Ruffed grouse; 870 smooth bore 20'' Deer barrel

vpsalin

vpsalin

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Is the 870 smooth bore 20'' Deer barrel in 12ga fixed IC choke a capable grouse gun? If not, what other 12ga 870s are offered in short barrel lengths suitable for grouse?

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Any shotgun that can put the pellets on the target is "capable." If it's all you have then enjoy but it's not suitable and a damn sight away from being "perfect." Get something longer without the rifle sights.
 
The point of a shotgun is to hit what you want to hit, whether it's a bespoke Purdey or an 870. If he hits with it and he likes it, then it's perfect for him. It'll kill just as well as said Purdey. Fact.

Also fact is that the nowdays largely discounted M12 has seldom been bettered in the quality of it's patterns. I personally much prefer well fitted high grade double guns, but I'll happily acknowledge the practicalities, and not everybody wants nor can afford the big ticket double guns.

I used to hunt with a guy who toted a H&H Royal. He would often get pissed at me and call me a game hog because I killed more birds with my lowly off-the-rack Merkel. He was just pissed because his vaunted H&H didn't kill any better, never conceding that maybe his gun didn't fit, or maybe he just wasn't a better shot.

Within reason it's not the gun, it's the shooter, and anybody who likes his 870 is welcome to hunt with me and if he outshoots me great, and he's shooting an eminently suitable gun.
 
Its fine for walking/sitting grouse out to about 20 yards. Ive knocked off a lot of grouse in deer season with that barrel. I cant shoot flying birds with it due to the sights, but you may be able to.

If you can find a skeet barrel.....
 
to use a barrel with sights, I usually keep both eyes open and concentrate on the target, then bring the barrel end into view and squeeze the trigger as I swing through.
that is for grouse on the wing.

on the ground, just aim like what feels natural.
 
Ardent said:
Not a fan of that setup; not a good deer gun (smoothbore), not a good bird gun (short, and rifle sighted). But yes it'll kill grouse, a proper shotgun will just do it better like any correct for the job tool.
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As far as it being a smoothbore, I have a Browning BPS with 24" barrel that will make a ragged one hole group at 50 yards using Challenger slugs. I shot a deer a 68 paces with it, and hit exactly where I was aiming. I had been thinking of getting a rifled barrel for it, but after comparing my grouping with my wife's 870 with a rifled barrel, I just couldn't justify the expense. The only thing I don't like is that the receiver is drilled and tapped, but I can't find a bloody base that will fit it anywhere.
 
Ardent said:
Not a fan of that setup; not a good deer gun (smoothbore), not a good bird gun (short, and rifle sighted). But yes it'll kill grouse, a proper shotgun will just do it better like any correct for the job tool.
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Bulls**t on the deer gun part. My wingmaster with that barrel easily passes the "dinner plate" test at 100m with cheap Winchester slugs.

And, as ive said, it easily knocks off birds if they are stationary. Ive probably killed more grouse with that barrel then the actual field barrel.
 
blasted_saber said:
Bulls**t on the deer gun part. My wingmaster with that barrel easily passes the "dinner plate" test at 100m with cheap Winchester slugs.

And, as ive said, it easily knocks off birds if they are stationary. Ive probably killed more grouse with that barrel then the actual field barrel.
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Dinner plate isn't a test result I'd accept, we have different standards and I expect a true, reliable 100 yard reach for deer, better yet 150.
 
If the 870 deer gun is all I had, I would make it work. The only thing it has going for it as far as a ruffed grouse gun is its open choke. There are lots of guns better suited for grouse. If I had to choose from 870s I would go with a 26 inch barrel. Wingmaster first choice and the express a distant second. I would also prefer a 20 over a 12.
 
of course it will work, any grouse ive ever shot was at close to medium range 5-30 yards
i use a 20 inch modified 20 gauge and it kills them without any damage to the meat as long as you get a clean hit
 
It'll do, but a bead sighted, changeable choke, barrel would be better for birds. An 870 barrel doesn't have to say Remington on it either.
Bird barrels get 'pointed'. Rifle sighted barrels get aimed.
 
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