Shotgun for mom

[okie]

I wouldn’t avoid a 12ga shotgun, just heavy loads. Reduced recoil 12ga is comparable to 20ga.

I’d find a predator hunting forum and see what they use, buck seems like way more than you should need for small dogs.

I agree. A woman has no problem controlling recoil if she uses good technique. Main thing is avoiding the high brass loads, as they hurt. The main issue with women and just short people in general with shotguns is the LOP is too long and the forend is too reachy on the pumps, so they lean back and don't get behind it, which results in stung shoulders. A youth model 12ga 870 might fit her nicely though. They have the extended forends, which help a lot when you have a small wingspan. You could go 20ga, but I think she'll do fine with low brass 12ga, and 20 just makes getting hits so much harder. 20ga buckshot is also generally high brass 3" shells, so the recoil might be the same in the end.

I don't think 00 buck is too much. It's a 55gr pellet doing roughly the speed of sound from low brass, so I wouldn't necessarily want to go with anything less. Single ought and #1 aren't as easy to find either since they're somewhat niche.

[Disciple]

I don't think 00 buck is too much. It's a 55gr pellet doing roughly the speed of sound from low brass, so I wouldn't necessarily want to go with anything less. Single ought and #1 aren't as easy to find either since they're somewhat niche.

On the contrary, #4 buck would be about right for the densest pattern with sufficient penetration I think.

[okie]

On the contrary, #4 buck would be about right for the densest pattern with sufficient penetration I think.

The coyotes around here all seem to be in the 50 pound range now. I haven't captured any of the little guys at all this year. I don't know if #4 buck would cut it on them or not. It's awfully small little shot.

[Disciple]

Hevi Shot makes a Dead Coyote load with T shot, and Hornady has a BB coyote load. Even with the larger hybrid coyotes #4 buck seems like it would be enough. If the range far enough for #4 buck to under penetrate the #00 pattern will be too sparse.

I searched coyote shot size and quickly found supporting opinions.

https://www.kingscamo.com/blogs/king...e-they-for-you

While you can get by with smaller shot if your target is at closer ranges, I consider No. BB (.18 cal.) the minimum size. Larger shot sizes such as BBB (.19 cal.), T (.20 cal.) and No. 4 Buck (.24 cal.) are much more efficient at bringing down the coyotes. Larger pellets such as 3 Buck and 1 Buck deliver more energy, but the lower pellet counts may not be dense enough to consistently place a sufficient number of pellets into the coyote’s boiler (see chart below).

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre...ot-size.81929/

[okie]

Hevi Shot makes a Dead Coyote load with T shot, and Hornady has a BB coyote load. Even with the larger hybrid coyotes #4 buck seems like it would be enough. If the range far enough for #4 buck to under penetrate the #00 pattern will be too sparse.

I searched coyote shot size and quickly found supporting opinions.

https://www.kingscamo.com/blogs/king...e-they-for-you


https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre...ot-size.81929/

It's hard for me to imagine #4 buck being ideal for the ones we have around my property, but then again I've never tried it. It doesn't impress though even at close range in gel. If you have the 20 pounders I'm sure it would be about perfect, but for the mid sized ones in the 40-50 pound range I'm not sure. You're basically talking about a small wolf at that point. I hear they get a lot bigger up north, too. Allegedly northwards of 50 even.

Definitely sounds like OP needs to ask around on some predator hunting groups in his region. I'm sure those guys would know exactly what he needs.

[L-2]

Regarding Post 20's comment,
Realize there is #4 buckshot at ~.24"/pellet vs. #4 birdshot at .13"/pellet.
(No response necessary; I got the impression folks were mixing up or thinking and talking about birdshot instead of buckshot.)

Otherwise, I've no direct or even hearsay experience as to what shotgun ammo will work best for a coyote; and which shotgun (barrel length and choke for such prey and at what distance).

In my head, my imaginary scenario seems to favor a slug, but being able to shot quickly select to #4 buck, depending on pattern, could be a good idea.

My usual reference for anybody trying to choose a firearm (handgun or long gun) is to read up on "Choosing Firearms" in this somewhat dated forum:
https://www.corneredcat.com/contents/

Although that forum is more self-defense related, not coyote-depradation-related or specific.

[Disciple]

You're basically talking about a small wolf at that point. I hear they get a lot bigger up north, too. Allegedly northwards of 50 even.

I have never seen any like that so trying to get a sense of the scale I found https://www.theprogressnews.com/prog...66f7e2259.html

Michael Galbraith took home the top prize at the annual Mosquito Creek Sportsmen’s Association Coyote Hunt. His coyote, taken in Venango County, weighed in at a record-breaking 53 pounds and earned him a prize of $9,672.

That is an intimidatingly large animal I must say. However trying to imagine it without fur I still don't see an animal all that thick through, and I would still be concerned with #00 missing vitals at range. If it were available I suppose #2 buck would be a good compromise.

[okie]

[QUOTE=Disciple;3056363]I have never seen any like that so trying to get a sense of the scale I found https://www.theprogressnews.com/prog...66f7e2259.html



That is an intimidatingly large animal I must say. However trying to imagine it without fur I still don't see an animal all that thick through, and I would still be concerned with #00 missing vitals at range. If it were available I suppose #2 buck would be a good compromise.


Yea it kind of gives me the willies being out at the property at night hearing them all yapping. I caught one on trail cam the other night that looked taller than my staffy, that weighs 55 pounds. Granted the coyote was skinnier, but I figure he must have been somewhere between about 40 and 50. It's just a good thing for us humans that they're too timid to try us. Wouldn't take more than two or three of them to easily overpower a man.