Mosin-Marauder
New member
I am about to go Coyote hunting with my mosin and I will be using 180 grain Winchester SoftPoints. I can adjust the rear sight for range, but im not sure where to aim if the target is running. Any help is appreciated.
Aiming at a moving target with a Mosin? (Quick answers Please)
- Thread starter Mosin-Marauder
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Mosin-Marauder
New member
Wait, that wouldnt just make him run faster? Sorry for my ignorance, as im a bit new to this.
Mosin-Marauder
New member
Okay. Thank you so much for your help. Like I said I'm a bit new to hunting, and I mostly just shoot at paper targets, so this is all rather new to me. Thanks again.
g.willikers
New member
Don't shoot at a running animal, in the first place.
If you hit it at all, it will probably be a wound and not a kill.
Not a humane thing to do.
If it doesn't stop and give you a proper shot, let it go.
That's what responsible hunters do.
If you hit it at all, it will probably be a wound and not a kill.
Not a humane thing to do.
If it doesn't stop and give you a proper shot, let it go.
That's what responsible hunters do.
6.5swedeforelk
New member
Get prepared, have your sight picture correct, and wait.
A coyote (or wolf) will very often run for about 200yds, slow down and then go into a bouncing gait.
They are about to stop and turn broadside for a good look-that's your shot!
A coyote (or wolf) will very often run for about 200yds, slow down and then go into a bouncing gait.
They are about to stop and turn broadside for a good look-that's your shot!
FrankenMauser
New member
It depends on the cartridge, the bullet, the animal, the speed they're moving, and the distance between the animal and the muzzle.
No two shots are alike.
I won't shoot at running big game, unless it's an animal wounded by another hunter, and has to be stopped. But predators and varmints are fair game.
The only way to get even moderately proficient at making running shots is to try them. Even if you have the opportunity to practice a lot.... it's still best to just wait for the animal to stop. You'll use less ammo and make cleaner kills.
No two shots are alike.
I won't shoot at running big game, unless it's an animal wounded by another hunter, and has to be stopped. But predators and varmints are fair game.
The only way to get even moderately proficient at making running shots is to try them. Even if you have the opportunity to practice a lot.... it's still best to just wait for the animal to stop. You'll use less ammo and make cleaner kills.
That's a hard question to answer as some have said it depends on distance wind speed he is moving etc..I feel like this is something you just need to have a feel for..aim at the spot that feels right to you and most of the time you will be on target.
But may I suggest if you have a smaller caliber rifle it may be better. 7.62x54r might be overkill for a yote. Most people in my area hunt them with an ar15
But may I suggest if you have a smaller caliber rifle it may be better. 7.62x54r might be overkill for a yote. Most people in my area hunt them with an ar15
"Don't shoot at a running animal, in the first place.
If you hit it at all, it will probably be a wound and not a kill"
Over the years lots of coyotes didn't get that memo and died on the spot.
You must lead a moving target. If you don't understand that already, you probably shouldn't be shooting at moving things.
If you hit it at all, it will probably be a wound and not a kill"
Over the years lots of coyotes didn't get that memo and died on the spot.
You must lead a moving target. If you don't understand that already, you probably shouldn't be shooting at moving things.
This. You need to think of the bullet's time of flight. The animal will continue to move as the bullet is flying through the air, so you need to aim slightly in front of where you want to hit. How much, well that depends on range, the animals speed, and projectile velocity/time of flight.
DONT shoot at moving game if you're not capable of hitting them. If you don't know how to lead off your target, DONT shoot at a moving animal.
There has been plenty of game that has been harvested ethically while the animal was moving, but it's because the hunter knew what he was doing.
Willie Lowman
New member
And the only way for most hunters to learn how to hit a moving target is by shooting at moving targets.
Your folks are 'gun folk', at least they reload for a lot of calibers...any chance someone would take you trap shooting? It might not directly apply to shooting running coyotes but it would give you a chance to lead a moving target...it gives you instant feedback and it's fun too...as a young guy it would be another experience for you.
Lucas McCain
New member
If your going to shoot at a running target you must follow through with your swing. Its a bad habit that many have acquired from shooting stationary targets
in which they lift their head to see the hit. You need to follow through a bit before you take the second shot. Having said that I have shot a fair number of Yotes on the run, and when you wound them they go into what we call a
"spin cycle" and a second shot is easy. I have shot them in a pack and when the yote went into a spin cycle, the rest of them attacked him and I got to shoot a couple more. If they do run away you will get some tracking experience trying to find him, and that also a good thing to learn. Coyotes are considered varmints and not game animals. Most states don't even require a license to shoot them. Just to be sure check with your game and fish laws to be sure.
in which they lift their head to see the hit. You need to follow through a bit before you take the second shot. Having said that I have shot a fair number of Yotes on the run, and when you wound them they go into what we call a
"spin cycle" and a second shot is easy. I have shot them in a pack and when the yote went into a spin cycle, the rest of them attacked him and I got to shoot a couple more. If they do run away you will get some tracking experience trying to find him, and that also a good thing to learn. Coyotes are considered varmints and not game animals. Most states don't even require a license to shoot them. Just to be sure check with your game and fish laws to be sure.
I've taken a shot at two running coyotes.
One was moving across a draw below me at about 80 or 90 yds. I shot, and missed. He kicked it into overdrive and started up the other side. I shot again and missed just low. As he went up the slope further, I had time for one more shot, and rolled him. I vaguely remember having the crosshair somewhere in the head area as he went up the slope. The bullet caught him through both front shoulders, dead before he stopped rolling. Since I was getting set up for deer hunting, I had my rangefinder with me. It lazed at 276 yds. Luck? Probably quite a bit, but I WAS trying to hit it, and did so, after two very close misses.
The second one was probably about 200yds out trotting across a bare field downslope from me, moving left to right. I miscalculated the drop on my 6.5 Swede and held just above his ears. The bullet kicked up dust just over his shoulders, and he hightailed it... didn't get another shot.
I came away with the knowledge that bullets get to the target a LOT quicker and flatter than I had believed. If you learn your load's trajectory, you can make a snap decision as to where to put the crosshair. Then it's simply a matter of swinging with the animal and squeezing the trigger.
My general rule is to NOT shoot at MOVING animals, if I can help it... much less RUNNING animals. I've been griped at by a friend when we got into a herd of hogs... he's yelling "shoot them", and I'm trying to pick a shot at a non-moving pig. (almost non-existent) Sometimes a running shot is all you will have, so practice helps.
One was moving across a draw below me at about 80 or 90 yds. I shot, and missed. He kicked it into overdrive and started up the other side. I shot again and missed just low. As he went up the slope further, I had time for one more shot, and rolled him. I vaguely remember having the crosshair somewhere in the head area as he went up the slope. The bullet caught him through both front shoulders, dead before he stopped rolling. Since I was getting set up for deer hunting, I had my rangefinder with me. It lazed at 276 yds. Luck? Probably quite a bit, but I WAS trying to hit it, and did so, after two very close misses.
The second one was probably about 200yds out trotting across a bare field downslope from me, moving left to right. I miscalculated the drop on my 6.5 Swede and held just above his ears. The bullet kicked up dust just over his shoulders, and he hightailed it... didn't get another shot.
I came away with the knowledge that bullets get to the target a LOT quicker and flatter than I had believed. If you learn your load's trajectory, you can make a snap decision as to where to put the crosshair. Then it's simply a matter of swinging with the animal and squeezing the trigger.
My general rule is to NOT shoot at MOVING animals, if I can help it... much less RUNNING animals. I've been griped at by a friend when we got into a herd of hogs... he's yelling "shoot them", and I'm trying to pick a shot at a non-moving pig. (almost non-existent) Sometimes a running shot is all you will have, so practice helps.
I've shot skeet and trap. I've shot some running bore, and movers with sniper rifles.
I do have a bit of experience shooting movers.
The thing I learned shooting movers is I WONT, while hunting.
Play with the numbers a bit. Lets say you're shooting 200 yards. The time of flight is .239 seconds.
Lets say a critter is running 20 mph, that is 29.4 fps. So during the time of flight the critter will cover 7 feet.
Having been a cop and have run radar a time or two I know I cant judge speed that will. I don't know 20 mph from 25 mph so if the critter is running 25 instead of 20 mph, then it covers 8.78 feet in the .239 seconds. A foot and half difference means a miss or worse, an injured critter left to die a painful death.
Shooting movers is fun, but if you muff a shot on a clay, steel, or paper target, no one suffers.
I do have a bit of experience shooting movers.
The thing I learned shooting movers is I WONT, while hunting.
Play with the numbers a bit. Lets say you're shooting 200 yards. The time of flight is .239 seconds.
Lets say a critter is running 20 mph, that is 29.4 fps. So during the time of flight the critter will cover 7 feet.
Having been a cop and have run radar a time or two I know I cant judge speed that will. I don't know 20 mph from 25 mph so if the critter is running 25 instead of 20 mph, then it covers 8.78 feet in the .239 seconds. A foot and half difference means a miss or worse, an injured critter left to die a painful death.
Shooting movers is fun, but if you muff a shot on a clay, steel, or paper target, no one suffers.
g.willikers
New member
Finding a place that has a moving target setup is nearly impossible.
Trap and NRA action pistol come to mind.
But there is a way to practice at moving targets with minimal equipment.
Use a radio controlled car, with a target on an attached stalk.
A devious minded friend can run it around the range while you take pot shots.
Works pretty good.
Trap and NRA action pistol come to mind.
But there is a way to practice at moving targets with minimal equipment.
Use a radio controlled car, with a target on an attached stalk.
A devious minded friend can run it around the range while you take pot shots.
Works pretty good.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Shooting running critters is sorta like dove-hunting with a full-choke shotgun. 
Swing, shoot where he's gonna be, not where he is--and always follow through.
Swing, shoot where he's gonna be, not where he is--and always follow through.You can do like what Colonel Konig did in the movie "Enemy at the Gates", only if your shooting in a wooded area, or you need to shoot at a small open space in the brush. You calculate the speed vector and trajectory of the running animal in your mind --- and aim the rifle at the open area --- at where you think he is going to appear. As soon as the animal appears in the open area...squeeze off a shot without swinging the gun; with the calculated spot lead.
If you swing while taking a shot at an animal in a heavily wooded area, you'll have a high probability of hitting a tree.
For a swinging shot at 100 yards or less...once you swing just past the target's front brisket --- take the shot -- and follow through.
Of course...a lot what happened in the Enemy at the Gates movie, was fictional, but I'd probably take that kind of shot --- that I first described --- only at a wounded animal. War would be another story.
I would like to shoot running hogs from a helicopter, with a shotgun and buckshot. Check out the YouTube video about it.
If you swing while taking a shot at an animal in a heavily wooded area, you'll have a high probability of hitting a tree.
For a swinging shot at 100 yards or less...once you swing just past the target's front brisket --- take the shot -- and follow through.
Of course...a lot what happened in the Enemy at the Gates movie, was fictional, but I'd probably take that kind of shot --- that I first described --- only at a wounded animal. War would be another story.
I would like to shoot running hogs from a helicopter, with a shotgun and buckshot. Check out the YouTube video about it.
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