What 12ga round and choke tube would be the most effective on coyotes
Out of 870 super mag?

I remember one particular time when I was younger we had a stray dog come in the yard and my dad shot it at about 20 yards. The head was only attached with a piece of skin after one round. It was a 2 3/4 from an 870 police, 18.5 barrel, don't remember the exact round but we only had bird shot, #4, 00, and slugs from what I remember. What range will you be at and do you plan to use a 3 1/2?

You need to pattern your shotgun with some different loads to find out. I did mine last week and found that modified choke with #1 buck at 30 yards put 12 out of 16 pellets on a paper plate. Hunted a contest last weekend and shot a runner coyote at 50 yards and one at 25 yards. I think the 50 yard shot was probably luck involved as the pattern is not so good at that distance. Both were dead right there. Some like the extra full cokes with number 4 buck, but that did not pattern well for my gun with any choke.

Forgot to mention that these were 2 3/4 inch shells.

I like improved cylinder choke with no. 4 in cheapy mossberg 500.

4BK or 4 shot?


Chupa

To the OP.

Unfortunately no one will be able to tell you exactly what will be best in your shotgun. Pick a load first (lead BB-4 Buck) and start running them through various chokes at 5 yard increments out to 40ish yards, starting around 25 yards. VERY VERY few loads are going to be effective efficient killers much past 40 yards minus the lucky pellet crowd that often boasts of their 70yd coyote shotgun. Be aware of the type of wad used in the shell. If its of the rear flap deploying variety, it will NOT work with a wad stripping choke and WILL work best with cylinder-modified constriction. If it is a standard wad, it will work best with a modified-XXXXFull choke depending on shot size and material. Stay away from steel, steel blows big monkey balls for coyotes.

Unfortunately finding what works best in your shotgun is both costly and punishing and requires some effort on your part. Forgot to mention, when patterning, do it from a rest. Shotguns more often than not, do NOT shoot to POA and change drastically load to load.

Chupa

Dead coyote choke, dead coyote load, Beretta 391

One of these coyotes was shot between 60-70 yrds
First shot rolled him but had to put a second in to finish him off.

A modified will work but I like a full choke for shot density at range. #2 and #4 shot are good. #4 buck will get kills at 100 yds but shot density is sacrificed.

I've had good luck out of a ported xfull turkey choke and Remington 3" #4 buck (41 pellet). It has proven reliable and cheap enough I have no need to try other loads. I have made some 50 yard single shot kills, but a shotgun is a shotgun, I am not using it at extreme ranges where a rifle would shine. I prefer to use the shotgun within 30 yards. It's more rewarding to get coyotes in close as possible, and there is much less margin of error for a single shot kill

All you need to know about shotgun chokes/load combinations can be learned here if you're willing to put in the effort to read it.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=777351#Post777351

To some of the other posters: The BS has gotten too deep.

Good article. Like I mentioned above, a shotgun is a shotgun and excels at what it is intended to do. Long range is not the purpose of a shotgun, that is territory for a rifle.

Well said, I could not agree more

4bk

I am a #4 buck 3.5" mag, it all depends on the gun and choke. My new beretta a400 unico was hard to pattern the full wasn't quite tight enough at 50 yds and the modified was the exact same. I bought a pattern master code black goose and it is horrible. I had a friend find one and it works like a champ, but can't remember the name. Anyways it is all trial and error, but you can find the right one. I have shot dogs out to 70, and they don't all roll up, but usually can get a follow up to put them down.

Here is the choke I was talking about. I shot a coyote a week ago at 75 yds, which is my longest to date. It did take 2 shots and I did step off the yardage. I am not saying it can happen every time, but it happened this time.

Trammel sport shop in Breckenridge, tx can order them for you
254-559-3455.

I find it hilarious that you don't seem to understand what I'm saying.

Can a shotgun launching large dense pellets kill at 70+ yards? Yep.

But it's pure blind dumb luck with a magic pellet finding it's mark at that range. Go and pattern your shotgun with ANY choke you want at that range and I will show you a pattern that is shockingly sparse. That in itself renders any shotgun a poor choice for consistency past 45 yards.


Chupa

All I can say is if I would of had my rifle on that stand I would not have killed that coyote . I guess I have had way more "dumb luck" than most because the shots 50 yds plus that I have made have ended up with a dead dog the majority of the time. Chupa I am glad I can make you laugh, but I'll keep knocking yotes down while you watch them run off.

I saw Cattle69 shoot the running coyote at over 75 yards. I also saw our buddy shoot a fox that far or farther with a shot gun. I agree that it isn't perfect for shots that far but I like the odds of hitting running animals better with a shot gun than with a rifle.

And yet you won't pattern your shotgun at that distance and post up a pic. Come on! Lets see your 75 yard shotgun!


Chupa

I think what he's saying it, why don't people shoot skeet with a .22 ?

On a running target at 75, I like a shotgun
I ca shoot vary well off a bench, but if my target was running I would not be proud of my group w/rifle

The debate here is not about the legitimacy of a shotgun on static or moving targets, thats just ridiculous. Of course the shotgun is superior on moving targets. The debate is the effectiveness of a shotguns consistency at the yardages qouted. Has it been done successfully? It absolutely has! Has it been done with a high degree of consistency? It absolutely has NOT!

Once again, I challenge anyone to post up a pic or better yet a video of them patterning their shotgun at 70 yards. I'll show you a pattern that has FEET between pellets it's so sparse. I of course know this will never happen because you know I'm right. I also know that you will continue to make plenty of noise as "they run away", I'll regroup and call the uneducated coyote back into real shotgun range. Keep throwing your Hail Mary's and you'll make the highlight reel from time to time, I'll drive the bus and win the championship trophy.


Chupa

The new Hornady varmint ammo is great. I had good luck with it this year.

Took shotgun out and patterned as requested. First dog on left (stepped of a touch over 45 yds standing still) and second dog on the right was right at 60 yds dead run. I am glad to be a member of the magical pellet club. Pretty good group if you ask me.

45 yards is VERY doable, 60 is beginning to stretch it. 10 yards makes a huge difference in patterns when talking shotguns. I still challenge you to pattern your shotgun at 70 yards. You won't do it though. Posting a picture of a dead coyote isn't proof of anything.


Chupa