Patterned my 12 gauge Browning with Dead Coyote and #4 Buck. Interesting results I thought I'd share. I used a standard factory Browning Full Choke and (after talking with George at Trulock and the folks at Environmental which makes the Dead Coyote), Trulock tubes choked .680 and .665. I know these sound tight for such large shot but I followed their advice. All testing was with a 30 inch circle at 40 yards.
With a standard full choke, both grouped in the 70-80% range. Nothing to write home about.
With the .665 and .680 constriction, both Dead Coyote and #4 Buck grouped in the 90-92% range. The difference was the patterns with Dead Coyote were a little more evenly distributed with the .680, and the #4 Buck was a little more evenly distributed with the .665. I would have thought these contrictions would be WAY to tight for such large shot, but these results prove otherwise, at least in my gun.
Incidently, despite these 90%+ patterns, I wouldn't feel comfortable trying these loads on a coyote at over 50 yards. I know guys have claimed kills much farther, but I think the risk of losing a wounded animal would be too high, as patern density drops off. Remember, we are talking large shot and there aren't all that may pellets, even in the 3 inch loads I was using.
By the way, I was going to buy .670 and .675 constriction tubes and try them, but decided not to since the results with the .680 and .665 were so similar. I would think the other chokes being in the middle would also be similar.
For what it's worth, once the Dead Coyote loads I have are shot up I'll be sticking with the #4 Buck. Much cheaper and very similar pattern density with bigger pellets.
Would be interested to hear what others think, especially if they've done some patterning tests.
With a standard full choke, both grouped in the 70-80% range. Nothing to write home about.
With the .665 and .680 constriction, both Dead Coyote and #4 Buck grouped in the 90-92% range. The difference was the patterns with Dead Coyote were a little more evenly distributed with the .680, and the #4 Buck was a little more evenly distributed with the .665. I would have thought these contrictions would be WAY to tight for such large shot, but these results prove otherwise, at least in my gun.
Incidently, despite these 90%+ patterns, I wouldn't feel comfortable trying these loads on a coyote at over 50 yards. I know guys have claimed kills much farther, but I think the risk of losing a wounded animal would be too high, as patern density drops off. Remember, we are talking large shot and there aren't all that may pellets, even in the 3 inch loads I was using.
By the way, I was going to buy .670 and .675 constriction tubes and try them, but decided not to since the results with the .680 and .665 were so similar. I would think the other chokes being in the middle would also be similar.
For what it's worth, once the Dead Coyote loads I have are shot up I'll be sticking with the #4 Buck. Much cheaper and very similar pattern density with bigger pellets.
Would be interested to hear what others think, especially if they've done some patterning tests.