All my shotgun experience comes mostly on upland game so I have no practical experience with steel shot or any of the new waterfowl loads. I do know that steel is not highly regarded by most shotgunners since as you pointed out it quickly sheds velocity. Personally I wouldn't consider using it on waterfowl at longer ranges let alone Coyotes. You seem to be getting good patterns and at those close ranges it would probably work, but it's not what it was designed for and I wouldnt trust it.
Personally I would choose a slug load and set the gun up as I would for deer if I were to use shotgun for that. You can get some amazing groups with some of these modern guns and loads and the investment and modifications to your mossberg would be minimal. In fact it would do double duty as a defense gun. You wouldnt even have to scope it and you could get good terminal performace out of those loads out to a hundred yards or so from what I understand. Of course this depends on your gun, load, sight system and skill level. I guess you'll just have to experiment. Let me know what you find out. as it's an interesting concept. I never considered s scattergun for predators.

Certainly if you could get your hands on lead, it will always be the better choice. Try to get your hands on turkey loads as they are usually lead. Also, buck shot is lead if it is allowed to be used in your area. As for the barrel, I have an 18" cylinder bore barrel on my mossberg 590 but have never patterned it for hunting. I only use the gun for tactical competitions for close range targets.

Hey guys, thanks for the input. Just got back from Sportsmens Warehouse and found something that fits the bill, I would think. It's Federal Premium Wing Shok 3 inch Mag Lead BB. It's the largest shot lead I've found in my parts. Should put the smack down on a coyote out to forty.

I am going to pattern the improved cylinder at thirty to see, but will likely use the 28 inch barrel with either mod or full choke for hunting. There's some thick canyon country I call in where if you get something in the shots would be close.

I do have a good friend who is an accomplished turkey hunter who took me on my first turkey hunt this last fall. I used my 22-250 and got a hen. I'll be trying again this Spring for a Tom with the shotgun and this may be the load I use for that as well.

Yeah, I had picked up some Federal 00 buckshot loads and tried em. At thirty a pretty wide spread even with 28 inch barrel. At twelve yards nothing nice to whatever or whoever is on the receiving end.

I plan on using the short barrel for home defense, upgrading from my Ruger Mk II 22.

Let us know how it works. I'm interested to see.

Will do for sure. Just got to get some coyotes to come in. I've only been able to get out twice so far and crappy conditions both times. Hot, darn near mid sixties in Nov/Dec both days and windy. Finally some snow and cold weather this weekend and I've got to go on a 'romantic' getaway with the wife. Really, it should be nice and hopefully the next weekend will be good and cold. I will let ya know!

If your shotgun has screw-in chokes, I would look at Cabela's choke tubes. They sell a Dead Coyote/Hevi Shot choke tube. I personally would use the Hevi Shot Dead Coyote load (T shot). You can purchase it through MidWay if you can't find it in your area.

Thanks Old Proffessor, speaking of chokes I ordered a full accu choke from Mossberg the other day. I got home that evening and was checking my barrel and realized it was a fixed modified and didn't have threads for the choke. I called Mossberg and the rep I spoke to said 'no problem' send in the barrel and I'll send you a replacement outfitted for the accu chokes and an improved cylinder and modified choke to go along with your full choke you ordered. I must say great customer service from Mossberg for doing that.

I'd love to use Dead Coyote, but can't justify spending forty bucks for ten shells. That's just too damn steep for this guy. I have read reviews where guys are saying their killing coyotes and geese at sixty, seventy yards with it and if so that's incredible. But, if I can get a load that will put the smack down to fifty I'll be happy. I think the Federal Mag lead BB will do it with full choke. We'll see.

Again thanks!

Dead Coyote ROCKS. Killed a lot of geese with it at jaw droping ranges.

Hmmmm.............. maybe I'll have to drop that forty bucks after all??? At some point.

UPDATE:

i ended up sending my 28 inch fixed Mod barrel to Mossberg and they sent me a ventilated ribbed 20 inch barrel with the accu choke system. I patterned it at 25 yards with the Fed. 3inch BB lead loads and full choke. i found it would pattern well enough to kill a coyote at the range but not much further. disappointed I was. Kind of forgot about the shotgun experiment until recently with predator time back at hand.

So, I ended up finding a Mossberg 28 inch barrel with the accu choke system on the net for $100 and the guy from AZ even delivered it as he was passing thru Colo. on his way to a MT. elk hunt, woohoo. I was thinking I needed the extra barrel length to get a tighter pattern with the full choke.

But, now after much reading the general consensus from the shotgunning crowd is it's not barrel length so much (when used for turkeys predators) but choke, choke, choke, and much like reloading it's about finding the right combo of choke and load.

So's I ordered the Carlson's Dead Coyote Choke from Cabelas (should be in next Tuesday) and I am going to pick up some # 4 buck shot in addition to the lead BB Fed Loads I have and try pattering with both the 20 inch and 28 inch barrel and go with whichever give me the best killing pattern to fifty yards.

I would love to buy the Dead Coyote loads but just can't afford 10 rounds for forty bucks.

In addition my little ol X mas request will be the Knoxx Special Ops adjustable stock with the recoiler reducer which has great reviews at Cabelas http://www.cabelas.com/p-0012785224733a.shtml .

Should be a pretty sweet predator rig with that addition and will post up some pics once it's complete.