Hello all, I have an idea that I want to hunt Coyotes with a favorite model 12 20 ga of mine. It is old school with a modified choke. Has anyone used a factory load which is acceptable at woods ranges? Please let me know load and details. Thanks, and take care, Rick
I use #3 buck, pellets are 24 cal and at 75 cover tail to nose. I do not search them up after I shoot, but they never come back, an ounce of #3 buck is hard to carry. I use a 391 Beretta 20ga with a 20" barrel, IC choke, a palm switch mag light cowitnessed for pattern on the light circle on a pond. You pick up about 3 more pellets with a 3" VS a 2 3/4" shell. The #3 is a balance between numbers and impact power.
My model 12 has a 2 3/4” chamber so I’m limited in that respect. I do have a Beretta 391 Sporting which I think is 3” but I am partial to the model 12. Thanks for the info, Rick
I hunted coyotes with a savage combo gun in 20/223 for awhile. Loaded 1oz NP lead BBs and they worked well. I didn't care for the ergonomics of the 24 and traded it off. 1oz of NP BBs is my go-to load in my 16ga drillings and hasn't let me down. I never had Buckshot either 2 or 3 buck to pattern well enough to use it.
HV Sluggers will knock the [bleep] out of them out to 50-75 yards, if your gun will shoot them accurately. I shot a couple coyotes with them out of a cheap H&R 20ga pump from my deer stand quite a few years ago. Exit holes from 30-40 yards were silver dollar sized.
Thanks guys for the responses. I prefer to stay with shot as opposed to a slug. Although I am set up to load 20 ga I have so many irons in the fire I prefer to stick with something I can buy. I have some of the Remington #3 buck but have yet to try any. I would love to buy some BB shot in 20 or 16 ga but not aware of anyone loading it. I have a model 12 16ga choked full that I want to try also. I’m not sure how #1 buck will doo through a full choke but need to find out. Thanks for the replies, Rick
Denser than lead shot like the old Remington HD or the TSS shot in pellet sizes of #2,3,4,5 in 1-ounce weight in a properly choked 20 gauge should kill coyotes well enough to about 30 yards. The denser than lead stuff is hard and breaks bones well, it penetrates hide and muscle well also. With smaller pellets like #4, the pellet count is much higher and fills the pattern better. If you can manage a center-dense core, better yet. Shoot them in the head and be ready to apply more shot to the problem if they don't immediately go down for the count. Look for a good tungsten (NOT steel shot) turkey or waterfowl load.
45-70fan, I too am a 45-70 fan. Thank you for the link. I have been looking for such ammo and will give it a try in one or two of my 3” chambered 20ga guns. I wish similar, even if lighter shot charge in 2 3/4” for my model 12. Thanks! Rick
Glad that someone asked. I always thought that my Savage 24 .22 Mag./3" 20 gauge full choke would be a pretty effective close in coyote combination if a guy just wanted to get them gone. Lots lighter than the center fire 24's.
Hevi Shot sold their actual hevi shot #2 3" 20ga ammo for awhile, I bought a bunch for next to nothing in a hardware store in rural SD they were too expensive for pheasant hunters that could still shoot lead and no demand from local duck hunters. I keep a few around for my little CZ Bobwhite in case I find a spot that really needs calling.
I wouldn't shoot TSS in an older fixed choke 20ga that was built before steel became mandatory for waterfowl.
There are a number of California predator callers using TSS.
I'm not in Cali but I have killed quite a few coyotes with TSS in a 12 gauge. TSS #2,3,4 from a 3" 12 gauge when properly choked is devastating on called predators.
I shot my first coyote with a 1 ounce load of 6's, range 20 yards with a Mossberg full choke bolt gun. I killed a coyote a couple of months ago with 1 1/8 ounce load of number 4's at thirty yards. Neither time was I intentionally hunting coyotes but they died quickly. I would prefer #2 at least if I were hunting for coyotes on purpose and keep range to 35 yards or less.
I always seem to grab my 20g instead of my 12g when hunting coyotes, it just carries better in the field. I hunt with #2 shot over an electronic call and decoy setup.
I can’t say I’ve ever killed a coyote with a 20ga but have killed several with 12ga turkey loads and BB lead and #4 buck… but I did see a guy on the internet killing them with 12ga 7&1/2 TSS loads and it was rolling them hard. He said they were sure killers out to 60+ yards. I’d look for them in your 20 and see what they do. Good luck and hope you pile them up!