Deer Shotgun

[CamoMan4025]

So my son sends me the below shotgun that's he's interested in. He is going to deer hunt in VA in the part it's shotgun only. I don't deer hunt with a shotgun, only rifle and muzzleloader. This gun without the scope is $549. Does anyone have any experience with this gun or any suggestions on a good deer 20 gauge?

How about range, how far can you shoot accurately a rifled slug?

Thanks,

Kevin

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage- ... ber-strata

[Samm4770]

I don’t know what the guys been shooting but I know guys over the year who have shot this gun in a 20 gauge and said it was best shooting 20 gauge slug gun

[Biged]

All I can say mine is a tack driver longest shot to date 228 yards with 3 in rem Accu-tips

[spider316]

Kevin, that gun in 20 gauge was designed around the Remington Accu-tips. Remington is no longer producing ammo. Google Remington Accu-tips for sale or Savage 220 accuracy. Everyone who bought the 12 says they wish they bought the 20 ! Guys with a 220 swear by the accuracy though

[Jbird22]

I have a 220 and have yet to find a slug that's accurate enough to suit me. My experience has been with only 2-3/4" (Rem Expanders and Fed Trophy Copper) up to this point. I bought a case of 3" Fed Trophy Copper a while back but have yet to shoot them. I have an Encore 20 ga slug barrel to try as well. Hopefully one of the two will group with the Feds and if so, that'll be the one I will keep.

[Turkinator]

I have a 220 and have yet to find a slug that's accurate enough to suit me. My experience has been with only 2-3/4" (Rem Expanders and Fed Trophy Copper) up to this point. I bought a case of 3" Fed Trophy Copper a while back but have yet to shoot them. I have an Encore 20 ga slug barrel to try as well. Hopefully one of the two will group with the Feds and if so, that'll be the one I will keep.

I have the encore 20ga slug barrel. The only slug mine will shoot is the Winchester 260gr dual bond. When Ohio went to straight wall cartridge rifles I immediately stopped hunting with a shotgun and slugs

[Roost 1]

Savage 220 is the absolute best shooting slug gun I’ve ever had. Accutips shoot good but not great on deer.
I shoot Federal Trophy copper and Barnes Expanders in mine.
Most deer never take another step.
I try to keep my shots 150yds or less, if I need to shoot further I’ll take the smokeless mzl.

[Hoobilly]

All I can say mine is a tack driver longest shot to date 228 yards with 3 in rem Accu-tips

The one I owned I was consistently shooting 250 yards from a bench. Using the 3” federal Barnes xpanders and the 3” Remington Accutips.

Longest kill was a heart shot at 195 yards. In my excitement he took off running for 20-30 yards and stopped. I shot again and as he fell down it hit him in the neck.

Kevin get a good scope for it. Loctite the stock to receiver bolts and you’ll thank me!

[franklin7x57]

I don't where he's hunting in VA, but most of the shotgun only counties use dogs to push the deer. That being said, most use smoothbore shotguns with buckshot. If he's going to hunt with a hunt club, he should check with them first. The savage is a great slug gun only, maybe a "combo gun" like a 870 or mossberg with a rifled and a smoothbore barrel would be more versatile. Alot of the forest is THICK most of my deer are killed 25 yards and moving. The terrain he's going to be hunting and if they are running dogs in the area would decide for me.

[CamoMan4025]

He's going to hunt on Ft. Picket in Dinwiddie County. I doubt they use dogs there, but I'll let him know.

Thanks!

[franklin7x57]

I grew up in Dinwiddie, hunted Fort Picket a lot in years past. Huge base with plenty of game then and I'm sure there still is. They didn't allow dogs when I hunted there last but there are dogs running there if they cross over. I prefer to hunt thicker cover and don't feel handicapped with buckshot. Unless he's going hunt cutovers, shots will be less than 75 yards. The savage is a fine gun with a great trigger. I had a 12 gauge mossberg and Remington 12 gauge 11-87 with rifled barrels, both shot great but kicked. Ended up with an Encore 20 gauge just because I had the frame.

[redarrow]

My wife and I both shoot Rem.870s in 20 ga. Fully rifled with cantilever scope mounts . She shoots Lightfield 2 3/4 and I shoot 3 inch Federals with the Barnes bullet . Both guns are capable of 3 inch or less groupings at 100 yards . These are older 870s,maybe 20 - 25 years old . I don't know about the quality of the new Remmys.

[Hoobilly]

My wife and I both shoot Rem.870s in 20 ga. Fully rifled with cantilever scope mounts . She shoots Lightfield 2 3/4 and I shoot 3 inch Federals with the Barnes bullet . Both guns are capable of 3 inch or less groupings at 100 yards . These are older 870s,maybe 20 - 25 years old . I don't know about the quality of the new Remmys.

I’ve looked at a couple of the new tactical 870’s 12ga’s that I thought were nicer than the last 10 years production

[dferg0910]

accu-tips are still being made I just bought 20ga. accu-tips factory direct. Remington is up and running making ammo 7days a week go to remington.com The ammo company was bought by the company that owns federal

[spider316]

accu-tips are still being made I just bought 20ga. accu-tips factory direct. Remington is up and running making ammo 7days a week go to remington.com The ammo company was bought by the company that owns federal

Got it !

[Hoobilly]

I had to buy the 2-3/4 for almost 2 years. When I found 3” again I bought enough to shoot for a while. Then turned around and sold it asap when we legalized rifle

[tracker8320]

I lived/hunt in a shotgun-only area and was shooting a Mossberg 12 bolt action, 695 along with Litefield slugs which my hunting "buds" nick-named "black death"...but I now am shooting a Savage 220 with 3" rem accu-tips. It outshoots my old 12 hands down. It's a 200-yard gun all-day. I would order without the scope and upgrade with your own IMO. Only con I have is the "blood trails" are sparse which is expected with a 20 gauge...

[dferg0910]

a lot of people have trouble with accu-tips leaving a blood trail federal trophy copper does a better job my savage 220 shoots them better than accutips

[tracker8320]

a lot of people have trouble with accu-tips leaving a blood trail federal trophy copper does a better job my savage 220 shoots them better than accutips

I heard that before about the Federals, gonna have to try them...

[turkyjoe]

Check out tar hunt shotgun there the best but expensive

[mspaci]

great deer shotgun, I load my own & its very accurate Mike