Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Maximum range semi-auto for a coyote gun?

I'm still shopping for a semi-auto for coyotes. A BIG issue for me is getting the gun and load that will give me maximum killing range. I understand there are lots of variables(chokes,size of the shot, amount of powder, etc.), but I'd appreciate comments directed at these two subjects.
1) Should I assume (Which I am.) that a 10 ga will kill at a longer distance than a 12 ga? 2) Will a 3 1/2" shell kill at a longer distance than a 3" shell?
My short list of shotguns right now include a 12ga Remington Versa Max that will shoot 3 1/2" (or 3") shells. The other option I am looking at is either a Remington SP-10 or a Browning Gold 10 ga, either of which shoots ONLY 3 1/2" shells.
Overall, is there any significant difference in the maxiumum killing range on coyotes of those guns?
Thanks for any advice.

The 10 gauge trumps all if you can stand the weight and bulk. I consistently kill coyotes to fifty yards with my 3" 12 gauge Benelli semi-auto. Anything much over that is rifle territory. The way you set up your stands can and will make a difference on the ranges which you find yourself getting shots at. But if you absolutely have to stretch the range then go for the Big Ten.

How much distance is the op looking for? If it's over 50 yards I really can't see it being a shotgun hunt.... I can't imagine going over a 3" 12 gauge for the use and sticking with 50 yards or less, but I'm a rifle guy all the way so I'm prejudice from the start.

Edit to add: I'm very interested in how much range is gained over a 3" 12 with a 3.5" 12 and any of the 10 ga guns. Anyone who's done a head to head, the info would be neat to see.

I have a tweeked BPS 10 ga. that is absolutely DEVASTATING to 70 yards............. on paper.

This is with a 2 1/4 oz. load of copper plated #2 lead.

Now...... that being said..... I have never shot a coyote with it to date. So I do not know for a fact how reliably lethal it would be on one at that distance. I know lead 2's still carry beau coup energy at that distance. But I have also seen yotes make some pretty spectacular attempts to survive substantial hits from centerfires.

I DO know that it ain't gonna be any fun to be standing 70 yards in front of the BPS when it goes off. That is a fact.

I wouldn't use those lead #2's at 70 yards on coyotes. What sort of patterns are you talking about at 70 yards?

I don't think I would ever shoot at a coyote 70 yards out. That said, if 50 yards is the expected maximum kill distance of either a 12 ga with 3" shells OR a 10 ga with 3 1/2" shells, I'll get a 12 ga. The only reason I was considering a 10 ga with 3 1/2" ammo is because I ASSUMED it would kill a coyote farther than a 12 ga with 3" ammo.

The choke tube makes a big difference.....with #4 buck, I can kill a coyote at 70 yards.....pattern density is where it's at IMO.....I like the patternmaster chokes but there are others that work also. Also, the Fiocchi nickel plated shot penetrates much better as it doesn't seem to drag fur into the wound.

I have used #4 buck with pattern master choke tube to excellent effect out to 60-70 yards, and the Dead coyote load out to 50-60 yards. I used a lot of 3� remington #4 buck while hunting over dogs and it was great. On a test using the 3� #4 buck out to my 870 with pattern master tube I was able to to keep 24 out of 48 pellets in a 2�x2� square of cardboard at 100 yards.

The last shotgun coyotes I have shot were using 3.5� dead coyote load out of a remington 870 supermag I shot two notes at 62 and 64 paces using that load and got bang flop performance on one of them and circle spinner for the second one.

Lately I have been using a 3� 11/87 with #4 buck and the hornady BB load.

The problem with a 2'x2' pattern is this...

I think your missing the concept Ive hunted with a 10 ga Ithaca semi auto for decades the 3.5" shells can be hand loaded with #4 buck and GREX poly filler over a stiff charge of BLUE DOT to provide a fairly dense pattern out at 55 yards, but its certainly not going to extend your effective kill range more than about 10 yards further than a 3" 12 GA WITH A PROPER CHOKE, with any shotgun theres always a compromise in shot pattern density and pellet size, and for coyotes (46)#4 buck in a 10 ga seems to work best in my experience, yes youll occasionally make kills out several dozen yards further, but you can depend on well centered, dense patterns out at 55 yards and closer to be near instantly effective



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Mogc - the thing that you fail to consider is when running them with dogs you don�t� necessarily need to drop it in its tracks, if you put a few #4 buckshot into it the dogs will catch it relatively quickly. I would never consider the shotgun as a 100 yard coyote killer I just did the test to see what it would do. The mid 60s are about the farthest I have shot at a coyote with the shotgun