Lever rifle vs. slug gun

[3006hollowpoint]

Seeing as I mostly hunt public land (WMAs) and am not a fan of taking ridiculously long shots, I've ruled bolt actions out. I freaking love shotguns of all kinds and think lever guns look cool, are good brush beaters, and both are easy to maintain. Seeing as I'll likely never take a shot past 150 yards on a WMA out of pure paranoia and lack of experience, should I go with a smooth bore slug gun, or a levergun?

 

[Bar7mag]

Lever gun

 

[Brownie]

Lever over the smooth bore...rifle bore maybe either/or your preference

 

[Rubberduck270]

Pump action Remington in 35 Whelen get's my vote. Or, since your screen name is 3006, a Pump in 30-06 would be a great woods gun too.

 

[knightrider]

lever 30-30 all a man needs

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

150yds. is really pushing it for a smoothbore pumpkin thrower........... If you want some choices for that range with a lever gun, look into 35 Remington, 444 Marlin or .45-70.

FDXX75

 

[Gravey]

Not sure of the WMA you're talking about but better check the regs first because rifles aren't permitted on some such as Percy Priest. If that's the case get a shotgun with a rifled barrel.

 

[Lost Lake]

Not sure of the WMA you're talking about but better check the regs first because rifles aren't permitted on some such as Percy Priest. If that's the case get a shotgun with a rifled barrel.

Good point.

 

[redblood]

a compact bolt gun is your best choice. they can still kill a deer at close ranges. shotguns are for the birds, literally. lever guns are gun fine, but will lack the precision and versatility of a good bolt gun

 

[Deer Assassin]

a compact bolt gun is your best choice. they can still kill a deer at close ranges. shotguns are for the birds, literally. lever guns are gun fine, but will lack the precision and versatility of a good bolt gun

ditto

 

[JimFromTN]

shotguns are for the birds, literally.

FDX, you not going to chime in on this one? Do you think a lever action 30/30 can out shoot a DSG at 150yds?

 

[DaveB]

I've shot a smoothbore shotgun with slugs. It was indeed awhile ago but what I remember was what a waste of money and time. Not accurate unless big paper plate shooting is all you are looking for. Any centerfire will run rings around a smoothbore. Rifled barrels are a much different story.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

shotguns are for the birds, literally.

FDX, you not going to chime in on this one? Do you think a lever action 30/30 can out shoot a DSG at 150yds?

LOL, I have 3 slug guns that will out shoot most 30/30's at 150yds.

I pick my battles.....................

FDXX75

 

[Deer Assassin]

shotguns are for the birds, literally.

FDX, you not going to chime in on this one? Do you think a lever action 30/30 can out shoot a DSG at 150yds?

LOL, I have 3 slug guns that will out shoot most 30/30's at 150yds.

I pick my battles.....................

FDXX75

id take you up on that if i had my single shot 30 30

:d


i bet ur slug guns are rifled toooo

 

[stik]

shotguns are for birds and rabbits.

 

[348Winchester]

Lever action rifle. It will also serve handily in stillhunting situations where a shotgun would be more cumbersome.

 

[3006hollowpoint]

I'm tempted to get a 35 Remington just cus I like to go against the norm (in this case a 30-30) but ammo prices are laughing at my billfold :/ I had a 30-30 but I sold it to big lefty cus it needed a little work and I didn't like how much the scope weighed it down compared to no optics and didn't wanna spend more than $150 on a scope for a sub 200 yard rifle - suggestions?

 

[EastTNHunter]

Marlin 336 with Williams 5d or FP peep sights, or lightweight 2-7x Nikon Prostaff. .30-30 with Leverevolutions is good for longer shots if you ever need them, or regular 170gr fp for 100yd or less.

 

[Right_Tackle74]

Get Short Action Bolt. More accurate.

 

[JimFromTN]

444 marlin

 

[Lost Lake]

Lever.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

shotguns are for the birds, literally.

FDX, you not going to chime in on this one? Do you think a lever action 30/30 can out shoot a DSG at 150yds?

LOL, I have 3 slug guns that will out shoot most 30/30's at 150yds.

I pick my battles.....................

FDXX75

id take you up on that if i had my single shot 30 30

:d


i bet ur slug guns are rifled toooo

YEP

FDXX75

 

[3006hollowpoint]

SO i made my decision: Ruger American Compact .308 winf I can afford it. Yes, winf is a word... i think... anyway these rifles are awesome, 6lbs, 18" bbl length and 12.5" LOP 4+1 capacity and .308 packs a dang good punch but not too much and ammo is easy to find and affordable. No offense to the .35 remington or the .444 marlin, I'm sure they're still around for a reason, but I talked it over with the pops and he said I need to get a common round and "not no weird $*IT like that .260 that I can't find anymore" lol

 

[Rubberduck270]

Good choice. You'll like it.

 

[348Winchester]

By very definition a slug gun is not a shotgun. A slug gun is designed to shoot slugs. A slug is a single projectile and shot is multiple projectiles. A shotgun can be pressed into service to shoot slugs through its smooth bore. However, when a barrel has rifling in it, then it is a rifle. Therefore, slug guns with rifled barrels are technically rifles and no longer shotguns. When using a rifled slug gun in a comparison to a lever action, or any type of action traditional rifle, one is just comparing different actions of rifles with different bore diameters. I bet the Marlin XLR 30-30 would shoot better than most slug guns at longer ranges although I'll admit sliug guns can be amazingly accurate.