My predator hunting shotgun.

bigben · October 16, 2007, 07:11:48 AM

I just revamped my predator hunting shotgun. it is a 18.5 inch barrel that was a cylinder choke. I shot the gun and as expected it left a bit to be desired. which is what I figured but I bought the barrel at a yard sale and decided it was better then buying a new one. so I made a choke out of a stainless that the companys normally use. it is a .690 constriction. I then ported it and silver soldered it on the end of the gun. the choke is made with a inch of constriction and then a inch of straight. this brings the total barrel length to 20.5 inchs and makes for a light easy to swing gun. this is how the major company's make em to stabilize the whole shot colume. so I went to the range on sat around lunch time and sent some rounds down range. I use a 3" 2oz of BB load from federal and I have been toying back and forth with #4 buck in the 3" 41 pellet that remington offers and the 2 3/4" that whinchester offers with 27 Pellet. here are some pics. the top pic is the 3" #4 buck with 41 pellets in the shell. it was shot from 40 yds I got 3 pellets in the four inch circle. the rest of the shot was evenly spread. if I was a coyote I would be afraid. at 50 yds the same results 3-5 pellets every time. here is the kicker. the #4 buckshot blew through the 5/8" plywood that I had up for the cardboard holder. both the 41 pellet cound and the 27 pellet count patterned the same. so is less really more? I know I am buying the 2 3/4" load before the 3" load.
the bottom pic is the BB load. I got 12 pellets in a four inch circle. the rest of the pattern would have decimated everything else in the fox and last year I never had a problem breaking bones to 50 yds. this cardboard was 40 yds. the pellets on this load at 40 yds actually did not penatrate all the way through the board. but made the wood splinter on the back. so if it was 3/8 plywood it would have probably went through. I am heading to bass pro for a box of dead coyote even though I think it is a waste and I am going to grab some more #4 buck in the loads that this gun likes.

vvarmitr · October 16, 2007, 08:09:57 AM

Hang on there son.

Don't go buying the 2 3/4" until you've tried the Dead Coyote.

Ya might be in for a nice big surprise.

Really appreciate your sharing the info. Especially about making your own choke. That is way cool.

bigben · October 16, 2007, 10:34:17 AM

unless it patterns better then the #4 buck or the BB load It is a waste. if I can not get good patterns at the ranges the load is supposed to be the best at then it is not worth the 3.00 a load

vvarmitr · October 17, 2007, 07:32:42 AM

Well, I'm just telling ya little buddy cause I ain't never heard a complaint about Dead Coyote except back when they had a poor criimp that let buffer leak out. They fixed that tho'.

Everyone swears by it. I haven't gotten any yet cause I've never seen it when I didn't anything but beer money on me.

bigben · October 17, 2007, 08:08:24 AM

I gotta box last night and will probably check it out tonight.

bigben · October 17, 2007, 05:59:26 PM

allright my opinion changed on dead coyote load. here is the pattern. I know it is not centered but there was a yellow flower in front of where I shot at and that was the aiming point. but check out how dense the shot is. this is actually the back side of the cardboard. I am also happy to report that this load kills yellow flowers. HeHe just for chits and giggles I went to 70 yds and shot a pattern. it hit three pellets in a 8"circle. not a 70 yd load but atleast a 60 yd load. if I wanted to waste the money I would really shoot the whole box of 10 but did not feel it was needed. 60 yds is a ways out there. and I will trust it. so is it worth the 29.00 I paid for it? every penny.
the shot might not have been very good one at 70 yds beacause the dot in my scope and no rest I could have pulled it.

bigben · October 17, 2007, 06:00:19 PM

damn forgot to mention the range of the target 50 yds.

wv_yoter · October 17, 2007, 06:16:22 PM

Bigben, that looks pretty good for fifty yards. I believe I might have to try them myself, thanks for the pics and info.

vvarmitr · October 17, 2007, 06:34:54 PM

Thought you'd like it.

In other words ... I told you so, I told you so!

Now were these 2 3/4" or 3" loads?
Did you notice if there was more felt recoil?

bigben · October 17, 2007, 06:43:23 PM

these were the 3" loads and the recoil actually I did not feel. was not really noticin. but my shoulder does not hurt like it does after shooting two #4 buck loads in ten minutes. I was really doubting but it opened my eyes. if I am hunting a area that I know that 40 yds is max I will be saving the dead coyote load and only shooting #4 buck or the bb load. do not want to tear em in half.

FinsnFur · October 17, 2007, 09:58:01 PM

Very interesting little analysis Ben.

ohiobob · December 19, 2007, 02:26:11 AM

bigben
Have ya shot a Coyote with the Dead Coyote Shells yet ??? I bought a Box about 3 weeks ago, I got a Great pattern at 60 yards with mine and a Normal Full Choke, I MIGHT put my Extra Full Choke Tube in and shoot the Shells at 70 Yards, But I am like you, I paid $27 for 10 Shells and really don't feel like wasting the Money

But I am wondering Now about the Extra Full Choke and the Dead Coyote Shell, maybe if I get time this week I will shoot it through my Full and Extra Full Chokes tubes at 70 Yards, if I do, I will take Pics and Post them
Are your Dead Coyote Shells have the Copper Colored Hulls ???
Later
Bob

centerfire_223 · December 19, 2007, 04:54:56 AM

I shot 2 coyotes last Saturday with a shotgun, one with #4 buck and the other with the dead coyote. Both coyotes were shot at about the same yardage, 20 yards or so. The one shot with the #4 buck was DRT not even a flinch but the one with the dead coyote jump around and yelped for 20 seconds or so. But like I said, both rounds killed them dead, but my money will go to buy more #4 buck. The dead coyote didn't impress me.

One thing about the dead coyote is you don't have to get on your pup distress really quick.

bigben · December 19, 2007, 07:00:49 AM

no I have not killed a coyote with dead coyote yet. the coyote I did kill was with #4 buck. the shell casing is a chocolate color on mine. I know they were changing hull colors from when they were leasing to remington. I still think it is worth it and it gets loaded in the gun everytime now. I have not really been taking the shotgun that often now and been taking the hornet to get it some seat time. december is a dead month in pennsyltucky. the rifle season goes to the second weekend and then after that many of the times I am tied up in christmas stuff. me and dad are heading up north this weekend to try and get a bobcat. that would be a hell of a christmas present to give dad.

hoping there is snow and we can cut a track and pound the area hard. not too sure on what the exact game plan is.

vvarmitr · December 19, 2007, 08:39:54 AM

Quote from: centerfire_223 on December 19, 2007, 04:54:56 AMOne thing about the dead coyote is you don't have to get on your pup distress really quick.

Gee, I never thought of it that way.

:roflmao:

That's really not a fair accessment Ronnie. IMO One of the #4bucks may have hit the brain while the DC didn't, but apparently made it to the vitals. I wouldn't be to conclusive just on 2 shots.

cb223 · December 19, 2007, 09:45:54 PM

Quote from: ohiobob on December 19, 2007, 02:26:11 AM
bighorn
Have ya shot a Coyote with the Dead Coyote Shells yet ??? I bought a Box about 3 weeks ago, I got a Great pattern at 60 yards with mine and a Normal Full Choke, I MIGHT put my Extra Full Choke Tube in and shoot the Shells at 70 Yards, But I am like you, I paid $27 for 10 Shells and really don't feel like wasting the Money But I am wondering Now about the Extra Full Choke and the Dead Coyote Shell, maybe if I get time this week I will shoot it through my Full and Extra Full Chokes tubes at 70 Yards, if I do, I will take Pics and Post them
Are your Dead Coyote Shells have the Copper Colored Hulls ???
Later
Bob

Isn't Dead Coyote just "T" Hevi-Shot?

I didn't think you were supposed too shoot large Hevi-Shot through tight chokes. It's too hard doesn't compress like lead = hard on barrels.

Besides all of the testing my friends and me have done it patterned the best with a modified choke with goose loads. I assume that one would get similar results with dead coyote.

ohiobob · December 20, 2007, 12:21:06 AM

I can shoot Steel in my Choke tube, heck we have been doing it around here on Geese for awhile, I looked at the 1 guys tube and it looked good, I saw a Mossberg Tube that Had a Chunk out of it when Steel was shot thru it,it wasnt Pertty
So if we arent Suppose to, well the Waterfowl Hunters out here don't know it, and I am not gonna tell them any Different
Bob

centerfire_223 · December 20, 2007, 05:34:59 AM

Quote
That's really not a fair assessment Ronnie. IMO One of the #4bucks may have hit the brain while the DC didn't, but apparently made it to the vitals. I wouldn't be to conclusive just on 2 shots.

I have been shooting coyotes with #4 buck for years, never had so much as a tail twitch out of one. An I agree one shot with the dead coyote isn't a good test. The biggest test in my book is Dead coyote is $27 a box (10 shells) compared to $3.95 a box (5 shells). Its like your watch if it ain't broke don't try and fix it.

KySongDog · December 20, 2007, 06:39:43 AM

Quote from: centerfire_223 on December 20, 2007, 05:34:59 AM
I have been shooting coyotes with #4 buck for years, never had so much as a tail twitch out of one. An I agree one shot with the dead coyote isn't a good test. The biggest test in my book is Dead coyote is $27 a box (10 shells) compared to $3.95 a box (5 shells). Its like your watch if it ain't broke don't try and fix it.

What size choke are you using Ronnie? Also, that $3.95 is a good price. Here it is about $6-$8 a box. Still much cheaper that DC though.

vvarmitr · December 20, 2007, 08:04:52 AM

Ronnie: I agree w/ there on the $.

I shoot #4buck myself.

I would like to see #4buck Hevi-Shot.

I believe we'd have a 70yd coyote wacker-stacker there boys.

54 of those hard hitting pellets in a 3 1/2" shell! Eiee doggies!