.22lr for partridge hunting ... What are you using?

T

Tikka223

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
74   0   0
Location
New Brunswick
This could go in a few different forums but I figured that anyone who owns a .22 and who is on this forum has probably taken a shot or two at a partridge.

I currently have a Ruger 10/22 with Tech Sights. Nice rifle, great plinker, very happy with the accuracy. However, I'm starting to feel its limitations when I go hunting for partridge. The aperture sight isn't the greatest for quick shots at partridges running around in the shade or at dawn or dusk and isn't the best for a precision head shot past 25m. I'm thinking its time to put a scope on the rifle.

What are you folks using? I spend most of shooting time at the long range so I'm a big fan of having mils or some sort of hash mark in a reticle to memorize bullet drop at different differences. Maybe this isn't appropriate for partridge hunting.

I'm also toying with the idea of buying a CZ 455 as a dedicated hunter.

Please pass along your thoughts and opinions.
 
In the past, I have shot both ruffed and sharptailed grouse with a 22lr, although I use a 28 gauge shotgun now. However, I can say that I have never used a 22lr for partridge. When I see partridge on the ground they are usually running like a pheasant would. It's exciting to flush a flock of 30 or 40 partridge, and shoot a couple on the wing.
 
In my part of Ontario, the terms partridge and rough grouse are used interchangeably. Here we have ruffed and spruce grouse, with Hungarian (also called Gray or English partridge) in southern Ontario. I've used both .22LR and a shotgun for hunting grouse (the shotgun is good for use in dense brush). I have a 453 Lux that I'm thinking of using as a hunter with open sights.
 
Partridge has always meant Huns to me and grouse were grouse or prairie chickens. As kids we had dozens to the grouse and the prairie chickens around. Huns were there but they moved so fast they were never hunted by us.Then there was the spruce grouse or fools hens I have used rocks even on them.
 
Raton57 said:
Partridge has always meant Huns to me and grouse were grouse or prairie chickens. As kids we had dozens to the grouse and the prairie chickens around. Huns were there but they moved so fast they were never hunted by us.Then there was the spruce grouse or fools hens I have used rocks even on them.
Click to expand...

And most people that tell you that they hunt prairie chickens, have never even seen a live prairie chicken.:)
 
stubblejumper said:
Are you talking partridge or grouse? Gray/Hungarian Partridges are generally found in larger flocks, while ruffed grouse are usually found in singles, pairs, or small family groups.
Click to expand...

I believe that technically the birds I hunt are grouse or ruffled grouse. Most people refer to them as partridge. If I look in my "NB 2015 hunt & trap" it refers to spruce grouse and ruffed grouse.
 
I've used 10/22s with a red dot and a scope.

Everytime I've got the red dot out I think "Man, I love this thing. So easy to point and shoot in low light, eyes open. Love this thing. Way better than the scope".

And then I go out with the scoped 10/22 and think "Man, I love this thing. So accurate and easy to pick my placement. Way better than the red dot. "


Either option makes a fine ditch chicken dinner. Both have there merits. If I had to choose only one... I'd go with... Umm.... Hmmm.
 
I do a lot of grouse and rabbit hunting in the bush. I mostly use my CZ452 Scout with pachmayr slip on recoil pad to increase LOP and Leupold rimfire 2-7x28 mounted low. Can't beat the 15" barrel!
 
This year we took a JW 15 13'' barrelled 'backpacker' with us,loaded with 'quiet' 22 shells.....very accurate,very quiet,although not as quiet as my longer 26'' "barrelled JW15( BRNO knockoff) I like 4x scopes,they do the job nicely.I have a H&R 'survivor' 20 gauge ,but after using it I'm not into picking shot out of my grouse..head shots with a 22 is better,and a bit more challanging
 
My go-to 22's for partridges are:
My '65 CIL-310 with a Weaver 3-9x32 ao, or my CZ452 scout with
a Leupold 2-7x28.
Both shooting subsonics.
It's head shots or nothing for me.
 
Last edited:
I have used my old Savage 24H-DL in .22/20ga for the last 45+ years. Needless to say, I use solids in the .22. Mostly older CIL long rifle, long, and the odd time Remington shorts. 20ga. Is whatever happens to be in the old candy tin that I use for my "chicken huntin'" ammo box.

I realize that the world will likely come to an early end because of this, but I've called Ruffed Grouse "bush partridge" and whatever the elite call Prairie Chickens "prairie chickens" since I was a wee kid. Hungarian Partridge are mostly called "huns" around here. Does it really matter? Really?
 
We have killed thousands of grouse and hares with .22's... it was all we used for 30 years... I am talking ruffed, spruce and sharptail... not Hungarian partridge. We have used a whole assortment of rifles... many semi, bolt, pump and lever action rifles... my two current favourites are a 77/22 and a 94/22... mostly with subs or SV'S.
 
I use a Winchester 52R sporter and a 4X scope for my ruffed grouse. I zero Winchester 555s at 25 yards, and hold on their heads out to 60+ yards.
 
Any .22 you can shoot straight with will work. I am sure untold numbers of partridge/grouse have fell to Cooeys over the decades. You don't need an expensive shooter to put a bird on the plate.
 
One of these three always gets the call:

Pc300434_zps12869e14.jpg


The Gevarm in the middle has been used the most, partly because it's been with me the longest. I'm really starting to develop a soft spot for the Browning. It's just a neat little rifle. The Winchester 63 is a nice gun as well, but is turning into a bit of a safe queen.

You'll hear the term "partridge" around these parts a lot too... and everybody knows what you are talking about. I only use the name "ruffed grouse" when dealing with the grammar police on CGN.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom