Preferred Shotgun Setup...

[PelaPapas]

When I head out for coyotes I almost always take the AR. I want to try my hand at getting the dogs to come in closer for some shotgun hunting. Only problem is I have my mossberg 500 that is smooth bore. Would this be ok to use? If so, what would be the max distance I should try taking a coyote at with my setup and what load would be best to use? Never tried predator hunting with a shotgun and wanted to see what other hunters prefer when hunting with shotgun...

[Hoofnit]

I use a 10 ga. now bb's or #2's buffered lead its good to 80 yards with a patternmaster choke...before the 10 I used a 12 ga. 3 inch mag. same shot sizes good to about 50 yards with a good full choke...that all said it's getting tuff to find big lead shot these days. There is the dead coyote load from hevi-shot that works well in a 12 but its spendy stuff.

just my 2 cents...

[firstcoueswas80]

I have a 870 with 28" barrel and some super tight choke, I don't remember which one.

[Kingzero]

I use a Mossberg 500 with a 20" barrel. I actually just patterned it again after having to track down a shot coyote. Pick up some 3" #4 buckshot or Hornady Magnum Coyote BB's and shoot them at different distances with different chokes to see what works best. Mine is a toss up between a full and mod choke and sucked with an improved cylinder and Carlsons Dead Coyote Choke.........kina weird. Max distance for my setup is probably 40 yards.

[Red Sparky]

Only used a shotgun once for coyote calling. Around my uncles house he was having a problem so I set up in some thick stuff with my 12 ga. and #2 shot and my .222 Remington. I shot 4 in my lap as quick as I could pull the trigger on the shotgun. First shot was 3 feet and last with the shotgun was 10 yards. Then I picked up 3 more running up the hill with the .222 at about 200-250 yards. Took care of the yote problem and have never killed that many yotes in such a short period of time again.

[Rackhunter]

I never go with out my shotgun, have shot way more coyotes with it then the rifle. I have a 3 1/2 870 with a super full choke. 80 yards no problem

[Hyperwrx]

Did someone say desert coyote hunting? There is a group of us here in AZ and CA that are shotgun fanatics. Most season each pair shoots at least 100, oftentimes more. Most all us use electronic callers. Our choices of shotguns varry from the cheap Remington 870 to some of the more pieces of art work over-and-unders. Regardless what these shotgun desert hunters use.... they rack them up

 

[azcatter]

I kill 90 percent of my coyotes with a shotgun.a old single shot goose gun full choke its good to about 60 yards with bb and num 4 buckshot.I hunt a lot in shotgun and rim fire only places

[.270]

I have an 1100 "special field". 21 1/2" full choke barrel, straight grip, 2 3/4", semi auto. Usually use 00. Absolute death on coyotes. Take the plug out and cut loose. A lotta times I carry it and a rifle to stands. Lark.

[Swivelhead]

I like BB's & #4 buckshot. OO buck is very good too but IMO pattern density is an issue beyond 50 yards. I've used steel BBB's north of the Colorado river with decent results. Nothing finer than digging varmints out of the brush with a scattergun.

[PelaPapas]

Thanks everyone for the info!

[ThomC]

There is a thread on predatormasters.com that has hundreds of posts about shotguns and loads. You can read all day but to sum up get some 4 buck and don't believe the long shot people. Figure about 40 yds is good shot. Be ready to shoot again if the animal doesn't drt.