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Author
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Topic: Anybody got 12 Gauge Datr?
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Coyote Ugly
PAKMAN
Member # 705
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posted September 22, 2005 08:13 PM
Anybody do much of this hunting with a shotgun? If so, can you share your experience with loads / chokes, and practical range of the weapon. I’m particularly interested in 12 Ga. pattern data.
I started night hunting fox/coyotes 3 years ago, and am hooked in a big way. But from my “numbers”, you’d conclude that I’m doing it way more for the exercise part, than the killin’ part. (Particularly on coyotes.) I hunt solo, always… and I’ve played some with a rifle (.22-250), but mostly hunt with a shotgun. Each weapon has it’s advantages, but solo at night, I’ve found a less precise weapon works mo beta. (Trying to keep the critter lit, and in the scope, in the middle of a black field of view ain’t real easy. I’m getting better at it though). I’m using mouth calls, mostly for the weight reduction (agile, mobile and….. you get the picture), and coyotes (almost) always want downwind…….. usually out of shotgun range. (I’m thinking about a remote electronic caller, but that’s another topic). Range estimation at night is tough! Lots of times I shoot em for 25, and pick um up at 35…..
The 1st 2 seasons I hunted with a 3” Federal load of 1 7/8 oz of 2’s through a turkey choke, and had very few runoffs, although several had to be dispatched with a .22lr. The snow helps…….. Last year, I wanted more range for the downwind trick, and switched to BB’s in the same shell, and I had more runoffs than the prior years……….So here’s some datr on these 2 loads……. In my gun
Gun – Mossberg 9200 - .732” bore
Pellet count in a 30” circle at 40 yards
|Mod .716” |Full .701”|Turkey.665”|Load Total
BB’s|49 (52.1%)|55 (58.5%)|62 (66%) | 94(100%)
2’s |84 (50.9%)|94 (57%) |112(67.9%) |165 (100%)
The %’s held from BB’s to 2’s, but 62 hits in a 30” circle left many places where a fox might only catch 1 to 3 of them……..and runoft.
The patterns were splotchy. In the BB’s there were many “holes” in the pattern…….. I can’t explain why the %’s don’t come close to the “advertised” %’s though….. for example, a Full choke should print 75% at 40 yards according to the literature. One part of the explanation might be that I measured the pattern around the point of aim, not the point of impact. I’m going to try some heavy shot through these chokes, and I’ll report that too…..
Do guys routinely kill animals at 50+ yards with these weapons? Not just Billy Bob getting lucky on a fox at 70 yards one night. (the golden BB theory) I don’t understand how the buckshot could work well……… with the pellet count that low, that is? You’d be as likely to hit him in the ar$ as anywhere else! It's all about the statistics...
Anybody got any datr?
Posts: 2 | From: Western New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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Jack Roberts
Knows what it's all about
Member # 13
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posted September 22, 2005 09:47 PM
Night hunting works a lot better with 2 people.
Jack
Posts: 499 | From: Elko NV formerly MD | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted September 22, 2005 11:33 PM
Welcome to the New Huntmasters, Coyote Ugly. Glad to have you on board.
As to the question. I use a 835 with a Mossberg .712 choke and mostly #4Buck, but I have used the same 2 Oz Federal BB load that you refer to. I don't think there is much question that the 4Buck flattens a coyote, at or within 40 yards. The BB load, quite often, you have to shoot them twice, at that distance.
If hunting at night in close cover, from the truck, I almost always have three guns available, one general purpose that is in my hands with the bolt handle up, but right next to me is a long range rig dialed in for 400 yards, and on the other side and a bit more handy is the Mossberg with the bolt half way open for those close in surprise encounters.
What Jack said is what I believe, two people for hunting at night.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31449 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Coyote Ugly
PAKMAN
Member # 705
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posted September 23, 2005 12:44 AM
Thanks for the comeback guys... I'd look like Stallone if I were packing 3 guns with me, and the local men in green would arrest me for shooting from the truck. All my hunting is done on foot (or snowshoe) mostly in agricultural areas. The rules put a night hunter between a rock and another rock, as we're restricted to rimfires at night during any legal deer season (I love NY). That's OK for reds, but for the coyotes I'd like a little more gun.
It's a little different.... I get the feeling most of you guys call more coyotes in 1 night than I call in in a month.... but I love it. Get to watch the northern lights every now and then too!
Len, You ever print any patterns with the 4buck through that choke?
Posts: 2 | From: Western New York | Registered: Sep 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted September 23, 2005 10:26 AM
Yes I have, but it was so long ago that I'd be just guessing if I were to quote them. Maybe I should go for a refresher?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31449 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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