Could this happen?

[22lex]

For the sake of an argument we just had at work, I thought I would pose the question to the MNO'ers out there and what they might think.

Situation;
Could a person using a shotgun blow right through a 6" diameter tree, and still kill a deer behind it? The range was judged at 125 yards (I am assuming the tree was right next to the deer).

This is all I know about the story, not sure what type of tree, what type of shotgun, slugs, wind.....etc.

[Randy Kaar]

In my opinion, No....  unless the tree was rotted and then it would still be a lucky shot.

randy

[Dan R.]

i agree with randy, nope

[proangler16]

Boy, I don't know about that one, need more information, 12 or 20ga, type of slug etc...  I do know by my own personal experience that a 130gr. .270-cal will go through a 2"diameter tree and hit the deer behind it and still pass through both sides of the deer.  Of course that shot was just under 50-yards, sometimes when you looking through that scope and a person puts the crosshairs on the sweetspot those tiny tree saplings get blurred up and a person doesn't see then that well. 

[22lex]

For sure 12 ga.

[dakids]

Years ago my mother shot a deer at 15 yards with a 12 gauge and the bullet went through a 2-3 inch tree.  We didn't notice the tree right awaybut when we were field dressing it we noticed a lot of wood splinters inside the deer.  It was a maple tree that WAS still very alive.  The bullet didn't exit and she still has that slug.  We always gave her a hard time about killing trees.

[Cody Gruchow]

at 125 yards i would say no. 50 and under its very unlikey but can happen. my slug is a litchfeild sabot 546grain and at 125 i dout it can make it through a 6 inch tree and still pack enough punch to kill something.

[deadeye]

For some reason bullets don't expand when they go through a tree.  Several years ago I shot a 270 at a deer and hit an 8 inch popple.  It went clean through the tree and the exit hole was the same size and the entry.  Oh, I missed the deer on that shot so I can't say if the bullet would have had enough left to kill a deer. 

[BiggA]

I put a slug out of my 20 gauge threw a birch tree and it bedded in the oak behind it. This was at 70 yards but the birch was only 3-4 inches thick. I would say possible but not likely. Time to call the Mythbusters,