Finally called in my first coyote, but missed! Got out early a couple weeks ago, set up against a big rock and put the caller about 30 yards out. About 20 minutes into the calling sequence I spot a yote from the corner of my eye, he actually came from behind us, but was far enough away he didn't wind us or see us. The dog got all the way up on the call/decoy. I had my 870 with me and had my bead right on his chest, I have a 28 inch barrel with a Carlson coyote choke. I fired. The dog jumped back and then took off running my brother and I fired off about 6 more shots, but missed the moving target. I still can't believe I missed, I had my bead right on his chest! 30 yards away! It seems like I shot right between his legs without hitting anything. Nonetheless it was still an awesome feeling seeing that dog come in, I'm officially hooked. We managed to call in another on the third stand that day but it hung about 200 yards out and all we had were shotguns. I will be investing in a rifle as soon as my finances allow it.
Miss!
- Thread starter CobPipeMan
- Start date
That must have sounded like quite a gunfight! Have you patterned the shotgun with that load and the choke? Could be a pretty tight pattern at 30 yards. The coyotes have thick coats right now so you might have shot through his chest fur and missed flesh with too tight a group.
8
8SteelTown
Guest
Those Carlson coyote chokes will reach every bit of 75 yards with power. At 30 yards you should've had something the size of a basketball. What shot were you using? You shot off the bead at a target before? I shoot low if I go center mass off the bead. No dust splash though? Sounds like you would've peppered that dog. Tough dog to take one to the chest. Sorry bud.
Bonejour said:
I haven't patterned it, I feel like I might have hit it, but maybe just grazed him. In hindsight, I should have waited to see if the dog would turn broadside, but I saw him facing me and when he started lifting his nose and sniffing I was concerned I would be winded.
8SteelTown said:
Was using 3in 00 buck from Hornady. The only target practice I'd done before then was at an indoor range using slugs, I've practiced a few times with buckshot since the miss though. I'm thinking I shot low like you said, the dog was standing on a rocky surface and you could see where a few pellets had struck the ground. If anything it got hit in the legs.
If you are hitting low at practice then you may need to adjust your technique. You should see a little bit of the rib when you mount the gun to your shoulder. If your eye is looking right down the rib so all you see is the bead and no rib, your point of impact (POI) will be low. MJB had a good link on here a couple weeks ago but I can't find it now.
Take your gun out and shoot. I have the same exact gun same choke, and it shoots low, but my 11-87 shoot right where it should with same barrel length and choke.
Went out to the desert this past Sunday for target practice. Practiced from about 40 yards. I used several different loads in my 870, 3 in. 00, 2&3/4 00 and rifled slugs. I was most accurate with the slugs. With a slug I hit the bullseye within 1 or 2 inches every time. Not as much luck with the buckshot though, I seem to always go high or low with the buckshot. I can't underst this. I'm thinking of going to #4 buckshot, 00 is not giving me very good patterns at 40 yards for some reason. Thoughts?
rbduffer said:
I'm planning on using #4 next time! Found it pretty easy online, even found it in 3in. shells.
8
8SteelTown
Guest
CobPipeMan said:
You are now in the same boat I was in with the confidence of slugs... super accurate. Were you using all the same choke for the 3 different rounds? Generally speaking, since there's such a small amount of shot in a 00 round, you're not going to get a huge idea of your patterning unless you're shooting at a paper target and do it a few times with fresh targets. I use a Carlson's coyote choke for anything non-slug. Gives really good grouping at extended range. If you do go into a hunting situation with slugs, I'd suggest it be your 2nd or 3rd shot. My 2 cents: 1st and second shot use the #4, 3rd shot backup is the slug because most likely the dog will be out of buckshot range by the time you need your 3rd shot. Use the slug for if/when you can get the dog to stop again.
J
Josh Pearson
Guest
I would recommend hevishot dead coyote in the T shot or number 4 Buck size with the T shot being my number one pick. Dead coyote loads are extremely expensive but they really do work and I feel they are worth the extra cost. Lead number 4 buck would be a decent and cost-effective alternative. In my opinion 00 buck is too large to consistently hit a coyote size target especially when they are on the move. Patterning your gun with the choke/load you plan to use at the ranges you plan to shoot at is critical. As soon as you can afford to buy a rifle I would start using both the shotgun and rifle on stand and you will be ready for any situation. I don't mean to be rude when I say this, just trying to give the best information possible based on my experience, but I have never heard of any serious coyote hunter using slugs in thier shotgun for coyote hunting because that really defeats the purpose of using a shotgun in the first place.
8SteelTown said:
I used my Carlsons for the buckshot, but switched to a improved cylinder I have for the slugs.
Will be picking up the #4 before the next time going out. I did some target shooting at paper targets, but was really inconsistent using 00. It's tough cuz there aren't too many pellets like you said, I think #4 will be the way to go.
Josh Pearson said:
Thanks for the advice, I actually just ordered a Ruger American from Buds gunshop online. I did the 6 months to pay plan, but hopefully I will pay it off much sooner than that! I think the 00 is too big for coyote now too. If I had shot at it with #4 I most likely would have succeeded. Live and learn right?