Run whatcha brung. I find shooting them on the ground much more satisfying with a 22 over a shotgun, less meat damage too - I've seen some pretty messed up birds with not much left to eat from close range 12ga blasts. If they flush you're boned though. I keep a single shot 12ga on the front seat of the truck when I'm in the woods, but I prefer to use the 22 if I see em from far enough away.
Beginner Grouse/Partridge Gun
- Thread starter Lotro
- Start date
I don't know what exactly happened that I lost track of this question and all the replies.
THANK YOU to everyone who chimed in with their opinion. I really appreciate the time and insights from this community.
I ended up buying a BPS .410 Field, brand new from my local gun shop. I wasn't confident taking just the .22 out with my limited shooting skills, and I didn't want the recoil from a 20ga or 12ga, so I opted for the smaller shot gun.
That said, the first bird I got a clean shot at I missed... THREE TIMES. It was absurd. I got a little coaching after that embarrassment and managed a successful hunt a week later getting my first bird. It wasn't the cleanest shot, but none of the breast meat was spoiled so it was good eating! I'm hoping to get out a bunch more before the deer hunter head into the bush and freak me out.
I'm a new convert, loving this whole experience. Thanks for insights. I appreciate them.
THANK YOU to everyone who chimed in with their opinion. I really appreciate the time and insights from this community.
I ended up buying a BPS .410 Field, brand new from my local gun shop. I wasn't confident taking just the .22 out with my limited shooting skills, and I didn't want the recoil from a 20ga or 12ga, so I opted for the smaller shot gun.
That said, the first bird I got a clean shot at I missed... THREE TIMES. It was absurd. I got a little coaching after that embarrassment and managed a successful hunt a week later getting my first bird. It wasn't the cleanest shot, but none of the breast meat was spoiled so it was good eating! I'm hoping to get out a bunch more before the deer hunter head into the bush and freak me out.
I'm a new convert, loving this whole experience. Thanks for insights. I appreciate them.
If you are even a decent shot - not a crackshot, a 22 is fine. Now, one issue a lot of guys have is they sight in their gun at 25 or 50 yards, and try to pop them at 10. Know exactly how your gun shoots at 10 yards, and stick to that ammo, and nothing else. The vast majority of your shots are within that 10 yard range. Also, when you aim, aim for the baste of the neck. If you're a wee bit high, you take off the hear, and a tad low, you're still in the vitals. I never tried body shots. Too many guys I saw try that had the birds fly away to die somewhere else. If you want to go shotgun, yeah, a 410 is great, but a 12 is a heckuva lot more versatile. Those little 1 1/2 shells you can get all over the place are pretty close to the 410 in performance. Make sure you pattern your gun at 10 yards, just so you know where to aim.
You mentioned you're in NEO. If you're after spruce hens, leave the gun at home and bring a hockey stick or golf club.
You mentioned you're in NEO. If you're after spruce hens, leave the gun at home and bring a hockey stick or golf club.
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
Cooey 39. The quintessential Canadian partridge gun.
If I could find a Springfield M6 in stainless I’d buy it ASAP, that or a Scout 24 with a .22/.410 or maybe even .22/20 - love that kind of versatility.
I'm heading out tomorrow for no hunting on Sunday's in Nova Scotia or using rifles on game birds.
So bought a Cooey 84 in .410.
It will be my first time hunting we bought an old farm in Cape Breton with some nice land for grouse so going to give it a go and see how it sits with me.
Have been practising my marksmanship with a Cooey 75 in .22 to get a good feel.
Just purchased a JC Higgins model 50 in .270 for deer.
Regards
Keith
So bought a Cooey 84 in .410.
It will be my first time hunting we bought an old farm in Cape Breton with some nice land for grouse so going to give it a go and see how it sits with me.
Have been practising my marksmanship with a Cooey 75 in .22 to get a good feel.
Just purchased a JC Higgins model 50 in .270 for deer.
Regards
Keith
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A .22 rifle or a 20 or 12 guage. A 12 is more versatile, you can hunt waterfowl and deer, moose, bear with it. Get a 3" chamber if you go for a 12 or 20, you can use the 3" with steel shot for waterfowl, and 2 3/4", 6 or 7 1/2 for grouse. Ruffed and spruce grouse are easy to kill and it doesnt take heavy charges of larger shot to take them down. 6s or 7 1/2s are plenty. Look for light game or target loads and that is plenty of shot and power.
Have fun and good luck.
Have fun and good luck.
I don't think there is any one perfect gun for grouse. If you plan on shooting the birds on the ground or in trees a 22LR is fine but if you want to be able to shoot them in the air that 22LR is not really going to be of much use. As already mentioned, the 12G is supremely versatile but they can get heavy lugging them around for a full day in the field. I love my 12G Citori but I know some fellows who simply would not want to lug it around all day. A true 20G is perfect as a dedicated upland gun. A 410 would be fine as well but I think a 20G is a little easier and will provide a great chance of success for a beginner. While an old Cooey 84 or 840 are almost always full choke guns I think they make a perfect beginner gun.
To me a 20 gauge is the perfect upland gun and ammo is not as expensive as 410 or 28 gauge. Got a single shot baikal 20 gauge for my 10th birthday and it's my go to grouse gun. I have many other choices in my safe but the 20 gauge has never disappointed me in the last 40+ years. Shoot several thousand grouse and some chuckers and ducks.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have to agree with you sir. An over under 20 gauge & a pump gun has filled my small game larder quite often.
I am spoiled on my 28 and it only gets used early season.
If I hunt a new area that could have a density of bears, is the only time I touch the 12.
Here we are almost 5 years later and I have some updates to my opinion.
My father in law passed and I took in his .410 until my nephew got his PAL. I hunted a few times with it and couldn't hit very much. I went back to the 12 when I was serious about harvesting. That is until I got a hankering for a nice 20 SXS. Now I take that instead of the 12.
My buddy still hunts with his dad's .410, but with recent ammo prices and availability, he is looking at a 20 as well, planning on retiring the .410. We spent over a year trying to find more ammo for his .410 while burning up the ammo my father in law left behind. I finally found him a box of 3" last month, $50!!! I've been buying 25rd boxes of 20 for between $12 and $18 and much easier to find. At those prices, I actually have about 2 years supply socked away in case I encounter another shortage. As I burn up a box now, I replace it and am in no hurry, so I am not stuck paying inflated prices like .410 ammo is right now.
My father in law passed and I took in his .410 until my nephew got his PAL. I hunted a few times with it and couldn't hit very much. I went back to the 12 when I was serious about harvesting. That is until I got a hankering for a nice 20 SXS. Now I take that instead of the 12.
My buddy still hunts with his dad's .410, but with recent ammo prices and availability, he is looking at a 20 as well, planning on retiring the .410. We spent over a year trying to find more ammo for his .410 while burning up the ammo my father in law left behind. I finally found him a box of 3" last month, $50!!! I've been buying 25rd boxes of 20 for between $12 and $18 and much easier to find. At those prices, I actually have about 2 years supply socked away in case I encounter another shortage. As I burn up a box now, I replace it and am in no hurry, so I am not stuck paying inflated prices like .410 ammo is right now.
