It's a shotgun, so yes, it will kill them. Try a number of suitably sized loads, pattern them thoroughly with different chokes, and pick your effective range from that, then go hunting. Effective as a 12 or 10 at longer ranges - no - generally not. Still kill with in it's effective range - yup. A given pellet at the same speed carries the same energy and will penetrate just like one from a 12 or 10 - there are just less pellets in the load to start with - pattern, chose effective range, hunt. Oh, and enjoy it!! LOL!!!