Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Hey, Convince me on a pelt cartridge & load

More fur harvested around here with a 12g shotgun than with a rifle. With the right shotgun, choke, and loads, you can successfully take them out to 100 yards without any fur damage.

More fur harvested around here with a 12g shotgun than with a rifle. With the right shotgun, choke, and loads, you can successfully take them out to 100 yards without any fur damage.

I'd like to see one of your 100 yard patterning targets, and perhaps hear about your choke and constriction numbers, as well as the particular load doing the 100 yard killin.
I would be more than interested.

If I was close in my calculations, the BB size lead shot has;
A .014 B.C. value
If leaving the shotgun muzzle at 1430fps
A 7.4 grain pellet of #4 shot will strike with 3.2 ft/lbs of energy at 100 yards.
And will have slowed to 438.2 fps. by the time it reaches 100 yards.

Might be off a little in my calculations, but it's not surprizing to me that there's not much fur damage caused by a shotgun load at 100 yards.

Sounds like thus far you have done very well in terms of staying clear of heavy bone w the Varmint Grenades.

Your Bobcat example surprises me. I am left with three questions. Hope you don't mind If I try to learn a little more here.

1.) With the BobCat example; Was the Shoulder bone actually hit?

The bullet actually hit the right elbow as it entered. The bobcat had hopped up on a downed log and was sitting there like a house kitty when I shot it.

2.) Are your loads what one may call conservative velocity wise or are you at the upper velocity range.

Yes, I tend to load towards the lower end of the spectrum. I have found by trial and error over the years that the loads with the highest velocities are not always the most accurate loads. What I have found is bullet seating depth has more of an impact on accuracy than higher velocities. Just my two cents from my own experience on the loads I have worked up.

3.) What would you guess The range of the bobcat and on average what range are you calling your coyotes into?

The bobcat was 75 yards. I know because I ranged it. Most yotes average 40 yards when hand calling. The bobcats tend to hang up a bit farther out, at least the ones that I have seen. I am sure there have been more that have
come in but I just didn't see them. Woodpecker in distress for bobcats works well in my areas.


Thanks for the feedback.