Planning to use my semi auto 12g 3" for coyotes after deer season. I tried 3" BB last year but nearly lost the dog. 20yd shot required 2 follow ups. Just wondering what everyone else uses. I've patterned 2 3/4" Remington 000 buck and 3" Winchester super X #1 buck both print about 12-14" at 40 yards. The Remington using a full choke and winchester using extra full turkey choke. Both will work great but just curious.
Shotgun loads for coyotes
- Thread starter 338fan
- Start date
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
If it took 3 shots at 20 yards to kill a coyote with 3" BB, then you missed him more than you hit him. Could be a poor pattern due to the choke. Or I suspect more likely you missed due to a different Point Of Impact with this load. Different loads can have surprisingly different POI's. At 20 yards, any decent pattern of 3" BBs oughtta flatten a coyote. IF you hit him.
Predburner
New member
Sometimes you have to give them a chance to die.....
Chupathingy
New member
If only there was a comprehensive thread about shotgun loads as it pertains to coyote hunting. Then we could sticky it to the top of the page. A guy can wish.
Chupa
Chupa
FairChase93
Active member
Plenty of farmers and ranchers around here that kill lots of coyotes at that range with 2 3/4 upland loads of #6s or 5s. It wouldn't be my first choice but the point is at that range pellet size is moot. For the most part.
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The Famous Grouse
New member
Did you pattern test off of a rest such that you know an exact point of aim so you can tell where the center of the pattern matches to the POA? Many--and quite possibly most--shotguns do NOT center the pattern on the POA at all distances. My Stoeger, for example, shoots the center of the pattern slightly high at 30 yards so I have to aim as though I'm trying to shoot the bottom of the shoulder. This is very common with shotguns and it varies with loads, so while #4 shot might center, BB may not.
If you missed or nearly missed with BBs at 20 yards, then the load isn't likely to be the problem. I use Hornaday Dead Coyote in BB shot and it flattens them even at 30 yards. At 20, you just didn't get them in the center of the pattern for some reason.
Also, keep in mind that as shot sizes go up, pellet count goes down. So you might hit them harder with buck, but you hit them less as well.
Grouse
If you missed or nearly missed with BBs at 20 yards, then the load isn't likely to be the problem. I use Hornaday Dead Coyote in BB shot and it flattens them even at 30 yards. At 20, you just didn't get them in the center of the pattern for some reason.
Also, keep in mind that as shot sizes go up, pellet count goes down. So you might hit them harder with buck, but you hit them less as well.
Grouse
LARUEminati
Active member
Granted your POA/POI is on and not to blame, you could try hevi-shot dead coyote "T" loads. Expensive but it hits em like a ton of bricks and carries it's energy out past 50 yards. Every coyote I've shot with them was absolutely rocked and i've killed predators out to 65 yards with them.
I'm in agreement with everyone else though, nothing beats actually patterning your gun and knowing exactly where the center of your pattern is. For that I love me a red-dot sight.
I'm in agreement with everyone else though, nothing beats actually patterning your gun and knowing exactly where the center of your pattern is. For that I love me a red-dot sight.
Chupathingy
New member
They mean Hornady Heavy Magnum Coyote in BB.
Chupa
Chupa
Since that first dog I've mounted a Burris fastfire and zeroed the POA POI. unFortuantly finding hornady or even heavy shot dead coyote is difficult here. The vast majority of coyote hunters run 223's or 22-250's. My wife did find a few boxes of Remington 3" 000 so as soon as I tag out my whitetail I'll be patterning it looking for that 50yd load.
FairChase93
Active member
I'm running Hornady Heavy Mag Coyote BB as well, I've hit a dry spell so I can't say I've tried them in action yet but they pattern very well in my gun with a modified choke.
I went through some pretty extensive pattern tests this summer with every available buckshot or coyote load I could find and the Hornady stuff performed the best with my set up, and a close second was the Remington Express #4bk with a full choke. Both are inexpensive and out performed some of the high dollar stuff.
I went through some pretty extensive pattern tests this summer with every available buckshot or coyote load I could find and the Hornady stuff performed the best with my set up, and a close second was the Remington Express #4bk with a full choke. Both are inexpensive and out performed some of the high dollar stuff.
#4 buckshot. Pattern your shotgun with a couple different chokes. Take a choke or two with you out on stand. I personally take out a Hevi-shot Dead Coyote choke and a Improved Mod choke. Dead Coyote has taken coyotes at 70 yards. Improved mod inside of 40.
I have tried the BBB and wasn't really impressed. The Hornady BB I have seen work. But for some reason the BBB isn't getting it done. Dead Coyote T-shot works, but is hard on the pocket book.
For me it is usually Remington or Federal 3in #4 buckshot.
I have tried the BBB and wasn't really impressed. The Hornady BB I have seen work. But for some reason the BBB isn't getting it done. Dead Coyote T-shot works, but is hard on the pocket book.
For me it is usually Remington or Federal 3in #4 buckshot.
