Anyone do midrange rifle grouse headshots?

Slaymoar

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I like hunting grouse with my 22lr, but the most fun (challenge) I have had was shooting grouse from mid-long distances (50-100yards) - has to be headshots. Am I the only one?

People who achieve +50yard headshots, what optics do you use?

Cheers!
 
I shot a couple in the neck at around 75 yards with my CZ452 and a 4.5-14x40 Mueller APV. I had a very steady place to rest my rifle, otherwise there is no way I could have done it.
 
I have done a couple with my Marlin 336 in 30-30 and one day I got 4 out of 5 with my M14. All around 50m. You really have to make sure not to hit too low or you will end up with what my brother had. A grouse with a nice hole where the breasts used to be. At least he got to keep the legs.
 
The range would be too far for me and my rifles. A grouse has a head that is at the most 1" diameter. A rifle would need to be accurate to within an inch to be consistently effective for the game. I have three .22's that will group at a touch under an inch at 50 yds with good ammo from a bench rest on a calm day, but none that will consistently group within an inch at 100. From positions and rests generally available in the field, my wiggles will add about 1 moa of bullet spread to the group. So I limit head shots on grouse to 50 yds or less, and prefer to stalk close. Same principle as with big game, I like to stalk as close as possible at all times. I have never seen a forest grouse that was so wary that it would flush when stalked from 100- to 50 yds, and I have seen my fair share of grouse while hunting. I feel that long shot challenges are for targets, not living creatures. But, it is not as unsavoury as the current trend of ultra long range shots at big game, most of the negatives don't apply to grouse and head shots. So if you can do it, no harm done, you are unlikely to wound and lose many grouse in the attempt.
 
I usually limit my shots to 30-40 yds max. Aim for the neck, then you have some margin for error vertically, and can concentrate on keeping steady in a horizontal plane.

Nothing wrong with a 12 gauge, you'll just have to pick a few pellets out of the meat, and it chews them up if you're too close.
 
The range would be too far for me and my rifles. A grouse has a head that is at the most 1" diameter. A rifle would need to be accurate to within an inch to be consistently effective for the game. I have three .22's that will group at a touch under an inch at 50 yds with good ammo from a bench rest on a calm day, but none that will consistently group within an inch at 100. From positions and rests generally available in the field, my wiggles will add about 1 moa of bullet spread to the group. So I limit head shots on grouse to 50 yds or less, and prefer to stalk close. Same principle as with big game, I like to stalk as close as possible at all times. I have never seen a forest grouse that was so wary that it would flush when stalked from 100- to 50 yds, and I have seen my fair share of grouse while hunting. I feel that long shot challenges are for targets, not living creatures. But, it is not as unsavoury as the current trend of ultra long range shots at big game, most of the negatives don't apply to grouse and head shots. So if you can do it, no harm done, you are unlikely to wound and lose many grouse in the attempt.

Yes, it is definitely harder than one would think.. 50 yards is a pretty tough shot, and is very challenging without a solid rest.. pushing beyond 50 yards however yields some very rewarding kills. It adds some fun challenge!
 
I shot a couple in the neck at around 75 yards with my CZ452 and a 4.5-14x40 Mueller APV. I had a very steady place to rest my rifle, otherwise there is no way I could have done it.


That's pretty impressive! I don't have a confirmed 75 harder yet, but so far I've done two around 50 yards. The first one was pure luck as my scope was not sighted in right. The second one was down a trail, and I took my time in prone with a bipod. I was super stoked when I saw shot land!

I have done a couple with my Marlin 336 in 30-30 and one day I got 4 out of 5 with my M14. All around 50m. You really have to make sure not to hit too low or you will end up with what my brother had. A grouse with a nice hole where the breasts used to be. At least he got to keep the legs.

That is some pretty huge ammo lol.. you can practically miss and still get a kill from the sonic boom pressure from a graze lol..
 
Sorry to hijack this a bit, but you guys ever use a 12gauge for grouse? I don't have a .22 yet, just the 12gauge. Most people use a .22, but I would like to hunt some in the fall.

I wouldnt say most people use a .22 for grouse, but the other way around.
Maybe not always a 12 gauge, but some sort of scatter gun.
Last fall I shot one with my .257Wby...actually shot the ground in front of it and the rocks bouncing took it out.
Over kill yes, but it was tasty.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
I used to shoot them when I was a kid and only had a 22. I used standard 22LR solids and they did little damage to meat regardless of where they hit. I'd be walking after them through the bush, hoping for a clean shot, and they would be walking away even faster. Shots from around 20 feet or less but always dodging being obsured by trees. I was happy to hit them anywhere so I just aimed for the body. The bullet hole if it hit a breast was very small.
 
... you can practically miss and still get a kill from the sonic boom pressure from a graze lol..

My Dad used to tell me when I was a kid that you could kill a grouse with a near miss from a centrefire rifle, say .270 or .30-06. I was never able to duplicate it. Anybody ever hear of this before?

Sorry for the minor hi-jack.
 
Last year, I got my hunting license right before the season ended. I snuck up on a grouse and went to pull the trigger.... bleeping safety. I'm trying to decide on 20 ga, .22 or sling shot for next hunt.
 
My Dad used to tell me when I was a kid that you could kill a grouse with a near miss from a centrefire rifle, say .270 or .30-06. I was never able to duplicate it. Anybody ever hear of this before?

Sorry for the minor hi-jack.

When I shoot them with 30-30, .308, and 22-250 some of them have been knocked down by just barely touching them. I've never killed one without at least a little touch though. Not sure if it's possible.
 
That is some pretty huge ammo lol.. you can practically miss and still get a kill from the sonic boom pressure from a graze lol..

That's pretty much the point. You want to come as close to the head/neck without actually hitting it solidly. If you do, POOF!!!
 
Sheesh, I don't know where you're shooting these long range grouse, but around here, yuou'd have to spot them, and then walk back 90 yards to get a 100 yard shot.
 
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