How About Shotguns?

[ScottD]

Yeah, I know the subject line says "Rifles", but we've heard about Predator Rifles of Choice and Big Game Rifles of Choice, but how about Shotguns? Let's don't forget the scattergun crowd! (Personally, I'm beginning to think that for most places east of about San Antonio, a shotgun is a mighty fine predator weapon.)

Anyway, as for me, I usually use one of three shotguns for predators: Remington 11-87 with a 23" barrel and Tru-Glo sights, a Benelli SBE Turkey gun with a 24" barrel and also Tru-Glo sights, or a Remington 870 Turkey gun with a 20" barrel, Monte Carlo stock, and a Simmons Pro-Diamond scope. For ammo, I use either copper-plated BB's (as long as my Winchester supply lasts) or sometimes #4 buckshot. Although I have some #2 Hevi-Shot and a Briley Hevi-Shot choke that I'm anxious to try as soon as I can get some feedback from someone who's used Hevi-Shot.

ScottD

[ICMCumin]

Hi Scott:

What kind of range do you have with your scatterguns?

I have a SBE with 26 inch barrell and superfull turkey choke so could go with it if I wanted, but usually take either my .222 or .223.

thanks.

[sbe12g]

i also shoot an SBE with a 26" bbl. note on the Hevi-Shot.....dirty,dirty,and dirty.

[ScottD]

ICM,

By range I assume you mean effective range, and the truthful answer to that is that I don't really know for certain. I know how my various shotguns pattern at 50 yards, which is self-imposed max range for a shotgun. I read all about these 75-yard shotguns and all that, and I remain doubtful. But aside from that, in a lot of the places I hunt, I can't even SEE 75 yards. If I could, a rifle would be more appropriate. That being said, I checked my notes last night and found the following: (I don't have a rangefinder, but I'm a pretty big guy and 98 of my "paces" is 100 yards.)

Bobcat - 51 paces - Win. BB's/Rem. 1187/Patternmaster Choke - Although this one took two rounds

Fox - 48 paces - Win. BB's/Rem. 1187/Rem. Super Full Turkey Choke

Coyote - 52 paces - Win. Supreme #4 Buckshot/Rem. 870/Patternmaster Choke.

sbe12ga - What do you mean by "dirty" with respect to Hevi-Shot?

I could get on a soapbox real quick about the trend lately to try and make a shotgun something it's not. But I still believe, in most siutations where I hunt, it remains a very formidable weapon. I've been studying Hevi-Shot and looking for data, and there's a post on "another" board in response to the Hevi-Shot question by a guy who really knows his stuff that is very impressive.

ScottD

[ICMCumin]

ScottD:

Thanks for the response.

I read on another board about taking varmints with a shotgun at 75 yards and I really had my doubts - it just didn't seem logical that even hevishot would reach out that far.

I pretty much agree with your figures - would have thought that 40 yards or so would be the maximum effective range for a solid yote shot but I've never taken one so I don't have the experience that you do. (my philosophy is to take solid kill shots only.)

SBE -what would cause the hevishot to be dirtier than lead or steel? Is it barrel fouling you're talking about?

[urcousinvinny]

Hi everyone, I live in Houston and I am new to predator calling. These turkey guns I see people talking about - what gauge are they - 10 or 12? I know everyone loves their rifles - myself included, but I recently bought a single shot 10 gauge, and I would dearly love to try it out on a coyote. Actually, I would think that a good 10 or 12 would be the weapon of choice for any predator out to 40 or 50 yards, which from what I am reading, is quite often..

Vinny