20g upland loads

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I have been using my 410 single shot for grouse since I can remember.
Due to ammo cost and availability I picked up a H&R 20g single.

I hunt mostly ruffed and spruce grouse. But usually do a trip or two for blues and chucker partridge that’s more in the open county with longer shots. (Would usually take my 12g for that)

The 20g has a fixed Mod choke.

Wondering what loads you guys are using in your 20g

7.5 and 8 in my 410 are great but only to 20yrds to take down a bird. Couldn’t get anything else to pattern worth a dam.

I was thinking for the 20g
#6 1oz for most stuff but not sure how that will reach out to 40ish yard on a blue or chucker

Any thought?
 
I shoot 7/8oz #7.5 target loads. Works great on huns, pigeons and ruffies and no doubt if I could find a few it would do well on sharptails and pheasants. My favorite is the Kent Elite Target. They hammer 'em. Sadly Kent isn't making target loads currently and my supply is getting low.
 
Awe guys thanks.
I gonna stop around town and try to find some #6
Maybe some 7.5s too.
See how things pattern.

Would be nice to have one load to use for every thing

Just a little concerned that the modified choke is a bit tight for the in close stuff.
Anyone shoot #5s ?
 
I USE # 7-1/2 and #6
When I hunt Ruffed GRouse
I ALSO ONLY USE 3/4 ONCE LOADS.
I EVEN MADE SOME 3/4 OUNCE LOADS FOR MY 12 GAUGE SHOTGUNS.
I MOSTLY USE MY SXS STOEGER IN 20 GAUGE.
VERY LITTLE RECOIL AND CHEAP TO LOAD,
OLD TIMER 76
 
I remember Ol' Paw buying those Imperial Long Range shells in 6 & 7-1/2.
Chukars in a 20 gauge with a Mod choke is going to take some quick expert shooting
iff'in me memory serves me correct.
Them things can gitty'yup quick.
 
kamlooky said:
I remember Ol' Paw buying those Imperial Long Range shells in 6 & 7-1/2.
Chukars in a 20 gauge with a Mod choke is going to take some quick expert shooting
iff'in me memory serves me correct.
Them things can gitty'yup quick.
Click to expand...
Yes they can be quick to flush.
Open sage brush country.

I think shotgun over my dog would be a blast.
 
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3 places in town and one place had one type
#8 7/8oz trap loads.

At least I got something to play with until I go on a visiting road trip to a bigger city.
 
Hunting Sharptails here in the interior where shots are normally longer than with Ruffies I use a 7 1/2 in the chamber backed up with 2 #6 in the magazine.
 
I often use 25.3 grains of Longshot and a BPI SG20 wad for about 1390FPS on far flushing roosters and Sharptails , but ran into a whole mess of old C.I.L. 1oz 5's and 6's a few years back so have been having fun with them . I should chronograph those things for a lark, but I do know when you are on a bird with that ammo the thing gets flattened right now!LOL
I was hoping to reload the papers ( some are plastic) but sadly, the hulls tend to get pin holes at the top if the brass , so I gave up on that idea. That old Dupont powder sure smells great though!:dancingbanana:
We are heading down tomorrow to Brooks to shoot some farm birds over my son's new to him Spaniel, so it should be fun:)
We lost our GSP last Fall, so didn't really hunt much upland except for a few ruffed grouse up here.
Cat
 
When I moved out west I started using target loads for grouse #7 1/2 or even 8s. I started finding many more pellets in the meat and from time to time see feathers fly from a bird without dropping it. Went back to #6 and all is well. Most pellets pass right through and no more cripples. I use quality #5 and 4s for pheasants and often have those in my pocket when grouse hunting. They work awesome as well but are overkill and pricey.

IMHO target loads should be left to the targets. Federal does make a game/target load; 7/8oz of #6 that works okay and is inexpensive. I shoot clays with them and put one in the right barrel in early season. Generally they are a buck more a box than the cheapest target loads. For a couple of dollars more you can get into a cheap 1oz load. For the amount used hunting, they are worth every penny.
 
MK2750 said:
When I moved out west I started using target loads for grouse #7 1/2 or even 8s. I started finding many more pellets in the meat and from time to time see feathers fly from a bird without dropping it. Went back to #6 and all is well. Most pellets pass right through and no more cripples. I use quality #5 and 4s for pheasants and often have those in my pocket when grouse hunting. They work awesome as well but are overkill and pricey.

IMHO target loads should be left to the targets. Federal does make a game/target load; 7/8oz of #6 that works okay and is inexpensive. I shoot clays with them and put one in the right barrel in early season. Generally they are a buck more a box than the cheapest target loads. For a couple of dollars more you can get into a cheap 1oz load. For the amount used hunting, they are worth every penny.
Click to expand...
I have found 7.5 or 8 in my 12ga to make a mess of grouse.
7.5 in my 410 are great.
 
I like 7/8 or 1oz 6s as there are less pellets, but with the ammo price now, i have lots of random 7.5s that i have been using last year and worked well also.
 
If you are ground swatting grouse, use #7-1/2, and shoot high, and you won't put many pellets in the breast. I don't understand people trying to center the pattern on a stationary bird. For sharptails and roosters, I prefer #6. I like the Fiocchi Golden Pheasant for wingshooting, as the nickel plated shot penetrates better, and doesn't drag feathers into the meat. For ground swatting grouse, target loads work fine.
 
stubblejumper said:
If you are ground swatting grouse, use #7-1/2, and shoot high, and you won't put many pellets in the breast.
Click to expand...

Shoot high is a good recommendation.
I can recall hunting with a buddy in Northern 'Berta walking to the end of the lake to shoot some geese.
A grouse flew up into a branch mere yards away.
Buddy says tak'im.
First shot I missed.
WTF he says?
Second shot one pellet hit it in the head.

Now imagine an A-5 3" shell hit a grouse 15 or so steps away full tilt?
Be nutt'in tuh pluck.
 
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