Hevi-shot #2 for fox

Encore.204

Encore.204

New member
I am not new to predator hunting but I am new to shotgunning for predators. Tonight, after having a nice red come in too fast and too close to get the rifle on him, the shotgun is comming out!I am a goose hunter and do a ton of reloading and patterning.(I'm a real load tweaking/patterning nerd like GC /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif) I have a 3"load of #2 hevishot @1300 fps that puts an average of 100 pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards. My question is, how far will #2 Hevi-shot kill foxes if I can keep the pattern together?
 
Further than you think you oughta shoot a shotgun at stuff...

Foxes are not hard to kill; probably easier to kill than geese, IMHO.

If you're putting 100 pellets in 30" at 40 yards, I'd not be afeared to bust a fox at 50 with that load. Maybe further...
 
I killed a red fox 2 years ago with #6 Hevi-Shot turkey loads. If your going to be closer than 40yds on average you could probably get away with #4.
 
Heavy shot #2 is a great fox load at any time or place but range your scattergun properly first. A 30 inch circle is fine for waterfowl especially geese since they have a heavy neck that can result in a take down, large wings that when hit break and the vitals being the smallest. With a fox it is a different beast. You only have a 4 inch or so vital area in wich to put them down, otherwise they are running and unless you got good snow they are gone. So pattern your gun at 50 yards on a proportional size target (4 inches) before pushing the limit. A clean miss is better than bad shot IMO of course.
 
If you have the chance to call in a coyote in the same area you could always go to Dead Coyote. That way you would be well prepaired for anything you might call in. With the right choke you can get some extreme range with the DC!
 
Quote:
.(I'm a real load tweaking/patterning nerd like GC )



Thanks for the compliment... I think? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif That'll be a very useful load for fox. If you can keep the pattern together well enough, and I'm betting you can, I wouldn't be afraid of a shot between 50 - 60 yards.
 
The patterning board and only that will tell you how far you can shoot. The pattern will go to hell before the pellets run outta killing power. I wouldn't hesitate to use that load for coyotes either.
 
For coyotes I really don't like to go below a good BB load. With that said, a hot, good patterning load of Hevi-Shot #2's will kill coyotes fine within moderate ranges. I know R870 will disagree, but I'd keep the #2's to less than 40 yards for coyote sized critters. Bigger shot such as BB's, T-shot, No. Four Buck can be stretched to farther ranges, all things within the pattern board being equal.
 
This might sound like a tale of BS but this turkey season I was taking a nap after making a series of yelps. I heard something running my way and look up to a coyote about ready to jump on me. His eyes about shot outta his face when he figured out I wasn't supper he had a ohh chit look on his face. I grabbed my gun jumped up and shot him on the run at about 40 yards. She rolled and came up sounding like a dog that got hit by a car(ki yi) and ran about 20 yards and rolled never getting up. The number 6 lead penatrating completly through the yote.Pellets went through the shoulders even. What I'm trying to tell you is #2 hevi shot at 1300 would work a good bit passed 40 yards if the pattern holds.
 
870,
Respectfully, I've shot coyotes with 3" .12 gauge turkey loads of #4 copper plated lead. Most have been from 25 to 35 yards. I've never recovered one close like you describe. They all did the spin and yip, then broke camp for safer parts. Several of them covered considerable ground, couple hundred yards plus, before running out of steam. Some traveled lesser distances. None were within fifty yards best I remember. Heavily furred, soft footed animals, hit with small pellets don't leave a lot of sign to track. Unless restricted by game department regulations I don't see the advantage of a lesser load when better loads are readily available. I don't share the same experiences as you and have different thoughts regarding loads.
 
Stay with the #2's vs #4 buckshot for the more dense pattern. If the #2's hit that 4" circle they'll do the job. If the #4BS don't hit it they might not. That "Hevi-Shot" beats all I've seen for penetration. I was testing some "Dead Coyote" and every pellet that hit my 3/8" plywood at 72yds went through. And many went through at 100yds... I just had to see! In GA we can only use small game guns and ammo for fox and bobcat. I carry #2 Hevi-Shot.

GC
Your talkin' #4 shot? not #4 Buckshot ? correct?

GAJoe
 
Last edited:
I too was impressed by the job the 6's did that time. I would never go out hunting yotes or even foxes with anything under #2's but I sure would shoot one with 2's. I'll tell you what next time I'm looking for some loads to buy when my current supply of good loads runs out I'll buy some 2's and see what they do. Pattern first of course but then I'll wack a half dozen yotes and see if it works.
 
Back
Top