Steel shot for coyotes?

B

Bernie P.

New member
Has anybody tried using the larger steel shot loads like BBB,T,TT?These compare closely to the energy level of lead BB loads and actually surpass it in the larger T/TT loads.With the demise of Rems tungsten loads there's not much left to choose from other than Feds plated lead BB's or the high cost HS ammo.Granted there's still plenty of buckshot loads but they're pretty much overkill for anything smaller than a coyote.At 1/3 the cost of Feds 3" Premium plated BB load I was thinking about giving this a try-

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/426974/...-shot-box-of-25
 
Steel shot can't compete with lead shot or lead buck shot. Coyotes are much tougher than geese.

Steel does not have the weight to carry the speed and energy needed to penetrate deep into coyotes like the lead and tungsten alloy shot does.
 
Originally Posted By: stretch204Steel will get it done at close range. It loses too much energy the farther it goes.

Further....

Birdshot will get it done at close range, but you don't see guys using that for coyotes either.

Muzzle energy doesn't matter, energy and pattern density AT IMPACT is what matters (unless of course you're pressing the muzzle of your shotty against their ribs).

If I throw a pound of feathers at you, it has the same speed and resultant energy LEAVING MY HAND as a 1lb brick would have. What do you think the results are at 10ft if I throw a 1lb brick or a 1lb wad of feathers at your head?

Steel = waste of everybody's time. Sure, I guess if you live somewhere that requires non-toxic shot for ANY hunting (all of this lead safe stuff flying around), so you couldn't use lead, I suppose maybe steel would be cheaper than other non-toxics, but for what it's worth to me, I'd spend the money on tungsten or bismuth before I handicapped my range by using steel.
 
I killed my first coyote with #2 steel shot wile attempting to jump shoot ducks on a pond, it was close to a 50 yard shot and they were only 2 3/4 inch shells.
 
Originally Posted By: DstratI killed my first coyote with #2 steel shot wile attempting to jump shoot ducks on a pond, it was close to a 50 yard shot and they were only 2 3/4 inch shells. She did make it about 100 yards before going down.
 
Steel shot on a large animal will more likely kill from hemorrhage than shock. That's why animals would run rather than dropping right on the spot. Steel just doesn't do the same kind of damage that deforming lead does. It is the same reason why most states will not allow the use of ball ammunition for hunting but the Geneva Convention specifies that it only be used by the military.

I don't know where some of you get that steel doesn't pattern. Perhaps because you are using it through the same conventional chokes that you would lead. Steel patterns much tighter than lead given the same choke constriction. Large strides have been made in chokes designed for steel shot that throw fantastic patterns. Most times, steel will shoot as tightly through a factory modified as lead does in the factory full. If you over constrict it, that's when you start blowing patterns because the wad will take on all constriction (and perforate) instead of the shot as lead does.
 
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skip the steel. its just not worth the headache and the lack of knockdown power on a coyote. youre just wounding them for the most part, even though its a coyote - it still aint right. if you want something other than lead, go with bismuth (sp) or tungsten. they carry more KE downrange than steel. thats my honest opinion.
 
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