Did I mention I'm a new hunter? I'm pretty confident I'm going to miss at least 1/3 times and I'm pretty sure the max ammunition you're allowed to load is 3 shots, so I might as well go all the way no?
20 GA Grouse Gun
- Thread starter Lotro
- Start date
Did I mention I'm a new hunter? I'm pretty confident I'm going to miss at least 1/3 times and I'm pretty sure the max ammunition you're allowed to load is 3 shots, so I might as well go all the way no?
This is a very good question that the OP needs to consider.
I mostly use an SKB M100 20ga with 28" bbls. Was originally F/M but was reamed to IC/M. It's pretty much perfect for grouse and woodcock.
I shoot'em on the ground with a Cooey 20 ga.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Slightly off topic but...I had a seemingly great day busting a covey of sharptails with my nice 20 gauge SKB O/U with more open chokes but Prairie Storm #6 lead birdshot.
Looks like I had three down and I went to collect them. Suddenly the once 'dead' bird got up promptly flew away and the bird took a huge dump probably believing I am about to shoot it dead.
No.
Stupid hunter holding empty gun the fired hulls still in the chambers!
Two or three shots didn't matter because I was unprepared folks.
Lesson learned.....
at least I got two of them, third would have been cherry
Looks like I had three down and I went to collect them. Suddenly the once 'dead' bird got up promptly flew away and the bird took a huge dump probably believing I am about to shoot it dead.
No.
Stupid hunter holding empty gun the fired hulls still in the chambers!
Two or three shots didn't matter because I was unprepared folks.
Lesson learned.....
at least I got two of them, third would have been cherry
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My rule of thumb is to only shoot one bird at a time with my double guns, the second shot is only used as a back up for a missplaced first shot. I get a lot less wounded birds that way.
I mostly agree with this post but saying that I once shot a triple with a 20 gauge 870 LW . That was in my younger days and I also emptied a Ithica 37 20 gauge Supreme on a covey flush of eight Grouse and never touched a feather.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
With this in mind. My 2 cents worth...
- Get to know how you gun pattern at different distance
- Get to know where your POI is
Hunting birds with a double, give you the advantage of having two choke pattern available (for somewhat close/longer shots)
+1 on the M12 in 20G... Kind of forgot about them.
You may be new but that doesn’t matter. Most often, when hunting ruffed grouse, the first shot is hard, the second shot is a Hail Mary and the third shell either stays unfired or, if fired, is utterly a waste.
But I’m not trying to talk you out of a pump with three shots. I’m just telling you what to expect, and give you info that would reasonably allow you to broaden your search to include break action guns.
All that is assuming you intend to shoot birds on the wing, which is the only way I hunt grouse. If you intend to shoot them sitting on the ground or on a branch, then your criteria may be different.
When I hunt ruffies I may use a 16 gauge pump, a 12, 16, 20 or 28 gauge SxS, a 16 or 20 gauge O/U or a single barrel 12 gauge. The weights of those guns range between 4 pounds 7 ounces and 6 pounds 11 ounces. My criteria isn’t the number of shells or even the gauge or the type of action. More than anything it’s the weight of the gun, it’s handling characteristics, the chokes and my expectation for the density of cover I’ll be working.
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DarkStalker
Regular
- Location
- Kebekistan
Weatherby sa-08 models are very light, semi tough.. had lots of fun for grouse hunting !
The Winchester M12 is heavy as are the remington 870 express or wingmaster but all metal
The Winchester M12 is heavy as are the remington 870 express or wingmaster but all metal
Once in a hunting career shouldn’t be a consideration.
Weatherby sa-08 models are very light, semi tough.. had lots of fun for grouse hunting !
The Winchester M12 is heavy as are the remington 870 express or wingmaster but all metal
Model 12 16 gauge are built on a 20 gauge frame. Most field grades weigh between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds. That’s not heavy for a 16 pump, O/U or SxS.
The 870 are built on a 12 gauge frame and later on, the 870 12 gauge frame was beefed up…..so that’s a heavy 16.
But, Remington does make a scaled down 20 gauge frame
There are pros and cons and choices to be made and I have been a Remington Wingmaster fan boy and the 1100 too for a very long time.
Anyways, there are as many choices as there are days to hunt grouse either on the ground or on the wing.
Rob
I have a Wingmaster. Love it. But it’s a terrible choice for a grouse gun.
As far as SxS go, what you hear is correct and for the money you’d like to spend, which is the low end of the used market, there is no brand to direct you to. There are too many companies and craftsmen that made great guns over the last 125 years and too many of those great guns are now money pits. If SxS interest you, spend a year researching and learning about them first. Or get good advice from someone who knows SxS. There aren’t a lot of those guys. Or be prepared to drop a lot more money.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The only time I select a 12 gauge is when exploring new hunting grounds while alone.
Or when the rural nieghbours where I small game hunt confessed to wounding a big black bear that hung around for a few tense days.
Or when the rural nieghbours where I small game hunt confessed to wounding a big black bear that hung around for a few tense days.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I was trying to post a simple, straightforward request and got a lot more new knowledge than I was anticipating. I'm thankful for that.
I'm not a wingshooter. I don't hunt over a dog, and usually when a grouse flushes it's in thick cover or some other unsuitable place to shoot at. I mostly walk the trails, or just off them through the woods, looking for dinner. I try to walk the most overgrown trails so as to avoid those riding around on ATVs. I've been hunting grouse for only 3 seasons and it's all new to me. I might one day have a bird dog and be an exclusive Wingshooter, but I'm just not there yet!
It sounds like I should be mindful of gun weight and fit, be sure to pattern the gun and perhaps keep an eye out for an Ithaca 37 or a Model 12, as well as do some research about good quality SXS or O/U should my budget grow. I also respect the points about not really needing 3 shots, I hadn't thought a lot about that.
Thanks everyone for your replies. Much appreciate it.
I'm not a wingshooter. I don't hunt over a dog, and usually when a grouse flushes it's in thick cover or some other unsuitable place to shoot at. I mostly walk the trails, or just off them through the woods, looking for dinner. I try to walk the most overgrown trails so as to avoid those riding around on ATVs. I've been hunting grouse for only 3 seasons and it's all new to me. I might one day have a bird dog and be an exclusive Wingshooter, but I'm just not there yet!
It sounds like I should be mindful of gun weight and fit, be sure to pattern the gun and perhaps keep an eye out for an Ithaca 37 or a Model 12, as well as do some research about good quality SXS or O/U should my budget grow. I also respect the points about not really needing 3 shots, I hadn't thought a lot about that.
Thanks everyone for your replies. Much appreciate it.
Not sure why you can’t find what your looking I had a very nice skb 100 on Ee for weeks at 1000$ shipped nobody jumped on it finely someone did and it’s back onEe for a lot more money than what I wanted also there were a couple of 20 ga Rem LT they didn’t last long and always standard jap model 12’s from 600$1000 you just have to pull the trigger when you see them most of the time they sell quickly
There is a Benelli 20ga Montefeltro on Ee as we speak for 1200 obo with chokes very nice handling gun . In fact out of all mentioned that would be my first pic likely weighs just over 5 lbs
There is a Benelli 20ga Montefeltro on Ee as we speak for 1200 obo with chokes very nice handling gun . In fact out of all mentioned that would be my first pic likely weighs just over 5 lbs
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My first favorite grouse gun is a 1940's Winchester M12, Skeet, 20 ga , Solid Rib, WS-1 choke. .
My second choice is a 1930's Winchester M12, 16 ga, Modified, Solid Rib.
Here's my 1940's 20 ga. M12 Skeet WS-1, Solid Rib.
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My second choice is a 1930's Winchester M12, 16 ga, Modified, Solid Rib.
Here's my 1940's 20 ga. M12 Skeet WS-1, Solid Rib.
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Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
My current grouse gun is a Benelli Nova in 20ga. Comes with 3 chokes,3" chamber should you "need"it, in 26" barrel weighs 6.6lbs out of the box, can be complete srtipped in under a minute without tools, and is practically indestructable.
You have taken my post out of context was intended to show a third shot is not a usual thing in most situations. In most of my 76 years I used a solid rib Browning superlight 20 Have a great day.
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