Slug Shotgun vs. Large Calibre Rifle

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Originally Posted by Waftrudnir

first scenario: a good chance of wounding game (because people unfortunately do shoot well beyond 100yrds, especially those who don't practice often enough and are therefore completely oblivious to pay attention to distance and bullet drop)
second scenario: insignificantly more dangerous - in other words a slug is just as dangerous if you don't have a safe backstop! so telling people (and some only hear what they want to hear...) that shooting a slug is much safer can be actually really dangerous....

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Being restricted to slugs is FAR SAFER than using centerfire rifles in heavily populated area's as the range in which the bullet remains dangerous after missing the intended target is half that of the .243 example used. Then you have to factor in ricochets as a centerfire bullet will travel much father after a ricochet when compared to a slug.


Hunter takes a shot with his 20 gauge that's zero'd at 100 yards when the deer is 150 yards away and makes a clean miss. The slug loses steam very quickly and will be in the ground at around 250 yards or less.

Hunter takes a shot with his .243 at a deer that is 150 yards away and makes a clean miss. The bullet will retain velocity and energy for much longer meaning the bullet won't be in the ground until it's maybe 450-500 yards away, essentially doubling the distance that the bullet can potentially hit an unintended target.



Bullet A (20 gauge) will go 250 yards before hitting the ground.
Bullet B (.243) will go 500 yards before hitting the ground.

It seems very clear which one would have the higher risk of hitting an unintended target, no?

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Originally Posted by Fox

Your numbers are a little off on the shotgun.

Hornady SST 2 3/4in 20ga

sighted in at 150 yards, 8.2in drop at 200 yards, 100 yard zero would be about 12.5in drop at 200 yards.

http://www.hornady.com/store/20-GA-SST-Slug-250gr-SST/

Not 8 feet.

Winchester 2 3/4" 20ga foster style slug when sighted in at 100 yards drops about 36in at 200 yards.

Sorry, I don't want to be too negative, but the numbers are there.

Sorry ch312, I misread the yardage.

300 yards is a heck of a long shot with a crappy BC on a sabot slug.

8 feet? That is nuts.

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Yep, slugs lose velocity very quickly and are intended for relatively short range when compared to center fire rifles. Hence the reason for hunters being restricted to their use in heavily populated area's.

It doesn't take a whole lot of thinking to see HOW and WHY slugs are the safer option in heavily populated area's.



Do I agree with this restriction? Of course not, I would love to be able to use any caliber I'd like for hunting around here. The problem is many deer hunters hunt only during the controlled deer hunts and the result is slugs flying in every direction due to the "spray and pray" mentality of these inexperienced hunters. While I wouldn't say these people are safe when using a slug gun as I have seen and heard some crazy thing's, but I would definitely say that slug guns are MUCH safer in their hands than a rifle would be.