GF needs a grouse gun

Don't waste your money on a .410,
it's too limited, useless as far as I'm concerned, except for clays maybe.

I used to own one, until I saw how ineffective it was.
Find a 20 or 28 gauge.

I use a 22 mag these days , as grouse around here rarely take to wing,
and I don't like eating feathers.

Otherwise my SXS 20 gauge is the prefect bird gun for me.
 
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.410 is the perfect chicken gun. I started with a .410. I have a couple singles I started my boys off with and when they developed a bit. I have a Mossberg 500 in .410 they use. I like .410 for gross. I feel its a tighter shot. More chicken less chicken soup lol. My wife is 5.4 130 pounds and wouldn't even dream of shooting anything less then a 12. Maybe get a bunch of people together so she can try a bunch of different shotguns. Ideally though a semi-auto 20 gauge would be the least recoil and cheaper shells then 410.
 
What makes the 410 better then a 20g as a grouse gun? I would never shoot at a flying bird with a 410. Way too much variable and way too little shot.

The only reason I miss my 410 is its novelty factor. As a hunting gun it was terrible.

radmacks said:
.410 is the perfect chicken gun. I started with a .410. I have a couple singles I started my boys off with and when they developed a bit. I have a Mossberg 500 in .410 they use. I like .410 for gross. I feel its a tighter shot. More chicken less chicken soup lol. My wife is 5.4 130 pounds and wouldn't even dream of shooting anything less then a 12. Maybe get a bunch of people together so she can try a bunch of different shotguns. Ideally though a semi-auto 20 gauge would be the least recoil and cheaper shells then 410.
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People making recommendations on caliber/gauge need to preface it based on whether they are shooting grouse on the ground or on the wing.
 
blasted_saber said:
What makes the 410 better then a 20g as a grouse gun? I would never shoot at a flying bird with a 410. Way too much variable and way too little shot.

The only reason I miss my 410 is its novelty factor. As a hunting gun it was terrible.
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I have shot many sharptailed grouse on the wing with a 410, and a hunting partner shoots pheasant over his dogs with a 410.I much prefer my 28 gauge, but if you limit your shot distance to close range, and your wingshooting abilities are good, the 410 will work quite consistently.
 
Here's my Grouse Slayer, the H&R Survivor .410/.45 Colt -

HRS.jpg


survivor45_410.jpg
 
stubblejumper said:
I have shot many sharptailed grouse on the wing with a 410, and a hunting partner shoots pheasant over his dogs with a 410.I much prefer my 28 gauge, but if you limit your shot distance to close range, and your wingshooting abilities are good, the 410 will work quite consistently.
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Sure but why limit yourself, I prefer to be over gunned than under gunned, because not all hunting situations are ideal.

I've shot lots of Ruffed and Spruce grouse here in eastern BC with a .410,
but have hit several at close range only to see them tumble over with feathers flying everywhere,
then watch them get up and fly away.

A recent issue of Modern Pioneer magazine has an excellent technical article called Gauges and Game.
The author states "I love shooting the little .410 for clay targets, but this bore should never be considered as a viable option for bird hunting".

Here ya go......















 
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The Outsider said:
Don't waste your money on a .410,
it's too limited, useless as far as I'm concerned, except for clays maybe.
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Quickly, get up, run to a window, open it and stick your head outside. You are being carbon monoxide poisoned to death and are starting to talk silliness that makes no sense.

You're welcome.
 
The Outsider said:
Sure but why limit yourself, I prefer to be over gunned than under gunned, because not all hunting situations are ideal.

I've shot lots of Ruffed and Spruce grouse here in eastern BC with a .410,
but have hit several at close range only to see them tumble over with feathers flying everywhere,
then watch them get up and fly away.

A recent issue of Modern Pioneer magazine has an excellent technical article called Gauges and Game.
The author states "I love shooting the little .410 for clay targets, but this bore should never be considered as a viable option for bird hunting".

Here ya go......















Click to expand...

And as I posted, I much prefer my 28 gauge. I am a designated gunner for our NAVHDA chapter for our field days, and for our upcoming tests, and a few people weren't all that confident to see me using a 28 gauge for the first time when they were paying for the birds. However, after having me shoot for the club all summer with a 28 gauge, not one person questioned my choice to use a 28 gauge for the upcoming tests next weekend. I was asked to shoot for the club in the first place because I hunted pheasants many times last fall with the treasurers husband, and every pheasant that I shot at went home with us. The 28 gauge is quite capable for pheasant as well as the smaller upland birds.
 
Superbrad said:
Shoot what you want, including .410....... It's a grouse..... Shoot it, if it's flopping around, walk over, pick it up, grab it by the body and wring its neck..... Done......
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My experience with a 410 i its a puff of feathers and the bird nowhere to be found. I quickly limited my shots to less then 15m on ground-bound birds, which makes for a lousy beginner or all around grouse gun.

I dont pretend to be the best wing shooter on the planet, but Ive no problems knocking down birds with a 20g or 12g (the other shotguns I own). I detest wounding animals so after a season where more then once I had the puff of feathers at what should be a dead bird, I ditched it. I dont regret it at all.
 
Given the Op's Squeeze is a petite 5'-2'' and is looking for an under 6 pound gun I would either be buying Her exactly what she wanted and not what others said she should have.

Hell, take Her for some retail therapy or shopping if you will and fit some of the above mentioned firearms, but to buy her something less than what you would shoot is asking for trouble, both at home and in the field.

I did read that there was something purchased already and that didnt go so well, but man..you know the girl is not going to be happy unless there is a lot of homework done before purchase...Happy Girl Friend Happy Life ...

And a light 20 gauge is certainly going to kick like a 12 gauge depending on loads ( think felt recoil ), but thats a different topic for a different time.

Rob
 
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