Author Topic: .22mag. or shotgun for coyotes? (Read 884 times)

coopershooter · « **on:** December 24, 2004, 12:46:46 PM »

what would be better for calling coyotes? .22mag or a shotgun?

Catfish · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2004, 03:48:54 AM »

The shotgun with #4 buckshot. The .22 mag. just don`t have the nessary power to take a coyote relialibly, sure people have killed them with the .22 mag., but alot more get away.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2004, 11:24:18 AM »

When I lived in michigan I used the 22mag at night quite a bit. In michigan YOu can't use buckshot or centerfire at night. That pretty much leaves you with 22 mag or 12ga with 4 shot. I have shot several fox, a few cats, and a handful of coyotes with the 22 mag and never had one get away. I mainly used the winchester 40gr JSP ammo and it always did the job. I have probably shot as many predators with the shotgun during the day as I have a rifle. Nothing beats a 12ga with a heavy load of BBs or #4 buck when hunting in heavy cover where shots will be less than 70 yards or so. THe #4 buck loads will kill way out there with a good choke.

varmit_master · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2004, 04:22:31 AM »

Hi i had killed some coyotes with my 22 mag if you keep the shot under 80 yrds i use Win 40gr JHP and NEVER lost one yet i have a Rem SP 10ga with custom choke and Fed lead copper platted BB's 2 1'4oz load and it works good on them too the 22 mag will work if it is the only thing you got you just have to call them in closer VM

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2004, 02:48:27 PM »

coopershooter,

Quote

what would be better for calling coyotes? .22mag or a shotgun?

Forget the .22 WMR and go with the 12 ga. and #4 buck. Just get them in close. I learned coyote calling from an old government hunter and he killed more coyotes than anyone I ever knew. He tried the .22 WMR with sorry results. Too many wounded coyotes that required too much tracking to retrieve them or they got away completely. Head shots are not a viable option on called in coyotes. They dont hold their head still long enough for one to be certain of not wounding. Lawdog

Dogshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2004, 04:42:17 PM »

Coopershooter, what kind of range do you think you will be shooting???

coopershooter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2004, 01:17:42 PM »

i dont really know what i,m doing! this is my first year. the only thing i have is a wounded rabbit squeeler

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2004, 04:18:50 PM »

If your in thicker cover use the shotgun. If your out in open country save up and get a 223 or 22-250. Its a lot of fun, you'll love it.

coopershooter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2005, 01:11:12 PM »

the management area im in only allows rimfire or shotguns.

Gregory · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2005, 03:00:49 PM »

Quote from: coopershooter

the management area im in only allows rimfire or shotguns.

Same problem for me, but I can use a muzzle loader too, so I'm thinking my 50 cal with 200 gr 44 pistol bullets in a sabot may be the best choice.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** January 01, 2005, 05:38:19 PM »

I hunt them with both a .22 Mag Handirifle and a 12 Gauge with #4 buckshot. Both will kill coyotes stone cold dead. For close in work, 40 yards and under the 12 gauge is hard to beat unless you have small openings to shoot through, not matter what people will tell you, vegatation can do strange things to projectiles and bullets and shotgun pellets tend to go every which way through brush. If you have to "thread the needle" with your bullet then the .22 Mag will do the jod out to 100 yards or so, IF YOU DO YOUR PART!!! To many times guns, calibers or bullets get a bad rap from some yahoo trying an impossible shot or someone who could not hit a barn from the inside saying the guns no good. A bad shot is not made any better by a bigger bullet, better to place the smaller bullet in the correct spot than to miss by a foot with a bigger gun, of course there is always the possibility of perfect shot placement with a big gun....<><.... :wink: