12ga for partridge?

This is what I plan on using this fall for chickens. I cant see it being a problem like someone said as long as your not point blank.
 
TheCanuck said:
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.
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You're right - perdrix is the word for partridge. But what what we have here is Ruffed Grouse - Gelinotte Huppée in French. Only ground swatters call them perdrix :D
 
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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I've used 12ga with 7.5 or 8's for partridge with great results... Keep in mind, this is over pointers, so the shots are usually 20 or 25 meters... But, even if your just walking up on them, head shots work great! Just aim a little high...

Cheers
Jay
 
Proud ground swatter here. I also usually wait for my deer and moose to stop moving before shooting them as well.

I use a boito backpacker, 410, 12 inch barrel while on the ATV, it is good out to 20 yards and stores inside my locking box when I get to my moose hunting area. I also use a 20 ga single baikail or 22/20 ga savage, as the 20 ga shells are cheaper than 410 and for when the grouse start getting skittish.

I always go for the head shot and find it a point of pride in the hunt camp to present a limit of grouse meat to the gang for dinner with no pellets to eat around.
 
Sometimes when people say "12g is too much gun for grouse", they might partly be referring to the gun itself. For a long day of chasing birds, a 20g or .410 is a lot lighter to carry.

It doesn't take much to knock down a grouse (partridge), but if you know your gun and take good shots, you won't ruin it with a 12g.
 
I use #6, #5 or even #4 for grouse. Wait, wait, wait! I'll explain. :D
I use a 12ga shotgun with modified choke most of the time. I take head shots but if I have to take a follow up shot the tighter group with these loads works better for me. Quite often the bird falls with no head and there's no damage to the breast.
And yes, you CAN aim with a shotgun. :D
I also use .22 rifles for grouse. Again, head shot is what I prefer.
 
stubblejumper said:
The # 7-1/2 shot provides a much denser pattern that helps with head shots.And if a pellet does hit the shoulder or breast,it doesn't bruise the meat nearly as bad as a #4.
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Yes, the 7 1/2 provides a much denser patter but that's exactly what I don't want in the breast meat. :D Also, the heavier load #4-s will hold a tighter group and if hit, will pass through the body most of the time. I very seldom have any problem with lead in the meat with that shot. Again, I aim for the head, but that's just my preference for grouse.
 
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Also, the heavier load #4-s will hold a tighter group
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Increasing the shot size will result in a less dense pattern,but not necessarily a smaller pattern at a given distance.You need to pattern your gun with different shot sizes and chokes to see what really happens with the pattern.

Yes, the 7 1/2 provides a much denser patter but that's exactly what I don't want in the breast meat.
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With the denser pattern,you can aim higher,and still have a good chance of hitting the head with the edge of the pattern,while avoiding the breast.

I very seldom have any problem with lead in the meat with that shot.
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You will have even less problems if you shoot higher and avoid the breast.
 
My dear old Dad brought home many, many Prairie Chickens, bush partridge and Huns, having peppered them with an old Tobin double, full choke on both barrels, and Imperial Special Long Range 12 ga. I guess the poor fellow just didn`t know any better....:p:p
 
I was heading goose hunting last fall with my 10 gauge single shot loaded with BBB's and a flock of partridge flew up I put the bead on them and two of them dropped with one pull of the trigger. They were probably out 20-30 yards when I shot but they weren't shot up bad at all. One had one hole through one breast the other had a couple in the guts. I would expect a much different result under 10 yards however.

Pretty lucky!!
 
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