There are still 10 states that don't allow rifles for deer hunting. Shotgun slugs only I guess. Or buckshot. Do these hunters put a scope on a shotgun? What is effective range of a shotgun on deer?
while my state allows rifle , the township I hunt does not
12ga 28 inch modified choke barrel on a calm day with scope will do 5 rounds touching in a vertical line on a target at 100 yards yes that barrel warms up it strings
on a very windy day 75 yards becomes the limit as the slugs de-stabalize then hitting a 2 liter bottle is possible every time at 75 while 100 yards roll of the dice if you can hit the 2 liter bottle one will be left then right then left low
I hunted this gun a lot of years just the bead on the barrel , then had it drilled and tapped when I needed glasses it has a Nikon 2-7x32
this is with 2 3/4 1 oz Win super x rifled slugs
the 20 ga 5/8 oz 2 3/4 super x slugs take 25 yards off 75 on a calm day and 50 in high wind the foster type slugs are drag stabalized as they loose velocity which they do quickly they get less predictable they are also starting super sonic and half way to a 100 yard target fall sub sonic
this is all depended on gun or barrel my 24inch mossberg slug barrel with iron sights is about 6 inches at 100 yards for me unless really windy, and the 870 with 20 inch smooth slug barrel is a 50-75 yard gun for aiming it just does not make it happen at 100 yards
when you find a gun that shoots slugs well you hang onto it.
now the 20ga 2 3/4 24 inch fully rifled barrel with Winchester dual bond slugs is about 3 inches at 100 yards have't tried it further seldom any shots further , it is really impressive on the deer shot with it so far that gun wears a 2-7x32 nikon at 2.50 a round on sale I sight it in take 3 shots to verify each year then go shoot deer.
the ranges given are where you can predictably place the slug in a reasonable group , they are lethal much much farther you just have little ability to place them inside the kill zone on your deer.
the rifled barrel sabot slugs were getting to be basically strait wall cartridge rifles it fires a 260gr 44cal bullet at 1800fps just short of 45-70 velocities.
the State of WI found that rifles were no more dangerous , people treat a rifle with more respect for the range it can go and hit their target better in one shot. my county reported less stray projectiles hitting outbuildings , and equipment the year they switched to rifle and since. people think a slug drops more than it does because they are not hitting and they will aim 3 feet over a deer at 100 yards
blood trailing shotgun shot deer and rifle shot deer are different a 72 cal entry with a slightly larger exit they leak blood all over the place typically.