BBK
Active member
The old lead goose loads of #2 shot are about perfect. Those are hard to find nowadays. Remington still catalogs #2 lead shells. A short mag 2 3/4" turkey load of #4's or a heavy pheasant field load from a full choke smokes them perfectly.
Whats your average coon size? Ive had several take a load of 4s and keep right on going down the tree or back in the hole. Heck ive had squirrels run off hit with 4s at 30yds only to be killed by a buddy with a rifle and find 4s stuck in the hide or just into the meat.
I think you are right that 2s might be a good one, there is a huge difference between 2s and 4s, and just as big of a difference between 2s and BB. The BB almost always go right through at 15-25 yards but not every time. Lots of hide and fat on a coon!
For choking, mr carlson told me IM is the tightest suggested for BB, XF for 4B. IM throws a tight enough pattern for me out to 45/50yds using 1 1/4 BB. Most of my shots are 20 yards if that