Shotgun v Rifle: Which One to Choose for Your Hunt

This was a foreign concept to me, having lived my entire life in the deserts of west Texas, where you were lucky to get within a hundred yards of a deer. That was until I got older and started applying for some of the public land hunts where the only legal sporting arms were archery or shotguns. 

Choosing between hunting with a shotgun and a rifle will begin with what quarry you decide to hunt. So, how can you know which firearm is ideal for your hunt? Today, I'll share some insights into this decision and some strategies for improving your success in the field – no matter if you hunt with a firearm or bow.

Shotgun v Rifle: Which One When?

Sometimes, the decision is "kind of" made for you. During some season open dates and in some areas, you can only hunt with the designated weapon allowed during that time.

Seasons vary from state to state, so always check your local game laws to see if firearms are legal, where you hunt, and at which time. If a rifle isn't allowed when you've planned your hunt, shotguns with the correct ammunition can be just as capable as rifles at close distances and are more than enough to hunt deer, wild boar, and even black bears. 

Pros and Cons of Rifles and Shotguns

A shotgun's greatest advantage is its choice of ammunition and the game it allows you to hunt.

Without changing anything with the gun, it is possible to walk a fence row for quail, rabbits, or other small game. Then, just by changing which shell is in the chamber, you can quickly switch your bird hunt to a deer hunt by popping in a buckshot or slug round.

You can even go one step further back at camp by changing the choke or barrel you have attached to the shotgun and increasing or decreasing the range and spread of your shot. 

Rifle calibers have various loads you can choose from, but only in the form of bullet weight. At the end of the day, those centerfire cartridges can be rather limiting in what you can do and are suitable only for medium to large games, depending on the caliber. 

Consider the Range

Centerfire rifles excel at shooting at a distance. The rifling inside of the barrel (hence the name) causes the bullet to spin like a football, making it much more aerodynamic and stabilizing the bullet in flight.

This greatly increases the effective range of rifles. Ethical shots, depending on the skill level and marksmanship of the shooter, can extend to 300 or 400 yards and even well beyond. 

Shotguns are limited when it comes to range. Even in a modern rifled shotgun barrel and newer shotgun-specific optics, a high-performance sabot slug is still limited to under 200 yards.

However, a shotgun's range limit can also be its greatest advantage.

Remember how I mentioned that the only legal sporting arms on some of those public hunts I have applied for were for archery or shotguns only? There is a reason for that. A slug fired at its target is much less likely to exit the immediate area and possibly injure another hunter or other outdoor recreationalist, while a rifle has the potential to injure someone miles away.

Best Uses for Shotguns vs Rifles

So, what's the best use for either a shotgun or a rifle? Here are a few tips to make the best choice for a successful hunt.

An open-sighted shotgun paired with buckshot can be highly effective when still hunting through the dense understory – just the places big bucks and boars like to bed to get away from predators, hunters, and the sun.

I really like to use buckshot in these situations, as it increases your chance at an ethical kill, even if some of the pellets are deflected by brush. I use a Trulock Boar Blaster choke, specifically designed for tightening up the spread on 00 buckshot with great success on river bottom hogs in dense vegetation when running shots will likely take place. 

Rifles are best in areas where you can see a little further, like big woods or open country. When paired with quality optics, you can really extend your reach.

Big woods or open country are great areas to hunt with a rifle due to less understory and longer sight lines. This longer distance also increases the chance of your game not being spooked and gives you the opportunity to slow down and make the best ethical shot. 

Whether Rifle or Shotgun, Use HuntWise to Find Your Game

Whether your hunt calls for a rifle, shotgun, or bow, the best way to make sure you find your mark is to use HuntWise.

Using the various map layers in HuntWise allows me to scout for areas that may have been previously cleared for timber or have been burned by past fires. Those areas soon fill in with dense thickets because of the increased amount of sunlight reaching the soil. They may be no fun to walk through, but they can hold incredible amounts of game and provide the perfect opportunity to hunt with a shotgun.

The new Hillshade (Lidar) base layer option allows hunters to look at typography without seeing the vegetation or trees. This can help you look for areas where bucks may be looking for shade in areas without much other solar cover – a great place to rifle hunt.

I hope these shotgun v rifle insights have been helpful. No matter your weapon of choice, HuntWise can help you find your game and fill your tag. If you don't have the app yet, now is the best time to download it and get ready for the season. Try it for free for your first week!