[Puncha]

What is the largest land game animal or potentially harmful predator (in terms of weight in lbs) that can be reliably killed with high velocity BB shot? The round I'm currently issued with is a 2 3/4" shotshell filled with 1 1/8 oz of BB shot at 1350ft/s muzzle velocity. The issue weapon is a late 1990s Rem 870 express.

[USMC - Retired]

While not Technically a "land animal", Turkey is hunted with BB sized shot. As far as predators go, the biggest thing I could see hunting with BB would be fox. I don't think theres enough bang for the buck once you move up to coyotes.

[MCgunner]

Killed a coyote once with 7 1/2. But, he was no more than 20 feet away and it hit him almost as a single projectile at that range. I was dove hunting, camoed out, leaning up against a tree. I just happened to glance around behind me and a coyote was trotting straight toward that tree. I waited until he was on top of me, spun around and fired. :D The rancher who owned the land always told his hunters (and me once) to shoot any coyote you can.

But, generally, I agree. At normal ranges, a fox sized critter would probably be the upper limit for BB. I've taken a lot of geese with BB shot. It is for hunting large birds, not land mammals.

['Card]

Reliably killed or reliably hunted? I mean... you can kill anything with shot if you put the muzzle against the critter's forehead.

For hunting purposes, I'd guess that USMC-R is correct, that turkeys are probably the biggest thing commonly hunted with shot in North America. Even then, shot is primarily used for the scatter effect - because you just about have to hit one in the head to kill it. A turkey's feathers are like a coat of armor when it comes to penetration, so the unfeathered head is the only sure kill spot.

[MCgunner]

Actually, 4s and 6s are commonly used in turkey hunting because they make a denser pattern to make a head shot with. Geese, sandhill cranes, are what I've used BBs for.

[USMC - Retired]

Gunner, Were talking apples and oranges here. Big difference in Steel BB's for waterfowl and lead or copper coated lead BB's for trukey or fox. Back when we could throw lead at waterfowl I doubt you would have felt the neet to use BB sized shot...

[Puncha]

My firearms instructor claimed that high velocity BB shot from a 12ga should be able to reliably kill feral dogs weighing up to 90lbs at close range (30' or less). He also said that pythons up to 6 or 7 feet long have been effectively culled at close range using 1 or 2 quick blasts of extended range BB shot.

Is he full of horse @&*! or is he right?

[USMC - Retired]

At close range you could kill a python with skeet loads. By close I mean a few feet. I don't think I would try shooting a 90 pound canine with BB shot from 30 feet though. Most likely you would only wound it and you may have a PO'd wild dog on your hands.

[MCgunner]

Gunner, Were talking apples and oranges here. Big difference in Steel BB's for waterfowl and lead or copper coated lead BB's for trukey or fox. Back when we could throw lead at waterfowl I doubt you would have felt the neet to use BB sized shot...

Actually, back in the lead days (I've been hunting waterfowl for over 40 years) I shot BB. With steel, T and F shot is quite the rage. This stuff is not much smaller than 4 buck and what has brought back the 10 gauge and invented the 3.5" 12 gauge to get enough shot in the pattern with these huge pellets to be effective. But, I now shoot BB Federal Tungsten-Iron in 3". Drops 'em out of the stratosphere, actually more effective than I remember lead being.:D

At closer ranges, some folks used lead 2s on geese, but I always felt BBs were more effective on those long shots. Geese die hard, a tough bird to kill at ranges of 40 yards. I've seen steel BBs just bounce off too many times, knock the bird another five yards in alititude and he just flies on, probably smartin' a little bit, but little worse for the wear. BB steel sux on geese.

[Puncha]

What shot size for cranes, large crows and even bats?

I thinking of putting together a 50 round "variety pack" for a whole day extended hunt.

[Matt G]

At close range (20 yards or less), I have no problem with taking coyote, bobcat, or anything smaller with BabyBuck shot.

[mete]

I've taken feral dogs with #4s at 25 yds so BB would certainly work.