Rusty Black
New member
We're not aloud to use any buckshot or number4 buckshot in my part of Pa...what would be your choice of loads to shoot coyotes up to 40 yards...all shotguns are 12 gauge im useing..Turkey loads,steel shot?
Shotgun loads for coyotes?
- Thread starter Rusty Black
- Start date
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
The Hornady or Winchester 3" lead BB coyote loads will work much better than Turkey loads or steel shot loads.
I wouldn't want to use lead shot smaller than BB on coyotes and steel shot doesn't weigh enough to get the penetration needed to reliably knock down or kill coyotes.
I wouldn't want to use lead shot smaller than BB on coyotes and steel shot doesn't weigh enough to get the penetration needed to reliably knock down or kill coyotes.
BUSHBUSTER46
New member
3 1/2 lead F shot, we had some made up and it worked great and was legal because it wasn't considered buck shot it was smaller than number 4 buckshot.
West.Mass.Hunter
Member
Same law here so I use Dead Coyote 3.5" T shot.
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: DesertRamI say try Hornady Coyote in BB, though my experience is limited to the one coyote I shot at 54 yards using a standard modified choke - tipped her over stone dead without a twitch.
I think that was exceptional performance from a lead BB load. Back when I used a lot of lead BB I learned to keep the range closer to 35 - 40 yards on the outside if I wanted an easy recovery.
To the OP, if I were using lead only and didn't handload I would absolutely look at the loads Bob mentioned. Pattern them for density within a 10" circle at point of aim. The more the merrier in that magic circle, about 12 - 15 pellets might be a good minimum. You mentioned turkey loads. My experience with 12 gauge 3" lead turkey loads is that they are not great beyond 25-ish yards. I've shot 12 or 13 coyotes with such loads and performance was very sketchy over 25 yards. Tungsten type loads takes you to a different place. Lots of information about coyote shot shells available through the search engine here at PM.
I think that was exceptional performance from a lead BB load. Back when I used a lot of lead BB I learned to keep the range closer to 35 - 40 yards on the outside if I wanted an easy recovery.
To the OP, if I were using lead only and didn't handload I would absolutely look at the loads Bob mentioned. Pattern them for density within a 10" circle at point of aim. The more the merrier in that magic circle, about 12 - 15 pellets might be a good minimum. You mentioned turkey loads. My experience with 12 gauge 3" lead turkey loads is that they are not great beyond 25-ish yards. I've shot 12 or 13 coyotes with such loads and performance was very sketchy over 25 yards. Tungsten type loads takes you to a different place. Lots of information about coyote shot shells available through the search engine here at PM.
with bb's, I have had great luck with extra full and various turkey chokes. Federal 3" BB, buffered copper plated worked well for 40 yards.
No doubt that the dead coyote T shot would be superior.
Don't assume anything, pattern your shot gun at different ranges, news paper with a paper plate on it stapled to a piece of plywood will suffice. Try and use a support when load testing to check point of aim vs point of impact.
Dessert Ram's quote:
"I say try Hornady Coyote in BB, though my experience is limited to the one coyote I shot at 54 yards using a standard modified choke - tipped her over stone dead without a twitch."
very, very lucky shot with a modified choke. 54 yards is a poke.
No doubt that the dead coyote T shot would be superior.
Don't assume anything, pattern your shot gun at different ranges, news paper with a paper plate on it stapled to a piece of plywood will suffice. Try and use a support when load testing to check point of aim vs point of impact.
Dessert Ram's quote:
"I say try Hornady Coyote in BB, though my experience is limited to the one coyote I shot at 54 yards using a standard modified choke - tipped her over stone dead without a twitch."
very, very lucky shot with a modified choke. 54 yards is a poke.
I like the Winchester 3" lead BB load .... and it works well for incoming or side-swipe yotes out to 45 or 50 yds... BUT, I have to go with what GC says and keep your shots to about 40 yds or less to keep things consistently deadly. Running away yote's are a whole different kettle of fish and I don't trust lead BB to put them down.... unless they are in the 20 yard range.
A suggestion that may be something to consider is to start handloading your own yote loads. You can get into the game without purchasing anything except the components themselves and make some fantastic yote hammering loads that will work much better than BB loads. You can purchase lead t and f shot and make up some loads that will hammer a yote at 50 yds from any angle and put them down with authority. The cost per shell will be less than commercial loads but you do have to spend more up-front acquiring the components.
Out here in the wide open west, a wounded yote can fade into the sage after being hit well surprisingly easy... really just seem to disappear they blend in so well... and a shotgun hit that will kill the dog may not kill fast enough to allow a body recovery. I went to lead t shot for most of my shotgun yotes and even lead f shot if the distances appear to be a little more than normal. My recovery has gone way way up. I still get yotes that escape... but I dont blame my shotgun or the loads... yup... its all me.
Pattern your loads. Super important to take the time to do so. Forget about the 70 yard shots. Sure it can and has been done... but you will never be a consistent yote killer taking a poke at that range all the time. A shot at that range is a hail Mary shot at best... of course I've never loaded up any TSS.... which I'd like to do sometime... maybe that stuff is good for 70-80 yards... sure would be fun to try.
I think the focus for yote hunting is primarily on rifles... and there is no arguing that a rifle will do a number on a yote at great range.... I take a rifle on every stand myself.... but nothing beats the thrill of a shotgun on yotes. Just stay away from the turkey loads.... You need penetration on a yote LEAVING the stand at great speed. Turkey loads suck at that.... BB is just barely ok...sometimes... but be ready for a follow-up. You most likely will need to follow up with a shot or 4. If you use turkey loads it might be wise to affix a bayonet to your shotgun and apply the spirit of the bayonet to your spinning, rolling, biting and screaming yotes at the end of your stand.
A suggestion that may be something to consider is to start handloading your own yote loads. You can get into the game without purchasing anything except the components themselves and make some fantastic yote hammering loads that will work much better than BB loads. You can purchase lead t and f shot and make up some loads that will hammer a yote at 50 yds from any angle and put them down with authority. The cost per shell will be less than commercial loads but you do have to spend more up-front acquiring the components.
Out here in the wide open west, a wounded yote can fade into the sage after being hit well surprisingly easy... really just seem to disappear they blend in so well... and a shotgun hit that will kill the dog may not kill fast enough to allow a body recovery. I went to lead t shot for most of my shotgun yotes and even lead f shot if the distances appear to be a little more than normal. My recovery has gone way way up. I still get yotes that escape... but I dont blame my shotgun or the loads... yup... its all me.
Pattern your loads. Super important to take the time to do so. Forget about the 70 yard shots. Sure it can and has been done... but you will never be a consistent yote killer taking a poke at that range all the time. A shot at that range is a hail Mary shot at best... of course I've never loaded up any TSS.... which I'd like to do sometime... maybe that stuff is good for 70-80 yards... sure would be fun to try.
I think the focus for yote hunting is primarily on rifles... and there is no arguing that a rifle will do a number on a yote at great range.... I take a rifle on every stand myself.... but nothing beats the thrill of a shotgun on yotes. Just stay away from the turkey loads.... You need penetration on a yote LEAVING the stand at great speed. Turkey loads suck at that.... BB is just barely ok...sometimes... but be ready for a follow-up. You most likely will need to follow up with a shot or 4. If you use turkey loads it might be wise to affix a bayonet to your shotgun and apply the spirit of the bayonet to your spinning, rolling, biting and screaming yotes at the end of your stand.
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
If you want to reload some great coyote loads by 10 lbs of HW13 BB shot from Bucks Run Sports Supply. There is right at 70 pellets per 1-1/2 oz load. The HW13 BB shot is denser than lead and much harder than lead so it penetrates much deeper than lead BB shot and it breaks bones much more often than lead BB shot.
The HW13 shot costs quite a bit more than lead shot but you can load 3" 1-1/2 oz loads for right at half of what Hevi-Shot B shot or Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote T shot sells for.
1200 fps lead BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 40.8 yards
1200 fps HW13 BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 56.2 yards
The HW13 shot costs quite a bit more than lead shot but you can load 3" 1-1/2 oz loads for right at half of what Hevi-Shot B shot or Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote T shot sells for.
1200 fps lead BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 40.8 yards
1200 fps HW13 BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 56.2 yards
Rusty Black
New member
Thank-you for all your responses...this all helps Alot.
Rusty Black
New member
I live in special Regulation area and its not allowed...but up north it is...im thinking houses surburban growth...but i hunt large farms.I just bought some Winchester bb lead shot from a guy so I'll pattern them.
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