Rifles for deer hunting are the most popular in southern Michigan today,

The shotgun has played an important role throughout the history of firearms. From matchlock and flintlock “fowlers” to today’s wide array, shotguns can be considered as multitask tools because they can handle a wide variety of shot, including heavy duty buckshot, and even solid projectiles for a heavier and very effective “punch”. This was originally a large lead round ball, but it was usually not consistently accurate at long range.

All of this would change when Karl M. Foster, who wished to help American hunters put meat on the table during the Great Depression, developed the hollow-based “foster” shotgun slug in 1931, which he later patented in 1947. American ammunition manufacturers, who dubbed matters “rifled slugs” due to the grooves spiraling around the outer surface, were quick to offer it in all the shotgun bore sizes, and the ammunition became immediately very popular with American deer hunters who hunted in “shotgun only” zones. The grooves were designed to collapse when exiting the muzzle through various choke constrictions, especially tighter full chokes. The key to accuracy was the slug’s weight-forward design which caused the slug to fly in a manner like a shuttlecock. However, shooting tests revealed that when the spiraling grooves were left relatively intact, the slug did achieve a slight spin due to the aerodynamics, and probably why better accuracy was usually achieved if choke constriction didn’t exceed that of the more open improved cylinder. Foster shotgun slugs are quite effective out to 100 yards which truly fit the bill for whitetail deer hunters where such was required, because most deer are harvested at that range or less, and usually less.

Southern Michigan had been closed to deer hunting during the early 20th Century to allow whitetail numbers in the region to rebound. The first deer season in what was determined to be the “shotgun zone” made its debut in 1948, where only shotguns firing buckshot could be used. The reason for this was safety concerns for the high number of hunters on public lands during opening morning. However, shotgun slugs would soon be allowed and besides the popular foster slugs, other shotgun slugs would become available such as the German-designed Brenneke. The Brenneke slug remains to be a real deer thumper which offers amazing penetration. I once shot a buck head-on in the chest at very close range, and when I later skinned it, I discovered the 12 ga Brenneke slug, with its fiber wad (used to stabilize the lead slug down the barrel and in flight) still attached, lying just under the skin on the back of the hindquarters. By not hitting much bone, that slug had travelled the entire length of the deer’s body and yep, folks, that buck had dropped on the spot!

This Thumb 8-point buck was called in and taken at close-quarters in heavy cover where the compact H&R 20 ga and hard-hitting slug paid dividends.

One of the best things to come along for shotguns during the 1980’s were screw-in choke tubes, which allow individual shotguns to become more versatile than ever by quickly and simply changing choke tubes of various constrictions. From wide open (cylinder) to super tight (extra full), a shotgun could easily meet the need for a wide variety of applications in the field. A rifled choke tube was even developed for firing shotgun slugs, but it was not considered legal in Michigan’s shotgun zone, where only “smoothbore” shotguns were allowed for deer hunting.

However, by the 1990’s, common sense prevailed and rifled choke tubes as well as fully rifled shotgun barrels became legal for deer hunting in the shotgun zone for not only in Michigan, but in other states as well. Allowing a shotgun slug to become more accurate is a positive factor, and if anything, it increases the safety factor, as well.

pic of screw in choke on 20 ga. H&R shotgun

I began using the screw-in choke system per a 12 ga Remington Model 870 pump, which entailed improved cylinder, modified and full chokes. When the law changed, I stepped right into the fully rifled shotgun barrel arena, first with a heavy duty 12 ga H&R “Ultra Slug”, soon followed by a 20 ga T/C Encore, and then a rifled barrel for my 20 ga Remington 870. All performed a dependable job of putting whitetails down for the count, and I had admirable accuracy out to 150 yards. During this, I discovered, for me at least, the 20 ga did all I required and in a more compact and lighter weight shotgun. The performance was such, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the 20 ga version for also black bear hunting.

The general rule is that foster shotgun slugs are for smoothbore barrels and only “sabot” shotgun slugs (an undersized bullet seated in a plastic cup which falls away after the bullet exits the muzzle) are intended for fully rifled barrels. This is not a bad rule to go by, but it isn’t necessarily fully correct. Curiosity found me doing some testing on my shooting range and smoothbores can adequately handle sabots and the same applies to firing foster slugs out of a rifled barrel. However, the soft lead foster slugs can “lead-up” the rifling groves, so frequent cleaning is a must, but the same also applies to sabots which can eventually leave a plastic residue in the rifling grooves.

When it comes to firing slugs of any type, shotguns can be fickle creatures, more so than rifles, and will often prefer a particular “flavor” (aka brand name) to do their best performance. Such can only be discovered on the shooting range. My favorite slugs for my rifled shotgun barrels were Lightfield and the Remington “Buckhammer”, both of which offered outstanding, full bore-size performance. Sadly, both have been discontinued in recent years.

Along the way I purchased a used 20 ga H&R single-shot shotgun which was in mint shape. Featuring a 26-inch standard smoothbore “bird barrel”, I had the barrel bobbed off at 18.5 inches and topped it with a “ghost ring” rear peep sight and a green fiberoptic front bead-sight. I then had the muzzle threaded for screw-in choke tubes to create ultimate versatility, which included a rifled choke tube for deer hunting, a full choke tube for turkey hunting and a modified choke tube for everything else. The cutdown H&R is quick and easy to handle and to this day remains a favorite piece for my passion of calling in local bucks, usually in heavy cover situations.

The deer slug I’ve settled on for it is the Brenneke K.O. (“knockout”) which is designed to work in both smoothbore and rifled barrels. In my customized H&R with its rifled choke tube, it is a real crackerjack out to 100 yards. The 20 ga K.O. leaves the muzzle at 1550 fps, is a full bore-size (.62 caliber), 3/4oz (328-grain) lead slug featuring a unique plastic wad which stabilizes matters down the barrel and in flight and slides into the back of the lead upon impact for ultimate penetration. I’m sighted-in to hit point of aim at 50 yards and have only about a 4-inch drop at 100 yards, which offers sufficient “smack-down” and sure meets my needs.

Just as calling in spring turkey gobblers, calling in rutting bucks can have matters suddenly showing up at awkward angles. Being right-handed, I learned a long time ago to be able to “switch-hit”, and shoot lefthanded when required. My customized and very compact H&R using the proper choke tube is ideal for handling both cagey gobblers and wily bucks during sudden and close encounters.

Yep, folks, versatile shotguns are like that, ready for just about anything.

Author’s note:

When using choke tubes, it is always wise to keep threads lubed for ease in inserting and extracting matters. This is especially so with rifled choke tubes which can be noticeably more difficult to remove than the other chokes, because the rifling twist is designed to go with the same direction of the threads in tightening matters. After firing a slug through the rifling, I can state the choke tube will be “very firmly” seated. To do otherwise would have matters loosening up after each shot. Yep, a bit of elbow grease and determination might be required.

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Tom Lounsbury

Tom Lounsbury has been an outdoor writer and photographer for more
than 40 years and has had his weekly radio show, “Tom Lounsbury
Outdoors” for more than 20 years. Tom grew up on a farm in
Michigan’s Thumb, and it is where his first outdoor adventures began
as a kid accompanying visiting pheasant hunters into the field during
the “pheasant hunting heyday” of the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is a passion
he still has to this day and being the 4 th generation to own the family
farm, he has put most of it into conservation programs with a focus on
wild pheasants, which in turn helps all wildlife.
Being an outdoor communicator, Tom appreciates all the outdoor
adventures he experiences in different places, and especially the
people he meets in which to share them.