20ga Buckshot for coyotes?

R

Rock Knocker

Well-known member
I've been doing some low light hunting, with a full moon my 16" AR is just the ticket but I'm calling them even closer when it's darker.

This week I had 2 coyotes that would have been easy shotgun kills, one of them I missed one I never got a shot at.

I've got a few 12ga around, all of them about as long as I am. The thought of lugging one of those long scatter guns around and my AR doesn't sound like fun. But my dad has a 20ga Beretta youth semi auto I love for grouse hunting, and that would be much better to carry around.

Any one tried 20ga on coyotes? I'm not looking to stretch the shotgun kills as far as possible, just something to grab when they're at 30-40 yards and moving fast.
 
As far as I know it only comes in #2 and #3. You'll just have to pattern it to see how it will work for you. If your already carrying a rifle you don't need to stretch the shotgun and I think you might have better luck with #2 Heavy shot 20ga Goose loads.

I used to have a contact for 3" 20ga custom loaded Lead BB's but cant find it now. I haven't hauled the 20ga for coyotes for a long time and now handload all my 16 and 12 gauge coyote loads with NP BB's and ITX & Bismuth BB's for non-tox areas.
 
Last edited:
I think any 3" BB or larger load will work. Remington makes buck loads for a 20, I use 3" #4 out of a Browning Citori with mod chokes out to 50 yards.
 
The only coyote I ever shot with a 20 gauge was with 3" #4 shot at about 35 yards. That stuff is for pheasants so I'd imagine it'd do just fine with buckshot. If that's all you have that's convenient to carry I say run what you brung.

I've seen some Federal personal defense rounds that were #4 buckshot before. That'd kill a coyote.
 
Last edited:
I have some Winchester 3in #3bk but I event had an opportunity to try it on anything. I carried it last year while calling just didn't have any volunteers
 
Federal #3 buck works very well in the 20 gauge. My wife and daughter have taken several with that combo. Drops them just fine with the benelli factory full choke.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top