OK, so I'll get some bird shot, and make sure my trajectory is down into the dirt on my property. 500 yards is too far. My property is only 50 feet wide (my expected range), and although there are no houses behind for quite a ways, there are cows, horses and barns. I wouldn't be happy with my neighbors shooting up their backyards either, but I just lost my poultry flock and won't get another until the coyotes are eradicated. They moved in this winter.
So I should use the shorter barrel? Assume two or three coyotes pay me a visit at one time. Think there are a half a dozen.