Ok here is my question, I have a .270Win that I havent had the pleasure of taking anything with since I got 3 or 4 months ago. I also have a NEF single shot 12 guage shotgun. I will be hunting coyotes this winter and plan to keep the pelts so which gun do I take. Shots could be anywhere from 200-300 yards or right in my lap. Load suggestions would be apprecitaed also. Thanks.
.270 or 12gauge
- Thread starter andrew
- Start date
nd coyote killer
New member
My advice would be if your really after the pelts bring both guns or you will be real dissapointed sitting there with your shotgun when one hangs up out there 100 yds. The shotgun will be better on the pelts but unless your hunting extreme heavy cover it just won't do the job.
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"Aim small = miss small"
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"Aim small = miss small"
Andrew,
If your stands aren't too far away, take both. Do you hunt with a companion? You didn't say what type of terrain you will be hunting in. That could make the difference in switching guns.
I would imagine one of the 130 grain soft points would do well, but might make a mess of fur. As far as shotguns go, I would go with the 2 3/4 mags in BB and #1 buck. I have 3" mag capability but I think the 2 3/4s would work just fine. They may mess up a hide, depending on how far away you shoot them. Just my opinion.
MP
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http://www.predatormasters.com
If your stands aren't too far away, take both. Do you hunt with a companion? You didn't say what type of terrain you will be hunting in. That could make the difference in switching guns.
I would imagine one of the 130 grain soft points would do well, but might make a mess of fur. As far as shotguns go, I would go with the 2 3/4 mags in BB and #1 buck. I have 3" mag capability but I think the 2 3/4s would work just fine. They may mess up a hide, depending on how far away you shoot them. Just my opinion.
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http://www.predatormasters.com
Thanks guys. I will be hunting in rolling hills with some shallow ravines or canyons with thick oak stands. It goes from really wide open to somewhat thick cover, but its mostly open. I would stick to no so flat areas since that .270 slug can go a long way. I do have plenty of safe 200+ shots though.
Colorado Pete
New member
I hear a load of #4 buckshot to the head puts them right down, and is easy on the pelts (except for the face of course!).
For the .270, I don't think you can avoid making a mess of the pelt. A 90-gr soft point downloaded, or a 130 downloaded, might help matters. I used to shoot the 110 Hornady hollowpoint, got a couple of prairie dogs that turned out quite messy. Too much gun for pelts. Maybe a stout 150-gr would just plunk right through without exploding too badly. Let us know your results.
For the .270, I don't think you can avoid making a mess of the pelt. A 90-gr soft point downloaded, or a 130 downloaded, might help matters. I used to shoot the 110 Hornady hollowpoint, got a couple of prairie dogs that turned out quite messy. Too much gun for pelts. Maybe a stout 150-gr would just plunk right through without exploding too badly. Let us know your results.
Curt Barrett
Active member
I don't normally carry my .270 for coyote hunting. The first week of deer season I spotted a coyote while hunting. Called him in and he winded me right before I was able to see him. This sent him busting out of the draw at mach 5. I took the running shot and missed. That turned him a bit and then he kicked it up to mach 10. Aimed about a coyote length in front and drilled him right through both shoulders with a 130 gr Nosler BT. This sent his butt right over his nose. (which was in the dirt) I was surprised how little damage it did. No entrance and about a quarter sized exit. Don't know if this is the norm but I was impressed. Other coyotes I have shot with a .270 using big game bullets resulted in little to no damage also. I wouldn't call it a pelt gun by any means, but it's not a bad coyote rifle.
I use a .270 for deer hunting and I normally kill a few coyotes with it every year while out deer hunting. I use 130 and 150 grain Nosler Partitions for deer hunting and they really don't tear a coyote up as bad as one might think. Try to keep your shots behind the shoulder to avoid hitting bone if possible. The bullet will zip through not tearing things up too much that way. The bullet will always exit no matter what angle you hit a coyote at though. The .270 is not a fur round by any stretch of the imagination but I have seen worse damage done with smaller calibers and faster more explosive bullets. I would definetly choose it over the shotgun.
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[This message has been edited by Lonny (edited 10-24-2001).]
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[This message has been edited by Lonny (edited 10-24-2001).]
Yuppiehunter
New member
Andrew,
I cant explain to you how much your situation is like mine. 2 years ago i was in the same situation with my 270. I so desperatly wanted to hunt coyotes though i did some research on ballistics and came up with some interesting results. I found a load that WIN. makes and that is the 270 100 grain soft point. This load has great trejectory and believe it or not the coyotes that I have been shooting i have yet to have had a bad pelt after the shot. Funny thing is though is that when i was shopping for a load such as this all the "know-it-alls" said that i was out of my mind to use a .270 on coyotes or fox. Truth is, in my opinion and my experience with this caliber I see no need to buy a different gun just for varmints.(with the exception of shooting prairie Dogs, .223 is the way to go there because the load is cheaper). Hope this helped, good luck hunting and stick with the .270!!!
Yuppiehunter
I cant explain to you how much your situation is like mine. 2 years ago i was in the same situation with my 270. I so desperatly wanted to hunt coyotes though i did some research on ballistics and came up with some interesting results. I found a load that WIN. makes and that is the 270 100 grain soft point. This load has great trejectory and believe it or not the coyotes that I have been shooting i have yet to have had a bad pelt after the shot. Funny thing is though is that when i was shopping for a load such as this all the "know-it-alls" said that i was out of my mind to use a .270 on coyotes or fox. Truth is, in my opinion and my experience with this caliber I see no need to buy a different gun just for varmints.(with the exception of shooting prairie Dogs, .223 is the way to go there because the load is cheaper). Hope this helped, good luck hunting and stick with the .270!!!
Yuppiehunter
MountainMedic
New member
Andrew-
In my experience, the .270 is the way to go for both short and long distance. I have been buying 100gr. Rem. Core-Lokt from Redhead for $12.99 and rarely do I have an exit wound. I have hunted with my Browning 12ga with 3" mag #4buckshot and 00buckshot and have found the pellets on both to not penetrate as well as I had hoped. The #4buckshot out of a full choke has worked the best of the two loads, though. Best of luck... be safe!
In my experience, the .270 is the way to go for both short and long distance. I have been buying 100gr. Rem. Core-Lokt from Redhead for $12.99 and rarely do I have an exit wound. I have hunted with my Browning 12ga with 3" mag #4buckshot and 00buckshot and have found the pellets on both to not penetrate as well as I had hoped. The #4buckshot out of a full choke has worked the best of the two loads, though. Best of luck... be safe!