Gunlopnik: The new, used 20ga edition:

"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2) 03/10/2020 at 21:37 • Filed to: Gunlopnik

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So, it’s the time of the year when the coyotes are hungry, and on the move. Also, the lambs are being born left and right (49 as of today) and we’ve been hearing them (the coyotes) yipping closer and closer and seen the tracks as close as 50 yards from the barn. Mrs. BoostAddict is not comfortable with the 12ga or the pistol, or the 308, and her single-shot .22 is,  well, a single shot .22. S o she asked for an anti-coyote gun she can use and feel comfortable with.

Remington 870 Magnum Express 28" in 20ga

Enter the 20ga shotgun.

I’ve never owned a 20ga before, but they have gotten more and more popular and cheaper in recent years... This clean, used remington 870 Magnum Express was $245. There’s a few marks in the wood, but the bluing and pow de rcoat are all perfect and the action is nice and clean. I haven’t shot it yet, but I’m ho p ing Mrs. BoostAddict will feel comfortable with this, and I might just take it out for rabbit and turkey myself. It’s much lighter and points quicker than my (very) old Steven s 12ga.

First upgrade is gonna be a set of fiber- optic sights... then I start experimenting with chokes... the old Stevens is a fixed full, this, being a modern gun has interchangeable choke tubes. Also, 20ga ammo is more affordable than I remember, so I may need to dust off the skeet launcher... maybe do some grouse and pheasant hunting, hell, maybe even doves and/or pigeons... The 12ga has always been a bit of a chore to shoot, what with being full-choke and all, so maybe this is good for me too ;)

Nom De Plume > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 22:32

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Any reason why you didn’t go .22 > .410 for her?  Size wise they can be closer to what she is comfortable with and still put a slug through something the size of massive buck.

jminer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 22:39

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I love the 20 gauge, my favorite to shoot. That’s a nice find there!

To warn your wife though since the gun is lighter it doesn’t kick much less than a 12 in either pump or single shot format. It’s my favorite to go hunting or trap shooting with for sure though .

I’ve got a 1100 in 20 ga and that gas operated action is both very reliable and soaks up a ton of the recoil allowing me to shoot the damn thing all day.

Since the 20 has less stopping power than a 12 you’ll want to run  something like #6 shot if you want a chance at killing a coyote at more than 20 yards.

DipodomysDeserti > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 22:44

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Gotta git yerself a roadrunner out there. They’ll take care of them coyotes. Might blow a bunch of shit up in the process, though.

jminer > Nom De Plume 03/10/2020 at 22:45

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A slug through a shotgun both kicks far worse than a compara ble rifle and is not anywhere near as accurate. Particularly in a 410 since no one really makes a good rifled barrel or slug (since most states outlaw them for deer hunting).

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jminer 03/10/2020 at 22:46

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This. A .410 slug kicks nearly as hard as the 308, and the accuracy is crap. A 20ga loaded with #3 or #4 still throws enough shot to be ugly, but kicks  a lot less than a 12ga.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jminer 03/10/2020 at 22:54

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My old Stevens 12ga is a single-shot, brake-barrel, full choke... it’s a pretty light gun actually, and it hits like a sledgehammer, even with low-brass shells. The little Remington 870 is probably nearly the same weight, being a pump, but it FEELS quicker. I picked up some #6 Federal H eavy Field shells, we aren’t even so interested in *Killing* the ‘yotes, as it’s proven to make them breed faster, just make them regret their decisions...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > DipodomysDeserti 03/10/2020 at 23:08

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You *KNOW* that will just lead to unchecked  escalation...

TheRealBicycleBuck > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 23:18

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I have an 870 Wingmaster with two barrels- one normal and one  full choke. It hasn’t been fired in a couple of years, so now I’m feeling a little inspiration. 

jminer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 23:50

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I love carrying single shot shotguns - but hate shooting them . I had a nice 20 single shot that was wonderful to carry while hunting and shot well enough but it was miserable to actually fire but I finally got rid of it because when going out I’d look at it, then leave it there and take a 12 pump. The only thing it was really good at was having handy when doing yard work to deal with copperheads.

Sure coyotes can breed faster when the population drops , but then you get a year of young coyotes too timid to mess with your herding dog (assuming you have one). I grew up on a small farm - foxes, racoons and feral cats did more damage to the chickens than coyotes as the coyotes were too large to easily sneak past our Pyrenees dog. We also did lots of old farmer things to keep out coyotes like raise geese and turkey as well to guard the ducks and chickens (worked fairly well).

We had pigs, goats and cows as livestock though and none of those are something a coyote will mess with.    

jminer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/10/2020 at 23:53

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Firing a slug through a shotgun (any of them) is just useless. They recoil so bad, and unless you’re running something like sabot slugs in a rifled barrel you can’t hit anything.

There are some places that do not allow you to deer hunt with a rifle (Illinois for example) and that would make me use a black powder rifle over a shotgun.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > jminer 03/11/2020 at 00:06

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We’ve got geese, and last year we lost 8 goslings and a goose to either foxes or coyotes... racoons have by far been our biggest chicken predator (confirmed by trail camera) , even though we have foxes in our area.. they may be scared off by the geese.

We don’t have a dog. Neither Mrs. BoostAddict or I are big dog people, and having a guard-only herd dog like a pyre nee s or marema would nearly double ou r insurance. It’s a bit nuts really.

Frankly I’m not THAT worried about the coyotes taking sheep, even lambs, but they have been much more active/vocal this spring, they’ve left prints closer to the barn that ever before, and Mrs. Boost Addict wanted a little piece of mind. I’m certainly not averse to that ;)

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/11/2020 at 00:17

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I like Remington shotguns, nice firearm you have there!

jminer > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/11/2020 at 00:52

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Racoons are brutal, and one of the critters I just can’t stand. Luckily they’re relatively easy to trap. For me a live trap, baited with aromatic dog food covered in cardboard works well. The covering it is the trick, an exposed live trap and you’ll only catch the dumb or young ones, cover it so they think they’re finding a hidden treat and it works well. Don’t make the mistake of leaving them alive and relocating them - racoons are famous for traveling a long way back for food.

I can’t believe insurance has that big a problem with a herding dog. Seems insane to me.

I’d agree with you that it’s unlikely that coyotes will prey on sheep, they usually go after the much weaker and easier to get prey. I know people that have also used a billy goat as a guard dog with pretty decent success. They’re aggressive but I don’t know how it would react around sheep.

**Disclaimer - we were never commercial farmers, just large family in the country so this was to feed us kids and occasionally friends **

DipodomysDeserti > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/11/2020 at 01:52

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Have the coyotes back east gotten worse over the years? I’ve read a few articles mentioning record numbers of them turning up in NYC. I love the fuckers, but I don’t raise sheep for a living, and have always owned dogs that could kick the shit out of them. Had good sized pack of them near me a few week ago. Might of been some wolves mixed in there.

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jimz > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/11/2020 at 05:47

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Remember that all 20 gauge shells are yellow for a reason. Keep them away from the 12 ga.

jimz > jminer 03/11/2020 at 05:55

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I agree that Foster-style rifled slugs are crap, but Brenneke slugs are actually somewhat accurate.

The wad stays attached to the slug and helps stabilize it a lot better.  But holy balls do these things kick hard.  I went through 3 boxes of them (15 rds.) a couple weeks ago sighting in my 870 and not only did it leave my shoulder bruised, it left a mark on my cheek from the butt stock.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/11/2020 at 06:17

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Nifty. Something like this would likely be unobtainable down here. Both in practical terms as 20 gauge has never really been a thing in Oz but also pump action shotguns are now a very restricted category of firearm. Very few licenced gun owners would ever be able to satisfy the requirements to own a firearm in this category.

That said...my uncle still has a Savage .222/20g over and under that was a dead set hoot to use... especially when ambushing feral pigs on water. The .222 went in the brain before they’d had time to react then the 20g gave you another humane knock over when they started to move. And the shells were small enough to hold between your fingers for a quick reload.

Unfortunately, it has worn to the point that it falls open just after firing. Most disconcerting. We still have a box of slugs for it - they were epic for knocking down a running pig within 25 metres .

Nom De Plume > jminer 03/11/2020 at 07:50

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Believe they are legal for hunting here or wouldn’t have mentioned it. No idea on ammo being available. Certainly not a rifling I’d consider exotic or esoteric.

Justino6969 > jimz 03/11/2020 at 10:51

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These things are wicked. We tried some Black Magic Magnums from Brenneke once for deer hunting, and they absolutely destroyed the entire front quarter of the deer we got . Would not recommend if you actually want good meat.

jimz > Justino6969 03/11/2020 at 11:05

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luckily Michigan allows pistol-caliber rifles in “shotgun” zone. They don’t outright say what calibers are allowed, but the dimensions given in the law basically mean you can use a rifle chambered in .38/.357, .41, or .44 Mag. So I’d most likely use my Ruger 77/44 if I’m not using my crossbow.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > DipodomysDeserti 03/11/2020 at 11:48

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Populations are up in many areas, including here . In our case, closer to Canada, we have a relatively high percentage of wolf in our coyotes. Coy-wolfs are sneaky and smart like pure coyotes, but quite a bit larger due to the wolf cross-breeding. This makes them a bigger threat to large livestock, even without the large pack sizes you often see in the west.

DipodomysDeserti > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/12/2020 at 08:17

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Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hearing. They’re sneaky fuckers. Whole bunch of native legends about them out here. My new pup has yet to see one, but my old dog had quite a few run ins. I think he was half coyote near the end of his run.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > DipodomysDeserti 03/12/2020 at 11:44

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As a child I had a dog who was *actually* half coyote. Her mother was a rough collie/german shepherd cross, and her father was a wild coyote.

She had perfect coyote coloration, but was built like a slim german shepherd and she had a mane like a collie. She was amazingly smart, well behaved, and stank to high heaven no mater what we tried. She spoiled me on dogs really. Every dog I have met since seems like an idiot, with the exception of border collies, but they are too high energy for my taste.

I know I have some pictures, but I can't find one right now... 

DipodomysDeserti > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/12/2020 at 14:16

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Sounds like an awesome dog. My current pup is a border collie pit bull mix. Very energetic, but is a great listener. Combines the intelligence of a border with the calm energy of a pit.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 03/12/2020 at 19:39

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They’re getting pretty bad in Jersey too, I hear them weekly now around where I live and they’ve cleared out the feral cat population (which is good for birds I suppose). Was walking to my car the one morning and saw one waltzing across the street and then he just stops and looks at me as to say “what you want?” . Beaned the fucker with the biggest rock I could grab, I don’t need these bastards becoming familiar with me.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > jimz 03/12/2020 at 19:40

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Have you tried their “Black magic”? Holy fuck I thought I’d dislocated my shoulder on the first shot.