Shotgun setup for coyotes...Choke&shot's?

24542 Views 34 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Lost In The Sproul, Mar 18, 2013

Honkers51

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2013

I'm going to patten my Turkey gun this weekend...I'm normally useing.640 Hastings choke with 3 inch number 6's 2oz..and i've killed a turkey out to 56 yards a few years back...my question is what choices do i have for coyotes..i have chokes from IC up to .640 which is the tightiest choke and i was thinking maybe number 4 OO buck shot..what choke should i start with..and if i could get away shooting any steel shot for dawgs since,i have so much of it..like a BBB or BB...I have it in blackcloud and Kent Steel...Thanks Honks

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beagler

· #2 · Mar 12, 2013

Do NOT shoot steel for coyote, very poor penetration. Just curious what gun are you shooting?
I've tried quite a few different chokes/loads for both predators and turkey as well. I get good patterns in my Benelli SBE 2 and Mossberg 835 using a Dead Coyote Choke (DC doesn't list the constriction on their chokes) and 3 1/2" Dead Coyote shells (in both T- shot and #4 buck). Federal also makes a 3 1/2" #4 buck shell (unplated lead shot) we've had good success with. I can kill a coyote out to about 50-55yds. If fox are in the picture I like shooting Winchester Xtended Range in BB or even B-shot (H-T-L). The Hevishot Waterfowl loads (B-shot) will work good as well. If you are strictly shooting fox you can't beat #4 shot (either copperplated lead or hevishot). Almost all the guys I run hounds with use full chokes or their turkey chokes with no issues.
I'd definitely pattern your gun first so you will know your limitations before heading out hunting.
On a side note (turkey hunting), I can put 300 pellets in a 10" circle at 40yds shooting A Rhino Choke (.695) and Nitro Company shells ( 3 1/2" 4 X 5 X 7 hevishot). Using my SBE 2 I get around 200=210 hits.
Here's my 835 pattern.

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KenBuck

· #3 · Mar 12, 2013

beagler said:
Do NOT shoot steel for coyote, very poor penetration.

Definitely not.

I remember thinking steel shot would be ok for predators a few years back. After hunting ducks / geese with it, I wish I could throw it in the garbage!!!

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KenBuck

· #4 · Mar 12, 2013

p.s. - Beagler knows his stuff, when it comes to patterns and chokes for shotguns.

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Honkers51

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 12, 2013

I'm shooting a mossberg 535 with the 22 inch turkey barrel and a hastings .640 choketube...this is a new shotgun and hav'nt had it out to pattern it yet...my other mossberg500 reaches out with Kents 6's..Ok..so here's my thought..640 choke and number 4 OO or hevi shot.? and the setup is for coyotes..Thanks Russ

beagler

· #6 · Mar 12, 2013

You mean #4 buck correct? 00 buck patterns poorly not to mention it is illegal for predators here in Pa. #4 buck is the largest shot you can use. A typical 3 1/2" #4 buck shell contains 54 pellets. You will be able to find #4 buck alot cheaper than any H-T-L loads. I'm a big fan of the heavier than lead loads however. I've never achieved good patterns with any of the Kent shells personally (turkey loads).
Is the 535 capable of handling 3 1/2" shells or just 3"?
I don't believe the 535 have overbored barrels like the 835's do.

Honkers51

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 12, 2013

Yes #4 buck..and yes the 535 shoots 3.5 shells.....

swpa87

· #8 · Mar 12, 2013

I learned the hard way about steel BB this year, shot a my daylight coyote this year from awfully close through some brush and it tore out of there like it was on fire but I never found it. I did find fur and tracks running full speed for as long as I could follow them! I just got a new Rem 870 supermag, and Iv got some incredibly tight patterns at 45y (longest dist availible at freinds house) with 2 3/4 24pellet Hornady varmit express #4 buck. Out of a rem modified choke. I just recived my Carlsons coyote choke today I belive its .660? hopefully its not over choked. This Hornady stuff just blows a hole in paper at that distance. I would like to get some 3-3.5 #4 buck to try but you know the way ammo is right now I just cant find it. the hornady is fairly priced about 15$ for 10.

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swpa87

· #9 · Mar 12, 2013

The hornady has a special shot cup that the shot doesnt even leave untill 25y lol.

Smtn10pt

· #10 · Mar 12, 2013

You probably arent going to get great patterns with the larger size shot out of that Hastings .640 tube. I have the same one on my remington and tried one of the dead coyote loads out of it, not good at all. I've been researching choke tubes for #4 Buck and the DC loads and everything I've read says to stick to the .660 to .670 range.

beagler

· #11 · Mar 12, 2013

Smtn10pt said:
#4 Buck and the DC loads and everything I've read says to stick to the .660 to .670 range.

For a standard bore 12ga that is a very good reference point.

Smtn10pt

· #12 · Mar 13, 2013

That's true, I was only researching chokes for my Remington, I think you have to go to less restriction for the bigger bored mossbergs like the 835.

swpa87

· #13 · Mar 13, 2013

Have you guys ever killed a coyote with a 3.5 turkey load? just wondering maby like 30y?

beagler

· #14 · Mar 13, 2013

swpa87 said:
Have you guys ever killed a coyote with a 3.5 turkey load? just wondering maby like 30y?

I've killed a few with regular 3" #4 shot. That's all we used while running them with hounds when they first started popping up. We would start a yote by accident more or less while fox hunting. That was in the late 80's/early 90's when they started showing up around here.

Honkers51

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 13, 2013

Ok ..I'm getting #4buck tomorrow....ill shoot it out of a few chokes that...I have....let you guys know what happens....Thanks beagler for you input....Honkers

bohunr

· #16 · Mar 13, 2013

i use 3 inch # 4 buck but i found this after looking at the hornady express varmit load mentioned above, it doesnt look bad either

http://www.hornady.com/store/12-GA-Heavy-Magnum-Coyote-BB-3/

BB is smaller, more pellets but will it hit hard at 50 yards like they say?

swpa87

· #17 · Mar 13, 2013

I would like to try that... if I coupd ever find it. Went back to grab another box of the #4 buck today and sombody bought the last 3 boxes. This ammo stuff is really getting annoying its like a bunch of kids (adults) running for candy (ammo) from a pinnata (truck) lol. I wish I could find any of these. people are buying 50$ boxes of DC hevishot because 10 more sgotgun shells are going to change their life.

swpa87

· #18 · Mar 13, 2013

All I can find is turkey loads thats why I asked. I still have 15+ buck shells but hey if it comes to it like what are you gonna do? I did kill 3 last year with steel BB, they were in the open though and fairly close. It did seem to nail them but not taking that chance after the last one. I dought a turkey load would work better than steel bb anyway. Federal makes one with a "flight controll wad" that I have heard really good stuff about. I think It might have to do more with the wad than anything eles.

valkrider88

· #19 · Mar 13, 2013

swpa87 said:
Have you guys ever killed a coyote with a 3.5 turkey load? just wondering maby like 30y?

Two years ago I shot a coyote at 35-40 yds while turkey hunting. I was using Hevi-shot #6 with a Indian Creek choke. She went down with one shot.

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SgtUSMC

· #20 · Mar 13, 2013

beagler said:
Do NOT shoot steel for coyote, very poor penetration. Just curious what gun are you shooting?
I've tried quite a few different chokes/loads for both predators and turkey as well. I get good patterns in my Benelli SBE 2 and Mossberg 835 using a Dead Coyote Choke (DC doesn't list the constriction on their chokes) and 3 1/2" Dead Coyote shells (in both T- shot and #4 buck). Federal also makes a 3 1/2" #4 buck shell (unplated lead shot) we've had good success with. I can kill a coyote out to about 50-55yds. If fox are in the picture I like shooting Winchester Xtended Range in BB or even B-shot (H-T-L). The Hevishot Waterfowl loads (B-shot) will work good as well. If you are strictly shooting fox you can't beat #4 shot (either copperplated lead or hevishot). Almost all the guys I run hounds with use full chokes or their turkey chokes with no issues.
I'd definitely pattern your gun first so you will know your limitations before heading out hunting.
On a side note (turkey hunting), I can put 300 pellets in a 10" circle at 40yds shooting A Rhino Choke (.695) and Nitro Company shells ( 3 1/2" 4 X 5 X 7 hevishot). Using my SBE 2 I get around 200=210 hits.
Here's my 835 pattern.

I recently spoke to Carlson's about their Dead Coyote Choke. They informed me the DC chokes were all .665 no matter what make gun they go in. I've been doing alot of research and calling different choke companies.

So that got me thinking, My Indian Creek BDS Turkey choke is the same constriction as the DC, so I figured I'd run some #4 Buck and Winnie Extended Range B's through it. I was averaging between 20 and 25 #4'bucks in a ten inch circle @ 40 yards, and more with the B shot. I also got similar numbers when I was running a Pure Gold .670 Turkey choke.

I called Indian creek and Pure Gold, and asked why their Buckshot labeled choke is so open. Basically it came down to alot of people use 00 buck for coyotes, its legal in alot of other states. Everything up to #4 buck shoots awesome in the Turkey chokes, but bigger than it is just way too tight. Not to mention the # of people using buckshot for deer are usually using 00 or bigger and the more open chokes are made for that.

Thats my 2 cents, I'd say shoot some #4 buck out of your turkey choke, you might get surprised how well it shoots.

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