Thread: Shotgun on Goats

I've used a semi with 00 buckshot on pigs out to 40 metres - devastating is all I can say. Would happily use it again given the opportunity. And many years beck Graham Henry did a test fire for the Rod and Rifle, using 12g slugs, rifled barrels, rifled chokes etc. He shot many 3" groups at 100, off the bench, and was happy to use slugs on deer to 150 metres. Obviously best results were with a fully rifled slug barrel, but the rifled chokes were very very close to the 3". The best slugs were the saboted ones.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

from a chopper in search n destroy by DOC and will go up as more S&D happening as numbers creep up...thar are shot same way,many a big bull has been recovered with 00 in its body somewhere.

Actually more than 10 years – prob more like 20. They using on Tahr too ??

Originally Posted by Tommy

I've been to the place you are talking about a couple times, and I second the 357, suppressed if possible. With .38special for the closer stuff (25-50m) it's as quiet as suppressed 22. You'll be able to catch them sunning themselves pretty often, need to get in there quietly with a 4 stroke bike with the gun on the bars or something and get the jump on the pricks. It would be good to chuck a couple cameras in to see where they are and when (also to catch the neighbours having a wander).

Having used a rossi 357 with 38 special subs and a decent suppressor. They're really quiet and are dynamite on the goats. Have to do a good shot as we seemed to get pass throughs pretty easily.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

#3-4 wont do it unless you are under 5 yards......trust me it wont work,tried it on wallabies which are thinner skinned with lighter bones. 00 is good but pattern can get patchy thus why I suggested #7 buck or BBs.

Ah well. I'll use them on turkeys then.

Originally Posted by Sarvo

Actually more than 10 years – prob more like 20. They using on Tahr too ??

surely do...article in R&R mag a while back was "the buckshot bull" has buckshot embedded in horn from memory.

Originally Posted by oxfarmer

Shotguns are commonly used on white tail deer in the states. Many states have a shotgun only season before the main hunting season opens and a lot of deer are taken with buckshot. A full grown whitetail is a lot bigger than a goat.

Doesn't make it right though, does it?

I don't like the idea of using anything smaller than a slug on an animal larger than a hare, but that's just me. I have no experience of such things. What's the benefit of a shotgun with a rifled barrel over a rifle?

Originally Posted by MB

What's the benefit of a shotgun with a rifled barrel over a rifle?

The amount of lead that makes things dead.

Close range buck shot is very effective
Im talking 25m though

I've heard that some rifles make things dead too, but fair enough.

To me, the important thing is a clean kill, even on pests. Any decision should have that as a baseline.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Having used a rossi 357 with 38 special subs and a decent suppressor. They're really quiet and are dynamite on the goats. Have to do a good shot as we seemed to get pass throughs pretty easily.

Velocity is your friend, and 38 special doesn't have much of that. Just a fat 22 sub all up

Originally Posted by MB

I don't like the idea of using anything smaller than a slug on an animal larger than a hare, but that's just me. I have no experience of such things. What's the benefit of a shotgun with a rifled barrel over a rifle?

Still allowed to be a semi auto and you get more decent sized pellets in the spread.

If there were decent mobs and you're a good shot with appropriate ranges then you can deal with a few. As opposed to a tiny 22 mag or a bolt.

Originally Posted by Tommy

Velocity is your friend, and 38 special doesn't have much of that. Just a fat 22 sub all up

These were around 1000 fps. Not sure what the bullet size was. Some big cast ones. Thinking around 130 grain.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Still allowed to be a semi auto and you get more decent sized pellets in the spread.

Not on DOC land you aren't.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

If there were decent mobs and you're a good shot with appropriate ranges then you can deal with a few. As opposed to a tiny 22 mag or a bolt.

I have easily knocked down half a dozen or so on open farmland with a bolt action/3 round magazine. I enjoy shooting goats, but they are pretty dumb.

Originally Posted by MB

Not on DOC land you aren't.



I have easily knocked down half a dozen or so on open farmland with a bolt action/3 round magazine. I enjoy shooting goats, but they are pretty dumb.

Well no. But I guess a lot of the decent mobs left are on private land.

22? I found it was pretty underwhelming. I had a crappy coke bottle glassed scope on the rifle I borrowed so was doing shoulder shots.

.357 mag lever gun gets the job done, .44 mag for that matter. I tend to find getting close to goats is a problem where I've gone, but 00 buck gets the job done within 30m with a tight choke. To be fair slugs are what I'd consider as they can be pretty accurate even out of a smooth barrel cylinder bore. My mossberg is reliably accurate with quality slugs. There are some Italian rounds called target slugs that are cheap and reasonably good about $35 for 25 that I buy from Wills Outfitters in Kumeu.