From my many years of deer hunting in most of the eastern states the only time I have ever seen a 10 gauge gun used was when buckshot was legal. Back many years ago in NJ buckshot was the only legal deer load and the 10 gauge was very popular. A 10 gauge with 3 1/2 inch shells held a lot of buckshot, especially number 4 buck. But I would not want to shoot a slug out of a 10 gauge, the kick would be unbearable.