Hey gonna be going this weekend To put the smack down on some coyotes and bobcats. Gonna bring my AR for longer shots but I'm going to be bringing my benelli SBE3 along for the first time. Never used a shotgun predator hunting before was planning on using what I have which is some 2 3/4 inch 00 buck shot out of a modified, improved, full or extra full turkey choke. i don't live close to basspro so driving to pick up some hornady or hevi shot tungsten coyote shot isn't in the cards until my next trip to Basspro. Please school me on shotgunning for predators
Shotgunning Coyotes,please school me
- Thread starter cambo0420
- Start date
Only patterning will tell you for sure but I have patterned enough buck shot over the years to know that more often than not you don’t want a tight choke with OO. I know others claim good patterns but again my experience with OO tells me it’s a short range proposition, like 20 yards beyound that it’s luck, but there are exceptions
crittr gittr
Well-known member
If you don't pattern it before you go leave it home!
Tracker0721
New member
Patterning is smart, my gun with #4 buck and my modified choke will put most pellets into a 10” circle at 40 yards. That said, you’re killing coyotes, if you plan to get them within 30 yards take the shotty and dump lead at em! Most guys with a patterned shotgun still do that haha. If you’re in northern Idaho and the forests then the shotgun will come in good use. Try some #4 next weekend or Hornady coyote and shoot from 20-60 yards.
Oh, and Remington #4 buck is some good stuff through any shotgun I’ve tried and cheap!
Oh, and Remington #4 buck is some good stuff through any shotgun I’ve tried and cheap!
Mr. Poppadopalis
New member
Originally Posted By: cambo0420Not gonna have time to pattern before the weekend will have time the following weekend. Should I go modified choke with 00
And I put my scopes on backwards!
I just don’t understand why they look so small and I can’t hit them..........
And I put my scopes on backwards!
I just don’t understand why they look so small and I can’t hit them..........
Hellgate
Member
You don't need a 40 yard range or special patterning boards to pattern the shotgun. As to patterning, just get a decent sized cardboard box, a roll of butcher/freezer paper, magic marker, a pencil and take your shotgun, chokes, & ammo out somewhere safe. Tape a sheet of paper to the box, make an aiming point with the marker, back off 10 or 20 yards and shoot. Note the ammo/load, choke, & distance and write it on the paper. Change sheets and repeat with another load or choke until you're finished. A tight pattern will be a tight pattern whether at 10 yards or 40. You will quickly tell what is the best combination. You will also find out whether your shotgun shoots high, low or off to the side.
It is my belief that aerial gunners use #4 buck when eradicating coyotes from helicopters. If they use larger buckshot then they might use a 3 or 3 1/2" magnum to get a more dense pattern. A real tight choke may well scatter your pattern but see what it does on paper. I've been surprised a couple of times.
It is my belief that aerial gunners use #4 buck when eradicating coyotes from helicopters. If they use larger buckshot then they might use a 3 or 3 1/2" magnum to get a more dense pattern. A real tight choke may well scatter your pattern but see what it does on paper. I've been surprised a couple of times.
. A tight pattern will be a tight pattern whether at 10 yards or 40. You will quickly tell what is the best combination. You will also find out whether your shotgun shoots high, low or off to the side.
This is not always the case. I have seen buckshot loads that are tight at twenty and explode at thirty. If you have good hard shot, a decent shot cup all with little pellet deformation what you say is true but with softer pellets deforming, patterns open up down range. It’s been my experience that many or even most factory buckshot loads use very soft pellets and do not pattern nearly as well as reloading with good hard pellets
This is not always the case. I have seen buckshot loads that are tight at twenty and explode at thirty. If you have good hard shot, a decent shot cup all with little pellet deformation what you say is true but with softer pellets deforming, patterns open up down range. It’s been my experience that many or even most factory buckshot loads use very soft pellets and do not pattern nearly as well as reloading with good hard pellets
UncleZeb
New member
As suggested pattern it before you go. If I were in your shoes and couldn’t pattern my gun I’d just run a mod choke with no 4 buck and figure anything past 30 could get interesting.
I use a 22-250 built on a HOWA action and a benelli m4 with a Carlson’s coyote tube with 3” inch no4 buck. I really only use the shotgun in very thick brush or to stop the kamikaze coyotes. I try to get them stopped around 100-200 yards for a sitting rifle shot of sticks.
Coyotes up close
I use a 22-250 built on a HOWA action and a benelli m4 with a Carlson’s coyote tube with 3” inch no4 buck. I really only use the shotgun in very thick brush or to stop the kamikaze coyotes. I try to get them stopped around 100-200 yards for a sitting rifle shot of sticks.
Coyotes up close
Bail
New member
Originally Posted By: UncleZebI try to get them stopped around 100-200 yards for a sitting rifle shot of sticks.
Really?? I kill 80% of my coyotes with a shotgun (over 30/year). Several multiples, doubles, triples, even a few quads. I'm pretty sure if I stopped all of them that far out with only a rile my numbers would be a lot lower. Shooting a moving target with a shotgun is a lot easier, for me anyway, than with any rifle. I carry a shotgun and a rifle to every set. I've said in my noob days "I sure wish I would've had a shotgun on that set". I hunt anything from wide open prairie to super tight cover. I never make a set without a shotgun in my lap. Just my $.02
Really?? I kill 80% of my coyotes with a shotgun (over 30/year). Several multiples, doubles, triples, even a few quads. I'm pretty sure if I stopped all of them that far out with only a rile my numbers would be a lot lower. Shooting a moving target with a shotgun is a lot easier, for me anyway, than with any rifle. I carry a shotgun and a rifle to every set. I've said in my noob days "I sure wish I would've had a shotgun on that set". I hunt anything from wide open prairie to super tight cover. I never make a set without a shotgun in my lap. Just my $.02
SlickerThanSnot
New member
Originally Posted By: HellgateA tight pattern will be a tight pattern whether at 10 yards or 40.
man, if i could count on that it would sure make my life easier. lol
man, if i could count on that it would sure make my life easier. lol
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: cambo0420Lmao I know pretty lame I won't have time to pattern
No, what would be lame would be to take the shotgun anyway, without patterning. Would you take your rifle without sighting it in? Same difference.
Truer words were never spoken wish I would have thought of them
No, what would be lame would be to take the shotgun anyway, without patterning. Would you take your rifle without sighting it in? Same difference.
Truer words were never spoken wish I would have thought of them
I know a lot of people wouldn't think it but 00 buck is one of the worst choices available for coyotes in my honest opinion. In States where it's legal (it's not in Oklahoma) I've used it and seen guys shoot coyotes with it. Believe it or not I've never seen a coyote fall over dead on the first shot using 00 buckshot. I hit one in the head with 3" 00 at around 35 yards last Winter. Popped an eye out of the socket and most were in the nose,one to the side of the head and she started spinning in circles growling and making all kinds of racket. My second shot hit her in the rear end and I got the same result. My 3rd and final shot was Federal 2 3/4" #4 buck. She dropped on the spot after taking a hit from that. To be honest inside 35 yards I'd rather shoot a 3" turkey load over 3" 00 buck.
From the coyotes I've shot or seen shot with a shotgun I've seen more killed with bird shot than 00 buck. That's pretty bad.
From the coyotes I've shot or seen shot with a shotgun I've seen more killed with bird shot than 00 buck. That's pretty bad.
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derbyacresbob
Well-known member
I agree with OKRattler, if I had to chose between 00 Buck or a #4 shot Turkey load I would go with the #4 shot Turkey load to use on coyotes. But I don't have to use a #4 lead shot Turkey loads on coyotes so I will never use a #4 shot Turkey load on coyotes.
A good coyote load needs to be able to break coyotes down when the shot angle is not perfect and it needs to have enough pellets in it to have a dense pattern at 40 yards. Lead BB shot works pretty good but you better be ready to shoot the coyote many times if it is still moving after the first shot.
I like having at least 70 to 100 pellets in my shotgun coyote loads. In 1-1/2 oz loads lead BB shot has about 77 pellets, 12g/cc HD BB shot has about 70 pellets. Once you get to the right size shot to get the penetration required to break down coyotes at let's say 45 yards, if you go any bigger on the shot size you will have quite a few less pellets. With less pellets it is harder to have a dense pattern without having a very tight pattern.
I have had way more one shot coyote kills with a shotgun using 70 to 100 12g/cc, 15g/cc and 18g/cc pellets per shell than when I have used 12g/cc "T" shot coyote or predator loads with only 50 pellets per shell.
When I could use lead shot on coyotes I always used the Federal 1-7/8 oz BB lead loads with 98 pellets per shell instead of using 3" lead number 4 buck loads that only had 41 or 42 pellets per shell. The coyotes I hunt don't get over 32 pounds very often. If I was hunting bigger coyotes that get over 40 pounds I would probable go with lead number 4 buck.
No matter how good your coyote shotgun loads are be ready to keep shooting the coyote as long as it is still moving.
A good coyote load needs to be able to break coyotes down when the shot angle is not perfect and it needs to have enough pellets in it to have a dense pattern at 40 yards. Lead BB shot works pretty good but you better be ready to shoot the coyote many times if it is still moving after the first shot.
I like having at least 70 to 100 pellets in my shotgun coyote loads. In 1-1/2 oz loads lead BB shot has about 77 pellets, 12g/cc HD BB shot has about 70 pellets. Once you get to the right size shot to get the penetration required to break down coyotes at let's say 45 yards, if you go any bigger on the shot size you will have quite a few less pellets. With less pellets it is harder to have a dense pattern without having a very tight pattern.
I have had way more one shot coyote kills with a shotgun using 70 to 100 12g/cc, 15g/cc and 18g/cc pellets per shell than when I have used 12g/cc "T" shot coyote or predator loads with only 50 pellets per shell.
When I could use lead shot on coyotes I always used the Federal 1-7/8 oz BB lead loads with 98 pellets per shell instead of using 3" lead number 4 buck loads that only had 41 or 42 pellets per shell. The coyotes I hunt don't get over 32 pounds very often. If I was hunting bigger coyotes that get over 40 pounds I would probable go with lead number 4 buck.
No matter how good your coyote shotgun loads are be ready to keep shooting the coyote as long as it is still moving.