shotgun hunting?

[brac]

I've been invited to go on a deer hunt in Ionia county MI next month. This county is shotgun only, I a few shotguns, but not a "slug gun" I have a 3 1/2" 12 ga turkey gun, and a couple of bird guns. I also have many boxes of 2 3/4" slugs that someone gave me (think tax payers).

I contacted fish and game in MI, and was told I could use a muzzle loader (is this a better option?)

Also anyone know the area?

[WLC]

Ask your hosts for a loaner. Otherwise it's time to go shopping.

Muzzle loaders have their own learning curve and requirements.

[Daddy'sBees]

Take them all out for a test. Set a paper plate up at 50 and then another at 100 yds. See what some slugs will do. I got several gauges and guns. But with one sweet Remington 1100 lightweight 20 gauge, I can shoot the middle out of the plate at 100 yds. That's with no additional sights and a improved cylinder barrel. Ya just never know which gun and slug combo will kick butt for ya.

[Countryboy]

Ohio uses shotguns for deer hunting too. Shotguns are pretty good to 75 yards and 100 yards is the end of your range.

My brother uses an inline muzzleloader with a scope and his range is 200 yards. He uses two of the 50 grain compressed powder pellets with a 45 cal sabot round in his 50 cal muzzleloader. He is able to group consistently.

If you are a decent shot, you only need one bullet, so it doesn't matter if you are shooting once with a shotgun or a muzzleloader. If you are so bad of a shot that you need multiple rounds at shotgun range, you have no business hunting.

Another consideration is the necessity of cleaning the muzzleloader completely every night. You can get away with cleaning your shotgun a little less frequently, since smokeless powder isn't corrosive like blackpowder. (IIRC, Jim Shockey's Gold black powder isn't supposed to be as fouling or corrosive as regular black powder, but is twice as expensive as pyrodex, which is twice as expensive as regular black powder.)

[brac]

CB, The extra yardage is what I was thinking about, my inline shoots a nice group at 150, but I hadn't thought thru having to care for it. Flying with guns is another issue, it's been awhile but I'm guessing it's only gotten worse. I was thinking about a loaner from the camp owner, but you never know what other people have for guns.

I'll have to get my father in law to find out what guns he might have to lend..

[Beeslave]

Are you going to be stand hunting or driving the deer to standers?

Your normal bird guns can be used but you need to use a full choke and the accuracy using a bead site sucks. If you have $200-$300 to spare buy a slug barrel with a cantalever(sp?) mount for a scope. I have no problems shooting a nice group at 150 yds with my Mossberg Trophy Slugster using 3" sabots.

My muzzleloader shoots about the same but that doesn't give me the option of the extra 4 shots.

You can also buy scope mounts for shotguns that allow you to use your bird barrel but you can't shoot sabots(you can but they will be inaccurate without the rifling) so your accuracy really goes down after 100 yds.

[Countryboy]

You shoot slugs through a full choke? That's dangerous. If you are shooting slugs through a smoothbore barrel, you want Modified or Improved Cylinder choke.

Here in Ohio, you have to use a duck plug on pump and autoloader shotguns now. You are only allowed a maximum of 3 shells in the gun - one in the chamber and two in the tube.

[papa]

Are you going to be stand hunting or driving the deer to standers?

Your normal bird guns can be used but you need to use a full choke and the accuracy using a bead site sucks. If you have $200-$300 to spare buy a slug barrel with a cantalever(sp?) mount for a scope. I have no problems shooting a nice group at 150 yds with my Mossberg Trophy Slugster using 3" sabots.

My muzzleloader shoots about the same but that doesn't give me the option of the extra 4 shots.

You can also buy scope mounts for shotguns that allow you to use your bird barrel but you can't shoot sabots(you can but they will be inaccurate without the rifling) so your accuracy really goes down after 100 yds.

I concur. I have shot with a smooth bore and bought a rifled barrel for my 12 ga. A WORLD of difference in the accuracy.

When sighting in, make sure you concentrate and take your time. Ammo isn't cheap and a 12 ga. sabot rounds kick like a mule. 4" group at 100 yards with remington copper sabots had me pretty confident as to accuracy.

[brac]

I asked my father-in-law to talk to our host, and see what guns he might have as a loaner. I've never hunted a "shotgun" area, so I've never looked at slug barrels, however it would be nice to have one for my 870 12ga.

[ParanoidBeek]

There are a few things to consider here. First is what is the range that you will most likely be shooting? An inline will give you more accuracy farther. Second, using a gun you have used and are comfortable with can make the dif. between a quick killing shot and a story back at camp. I have remington 1100 with a cantilever barrel mounted with a red dot scope, absolutely a great combo for 50-75 yard shots. Third, and to most the more important, how does the better half feel about a new gun or barrel? Any excuse for an addition to the gun safe is good enough for me. I have always thought a more open choke to be better for slugs. Whatever way you go, get out and do some shooting to know what you and your equipment can handle. GOOD LUCK

[KQ6AR]

As someone else mentioned, you need an open choke.