Best 12 Gauge Ammo For Deer Hunting

AccuTip Sabot Slug box sitting on a tree stump with deer antlers

Arguably the most iconic firearm ever produced, the 12-gauge shotgun is the choice of thousands of hunters every season. 12-gauge shotguns are extremely versatile and can be used for upland and waterfowl hunting, deer hunting, big game hunting, and predator hunting. The sheer adaptability of the 12 gauge makes it the popular choice for sportsmen and women across the world. Nothing beats a reliable 12 gauge.

As we close in on fall, hunters across the states are breaking out their 12 gauges to take on birds of all kinds, and eventually the Whitetail deer. Being able to handle a tough whitetail is where the 12 gauge earns some serious stripes. However, the firearm is only as good as the ammo you select for it, and sometimes that can be overwhelming, especially as a new hunter. Let’s look at the various types of 12-gauge ammo and their ideal usage in the deer woods.

There are three types of shot that are loaded into 12-gauge shotshells:

Birdshot
Buckshot
Slugs

Here at Remington, we load all three in 12-gauge. Within bird and buck shot, the size of the actual pellets can change while the slug size stays relatively consistent and is one single projectile. In our case you should never use birdshot for any sort of deer hunting situation, you will wound and not recover the animal. When it comes to pursuing deer the two options are buckshot or slugs. Do not be easily swayed by the name “buckshot” because it may seem like the clear choice for hunting deer, but the choice can vary depending on your situation.

huting walking in a field with a backpack and a rifle

Buckshot is a traditional shotgun load, but the size of the pellets are significantly larger than something you would hunt a dove, quail, pheasant, or turkey with. The loads of Buckshot come in 4,3,2,1,0,00,000, with 000 being your largest and 4 being your smallest. Buckshot loads are often the choice for folks pursuing larger game like hogs, bears, and in our case deer. Buckshot makes its claim to fame when it comes to participating in deer drives.

Deer driving is a type of hunting that involves a group of people where one person “drives” the deer to the others (shooters) by lightly spooking them. If the cards are played right and the shooters are in the proper position, the deer should run right past the shooters at close range, presenting a shot. Due to the nature of this style of hunting, having multiple projectiles flying down range increases the odds at making a harvest, which is why buckshot is ideal. In our case a hunter should outfit their shotguns with nothing less than 00 BK shot size, deer are tough animals. Deer drives are exhilarating, fun, and a great way to stack up deer, just be sure you know what direction is safe to shoot your firearm.

However, if you are hunting deer from a stationary blind or tree, buckshot should not be your first choice. The alternative to buckshot are slugs. and 12-gauge slugs are typically an oz of lead in size and are always singular projectiles. Slugs are tough, pack good velocity, and have immense knock down power and energy transfer. Slugs can be used in deer drives, but since they are one projectile, the margin of error is significantly smaller.

When it comes to slugs for deer hunting, there are two ideal choices; a slug with rifling, and a slug that does not have rifling (sabot slug). It is important you determine what slug works for your slug gun. A rifled slug should not be fired out of a shotgun with a rifled shotgun barrel.

Sabot slugs (pronounced say-b-oh) differ from rifled slugs because they have a smooth body, are lighter, and are more accurate at longer distances. When this slug is fired, the rifling in the barrel of the shotgun gun puts spin on the projectile, making it more stable and accurate. Rifled slugs, however, are slugs that have rifling manufactured into the body. Inversely, these slugs should only be fired out of a smooth bore gun. These slugs are effective at closer range and are typically slower on the velocity chart due to their heavier stature. When shot before hand and patterned properly, the lethality of 12-gauge slugs can extend upwards of 100 yards.

hunting kneeling over deer with shotgun and slug

Before making any decisions on 12-gauge ammunition, consider a few things:

The type of bore in your shotgun and if you can swap barrels
The average shot distance in the environment you will be hunting in
The distance you are comfortable shooting

If you will be using a slug, but not comfortable at a shot over 50 yards, a rifled slug would function just as efficiently as a sabot. If you are comfortable at taking shots over 100 yards, a sabot slug is the way to go. Whatever 12-gauge option you choose, the most important thing is that you’re outdoors interacting with wildlife, and you’re shooting Remington.