at 200 yards just to see if it could be done. And, on the right day with a good rest, it can be although I would not recommend 200 yard shots at deer.

What's the best slug gun for deer?

Top 10 Slug Guns For Deer Hunting
  • 1: Savage 212 and 220.
  • 2: Winchester SX3 Cantilever Buck.
  • 3: Remington 870 SPS ShurShot Synthetic Super Slug.
  • 4: Browning A-Bolt Shotgun.
  • 5: Benelli SBE II Slug Gun.
  • 6: Weatherby PA-08 08 Slug Gun Combo.
  • 7: Mossberg 500 FLEX Slugster.
  • 8: Mossberg 930 Slugster.

How much does a slug drop at 100 yards?

However, if you sight to hit dead-on at 50 yards, the slug will drop another five inches by the time it reaches 100 yards. (Slugs can drop more than 10 inches over 100 yards.) With practice and accurate ranging, a good shooter could consistently hit a deer-size kill zone at 100 yards.

How accurate are rifled slugs?

The effective range of rifled slugs is considerably less than that of saboted loads. But most shots taken at woodland deer are within 100 yards. Using a rifled or full-bore slug is no disadvantage at this relatively close range, but only if you can place the slug where you want it.

Can all shotguns shoot slugs?

Yes, all shotguns can shoot slugs within gauge (don't shoot 20's in a 12!). I'd change that to "Slugs should not be fired through any shotgun with a choke tighter than Modified".

Are steel slugs armor piercing?

Yes, there are a couple types of armor piercing slugs. They range from saboted rounds to hardened single ball slugs. Here is a commercially available shotgun round that can penetrate up to . 25″ steel plate.

Do I need a slug barrel to shoot slugs?

In almost all cases, you should only use rifled slugs in smoothbore barrels. If you have a rifled shotgun barrel, you're going to want sabot slugs.

What is the most accurate slug shotgun?

Here are the best options we found — a “top 10” list of today's best slug guns.
  • 1: Savage 212 and 220.
  • 2: Winchester SX3 Cantilever Buck.
  • 3: Remington 870 SPS ShurShot Synthetic Super Slug.
  • 4: Browning A-Bolt Shotgun.
  • 5: Benelli SBE II Slug Gun.
  • 6: Weatherby PA-08 08 Slug Gun Combo.
  • 7: Mossberg 500 FLEX Slugster.

Is it OK to shoot rifled slugs in a smooth barrel?

When do I shoot sabot slugs? A sabot slug is what you want to shoot out of a rifled barrel because the barrel will put the spin on the projectile. A rifled slug is what you want to shoot out a smooth bore barrel. Because the barrel is smooth, the projectile will not rotate appropriately unless it has rifling on it.

How accurate are rifled slugs in a smooth barrel?

It mostly depends on the ammo you're using, and also the gun/barrel. You could expect great accuracy when using brenneke slugs out of a barrel 20+ inches at 50-75 yards with ghost ring. You could still expect decent accuracy out to 100 yards, really though practice is the key.

Do shotgun slugs kick harder?

Slugs kick hard because, although they may weigh a little less total than buckshot, they are pushed to a higher velocity. A slug weighing 1 oz (437 grains, or . 00194 slug) leaves a shotgun barrel at 1600 ft/s.

Can I shoot a slug out of a full choke?

A standard full choke with standard lead slugs is safe. Don't matter if they are fixed chokes or interchangeable tubes. You probably won't get good accuracy. The new sabot slugs or solid copper, really anything but lead, should probably not be used in full choke guns.

What is the most accurate 12 gauge slug?

The best slug for my gun is the Remington Copper Solid. I shot Brenekes, Winchesters, Remingtons, and Federals to see which was the best. They all shot pretty well, but the Remingtons were the most consistent groupers for me.

What is better buckshot or slug?

The big advantage of using a slug is that it has a much longer effective range than buckshot. A 50-75-yard shot on a deer is usually well within the performance capability of a shotgun shooting slugs. Additionally, shotgun slugs retain their energy better and typically penetrate much deeper than buckshot.

Are Mossberg 835 slug barrels accurate?

Best Slug for 12 GA Mossberg 835 slug gun. With the Mossberg 835 having a 3 1/2″ chamber length, the best choice for accuracy would be either a 3″ or a 3 1/2″ length hull. Only the shorter 2 3/4″ round, when used in a 3 1/2″ chamber, could give you accuracy problems.

What is the best deer hunting shotgun?

The 15 Best Shotguns for Deer Hunting
  • slugguns_intro. Benelli Super Black EagleBenelli.
  • slugguns_01. TarHunt RSGTarHunt.
  • slugguns_02. Remington 870 ExpressRemington.
  • slugguns_03. Ithaca DeerslayerIthaca Gun Co.
  • slugguns_04. Savage Model 212 and 220Savage.
  • slugguns_05. H&R Ultra Slug HunterH&R.
  • slugguns_06. Browning A-Bolt Shotgun HunterBrowning.
  • slugguns_07.

Will a 410 slug kill a deer?

410 shotgun will have no problem bringing down a deer, especially when the animal is within a reasonable range. Many hunters have killed good-sized deer with a . It all just comes down to where the bullet or slug hits the animal. Shot placement is especially important when hunting with a smaller bore shotgun.

What's the best buckshot for deer?

Best Deer Buckshot – 2020 Top Picks Reviewed
  • OUR TOP PICK: Hornady® Lead Buck Shot.
  • Winchester® Super-X® Buckshot Shotshells.
  • BEST BUDGET OPTION: Fiocchi 20GA 2.75" 1oz #8 High Velocity Shotshell Ammunition.
  • Remington® Express® Buckshot Shotshells.
  • Winchester 410GA 2.5" 000 Buck 3 Pellets Super-X Ammunition.

What is the best slug for a rifled barrel?

If you're using a fully rifled barrel, sabot slugs are a good choice. Foster slugs can be fired through a rifled barrel, and hunters who shoot rifled slugs through their rifled barrels claim to get good to excellent results.

Can Mossberg 535 shoot slugs?

Can I shoot slugs or buckshot through a “smoothbore” field barrel with Accu-Choke™ tubes? (500/505/535/9200/88/930 models) Yes, and with sabots or rifled slugs, the more “open” the choke tube, the better the accuracy (“Improved Cylinder” recommended.)

What caliber is a 12 gauge slug?

In American usage “”12gauge is . 729 inch diameter. Shotgun Slugs are usually sized smaller so they can pass through the choke constriction without damaging the barrel.

Are shotgun slugs accurate?

Smooth-bore shotgun barrels are quite a bit less expensive than rifled shotgun barrels, and Foster type slugs, as well as wad slugs, can work well up to 75 yards in a smooth-bore barrel. For achieving accuracy at 100 yards and beyond, however, a dedicated rifled slug barrel usually provides significant advantages.

How far do Slugs travel?

Banana slugs have been clocked at 6 ½ inches (16.5 cm) per minute (about the speed of a line in the grocery store). The milky slug will travel up to 40 feet (12.2 m) in a single night. Monitor for slugs to assess activity, damage, susceptible plants, and population increases, especially of young slugs or snails.

How fast does a 12 gauge slug travel?

A typical 1 oz. (437.5 grain) 2 3/4" Foster shotgun slug (12 gauge) achieves a velocity of approximately 1,560 fps with a muzzle energy of 2,363 ft. lbs. The 3" slugs travel at around 1,760 fps with a muzzle energy 3,105 ft-lbs.

How far will a 20 gauge slug kill a deer?

Designed to be shot from a rifled barrel, the sabot slug is accurate out to about 200 yards from a gun that's built to promote accuracy: with a scope, a tight action, and a bedded stock.

Can you hunt with a 20 inch shotgun barrel?

Barrel length has little to do with the shot pattern of a shotgun. It's the choke that controls shot spread. A short barreled shotgun with screw in chokes would be just the ticket for hunting.

Where do you shoot deer with buckshot?

It looks like when the deer is standing still at close range (less than 25 - 30 yards) a behind-the-shoulder lung shot is best. At longer ranges, or if the deer is moving, aiming for where the neck meets the shoulder seem like a better option.