OT Effective range for #2 shot on a Coyote?

[TedH]

I've got an opportunity to join in with a very large group of Amish men and do some coyote hunting in a couple weeks. From what I gather they have several dozen guys conduct drives of large pieces of property. They will flush every living creature, and the coyotes, fox and bobcat are the targets. They collect the hides and sell them with the proceeds going to their church.

It's my understanding that there are three men that are not Amish that are hired to haul the guys around in enclosed trailers from farm to farm, seeing as how they don't drive motorized vehicles and all. Anyway one of the three guys works with my wife and gave me an invite. They are very safety conscious and only use shotguns with no larger than #2 shot. I imagine a coyote is harder to kill with a shotgun than a turkey but I've never used a shotgun for dogs before. Think 30 yards would be doable with #2 shot?

[Buffboy]

That's about the outside limit for something that large, screw your full choke in or if you have one, an extra full/turkey.

I've used a shotgun lots of times. Usually with 3" 4 buck as it ups the range by more than double what you're going to have.

[TedH]

Yep, I'll have the extra full turkey choke. I'm going to use my 12 ga 3" autoloader so there may be a chance of peppering him with multiple shots. It sounds like it's going to be fast and furious when a shot is presented, a lot like rabbit hunting I suspect.

[Hobie]

When I first read your post I had visions of Lancaster County PA and thought that would be right wild! I think 30 yards is about max, too. TOO close and they won't get much for the hide.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I recently saw a shot on a Coyote hunting video that was said to be 70 yards. The guy was shooting 12ga. 3 1/2" mag and using Heavy Shot.
He missed the first shot and connected on the second, That Coyote stopped like it ran into a brick wall!!!.

Once my dad reloaded some 10 ga. 3 1/2" mag. shells using #4 buckshot. He cut out a Goose shaped target and hung it on a fence at about 75 yards. 1 shot put 17 holes in that paper goose.
It all has to do with how your gun patterns at the range you wish to do it at.

[TedH]

I'm not too worried about the pattern as much as the energy a #2 pellet will carry. Sure would rather have some BB's, but that's a no-no.

[wilko]

#2 shot is the largest shot allowed on Ct state land... it will do up to 30 if your guns patterns well... test several choke's and see which patterns best.

[mescalero1]

TedH,
I am going to take the minority position here.
Don't go,
you will sleep better if you do not participate.

[TedH]

Would you please elaborate Sir?

[mescalero1]

Shooting driven animals left a void in me,
I, despite all my efforts; have not attoned for my sin.

[TedH]

In my mind it's no different than hunting rabbits with Beagles, coons with a Walker, or chasing mountain lions or bears with a pack of hounds. I respect your position, but I don't see it as a sin. I'll just be doing the dogs work and the shooting.

[mescalero1]

Good fortune to you, sir.

[edsguns]

I've killed coyotes with #5 shot at 30 yds dead on the spot, while turkey hunting. #2 will do just fine with a tight choke.

[deerwhacker444]

That sounds kinda silly to me. Won't drive a vehicle cause it's too modern, but sure as heck blast stuff with a shotgun. Make me laugh a bit.

Hope you have a good time. See if you can sneak some pics when they're not looking.

[missionary5155]

Good evening
Years ago in SW Michigan I used to hunt fox with my Iver Johnson 32" (Matte Rib) full choke 12 guage using BB in 2 3/4 Mag shells. Longest shot I ever took was at a stepped off 53 paces down the bluff into the bottoms of the Paw Paw River. Beagles wer running the fox & about 1/4 mile behind. Fox was just slow trotting along. Fox was hit square in the side and commenced to jump high & straight up. Did that 3 times till the feller with me finished it with his .243. Under 40 yards No fox or coyotes ever walked or jumped at the shot.

[edsguns]

That sounds kinda silly to me. Won't drive a vehicle cause it's too modern, but sure as heck blast stuff with a shotgun. Make me laugh a bit.

Hope you have a good time. See if you can sneak some pics when they're not looking.

Quick funny story: Hunting this season near an Amish farm in Kentucky after their corn crop had been cut. Heard a noise (engine running) as I walked out of the woods and saw an Amish farmer driving a mule drawn wagon around the harvested/cut corn field. Upon closer examination, I also noticed a gas engine mounted on said wagon (drawn by mules) which was running a chopper which was cutting the remaining stalks off closer to the ground. Not allowed to have motorized vehicles to use, but allowed to have engines for work purposes, such as chopping off the stalks. very interesting

[CEMENTHEAD]

50 yds, if you can hold a tight pattern that far. I killed a 35lb 'yote a few years ago during turkey season with 1-3/4oz of #4 lead turkey load @ 45 yards(super full choke). Absolutely smoked him. I would go for larger shot if the song dogs get bigger or further than that.

Thanks, Tom

[Nath]

I beg to differ slightly, I have had good results on fox with a mere 1 1/4oz 3s upto 30 odd yards, same with 5s and 71/2s.

Pellet energy has absolutly nothing whats so ever to do with it! Whats the point of putting some ft/lbs into just a paw because there was no pattern to perforate it any where else!

A good even pattern not more than 30yds will stop them pretty much with anything between 5s and 1s, I would not go tighter than moderated choke.

A super tight pattern of 2s in the back leg from a side on shot will be no better than having a wider pattern of 4s some of which perforate the lungs!

Last fox I took with a shotgun was at 35ish yards with 1/1/4oz english 3s with IC choke. DRT.

Last spring I shot a fox with 1 3/4oz 3" 1s from a IM choke gun at 50yds and just crippled it. It was side on and standing still! Fortunatly it hobbled closer for the second shot to kill it.

More shot, bigger shot and tighter chokes don't cut it with me at all. Now gun fit and a good even spread pattern, oh yes.

Nath.

[CEMENTHEAD]

A super tight pattern of 2s in the back leg from a side on shot will be no better than having a wider pattern of 4s some of which perforate the lungs!

Nath, I apologize. I should have included, that it was an "aimed" shot. I have rifle sights on my shotgun for turkeys and varmints. It is sighted for 40 yards exactly. Thanks, Tom

[Nath]

CEMENTHEAD, friend, sorry my comments were not directed to you or any one.

Sorry if I gave that impression.

N

[CEMENTHEAD]

No offense Nath, just clarifying...... Thanks, Tom

[TedH]

Nath, while I don't doubt your success with your chosen loads on fox, I believe a coyote is another story. The larger dogs will require more energy per pellet to penetrate and reach vitals. At least that's my theory.

[Nath]

I can't back this up now but it has been demonstrated elsewhere how a smaller lighter pellet will get just as deep mostly from suffering less drag from the air and hair/skin on the way when they both set of at the same speed. The two common air gun sizes of 177 and 22 demonstrate this very well with the smaller one usually penertrating deeper than the larger one.
I remember shooting a fox with a 410 with english 7s (your 71/2s I think) @ 1/2oz. It was 33 paces and it dropped the side on fox instant. I was impressed and so opened him up from top to bottom. 14 tiny pellets hit him, 7 of which made it through his lungs and were in the skin on the far side. I could not of wished for better!

Applying the performance of a 500grn slug/bullet over a 100grn 6mm penetration wise can not be applied directly to small by comparison shot gun pellets.

You use what you wish friend, I'm sure you will have a ball

Nath.

[TedH]

That is very interesting Nath. I'm thinking some testing with water saturated phone books is in order!

[buckeyeshooter]

Pattern the shotgun at 30, 40 and 50 yards. Use a couple different btands of ammo. That the ones that shoot the best. In 12 ga. my bet is you are good to 50 yards with full choke and the best shooting loads.