Top 10 · Compare
Compare Best Deer Slug Guns head to head
Pick any two picks from this list and see specs, current price, pros, cons and reader ratings side by side.
Back to the full Top 10
#4 on this list
870 Fully Rifled Deer
Remington
A rifled cantilever barrel on the most common pump in America. Cheap to build, easy to fix.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
#5 on this list
500 Slugster
Mossberg
Tang safety and a rifled bore. The budget slug gun that has taken more deer than most rifles.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
Specs side by side
| Spec | 870 Fully Rifled Deer | 500 Slugster |
|---|---|---|
| Action Type | Pump-Action | — |
| Barrel Type | Fully Rifled, Cantilever Mount | — |
| Gauge | 12 Gauge (most common), 20 Gauge | — |
| Primary Use | Deer Hunting (Slug) | — |
| Construction | Steel receiver, synthetic/wood stock | — |
| Origin | United States | — |
| Manufacturer | — | Mossberg |
| Model | — | 500 Slugster |
| Action | — | Pump-Action |
| Safety | — | Ambidextrous Tang |
| Barrel | — | Rifled |
| Purpose | — | Deer Hunting |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
870 Fully Rifled Deer
- Exceptional reliability in all weather conditions
- Excellent accuracy with quality sabot slugs for its class
- Vast aftermarket support and readily available parts
- Durable all-steel receiver construction for longevity
- Widely recognized and easy to service by any gunsmith
- Substantial recoil with heavy 12-gauge slug loads
- Heavier than many dedicated hunting rifles
- Trigger pull can be inconsistent on some factory models
- Not ideal for long-range shooting beyond 200 yards
500 Slugster
- Excellent accuracy with sabot slugs due to rifled bore
- Time-tested reliability of the Mossberg 500 platform
- Intuitive and ambidextrous tang safety
- Durable, weather-resistant synthetic furniture
- Affordable, offering great value for a dedicated slug gun
- Rifled barrel limits versatility for other shotgun applications
- Can be heavy, especially with optics mounted
- Recoil can be stout with heavy slug loads
- Basic fit and finish, not a premium aesthetic
Prices change constantly — the figure shown is the last verified catalog price, and the buy buttons always go to the current listing.