.38 Spl Snake Shot against Coyotes?

[flagman1776]

Yes to bee spray or bear spray. I used a walking stick a lot... I might be inclined to put a heavy, sharped base section on it.

 

[Echo40]

Frankly, if Coyotes are getting close enough/acting aggressive enough that you feel the need to shoot at them, then it's a serious threat and thus should be treated as such.

Carry real bullets and shoot to kill, it isn't worth the risk of injury to yourself, much less others who might not carry a firearm at all and may come into contact with such Coyotes.
Besides, snake shot may not be lethal, but it could still leave the Coyote permanently blinded and therefore as good as dead in nature, only it will die much worse than it would from a bullet, so it's actually more humane to just shot it dead if need be and be done with it.

 

[Pondoro]

If you are in a neighborhood with sidewalks and paved roads and houses a frangible load makes a lot of sense. But there are much better frangible loads than birdshot.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have patterned snake shot in 38, 357, 9MM, and 44 mag. All but the 44 did not pattern well unless you were 4 or 5 feet from the snake. At 10 feet the 44 patterned very well.

Conclusion. I ain't getting within a few feet to shoot a snake. A 44 is too big and loud. At 10-20 yards, snake shot is useless for coyotes.

If the coyotes become aggressive, shoot to kill with a decent caliber.

 

[Peak53]

Could I recommend a stout walking stick? Any self respecting coyote will understand it's meaning. It might even be more effective and even potentially lethal than trying to hit a moving target with a small hand gun. Not to mention issues with discharging a firearm in a populated area.

 

[Rpg]

Or is pepper spray a better choice for a non-lethal option.

Pepper spray (the stuff sold to carry on a keychain) is no good: fairly mild stuff that is usually effective at arm's length against a drunk boyfriend but it's nothing like bear spray.

Bear spray is much more potent, comes in a large container that's fairly easy to handle and shoots an effective stream at good 50 feet.

Bear spray is a good, non-lethal choice for coyotes or two legged vermin. Pepper spray is not.

 

[ajgunner]

Pepper spray (the stuff sold to carry on a keychain) is no good: fairly mild stuff that is usually effective at arm's length against a drunk boyfriend but it's nothing like bear spray.

Bear spray is much more potent, comes in a large container that's fairly easy to handle and shoots an effective stream at good 50 feet.

Bear spray is a good, non-lethal choice for coyotes or two legged vermin. Pepper spray is not.

Just keep in mind that if you go with any pepper or bear spray that even the slightest breeze will put a nicely atomized mist right back in your face.

If you happen to load your own, load up some #2 or #4 shot and cap it with a 50-70gr wad cutter. Do a bit a research---lots of info out there.

 

[Peak53]

Yeah, I walked into the residual mist trying to get closer after trying to spray a bear on my deck at midnight, wearing only underwear. Thankfully, there are no pictures. I'm pretty sure I got the short end of that stick.

 

[Mule Packer]

In the extraordinarily rare occurrence of encountering a coyote that has advanced Rabies, only a good self defense cartridge is going to be the solution.

As most have stated previously, a coyote would normally rather run away from you. Remember, I said normally. Having one follow you is pretty much out of the norm. Is it sick, i.e. rabid? Who knows? Some may say that it is just being curious. Don't kid yourself. They've adjusted to humans so completely that they know exactly what you are. Also, as has been stated previously, they're extremely smart and are dangerous predatory animals, no matter what you've seen on the Disney channel.

I would definitely stay away from the snake shot, whistles, big sticks, party poppers, sprays, etc. If the coyote is following your wife at a distance of 75 yards or more, I probably wouldn't sweat it much. On the other hand, if it's closer than that, it sure wouldn't take it long to shorten the distance to your wife if it so desired.

Personally, if it were my wife in that situation, I'd either walk with her with me being armed....or I'd have her carry a handgun and be darned confident that she knew how to use it exceptionally well.

Again, that's just my view from the saddle.

 

[Stevens]

The folks who lived across the road from us put their fat Chihuahua out in the yard to "do his business" they heard a yelp, he was gone. Next morning they put the other out but watched him, a coyote approached stalking, they took a shot at him missed but scared him off. This is a rural area houses yards along the road after that pasture then swampy woods. I used to see coyotes often, not so much now. Lots of people here have set up shooting ranges (targets) in their back yards, weekend afternoons sometimes sound like a war going on. My yard too! I think the sound of gunfire may keep them away. Good riddance!
Steve W

 

[Buford57]

No weapon is effective without proper training and the will to use it. The Cooper axiom "Don't point a gun at anything you don't want to destroy" fits into the "will to use it" category.

All of the coyotes I ever encountered in the wild ran from me like scalded cats. The ones in the "civilized" Chicago suburbs, not so much.

I carry a Cold Steel Blackthorn when walking the dog, in addition to my EDC. I would probably use the stick before the gun on a coyote or aggressive dog, but either would have to be pretty determined for it to come to that since my dog is a 60 pound Walker coonhound and not exactly shy himself. However I have a) been trained in the use of impact weapons and b) used them effectively on feral dogs in the past.

A weapon you don't know how to use or are unwilling to use is false security.

 

[Bob L]

Here is something that just popup today when I was on line. Have never heard about it until today but watching the video, it might drive a coyote off it you hit it.
Best Non-Lethal Self-Defense Products For Men and Women
– Byrna

 

[pennzy]

If used within 10 feet it would sting. I would make the second shot something lethal.

 

[BC38]

We see them trotting down the street in our suburban neighborhood a few times a year. Deer too. Even had a porcupine in a tree in our back yard.
The wild critters aren't staying out in the wild so much these days.

 

[Imissedagain]

No in answer to your use of shot in a 38 for coyotes.

I would leave the Mrs with two rounds of CCI shot followed by four 158gr JSP 38s in the Security Six Snub, when I was out of town.
Would love to have a smooth bore barrel, choked & patterned for a snubby snake gun.

Beats an Oklahoma buddy who had a Moccasin attached to his heel, closed his eyes, just pointed the 12 gauge down and lucked out.
Long hospital stay.

Have run into a Brown Recluse or three at the Aquatic Center years ago.

 

[Echo40]

Wild Animals really are coming out of the woods and into neighborhoods with increasing frequency.

I've told this story before, but the whole reason why I decided to upgrade from the .380 ACP as my primary Self-Defense cartridge was due to increasing numbers of wild animals showing up in my area. It started with deer coming out of the woods, which wasn't at all threatening but rather pleasant, but then I started hearing Coyotes howling outside at night, finding tracks in the yard, hearing from my mother about sighting a hog in the neighbor's field complete with her reqing that I help her pick a gun to carry around while walking her dogs, and finally finding bear scat in my yard.
Previously I carried a single stack .380 ACP in the form of a Walther PPK/S and a Ruger LCP, but now I carry a SW40VE with the LCP as backup.

 

[RoyM52]

If you shoot a coyote with fine shot from a handgun, you are more likely to do either nothing or to handicap it for hunting it's normal prey. Making it turn to easier prey. Pets etc. A handicapped , starving animal is much much more dangerous. {Not less dangerous , and there is no lesson learned} A injured , starving animal is not something you would wish to have in you area . Either Kill or don't Kill. There is no half way. If you are going to kill, do it clean and quick. Don't wound.

 

[k22fan]

At my old job a small pack of coyotes lost ALL fear of humans. Since I saw them hunting rodents around the old buildings and they were not bothering me I left them alone. Then some of the renter's young children started approaching them with friendly doggy greetings and the coyotes would barely back off. We're talking children within 10 feet of coyotes. I had a little chat with the owner about potential liability and was instructed to put the fear of humans back in the pack. It only took one .45 bullet to make the whole pack flee for cover at the sight of a human. I'd guess one bullet would be good for 5 years or more. I bet you could get it done without making a public event out of. I did not ask the neighbors' opinions and gave it over 20 years before chatting about it on the internet.

 

[Echo40]

Although that might work in an otherwise quiet neighborhood, in a noisy neighborhood like mine in which someone is always working with power tools, hammering nails, honking their horn every single time they drive past a friend's house, and lighting fireworks practically every Summer holiday, the Coyotes will obviously be desensitized towards loud noises, ergo the Joe Biden method may prove completely ineffective.

 

[686-380]

Maybe it'll bring its buddies

My wife works out by walking in our residential neighborhood that borders the Desert. She's been complaining about being followed by a Coyote. I'm not comfortable in her ability with a 5 shot airweight to set-off a regular SD round in our neighborhood if attacked (not sure if she would even carry it).
Why I was looking for a non-lethal option.

Personally, I'd have no problem taking care of business.

Might I suggest going with her? The behavior suggests it is up to no good and may bring friends along. Besides, wouldn't it be great to get some fresh air?