What is the difference between a shotgun and a rifle?

Question

What is better for hunting deer and/or ducks?

What is the cost and brand names of each... for good ones.

Answer 1

Rifles are better for deer because they shoot one single projectile that is shaped to be aerodynamic and fly far and be lethal. They can shoot over miles depending on the caliber of the rifle. Now think about trying to hit a flying duck by throwing a little rock at it. Thats what it would be like trying to shoot a duck with a rifle. Shotguns are capable of shooting bb's and a single projectile but most unlike rifles arent very aerodynamic and dont go very fast so they dont go as far. The singlle projectile is called a slug. They can be used on anything form coyotes to bear and moose with a bigger gauge. The bb's are called shot and they make different sizes. Size #4-6 is good for geese and ducks and other birds. Size 00 is a bukchot and is used for deer, but shot spreads and it will not be accurate over 35-45 yards.

Ok, now some common makes for shotguns and rifles

Remington
Mossberg
Winchester
New England
Savage
Ruger
Thompson Center
Benelli
Browning

Im stopping there, my brain hurts.

Prices really vary from $150 to $5000

For a decent new hunting rifle, probably in between $500-800, and shotguns are a littel more tricky. for a hunting shotgun, plan on $250 to $1000 depending on the action and the Brand.

Answer 2

Well, a rifle is a shoulder fired weapon that shoots a single projectile. A shotgun is also a should fired weapon, but shoots many tiny BB's out at a time. Though, there are shells for shotguns, known as shotgun slugs, that shoot a very large, fat sabot slug out, basically a bigger version of a bullet. Both can take deer/bucks, but the rifle has a MUCH longer range. When hunting with sabot slugs, you need to be under 100 yards, though other people will argue that you need to be under 50 yards, and they are right too. There are many brands of each. But, the most popular rifles and shotguns are manufactured by Remington. A good, new hunting rifle from Remington will cost around $800. A good, new shotgun from Remington will cost $350-$500. Good luck.

Answer 3

A shotgun fires a cartridege containing several pellets, while a rifle fires one bullet at a time. You typically use a rifle for deer and a shotgun for ducks. You can fire a a special slug(which is a solid bullet thru a shotgun barrell to use for deer). The best all around deal for you to probably do is purchase a mossberg field/deer combo thru your local sporting goods store. Its in effect two guns for the price of one, you get a reciever(which is the fancy word for trigger and stock) and you get two barrells, one rifled for deer, and one regular barrel for ducks. You can change out these barrells whenever you feel like hunting different game. And the best part about all of this, it also comes with the scope for the rifled barrell for deer hunting. This whole combo is approx 350 for everything you would basically need to start hunting. not a bad deal at all..

so good luck and happy hunting

Answer 4

I have never seen a forum with so many opinions on such a simple subject. Many answers start out good and depart from the facts. There is not room here to correct all the mistakes in the answers.
Just go to your local sporting goods store and ask to look at various models of shotguns and rifles, and the variety of ammo for each and draw your own conclusions.
Since I have both shotguns and rifles, I prefer the rifle for deer, and the shotgun for ducks.

Answer 5

A rifle has rifling (lans and grooves) in the barrel to make the projectile spin.

A shotgun has a smooth bore.

You can get slugs for shotguns, not just bird and buckshot.

Thats really about it. Looking for something for deer and ducks, go with a Remington 870 super mag or 11-87 magnum. Great for all around hunting - both should be under $1000.

Answer 6

First of all, Anna isn't even remotely close with her answer. Their is a very BIG difference in the two. A shotgun fires a cartridge that has a brass base and a plastic cylinder containing small lead beads called "shots" that are similar to BBs. A rifle fires a single bullet that travels at high velocities and long ranges. You can use a shotgun on deer, but most hunters that do so load it with slugs. Slugs are large, single wads of lead that are placed in a shotgun shell instead of beads. Most hunters prefer rifles hunting deer because of their long range capabilities and efficiency. Shotguns are used hunting ducks because the beads scatter when they come out of the gun and make it easier to hit something that is flying. The beads are also less damaging to the duck. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

You can hunt deer & ducks with a shotgun; but would probably not get many ducks with a rifle; so go with the shotgun. You can get a good mossberg 12 gauge pump for under 300 frogskins.

Answer 8

yes well diamond dog and captain mark both made innaccurate or incomplete comments as well as anna, whom they criticized.

A rifle does not necessarily have a single barrel, there are double and triple rifles, and guns called drillings and vierlings with one two or three three rifled barrels and shotgun barrels joined to the one gun.

And a shotgun shell(rather than cartridge) can come in plastic, rolled paper, waxed paper, solid brass construction etc.

To the asker, there are whole libraries on the subject and as you can see few people have the whole story.

However the easist thing to remember is a rifle uses rilfing and a bullet. Rifling is twisted grooves inside the barrel which cause the bullet to spin. A spinning bullet like a thrown football goes straighter and further.

So rifles can shoot things far away as a rule and 90% of the time you would say it is better for deer.

A shotgun generally was designed to fire a handfull of pellets like ball bearings. It has less range than a rifle but more ability to hit fast moving targets at close range since if you fire a lot of pellets at once some might still hit. it is what is used for birds, rabbits and other fast moving vermin.



So generally it has a lot less range than a rifle.

however as some have mentioned most shotguns can also fire a slug, like a big bullet in order to either increase the range or the killing power over pellets. Of course you largely lose the ability to hit things as well at close range like a flying bird or running rabbit. Some states and countries require shotguns only to be used for hunting so people there will use their shotguns for deer, usually with special barrels which are rifled. Making the shotgun just like a big rifle.

A shotgun shell looks like a stubby cylinder, generally of coloured plastic, with a flat end.All the powder, pellets and stuff are inside it and come out when it is fired.

A rifle case is generally metal with the bullet sticking out the end.

As to which to buy and for further info the best idea is honestly to walk into any gunstore and say you would like to know more about guns, if you are so inclined.

99% of gunowners and gun dealers love to talk to interested members of the public of any age or sex.

Answer 9

Firstly don't bother with Anna's answer I doubt she has ever seen a gun.
In simple terms a shot gun is a smooth bore weapon with either 2 barrels side by side or over and under. Lastly there is a single barrel semi auto.
A rifle is a single barrel which is rifled (twist) to make the bullet spin. Single shot or magazine option.
A shotgun fires a cartridge loaded with pellets (sometimes a slug) A rifle fires a bullet head.
I use a Beretta 687 for pheasants. A Beretta AL391 for pigeon and a CZ BRNO .22 rim fire for rabbit.
Buy second hand, better deals.

Answer 10

A rifle shoots a single bullet projectile shot out of a rifled barrel wich the barrel has grooves in it to make the bullet spin a rifle is ideal for hunting deer.Remmington 700 you can get one in 308 for around 600$.

Now the shot gun has a smooth bore barrel(no rifeling)and they shoot multiple projectiles known a BBs and they really spread out when shot so this would be good for ducks.Remmington also makes good shotguns the Remmington 870 pump action 12 guage shotgun you can get one of these for around 400$.