I've never hunted before, so I cant tell if a 12g is too much. I just bought a shotgun as a ''jack of all trade'' and would like to hunt small game with it. Is there special loads that wont destroy the meat as much? Like target load for exemple? Also, which choke do you guys recommend me to use? What about barrel lenght? Thanks.
12g for small games
- Thread starter Dake21
- Start date
I use light load number 6 for rabbits and grouse..... Prefer improved cylinder choke for the birds, but modified will do fine and even full is ok, but not reccomended..... As for barrel length, to me 26 is ideal for small game.....
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Your 12 bore is fine. The loads you're looking for are called field loads, special field loads, or heavy field loads depending on the manufacturer. These have a muzzle velocity of about 1200 fps, with an ounce and an eighth or ounce and a quarter of shot. The shells are typically low brass like trap and skeet loads. I like #4 shot, but others prefer #6 for better pattern density. You might find that a modified or cylinder choke prevents the game from being torn up as badly as it would be from a full choke gun. Try several brands to see which patterns best your your gun. I like short barrels myself, and the only advantage of a longer barrel is a longer sighting plane, and in some cases a better balanced gun. Anything from 20"-26" is appropriate, and 18" works in a pinch.
Kinda late to ask for suggestions on barrel length and or choice of 2-3/4'' or 3-12'' chamber or chokes to use.
But, since you asked there are a myriad of choices available for small game such as rabbit and grouse.
One can use from number 6 lead shot to number 4 shot depending on cover being hunted and distance to target.
7-1/2 shot will suffice for close up grouse from a modified choke out to 30 yrds , but for furry lil rabbits I have no idea what to use if table fair in the object.
Rob
12 gauge is not too much for small game; just use the right load and use proper shot placement. Sometimes I'll be reading on a forum online and the odd person will say it destroys the meat and I always wonder where exactly they are shooting on their target? Even at 12 years old, I could manage to shoot the head of a grouse and, of course, 12 gauge and 20 gauge are Commonly used by duck hunters. Moving targets like ducks are a little trickier ... Try to shoot slightly ahead of the flight path so the bird flies into it (like shooting clays); in this case, the odd pellet will get into the body, but that's okay.
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Just read the back of the box....most shotshell mfg'ers will give recommended shot sizes for most game animals. After that it's trial and error or personal preference from experience. Note there may be some legalities ei) in Ontario wild turkey can only be hunted with #4, 5 or 6 shot sizes so be sure to read the regulations for the game you are after. Have fun!
I patterned my norinco 870 12" cyclinder bore last year before bunnny/ grouse hunting. With 7.5 target load, #6 heavy field load and #4 heavy field load. At 15-20 yards I was getting about %90 of the calculated pellets on a 3'x3' target. The pattern was evenly spread. I got a couple of grouse with the #6 and didn't have any more damage than a .22 lr
More than a few rabbits took a roll from cheap field load #4.
Find a place where you can shoot a half dozen milk jugs and some cardboard boxes at different distances to see what's going on with the shot pattern at your given point of aim.
Find a place where you can shoot a half dozen milk jugs and some cardboard boxes at different distances to see what's going on with the shot pattern at your given point of aim.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Use an Improved Choke and cheap #6's. Aim for the head.
Well I'm going to say I'm relieved it can be done with good result. I did some test and if I put the skeet choke on the shotgun I can hit clays with minimal fragmentation at 15 meters if I aim about a foot off. I'll make some more testing this weekend.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I've killed a pile of critters with a 12 gauge shotgun. Once you have figured out which load/choke combo's work best at various ranges you will have it beat. Learning distances is probably the one thing most hunters do not do well. Learn to judge distances vs game sizes and you will have great success afield.
Messed up a grouse pretty good with 12ga when I decided to carry a shotgun over a 22. Shot was no doubt to low and should have aimed for the head so if I had to I'd have no problem trying the 12 again. Anyways I went out the next day and got myself a proper grouse gun in the form of a 20ga pump and love the thing.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Whether the ounce of shot comes from a 20 or a 12 doesn't matter very much, but the 20 is no doubt nicer to carry.
An ounce of shot is an ounce of shot no matter what gauge it's fired in. I was once on a preserve pheasant shot and was criticized for using a 12 gauge by a man who declared his 20 gauge was more than enough and anything larger was over gunned. I checked one of his hulls and observed he was using 3" magnum 1-1/4 ounce shells while I was doing just fine with my 1 ounce 12 gauge #6.
I actually prefer a full choke for rabbits(20 gauge) #4 shot, less spread and almost always try for head shots.
I just bought my son a 12 gauge, I have enough 20's for him and thought he might like to try ducking, anyways...
I had an older box of #2 steel shot, that I told him would be good for rabbits(snowshoes, in thick alders)
I just bought my son a 12 gauge, I have enough 20's for him and thought he might like to try ducking, anyways...
I had an older box of #2 steel shot, that I told him would be good for rabbits(snowshoes, in thick alders)
An ounce of shot is an ounce of shot no matter what gauge it's fired in. I was once on a preserve pheasant shot and was criticized for using a 12 gauge by a man who declared his 20 gauge was more than enough and anything larger was over gunned. I checked one of his hulls and observed he was using 3" magnum 1-1/4 ounce shells while I was doing just fine with my 1 ounce 12 gauge #6.
So he criticized you for having too much gun and he uses magnum shell... lol
