What's your go-to grouse hunting setup?

hawk-i said:
Are you guys that are using shotguns shooting sitting birds or only shooting once they fly?
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If I'm with my dog, it's wing shooting with the SxS. Sometimes, I won't have the dog (when away deer hunting) and will take the Cooey and road blast them.

Not hard rules either way.
 
hawk-i said:
Some nice pics of guns, dogs and birds posted!

Are you guys that are using shotguns shooting sitting birds or only shooting once they fly?
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It will be however they present themselves... But often enough, it's feels like a game of hide and seek, where they just seem to run around in the bush, and me trying to find out where it just went...
 
I have a 1924 Purdey 12 bore sidelock with a set of 30" and also 26" barrels.....she is a beauty and nice to take out for grouse on a nice day but a little heavy and a little too pretty for 5-6 hours in the thick stuff.... also a 1938 Charles Hellis boxlock (very light) with 26" barrels, also 12 gauge. She get a lot of work each year.

my go to is a beat up 20 bore Fox Sterlingworth with 26" barrels. I love that gun. Carries well, points fast. handles well. I choked it fairly open and lengthened the chambers. Shooting #8's.

I just picked up a 26" Parker 0 frame 20 bore and haven't seen it yet but once I get it she is going into the rotation for sure..... many say that is the ultimate grouse/woodcock gun.
 
AR15meister said:
my go to is a beat up 20 bore Fox Sterlingworth with 26" barrels. I love that gun. Carries well, points fast. handles well. I choked it fairly open and lengthened the chambers. Shooting #8's.
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Nice .... If'n you're ever thinking about selling that, let me know. I had a 12ga SW, but it was to heavy for grouse.
 
For me to use on Grouse, here on the 'wet coast', there's two I use. On the dryer days I have a nice light straight stocked 12ga english double,side lock SxS, made by J.S. Boreham. When 'things' are a little more on the damp side, I have a 20ga Ruger Red Label O&U that gets the call.
 
SuperCub said:
Nice .... If'n you're ever thinking about selling that, let me know. I had a 12ga SW, but it was to heavy for grouse.
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They are hard to find that's for sure. I also have a 28" 20 bore sterlingworth that is a little long for my liking in the grouse woods. Was going to turn it into a quail gun for Arizona but I have a 20 bore Bar in wood purdey hammer gun that I am restoring for that purpose.

So the gun could be available and I will keep your name written down.
 
AR15meister said:
They are hard to find that's for sure. I also have a 28" 20 bore sterlingworth that is a little long for my liking in the grouse woods. Was going to turn it into a quail gun for Arizona but I have a 20 bore Bar in wood purdey hammer gun that I am restoring for that purpose.

So the gun could be available and I will keep your name written down.
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28” isn’t too long Adam. When we go out grouse this fall I’ll take my Fox 20 ga 30”. Laugh2
 
I use either 22 or 17 in the head. Use the fmj in the 17hmr. Also started using a 22 caliber pistol air rifle and carrying it in the bino holster on my chest while on the quad. It's not classed as a rifle, and when a chicken pops up on the trail, quickly stop, take gun from my chest, take safety off, and shoot it in the head. If you miss the head, the 22 caliber air rifle pellet blasts all the way through them and kills them just like a 22 does. Limit out in no time ripping down the trails
 
Brutus said:
A couple of years ago I had this notion I needed a newer & shorter barrel, for my M37 Ithaca in 28 gauge.
I held off buying an extra barrel. And I came to appreciate very much this 28 inch pipe.
I have zero desire to replace it anymore.
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The difference here is that a 28" SxS is a fair bit shorter overall than a 28" pump gun. I have a 26" 870 12ga and find it a bit long (and heavy) for chasing birds.

I often wished that they'd make 24" bbls for pump guns for upland use.
 
SuperCub said:
The difference here is that a 28" SxS is a fair bit shorter overall than a 28" pump gun. I have a 26" 870 12ga and find it a bit long (and heavy) for chasing birds.

I often wished that they'd make 24" bbls for pump guns for upland use.
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They did make a short barrel for pumps back in the 80s. Remington had there special field in 12’and 20 Guage they had 21 inch barrels with English style straight grip stocks they had an 870 special field as well as an 1100 special field same specs as the 870. Beautifull shotguns I purchased one of each in 1988 still have the 870 special field was purpose built for upland game. And is my go to for grouse swings like a double it’s fast will never sell this one
 
SuperCub said:
The difference here is that a 28" SxS is a fair bit shorter overall than a 28" pump gun. I have a 26" 870 12ga and find it a bit long (and heavy) for chasing birds.

I often wished that they'd make 24" bbls for pump guns for upland use.
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I have a 23 inch barrel on an M87 Ithaca Turkeyslayer.
It's not my favorite swinging shotgun, but it's kind of handy when bent over moving thru thick spruce.
Often I replace it's extra full choke with I.M. in a Colonial choke with an extended knurled edge for easier use and good patterns.
 
SuperCub said:
The difference here is that a 28" SxS is a fair bit shorter overall than a 28" pump gun. I have a 26" 870 12ga and find it a bit long (and heavy) for chasing birds.

I often wished that they'd make 24" bbls for pump guns for upland use.
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Benelli offers the Nova in a 24" barrel. Ross had one in stock the last time I looked...
 
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