JMO, but for me even though I could use a pistol caliber rifle round, I'm still sticking with my 12 ga 870 with the rifled barrel. Its just so......good!!
There are alot of good gun choices out there but for my deer gun I prefer my muzzleloader still i can get out over a hundred yards with little bullet drop. Browning also makes a really nice slug gun in either twelve or twenty.