Source for BB coyote load

yorgi

yorgi

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Personal preference of a friend is to use lead BB loads, out of his 12GA 3" autoloader, for coyotes but mostly European hare. Old-timer set in his ways, back in the day he could buy this load from all three major manufacturers, almost everywhere. Now of course -and especially due to the steel shot restrictions- all his sources have dried up...


He asked for my help but the best I could suggest to him is maybe finding a "boutique" 10-pack specialty coyote load, loaded not with buck but rather BB lead shot. Absolute conjecture on my part... was hoping that someone here knows of such a load and/or a seller.


Short of this path, I suggested that he purchases some Ballistics Products BB shot (found a reseller in Quebec) unload a factory buckshot load and repack with said BB's and buffer. Definitely the costlier and more time-consuming choice.
 
I bet there's still stockpiles of lead waterfowl loads at the back of lots of old (and not so old) hunters ammo cabinets. Maybe try a WTB ad in the EE.
SFRC carries Imperial lead #2s and Federal 4buck which is a great coyote load. They will likely order you the BB if you call and ask for it.
 
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I have been looking for some as well.

The best options so far was #2 s from CT made by imperial. There was a small batch and I was surprised. Other option is federal had copper plated BBs for Turkey. Very rare and expensive Keep an eye out @ gun shows is best.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys, appreciate it! X2 on the stockpile comment... I personally know of a couple of guys that keep such a "stash", asked them if they would sell...snickering ensued, LOL.
 
My grail ammo is #2 lead for skunk. #4 works as well. I reload my own, but getting components is a iffy deal.

I've been considering just using steel. Steel has change a bunch since inception. I still use my old shotguns, full choke, long barrel, for critter control. 7 1/2 for the corn eating flying ones, and #2 or #4 for the stinky or bigger stuff.

Obviously experienced and knows what works, what specific load is he looking for.

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This was what was available "back in the day". IMHO there was a bit too much lead and velocity was too low. The 1 5/8 oz high velocity was better, again IMHO.

For ducks and geese, BB's were too big, too sparse a pattern. For skunks and such, 1 3/8 oz #4 or #2 in a 2 3/4" was my choice.

No experience with shotgunning coyotes, but i'd be interested in the why this load works for him, range, penetration, less holes in the pelt,,,,just curious.

If your ever in Wpg, give me a shout, there are 18 shells left in the box, and I won't shoot them.

I began to really get to know lead shot long after the switch to steel. The technology of pattern density and pellet penetration is interesting to say the least. The quintessential waterfowl load was Winchesters 1 5/8 oz of #4 hard shot, and the chart below bears that out. BB shot extends the range, but you need a 10 ga to throw a pattern dense enough to match the range.

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And is there an equivalent performer in steel? If that's an option, perhaps there is some knowledge out there.
 
nitro-express said:
No experience with shotgunning coyotes, but i'd be interested in the why this load works for him, range, penetration, less holes in the pelt,,,,just curious.

If your ever in Wpg, give me a shout, there are 18 shells left in the box, and I won't shoot them.
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nitro-express, you are a true gentleman! Unfortunately I'm too far away, but thank you very much for the offer!

As for the coyote part, it's truly incidental, the primary game species targeted is the European Hare in these parts aka Jackrabbit. It does rarely happen that the odd drive spooks up a coyote and a running shot at a decent range can be taken.

Back in the day, I used to participate in such hunts with my older uncle and his buddies. I was the young guy (back then...) and would be the designated pusher while the seniors posted themselves at fencerow intersections or known escape routes. These days, due to extensive farming practices and high predator numbers the jack population is negligible. Still, the four seniors keep going out to their old haunts and manage to connect on one or two, every couple of weeks.

Here's a pic from the "good ole days" when Army surplus snowshoes were all the rage!

c9uHYgh.jpg


Edited to add: I personally never used the BB loads, much preferred a chambered #4 with two #2's in the magazine. Much like everything else in life however, different strokes for different folks, that's what makes our past time interesting.
 
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I hunted "Jacks" a lot in the 60's in north end of Perth Cty (Listowel area). Selling the rabbits was legal at that time. Buck a piece. Many farmers and their sons were jack hunters. No limits either! My best afternoon was 10 bunnies.

Shell of choice was the purple paper Imperial with # 2 shot. Most gas stations and hardware stores sold shotgun shells singly at that time. ie if you wanted 5 or 10 that is what you bought. I was probably 18 years old before I had a full box. Started out with my Dad's Cooey 16 gauge. Lots of fence rows and no coyotes at that time. My brother still lives in the area. Shoots a few coyotes and rarely sees a Jack.
Those really were the good old days at least for me.
 
Old Ranger said:
I hunted "Jacks" a lot in the 60's in north end of Perth Cty (Listowel area). Selling the rabbits was legal at that time. Buck a piece. Many farmers and their sons were jack hunters. No limits either! My best afternoon was 10 bunnies.

Shell of choice was the purple paper Imperial with # 2 shot. Most gas stations and hardware stores sold shotgun shells singly at that time. ie if you wanted 5 or 10 that is what you bought. I was probably 18 years old before I had a full box. Started out with my Dad's Cooey 16 gauge. Lots of fence rows and no coyotes at that time. My brother still lives in the area. Shoots a few coyotes and rarely sees a Jack.
Those really were the good old days at least for me.
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My dad once told me that him and his pals would shoot jack rabbits in southern Manitoba by the trunk full at night in headlights. This was in the 1950's and they were sold to mink ranches for 25 cents apiece. Old man said they would used shotguns and Canuck BB standard loads until they got too expensive whereas 22 rimfires were employed.
 
yorgi said:
nitro-express, you are a true gentleman! Unfortunately I'm too far away, but thank you very much for the offer!

As for the coyote part, it's truly incidental, the primary game species targeted is the European Hare in these parts aka Jackrabbit. It does rarely happen that the odd drive spooks up a coyote and a running shot at a decent range can be taken.

Back in the day, I used to participate in such hunts with my older uncle and his buddies. I was the young guy (back then...) and would be the designated pusher while the seniors posted themselves at fencerow intersections or known escape routes. These days, due to extensive farming practices and high predator numbers the jack population is negligible. Still, the four seniors keep going out to their old haunts and manage to connect on one or two, every couple of weeks.

Here's a pic from the "good ole days" when Army surplus snowshoes were all the rage!

c9uHYgh.jpg


Edited to add: I personally never used the BB loads, much preferred a chambered #4 with two #2's in the magazine. Much like everything else in life however, different strokes for different folks, that's what makes our past time interesting.
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Wow. They are quite larger than the western whitetailed jackrabbit, times two in weight easily! I can see why be prefers BB magnum 3inch.
 
Brutus said:
Wow. They are quite larger than the western whitetailed jackrabbit, times two in weight easily! I can see why be prefers BB magnum 3inch.
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Yep, jacks (european hares) are large and require an adequate load to drop them or you may be tracking a wounded animal for a while. I whacked one with #4 buck with one pellet breaking a rear leg and the other went in it's guts. The animal somehow ran almost 1km before I finally caught up and finished it off.

We have 4 that live around our house. Very cool watching them "play" with the neighbors dog (the dog doesn't get that he'll never catch them) or mingle with our chickens eating corn. It's comical watching them fight over a female...aggressive little buggers.


As for BB loads, Challenger 3" BB's work great. Its been 4-5 years since i last bought some, but surely they can still be found?
 
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