I am relatively new to shotguns and I just bought a new 870 Express mag. I intend to use it for close-cover coyote hunting with #4 buck and would like to be able to shoot a nice light 2-3/4" slug for longer shots without having to change barrels or choke tubes. Is there any combination that would allow me to take a coyote sized target with a 3" buckshot out to 40-50 yds and hit one with a slug that might hang up at 100-125 yds? What kind of group (without rifling) should I expect from a shotgun? About how much drop is there at 100 yds with a 1 oz. slug traveling at an advertized 1600 fps from a 26" bbl? Thanks for any suggestions.

Dog-duster

That's alot to expect from a gun. Slugs will shoot best from a more open choke, and buckshot shoots best from a more tight choke. I would use an improved cyl. choke tube, and find which slugs shoot best in it. Try all different brands to see which one groups best. Your group may not be where your sights are looking so you may have to get adjustable sights to put on your gun.

Once you find the slug that works best in your gun, and you find your maximum range that you can hit a coyote at, then move on to patterning different brands of buckshot using the same choke (improved cyl) as you used with the slugs. All brands and length ammo will shoot differently. A 2-3/4" buckshot shell may shoot better in your gun then a 3" shell, you just have to try them all until you find which brand shoots best in your gun.

50-60 yards with an improved choke and buckshot is a bit optimistic. I think about 45 yards is the best most people get from thier guns with that choke. The slugs should be fine though, providing that there isn't much wind. most people can get 100 yard accuracy shooting rifled slugs assuming that they have practiced and found the brand ammo that thier gun likes.