.22 for Grouse Recommendations?

Rupert

Rupert

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I have a friend whose father is retiring this year and with his spare time wants to take up hunting again. He completed his PAL test and his hunters course a couple months ago so now he is waiting for the paper work to be processed and should be ready to start shooting again around the same time he retires. From what I've gathered from him he wants to buy a .22 for hunting grouse and his family wants to buy it for him as a retirement gift, but the gift will be a surprise:D:dancingbanana:. Since no one in his family has a PAL I will be making the purchase and holding on to the rifle until we can give it to him and sign it over. Now for the question... he wants a gun that can make a grouse headshot from 25-30yrds what do you guys recommend? Price should be under $650 if possible and I haven't the slightest clue how big a grouses head is:redface: (I'm no hunter) so I'll be taking your word for it. Any and all advice is welcome?

Thanks in advance!
 
I use a .22lr from savage, blued barrel with wood stock and 10 shot clip, I paid about $400 with a 3X9 bushnell rimfire scope a sling and a brick of winchester shells. It will make head shots out to about 40 more if you are a better shot. I carry it with me when ever i am hunting and usually get enough grouse for supper.
 
I would have to suggest my favourite...SA-22 from Browning. I got 2 and they are excellent hunting 22s. I find bolt gun clumsy when walking around the bush. They are rather good looking, and should last many lifetimes.
 
There are many "used" .22s for sale in the EEs. Many of the older guns are very accurate out to 100 yards and I have a couple 1940 Marlin 81s that shoot gopher heads at 100. If you want to buy new...I suggest a Savage c/w accutrigger and if he would be happy with a gun with history, any of a miriad will fit the bill. I personally would choose the latter as they seem more well built than the newer ones. I do not own a gun that is made after 1971. Most Winchesters pre 1910 and .22s ..30s and 40s.

I am also retired and I was very happy to get many older guns "passed" to me on several special occasions.
 
sherlockbonez said:
I would have to suggest my favourite...SA-22 from Browning. I got 2 and they are excellent hunting 22s. I find bolt gun clumsy when walking around the bush. They are rather good looking, and should last many lifetimes.
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I'll put in a good word for one of these, or a Browning T-Bolt, if you are looking for a really nice gift. None of the guys I know with T-Bolts want to part with them.

Take a look at the CZ series of 22's, too, a little lower down the price scale.

You can go a long ways down in the price range and still have very acceptable accuracy. You get better fit and finish for more money, and usually, but not always, better accuracy.

Cheers
Trev
 
A CZ might provide really good accuracy, and be a little more of a quality, classic-feel type of a .22 that might be just right for a retirement gift, and right on the price range too.

RG

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Rupert,

Basis the level of hunting experience/exposure the Gentleman in question may have - you may wish to consider (even dicsuss with the family) the following in terms of the approrpiate firearm selection process .....

1. A 20ga shotgun (given the price range, let's say for example an 870 Wingmaster, Browning BPS or a Benelli Nova) will offer more versatility and enjoyment in Upland Bird Hunting. Consequently, the shotgun will allow him best of both worlds i.e. opportunities to take birds on the wing as well as when it presents itself as a stationary target.

2. Should he decide on a rimfire - then I would strongly recommend the CZ. Again, depending on skills/experience level/condition of eyesight one could decide to scope the rifle or use iron sights. In this aspect, the iron sights on a CZ Lux (for example) is one of the best, IMHO. Moreover, the proof of accuracy achieved with CZ rifles is inherent and have been well established for decades. Having said that, using iron sights on a .22 to hit the head of a grouse with regularity (at 25-30 yds), given the hunting conditions/terrain, will demand much in way of shooting abilities.

Something also to bear in mind - a rimfire rifle, while one of the most popular firearm for small game hunting may yet not offer a complete enjoyment in comparison to a shotgun when it comes to bird hunting.
 
Sounds to me like the guy probably has memories of hunting small game as a kid with a .22. Even the most ardent wing shooter has to admit that limiting yourself, by carrying a .22, to having to see the bird and take it on the ground (road hunting excepted), is a real worthy challenge.

RG

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Ruffed Grouse said:
Sounds to me like the guy probably has memories of hunting small game as a kid with a .22. Even the most ardent wing shooter has to admit that limiting yourself, by carrying a .22, to having to see the bird and take it on the ground (road hunting excepted), is a real worth challenge.

RG

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sherlockbonez said:
Unless it's up north where they just sit around everywhere and you have to kick them to get them to fly.
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Your both right! Him and the wife bought some land up in North Bay a few years back and are building a cottage/home getaway on a fair sized lot of land with ample hunting opportunities.

Thanks for all the info thus far. I've been looking up some suggested rifles and several of them meet the the criteria!

Perhaps I should sneakily ask him what type action he prefers?;)
 
Rupert said:
I have a friend whose father is retiring this year and with his spare time wants to take up hunting again. He completed his PAL test and his hunters course a couple months ago so now he is waiting for the paper work to be processed and should be ready to start shooting again around the same time he retires. From what I've gathered from him he wants to buy a .22 for hunting grouse and his family wants to buy it for him as a retirement gift, but the gift will be a surprise:D:dancingbanana:. Since no one in his family has a PAL I will be making the purchase and holding on to the rifle until we can give it to him and sign it over. Now for the question... he wants a gun that can make a grouse headshot from 25-30yrds what do you guys recommend? Price should be under $650 if possible and I haven't the slightest clue how big a grouses head is:redface: (I'm no hunter) so I'll be taking your word for it. Any and all advice is welcome?

Thanks in advance!
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I wish to congratulate every one concerned with wanting to make head shots on grouse with a 22. I was 12 years old when I started bringing in grouse shot with a 22 and I got hell, if a grouse was shot in the body.
I later taught my boys, then grand sons to do this. None of them will shoot a grouse in the body with a 22, unless there is special circumstances, nor will they (any of us) shoot a grouse on the ground with a shotgun.
We say head shot, but actually it is the neck that is usually hit. Aiming at the neck allows for small errors of range.
I can see yu wanting to get a new rifle, but there are so many good used 22 bolt actions out there. My grouse gun for 50 years has been a Winchester Model 69 with a good Lyman aperature, close to the eye. What ever you get, it must have a good trigger and either aperature sights or a good 22 scope. I prefer good aperatures, especially for off hand shooting, which is often the case with grouse.
 
Rupert said:
Your both right! Him and the wife bought some land up in North Bay a few years back and are building a cottage/home getaway on a fair sized lot of land with ample hunting opportunities.

Thanks for all the info thus far. I've been looking up some suggested rifles and several of them meet the the criteria!

Perhaps I should sneakily ask him what type action he prefers?;)
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I live in the North Bay area and use a .22LR for Grouse exclusively. I use a very old, single shot bolt action and would not trade it for anything. Head shots are consistently made at that distance with the odd neck shot. I also see a few old-timers using Ruger 10/22's. They like the idea of a semi because their eyesight sometimes is not the best.
 
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