12ga for partridge?

When not using a .22 cal I use 12g. with #5. Of course a head shot is a must, so lead properly or wait till the head comes up on the ground......a buddy of mine hit one in the body a couple years ago and it ended up being basically a red mist.
 
Well see, this is my 12ga :D
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I think I'll need a new gun, as i think I'll be shooting them while flying. I need to confirm this with the guy who I'm going hunting with on his land.
 
12 guage, light loads and cylinder or Improved cylinger is all you need... after a mouth full of shot, you will learn to hit the head and not the body...:)
 
Can somebody explain to me the concept of shooting birds flying through the air for their very lives with a shotgun and making headshots? Things may be different around this country, but more often than not I'm looking at a birds ass when I shoot. Are you guys using heat sinking pellets around your part of the country? :confused:
 
Nothing "P"s me off more than a grouse breast with lead in it. I chipped a few teeth eating lead over the years. The 12 get less lead in a bird than a 410 in the right hands, 99.9% of our birds are head shot and the sporting part of this type of shooting is to get him to stand still and stretch his neck out so I will not hit the breast. One in the pot is worth a hundred that got away or were blown apart so you can't eat them.
 
I have loaded 12 guage for people, and use a super light load (7/8OZ.) going about 1140FPS.
That way they don't get too banged up.
I also use a 28 or 20 myself.....
Cat
 
I see by your location that you are in Montreal, and therefore, by partridge I assume you mean Ruffed Grouse. If that is the case, an ounce of 7 1/2 shot will do nicely throughout the entire season. You can shoot this ounce of shot in a light target load out of a 12 gauge, or a 1 oz field load from a 20 gauge with identical results. To me Ruffed Grouse scream 20 gauge, but I've probably shot more with a 12 gauge over the years. Use nothing tighter than IC choke in either gauge.

If you are actually talking about gray, or Hungarian, partridge, then the time of year makes a difference. Early in the season, an ounce or 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 shot out of an IC or Mod choke works well. Late in the season, merely driving your car onto the quarter section will cause every covey on the quarter to flush. Late in the season I like 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 oz of #6 shot fired through a tight choke. However, it really doesn't matter much what choke you use late in the season as most birds flush out of range anyways.

Boy, all this talk about guns and chokes is making me think about hunting season!
 
I guess I meant ruffed grouse. The french word is Perdrix wich dictionnary.com translated to partridge. I also talked with my coworker and it seems we're going to be shooting them mostly on the ground, so my Fabarm will do the job nicely.
 
For wing-shooting, Ruffed Grouse, 1 oz. of 8's in an open-choked 12 ga. works nicely, and have used 7/8 oz just as effectively. Standard target loads of No. 7-1/2 through No. 9 work well in 28, 20 or 12. Same for Spruce Grouse, Chukars, Woodcock, Snipe and Quail. A little more choke for Huns please, and a little stiffer load of 6's or 7-1/2's for Sharpies.
 
TheCanuck said:
I was told 12ga is too much for partridge and would really f**k the bird up if I hit it. True or not? should I use that as an excuse to buy a 20ga or 410? :p
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Your first statement is not valid as you may already have gathered by the numerous responses :) .....nevertheless, I would strongly urge you :D to use that pretext to acquire a 20ga or 28ga exclusively for Grouse .....
 
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