Thats not true on the shotgun being better than the 22 magnum at any range! Not true! Some people need to learn how to shoot a rifle! Thats the main problem! Ive killed alot of coyotes and I'll take head shots at them at 100yds. no problem can't do that with a shotgun and 40yds. is to far with a shotgun! Use the right bullet in the 22 magnum, use either the Win Super X HP or the CCI Maxi Max.
Normaly, I'd just leave this as it is, and go on about my business, but...
I didn't say the shotgun was better at "any" range. I said it was better within shotgun range(40 yards). As far as head shooting coyotes, I'd very much like to meet the man who could get a coyote to stand still long enough for a perfect head shot. I'm no seasoned coyote hunter(by my standards), but I have called in, and killed several dozen in the last few years, along with a slew of foxes, and even quite a few bobcats. Predators in most cases are either called in, or taken by chance when seen. In either case, most often there are only seconds at best to size up a shot, take aim, and make a kill. Therefore a chest shot offers a lot better chance of putting a bullet through something vital.
As far as my rifle shooting ability, I've run the whole spectrum of shooting/hunting. I've killed groundhogs well past 800 yards with rifles that were capable of that kind of consistent accuracy, won more than my fair share of money, and prizes shooting in "actual" field matches from field positions, busted varmints out past 250 yards with open sighted lever actions, and lately get my kicks from hunting most everything with open sighted revolvers. I can, have, and will continue till my sight gives out, bust oranges, or clay birds at 100+ yards offhand with any rifle I have, scoped or not very consistently, and do the same out to 250+ yards from nearly any field rested position.
I don't offer advice loosely, and you can bet that if I do offer it, there's a lot of trial, and error, and actual shooting time behind it. I've spent more hours behind a trigger than most people could comprehend, and sent hundreds of thousands of centerfire rounds downrange. The rimfire(magnums included) that I've sent downrange would make most sane people scratch their heads, and question my sanity. I'm pretty certain that by this time in my life, I've become a fairly good rifle shot...
Not trying to provoke any kind of argument here at all. I'm just letting you know from where my opinions have been formed
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