Coyote shotgun handloads

[Rock Knocker]

I just got into shotshell loading, just one at a time with a drill roll crimp, but these things are working. Im shooting .20cal #T shot and .22cal nickel plated #F shot. Ive collected 5 different wads so far, 2 3/4" and 3" primed hulls, along with other little stuff.

I will be shooting some tungsten loads soon, I hear those are real great.

My BPSs love CSD wads with Lil'Gun powder and a whopping 902gr of #T or #F shot. Even my 20" cyclinder barrel BPS makes coyote killing patterns at 50 yards, Im getting that gun drilled for chokes soon. My 26" field model with modified chokes would kill a coyote well past 60 yards with that load.

Ive done a good bit of coyote hunting but I moved north to a thicker area and Im going to start bringing a shotgun with to try calling thicker woods than I would have hunted before.

Are there any other shotgun coyote or fox hunters on here? Or hunting size shotshell loaders, its hard to find info, Ive purchased $100 worth of loading manuals and still have gotten the most usefull info from a single youtuber. Its addictive fun stuff, Im shooting black and blue, my cheek feels like I was punched.

 

[RegionRat]

Just wait till you whack one at distance with Tungsten. It is stupid expensive, but man does it carry at distance.

 

[CJ6]

I've never loaded for shotgun, but we used to shoot Federal #4 buckshot.

 

[Rock Knocker]

RegionRat, im excited to try it out, I wont be coyote hunting until next winter now so ive got a little time to load those up. Im trying to decide what tungsten shot to start with, some guys like #2 others say go with #4 shot for coyotes. #4 sounds a bit light, where im hunting at night, shooting through brush and twigs on a moving dog is going to be inevitable if I have my shotgun out. I dont know if the heavier #2 would punch brush better or if a thick mess of #4 would sneak through the brush better. At $50 a pound I know I wont have quite as much fun testing like I am now with lead.

CJ6, those Federal 4Buck are great, Ive always kept a few boxes of those around in case I took the shotgun out for coyotes but I never took the shotgun. They pattern real well also, my first handload shotgun shells shot so much worse than those Federals that I immediately thought I might regret buying all the shotgun loading stuff. Even my best handloads are patterning about the same size as the Federal, the handload pattern density is a bit nicer with the smaller shot though.

I really like Browning BPS, I just found a 20" high cap tactical model, Im going to drill that barrel for chokes and I think get an RMR type red dot. Both my BPSs shoot high, especially buckshot i need to aim 2ft low, im going to need a way to aim these tight patterns and I want something that can be aimed and used with PVS14 also.

 

[linebaugh]

Duplex the load or find 3s if they make them.

 

[Rock Knocker]

Duplex the load or find 3s if they make them.

Yes one place offers #3, even #F, BB and #1. I really like the sound of tungsten BB if I know i will get the pattern density I need for fox size animals.

But thats where I need to get to testing and shooting, maybe a duplex of BB and #3 or #4, or just a full load of #1... Everyone has said such good things about it I dont think it will make a big difference ether way.

 

[jds holler]

The funnest calling I've done, and some of the most productive was in spots where we couldn't see further than 50 yds. We got to where in a lot of areas we carried both rifle and shotgun. Even though it was a pain, it was worth it. I think I've busted as many with the shotgun as with rifle. And Fed 3" copper #4 buffered buck was the thing. jd

 

[linebaugh]

I spent a ton on this 10 years ago. Dont go bb. Go way lighter than you think and run lighter shot charge with high velocity. I roll crimped and ran 3/4 and 7/8 loads. I think they were literally 1700 fps but my memory really sucks anymore.

Pattern at 50 yards. I think we used longshot. BPI has some data which we used as a guideline. Spending the money on shot for about 20 rounds per pound sucks but they are nasty. Play with choke size. Seems like you can over constrict but every gun is its own animal so check different tubes. We tried filler but it was inconclusive from memory probably due to no shot deformation. Teflon wraps is another idea so pellets dont imprgnate into the wad. Im sure we tried this but again... dont remember.

You will be cutting wads and hulls to get everything to work. No big deal on limited loading.

 

[linebaugh]

Tri-ball is another wicked choice. Its 3 .69 caliber balls out of a 3 inch. Kicks the begesus out of you but they pattern well with hard cast. Unfortunately they throw some fliers occasionally. Attached a pic of triball that I think was 50yrd

 

[Rock Knocker]

Good to know, 3/4oz and 7/8oz is the lightest and fastest Ive heard yet. I can see how 7/8 of #3 at 1700fps would be something. Ive got Longshot and Lil'Gun powder, I will check what BPIs 12th manual has and I can also get load data from the guy selling the TSS. I want to load up some 28ga TSS bird loads for my dad also.

I think im a little less worried about experimenting than others, my first BPI load with MG42 wads, I made with 4gr less Longshot than the manual said and they were hot as heck and shot horribly with #T. The other 3 recipes I have made up myself and theyre shooting better and seemingly safer, and I just started 2 weeks ago. Ive got a bag a BP12 wads, mylar and teflon wraps. The BP12s can be used with 2 gas seals and they call it a high velocity "Pegoda" load. I havent mustered the courage to try 2 gas seals but theyre a narrow shotcup that shoots #T and #F well from a full choke, with a cork cushion wad and mylar or the thick teflon I think tungsten would do great with Longshot in BP12s.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Having killed a few Coyotes with a Shotgun, while Quail / Chuckar Hunting with , 1 1/4 ounces of COPPER,.. #6's and #5's,.. this Load, worked okay to about,.. 45-50 yards.
Found my BEST Load was, a Fast ( 1,285 FPS ) 1 3/8 th's ounce load of, Copper #2's ( My Goose Load ).
1 1/2 and 1 7/8 th's ounce Loads were, just TOO,.. SLOW for,... "Good" Penetration at,.. 50-60 + yards !
A 12 gauge Shotgun, will Only take,.. "So Much",.. Chamber Pressure.
"Speed" Plus, Copper Plated shot, was my Friend for, penetration / Good Pattern's on,.. Geese and Yotes !
A Hunter MUST Remember that, your Shot "Pattern", starts "Dropping" pretty fast,.. past, 40 yards.
Starting at 35 to 40 yds,.. I'd aim,.. a few inches HIGH,. on Yotes and watch, the Dust,.. FLY !

 

[Rock Knocker]

Having killed a few Coyotes with a Shotgun, while Quail / Chuckar Hunting with , 1 1/4 ounces of COPPER,.. #6's and #5's,.. this Load, worked okay to about,.. 45-50 yards.
Found my BEST Load was, a Fast ( 1,285 FPS ) 1 3/8 th's ounce load of, Copper #2's ( My Goose Load ).
1 1/2 and 1 7/8 th's ounce Loads were, just TOO,.. SLOW for,... "Good" Penetration at,.. 50-60 + yards !
A 12 gauge Shotgun, will Only take,.. "So Much",.. Chamber Pressure.
"Speed" Plus, Copper Plated shot, was my Friend for, penetration / Good Pattern's on,.. Geese and Yotes !
A Hunter MUST Remember that, your Shot "Pattern", starts "Dropping" pretty fast,.. past, 40 yards.
Starting at 35 to 40 yds,.. I'd aim,.. a few inches HIGH,. on Yotes and watch, the Dust,.. FLY !

Some guys really like copper BB for coyotes, I may try that. So far ive got .22cal nickel #F and some plain hard cast #T .20. I like the nickel plated stuff more. Ive got a BP12 wad, Longshot recipe for 1 1/4oz lead at 1400fps, if I can get good patterns with that it could be a good shell to have.

So far Im mostly playing around and learning. Once I have this 20" barrel drilled for chokes and the forcing cone in the chamber lengthened for buckshot and the stock cut shorter, it will be my coyote shotgun to carry with a rifle. When I have the gun set up how I want it then I will find what exactly shoots best and start testing tungsten then load up a pile of all of it.

Yesterday I talked to Precision Reloading about sending in some of my big 2oz shells for pressure testing, this recipe is good enough to keep. They sure feel full pressure but there is a mess of unburnt powder left in the barrel, im not sure how to read that...... Im trying to make some crimp adjustments to get a bit better burn but maybe I should be careful what I wish for. These Brownings are all good milled steel, i sure dont want to damage one though. I went to talk to some local farmers for a cheap 12ga to strap to a stump so I really have nothing to worry about, well I found a $130 Ithica with a broken spring, thats worth what the Brownings are and I dont want to blow that ether. So far,,,, nothing wild has happened and published data has worried me the most.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I could Never get, the "Penetration" I liked for, Geese, Turkey or Yotes with, any Load of, 1 1/2 Ounces or, More.
Velocity, IS Key,.. in my Book for, Deep "Penetration". ( Tested Penetration in Plywood at, 100 Yards ) IF shot, "Buried" itself, in Plywood,... I Used, the Load. ( Also NEEDED, Good "Pattern Density" at,.. 50 Yards ! )
Yes # 2's and BB sized, Copper or, Nickel, Shot worked,.. WELL !
All my Testing and Hunting, was Done in,.. the early 1980's to Late,..1990's

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Good Luck with your 2 ounce, load,..Testing and Pressure Readings.
Might want to, Check for, Velocity and Penetration, also.
My Beretta A-303, 12 ga., 28" bb., Patterned BIG Shot Best with, the Modified choke

 

[Rock Knocker]

I could Never get, the "Penetration" I liked for, Geese, Turkey or Yotes with, any Load of, 1 1/2 Ounces or, More.
Velocity IS Key,.. in my Book for "Penetration". ( Tested Penetration in Plywood at, 100 Yards ) IF shot, "Buried" itself, in Plywood,... I Used, the Load. ( Also NEEDED, Good "Pattern Density" at,.. 50 Yards ! )
Yes # 2's and BB sized, Copper or, Nickel, Shot worked,.. WELL !
All my Testing and Hunting, was Done in,.. the early 1980's to Late,..1990's

Thats good to know. I havent even shot a coyote with shotgun yet but I have been trying to get patterns that will get a few #T or #F into the head and neck of a coyote, or at least 6 hits on a paper plate, my choked barrel will does much better, 20 hits on a paper plate at 40 yards.

I need a chronograph, I have always figure out velocities for rifles with drop charts and shooting at various ranges. Ive got no way of knowing velocity and I immediately saw the downfalls of that. But from what I have read and found online, Longshot and BP12 wads with a double gas seal should be the king of velocity and thats what I have........... But even the BPI manual calls this unpredictable and "destructive testing", they do provide a single double gas seal Longshot BP12 load published recipe I should be able to work off of.

Yeah im curious about those 2oz loads... and its a hair more, I weigh out 2oz of #F and then place 3 #T on top so the shotcard fits nice and straight. Ive shot that load side by side with Federal 4buck and theyre near identical. I cut open a Federl 4Buck and its 2oz shot with 44gr!!! of mystery powder, they use a gas seal with a tiny wad over filling with shot. The CSD wad im using is thick and full length full of shot and ive used up to 35gr Lil'Gun and Lil'Gun is a very slow powder for 12ga, almost no data on it but its more forgiving than Longshot for sure.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

They have definitely "stretched out" Shotgun Loads "Range",. SINCE I was,.. in the Game.
Good Luck and Be,.. SAFE !
Staying Hidden with, NO Movement was Key to, Killing Yotes with, a Shotgun for me and Hope the Wind is in Your Favor when, they start to, come in !

 

[Rock Knocker]

Good Luck with your 2 ounce, load,..Testing and Pressure Readings.
Might want to, Check for, Velocity and Penetration, also.
My Beretta A-303, 12 ga., 28" bb., Patterned BIG Shot Best with, the Modified choke

Its seems unreliable and I dont even know if I could find the data I need to make a decent guess. But I was curious if I could line up one gallon water jugs and measure penetration and then try to match that penetration with someone who has some velocity data.

And mine too, my 26" with a full choke shot that big load the same as my 20" with a cylinder barrel. I put a modified choke into the 26" and it shrunk the pattern way down.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Try putting Your Load against, a Known Velocity, Factory Load ( Both W/ SAME Shot Size ) and seeing IF, the Penetration is, the Same,.. on Plywood at,.. 80-90 yards ??
Water Jugs seem to be, an Unreliable medium with,. Bullets

 

[wedgy]

I hunted chukar this year shooting #10 TSS(500 pellets /oz) and was dropping birds at 80 yards with 1oz 20 gauge loads. It is absolutely amazing stuff that works in 2 ways, one being the hardness gives much better patterns and penetration because it does not deform, and two its density allows it to be so much smaller that it carries the energy much much further than lead or steel. The smaller size also penetrates like an ice pick thru feathers and fur. I have shot coyotes to 80 yards with #5's and past 100 yards with #2's, almost all of the pellets exit except for the ones that hit bone.. BB's are for deer and pigs, no need for them with coyotes. You don't need to choke like lead, less is more with TSS. Start with IC and tighten up until you start getting fliers then it is over choked. I reload 12, 20, 28, and .410 in TSS and for sure it is a game changer especially for the sub gauges. Who would have thought you could take turkeys and Canada geese with a .410 ?

 

[Rock Knocker]

Try putting Your Load against, a Known Velocity, Factory Load ( Both W/ SAME Shot Size ) and seeing IF, the Penetration is, the Same,.. on Plywood at,.. 80-90 yards ??
Water Jugs seem to be, an Unreliable medium with,. Bullets

Thats what I was thinking but I cant find any #T or #F ammo anywhere. I could take apart another Federal 4buck shell then put the 4buck into my loads and test my single shot of 4buck with Federal 4buck...... That could answer questions about my big 2oz load but I dont think its going to help with developing other loads. I will need a chrono.

Wedgy, #10 shot at 80 yards is crazy! Im always suprised how small #5 is!