00 buck

[b44mag]

 OK guy n gals I'm going coyote hunting .we pulled straws to see what yardage we were going to shot from .i got the short straw so under 50 its mine. now i have a 870 with the 21 incher on it. the ? is can i use 00 buck with a tru glow ported  gobble stopper. or should i use the factory turkey extra full or maybe the steel,lead factory full i really want to use the ported one but don't know if it will mess something up let me know what you all think thanks
                                                                                                                                                                 b44mag

[Graybeard]

I think buckshot is a poor choice regardless. Use something that will give you a thicker pattern. I'd say #2 would be about ideal but a good heavy load of #4s say 1-3/4 to 2 oz should do the job to as far as a shotgun is gonna get the job done. At that range with OO buck you'll be extremely lucky if a single pellet makes contact somewhere on the body.

If you are bound and determined you just gonna use buckshot (I would NOT) then I'd at least go with #4 buck.

[b44mag]

hey thanks for the info.  great job on the site I'm learning alot. i have some heavy 4s,5s just thought the buck shot would be better. i will use the 4s
                                                                                                b44mag

[Big]

Do you have to use a shotgun?  Why not a rifle?  Or a rock?

[dougk]

At that range 3 inch BB or BBB is my choice, T would be an option.  Both BB and BBB pattern well at 50 yards using a fixed IM choke.

Good Luck

[Siskiyou]

Federal makes a #4 premium buckshot load which I would consider for coyotes out to fifty yards. 

Premium Buckshot
Our Buckshot delivers staggering ballistic capability. Our patented spiral shot stacking process, with plastic shot cup and buffering, ensures dense, predictable patterns. Copper-plated shot penetrates deep for harder hits.

34 PELLETS - 4 BUCK
 P156
 12
 2.75
 MAG.
 1250

I believe that at one time Remington also sold a magnum #4 Buck load that was nickle coated.

At one time I did a bunch of testing at different ranges in light brush cover and in the open using 2 3/4 length #4 and 00 buckshot loads at taxpayer expense.  My conclusion that buckshot was good out to about 30 yards in the open.  To be effective with buck you need to have a number of hits on a target.  After 30 yards the pattern was to open to insure enough hits.  I would backup my buckshot with rifle slugs.

Suggest cutting out a coyote silhouette and create a backing of four or five layers of heavy card board or a thin piece of plywood and see what kind of penetration you will get and coverage.  You will need at least three pellets in the heart/lung area for a kill.  Back in the days of lead shot I killed a lot of ducks and geese with #4 lead shot.  It was very effective on a five pound duck or a ten pound goose but I do not recall full pentration of a bird with #4 shot.

I tried penetration shots using #2 lead bird shot on 1/4 plywood and I feel it would be effective at 30-yards in a magnum load.  dougk suggestion of 3-inch BB or BBB maybe just right.