Shotgun Varminting
Unleash your turkey gun for more hunting opportunities
Firing the latest “coyote” loads, a Mossberg 935 makes an ideal varmint gun out to 50 yards.
We read endless stories about varmint rifles and hot, new varmint cartridges, but little ink is devoted to the shotgun as an effective varmint hunting tool. That may change this year because both Winchester and Remington are entering the “coyote” shotgun shell market dominated by the Hevi-Shot brand and its effective “Dead Coyote” T-shot ammunition.
Brushy, woody or broken landscapes are synonymous with varmint-rich habitats in every state. They present some of the most productive hunting habitats for major predator species in existence because they also make the perfect homes for those delectable prey species.
Better yet, they’re ideal habitats for the varmint hunter because they’re easy landscapes in which to hide, sneak and blend.
One the earliest lessons I learned as a young hunter was never to pass up an opportunity to hunt brushy, railroad track right of ways. These wild and untamed landscapes went on for miles and miles and were just chock-full of small game and voracious predators.
Caller’s Tool
The varmint shotgun is a caller’s tool — ideal for fox, bobcat and coyote in brushy and broken country where those varmints can make startling rabbit-like appearances at ranges under 50 yards. The shotgun is also ideal for moving varmints often screened behind brush.
Such brush will easily deflect or destroy thin-jacketed, 50-grain, varmint bullets zipping along at 3,400 fps plus.
The kings of the varmint shotgun world are the 3″ and 31⁄2″ 12-gauge magnums and the 31⁄2″ 10-gauge magnum shooting large doses of high density B-, BB-, or T-size shot at 1,300 to 1,350 fps.
The combination of Carson’s “Dead Coyote” choke tube and T-
and B-size shot isn’t magic. Pattern test your varmint shotgun.
This is where a scope or adjustable iron sight is handy.
The Varmint Shotgun
You probably own one already. Semiautos like Winchester’s Super X2 and X3, Browning’s Silver and Gold models including the Gold 10-gauge, Remington’s 105 CTi, 1100, 11-87 and SP 10-gauge, Mossberg’s 935, frankly, just about any 12-gauge semiauto chambered for at least a 3″ shell.
The advantage of a semiauto is varmint hunting is like turkey hunting More often than not, you’re sitting down when calling with your back braced against a tree, rock or heavy bush. Because their gas or recoil operated systems soak up recoil so well, 3″- and 31⁄2″-
chambered semiautos simply keep you away from the chiropractor. On the other hand, any 12- or 10-gauge shotgun will do just fine. For a couple of years, I carried an inexpensive H&R Firearms single-barrel Pardner 10-gauge magnum with complete satisfaction.
Environ Metal, the firm making Hevi-Shot, introduced the “Dead Coyote” 3″ and 31⁄2″ 12-gauge load several years ago. Carrying 11⁄2 ounce of T shot in the 3″ and 15⁄8 ounce in the 31⁄2″ at 1,300 fps and 1,350 fps respectively, the Hevi-Shot shells with their 20-caliber, lumpy shaped, T-size pellets did indeed produce very dead coyotes at ranges out to 50 or so yards. Penetration at extended ranges on those rangy, furred critters was impressive. That was the secret of the load’s effectiveness — retained velocity and penetration due to the mass of the projectiles. The results did not go unnoticed at Winchester and Remington.
New Loads
Remington, which once loaded Hevi-Shot, has entered the shotgun gauge T-shot loadings mirroring Hevi-Shot’s charges and velocities. Under the “Wingmaster HD Predator” label, the difference is in the shot. Remington’s “Wingmaster HD” shot is smooth, perfectly spherical, aerodynamic and dense.
Winchester has taken a slightly different tact with their Supreme Elite Xtended Range Hi-Density Coyote 3″ 12-gauge loading. It’s based around the 17-caliber B-size shot rather than larger 20-caliber T-size shot. In the 3″ shell, the load carries 13⁄8 ounce of their Xtended Range Hi-Density shot. The 31⁄2″ shell can be found under the Hi- Density Waterfowl load label. It carries 15⁄8 ounces of Bs. Again, Winchester’s new shot is perfectly spherical and 10 percent denser than lead.
With all the prior emphasis on T-size shot, one might ask if B-size shot is large enough? The fact is for years here in Arizona, the favored shot for predators has been copper-plated BBs. They’ve worked just fine.
Hevi-Shot’s “Dead Coyote” T-shot delivers killing patterns at 50 yards.
Winchester’s new Coyote B-shot, also at 50
Performance
Like turkey hunting, shotgunning for predators is beginning to generate some interesting new choke tubes. Choke tube maker Carlson’s has just introduced a “Dead Coyote” tube designed around Hevi-Shot Ts. As you can see from the coyote targets, made by EZ Target & Stand, Carlson’s tube screwed into my Mossberg 935 and 31⁄2″ Hevi-Shot Ts really performed out at 50 yards.
Having some 31⁄2″ Winchester Hi- Density Waterfowl loads with B-size shot on hand, I shot the same coyote practice target at the same range.
The targets speak for themselves. They are dead coyotes. Frankly, out of respect for the game, I think 50 yards is the maximum range for shotgunning coyotes. Coyotes are rangy and tough and patterns, even with the new types of dense shot and tuned choke tubes, thin out rapidly as the range increases.
By all means, pattern your gun to determine its point-of-impact with these new shells. A scope or adjustable open sights are a real plus in centering a varmint-killing pattern.
If you never thought about using a “predator shotgun,” the new predator loads are an excuse to go afield with a scattergun in your hands. If you’re calling alone, you might take along a varmint rifle as well, just in case those critters hang-up out there a bit beyond shotgun range. Good hunting!
