.410 buckshot for coyotes
 

I went to walmart and was gonna get some 20ga 00 buckshot and they were out but they had .410 and I wandered if .410 buckshot would be good for coyotes? my .410 has a fixed full choke so I didnt know if it would work very good, also would a smaller buckshot be better so there is more pellets being a smaller shell?

I wouldn't recommend it. Sounds like you ALREADY OWN a .410 shotgun, so just like the thread on the .22LR and .22WMR, so you aren't out anything to try it, but you'll be wanting something else pretty quickly.

I grew up with a .410, we had a "bone pit" on the backside of our feedlot at the house where we'd dump dead heifers and calves. About 15ft deep and 20yrds across, it was a regular coyote buffet. I'd sit in the dark between the cattle carcasses and wait. They'd come streaming over the edge down into the bowl, I'd take aim, close my eyes, and blast with the .410. Under 20yrds, even #6 birdshot would drop a coyote. I converted over to 00 buck, but when I patterned it out of 20yrds, I realized that I'd be better off shooting slugs, or better yet, shooting something else entirely.

If you're only hunting 20-40yrds, then you'll probably be ok, but again, it's not a good option, and I don't recommend you waste the time and energy. Much better served to go find proper buckshot for that 20ga of yours.

But if you insist...

Buy a couple boxes of 00 or 000 buck and pattern it, within a range where you get 2-3 pellets under the palm of your hand, it'll be fine. At the same time, however, buy a couple boxes of .410 slugs. Shoot a few groups. You'll very likely notice that you have a longer effective range with the slugs than you did with the 00 or 000 buck.

The only "smaller shot" buckshot loads I'm aware of are the Win PDX junk that has those stupid "disks" on top of 00 or BB buckshot. 100% not an appropriate coyote load, and the Federal #4 buckshot load. I haven't shot the Federal 4 buck out of a long barrel, but I have out of a Taurus Judge. These loads are "Limited Recoil" rounds, only trucking 950fps out of a long barrel, giving up a lot of energy compared to a standard load. Very weak. Plus, the same rules apply. It only has 9 pellets, but since they're #4 buck, you need 4 or 5 of them on target AT LEAST at the range you'll be hunting. I personally would not use it.

I'm not saying .410 buckshot won't kill coyotes, just that it's not really any better than .410 slugs, and DEFINITELY not better than that 20ga of yours. I'd honestly take a .22lr out over a .410 with buckshot.

ok, is shooting slugs through a full choke safe? and thanks!

***Not really a smart thing to do, as they really should be shot through a more open choke. Many moons ago my Dad ruined the last few inches of the 30" full choke barrel of a beautiful Belgium made Browning Semautomatic 12 gauge shooting slugs through it.

Not safe to shoot slugs out of a full choke. I did a bunch when I was a kid before I knew better with my .410, but that doesn't mean it was safe. Too much constriction at the muzzle.

00buckshot probably isn't safe in a full choke in a .410. Full choke restriction should be 0.035", so .410" - 0.035" = 0.375". 00buck is 0.33", only leaves 0.045" for the wad, which I'm betting isn't nearly enough. Not as bad as a slug, but not great.

Under the right conditions I could beat a grizzly bear to death with a lug wrench.
What's the point?
Is there one?

A hand full of slugs out of a 410 want hurt I have shot some.out of mine and the choke shows no signs of cleaning up. I bought gun with a mod choke in a lot of guns. The choke on it opened up to.about ic choke. I found out later that it was the lady I got the guns forms late husband deer gun. So a lot of slugs will I lean up a choke.

I'd buy ya a cookie if ya did ;)

But yeah, that's the moral of this deal: .410 isn't a proper shotty for coyotes.

But do they even make .410s with anything but a full choke?

ive shot em with a 12 gauge with 2 & 4 shot so I think you could get by with it.