.38 Spl Snake Shot against Coyotes?

[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?

 

[Pondoro]

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.

The assumption here is an attack on a human. Normal hunting ethics do not apply. Any wound to the attacking animal is ethical. Obviously mortal wounds are more effective. But if a coyote attacks and you manage to wound it with a 22 or bird shot or a stick only to have it die later then that is no moral issue. I'd still prefer a defense that will absolutely stop the animal. But when the attack (by an animal) makes it "them or me" there are no further questions of hunting ethics. Notice that I specifically mentioned animals. Human attackers are still considered to have some moral and legal protections. I'm not trying to drag them into this discussion.

 

[pennzy]

Maybe one of the .410 revolvers would pack more punch without concern of a errant round in the neighborhood.

 

[jim lock]

if i were in a situation where I felt a coyote was a danger to me. I would put it down quickly and humanely. I would not use snake shot or anything that would have him suffer. Just my two cents.
Jim

 

[keith44spl]

Snake shot is for small snakes.

In a urban settin'.........

I might consider this as a minimum last ditch measure.
Up close and personal.

In a 410 handgun.


.

 

[reppans]

A good slingshot with 3/8"+ steel ball bearings would be a good motivator up to ~20 yards.

Slingshots for sale

 

[Farmer17]

During pheasant/quail season this year in Kansas I shot a running coyote with both barrels of my 20 gauge Side by Side shotgun at about 30 feet. The first barrel was #8 shot improved cylinder and it had no affect, the second barrel was #4 shot 3 inch Magnum, improved-modified choke and I saw the fur ruffle right behind his shoulder exactly where I was aiming. He twisted his head a little towards the wound but never broke stride and he jumped a fence and ran full speed another 250 yards until he was out of sight. So no, I don't think .38 Special snake shot is adequate for coyotes.

 

[max503]

I would never shoot any animal unless I intended to kill it - quickly.
That said:
A long, long, long time ago I shot a stray dog with a 22 shot shell out of a Jennings pistol. The dog was across the yard from me. I lived in the country. I truly believe the noise scared it worse than any pieces of shot that may have hit it. It never came back.

If a coyote was bothering me and I lived in an urban or suburban setting I would carry some good pepper spray in addition to my 38. If I lived in the country I'd wait till I got a good shot then kill it with a full charge lead boolit and not think twice about it.

 

[pennzy]

Try shooting a tin can with birdshot. Probably won't even penetrate out of a .38.

 

[rct269]

Several good points have been made here-----------

If you can get close enough to a coyote for either pepper spray or a handgun shot shell to even be remotely effective, there's something bad wrong with that animal--------and it needs to be dispatched---forthwith!!

But those coyotes are wicked smart----especially compared to wild dogs. We have both--but not at the same time ('cause when a coyote shows up, the dogs are headed for where the coyote isn't). A single coyote puts the run on a whole pack of dogs-----much the same as a single human does---unless the human is camouflaged. I say camouflaged, but not with an outfit from Bass Pro Shop---all you need is to be in or on a vehicle of some sort. Then you don't seem to exist as far as the dogs are concerned--and you can get right up on them.

The coyotes are a different matter. First of all I've never seen one run---they just lope along. I guess they figure that's the best use of their energy. I also have never seen one run away. They'll keep their distance, but don't run away. And never mind being camouflaged by being in or on a vehicle. They react exactly the same----they keep their distance.

All except for the youngsters that is-----inquiring minds want to know. I was out mowing a small patch, and saw something move---something brown. The next time around, here's a coyote----not a baby by any means, but close enough to it to be cute. It's looking at me as if to say, "What are you, and why are you making all that noise?" Then it scampered off. The next time around here it is again---this time with two copies of itself. It turns to them, and this time it seems to say, "See, I told you-----there it is again!"

Ralph Tremaine

 

[ken158]

You need to follow the wife on one of her walks, keep enough distance to allow the culprit to make an advance and then take care of business.

 

[mk70ss]

Snake shot is no good on coyotes.

 

[38SPL HV]

Anyone ever shot a coyote with .38 Snake Shot? Is this enough to scare off a coyote? Or is pepper spray a better choice for a non-lethal option.

If it is legal in your state/area, put some Remington 38 Special +P 158 gr LHPs in your firearm and use those

 

[pennzy]

A single coyote probably would not try anything against an adult. My fear would be if more than one appeared.

 

[k22fan]

Ralph wrote about curious cute Coyote pups. Reading that made me want to a add a story that happened before I shot the coyote I wrote about above. The property was on the edge of a small city but huge and not zoned retail or residential. I walked out and around behind the building I was in to use the, ah, open air boys' room. When I went back in and sat back down I was looking at the spot. Four very small coyote pups came out from under big blackberry vines and all at once sniffed the puddle with their little tails wagging. It doesn't get any cuter.

 

[diyj98]

I'd much rather arm her with standard jhp bullet, but yes snake shot should stop a coyote from attacking her. A load to the face just outside of biting range should send him packing. But the odds of a single non rabid coyote attacking an adult is pretty slim.

 

[ispcapt]

A lot of the pistol bird shot loads are #12 shot. Some had 7.5 shot. The number of shot in a .38 is about 1/4 of a .410 and the velocity is about 1/2.
#12 shot is very fine and doesn't penetrate much, not likely a skull even at arms reach. 7.5 shot will be about 50 to 80 pellets depending on the shot capsule.
The capsule usually causes more damage than the shot load and that's at very close range.

 

[andyo5]

I would not shoot a coyote unless I intended to kill it. That would rule out snake shot. I would be thinking about a handgun that I could shoot with accuracy at a minimum of 10 yards. A J frame wouldn't qualify.
You probably would not be attacked by a lone coyote, unless it was rabid. However, coyote packs are a different story and will be bolder than individuals. I have read more than one story about pack attacks on humans, one in which a young woman was killed. Shooting one of them would likely break off the attack. A shot of pepper spray in the face would probably do much the same.
In my area, mountain lions have been spotted roaming the streets at night and the golf course even during the day. Javelinas have attacked people, mostly people who were trying to defend their dog from them. Javelinas hate dogs and will attack them on sight.

 

[Echo40]

Maybe one of the .410 revolvers would pack more punch without concern of a errant round in the neighborhood.

No doubt about that, assuming you used the right load...

But then again, a proper .38 Special load would do the job just fine, and the recoil would be more simple for the missus to handle.

 

[Imissedagain]

Snake shot is for small snakes.

In a urban settin'.........

I might consider this as a minimum last ditch measure.
Up close and personal.

In a 410 handgun.


.

IIRC there was a 12 gauge load with three 38 caliber balls and the rest was shot that was used on point in SEA.

 

[GerSan69]

Hi Dump, we're on the "edge" of the desert in San Tan Valley, with the next neighbor a mile or so to the east, and have coyotes come up to the fence all the time looking for food. I've tried noisemakers, like an air-can horn, and it does scare the cr** out of them. I keep one of those new 14" 20-ga. pumps near the door in case one gets in the yard. We also keep a handgun on us intermittently around the house, and on us when we go out to check on the horses at night.
What does your wife want to do? How does she feel about carrying the Airweight? Mine loves her Model 36-1 3". We both put non-plus P rounds in our Chiefs and feel pretty confident with the combination. The recoil isn't bad, so followup shots are a bit easier to line up. Something to think about.