Favorite 22lr ammo for grouse?

[Prairie Plinker]

I have had good results with CCI Sub-Sonic HP, I found them more accurate than the Remington version I used to use. More energy than CCI Quiet rounds, but without the sonic Crack of high velocity shells. WK

My go-to .22LR ammo as well. I had a questionable grouse kill a few years back using CCI SV, hit it in the head but not the brain, and while I did eventually retrieve the bird, upon further inspection I concluded that a HP bullet would have killed it instantly. Unfortunately the RN bullet zipped right through and meant that little bird suffered a bit unnecessarily. Since then I've only shot RN at paper.

Not trying to stir the pot, millions upon millions of animals have fallen to the mighty .22LR RN! I'll be using HP's from now on....just like I'll be using "tough" bullets like Partitions, TTSX's, A-Frames, etc. on big game and never again a "rapid expansion" type bullet. It's all personal preference and shot placement!

 

[sherlockbonez]

I used CCI quiets 2 years ago on grouse from a chiappa little badger with great success.
Last year up north I had them in my 10/22. Saw a grouse, jumped out of the truck...pop! Tap! Wtf?! Pop! Tap! I shot it 10 times. Every shot I heard the "tap" which I can only conclude was the bullets stopping on the feathers. It eventually flew away.

I use yellow jackets now.

I think its more likely you were hitting tree trunks than multiple hits on the wing and the bird kept flying.

 

[Squamch]

I think its more likely you were hitting tree trunks than multiple hits on the wing and the bird kept flying.

On the wing? Hell no, they're grouse. And it's a. 22. That was on the hoof!

 

[Squamch]

Grouse now have Kevlar woven into their feathers?

I dunno, got another explanation for 10 shots with a .22 that's sighted in just fine not killing a grouse?

Maybe I got a bum box, they worked great the year before.

 

[kjohn]

Any solid will work. I've used the old CIL Super Clean, Whiz Bang, and many more. I know I shot one bush partridge with a short of some kind. I shoot them in the body. With a solid, there is no meat loss, and no bird loss either. I've only been shooting upland with a .22 for 60 years, so what do I know.

 

['Boo]

I dunno, got another explanation for 10 shots with a .22 that's sighted in just fine not killing a grouse?

Yes, you missed repeatedly.

 

[horseman2]

Today was the day: Weighed the power on my GemPro.

CCI MiniMags 1.34 grains With the new red polymer coating

CCI SV 0.92 grains

CCI Quiet 0.44 Grains

So there is not much room for error and testing in your particular rifle is a necessity.

 

[Suther]

Today was the day: Weighed the power on my GemPro.

CCI MiniMags 1.34 grains With the new red polymer coating

CCI SV 0.92 grains

CCI Quiet 0.44 Grains

So there is not much room for error and testing in your particular rifle is a necessity.

Thanks for that. I'll definitely be testing these at the range to see if they're as consistent as I first thought they were - they shot nice while sighting in but I only shot a few rounds to confirm zero after making scope adjustments, didn't shoot multiple groups or anything. I'm going to run a few over the chrono too so I have as much data as possible to try and figure out whether it was me or the ammo that lead to this unfortunate series of events.

 

[chappy]

for years nothing but mini mag but now use cci sv or sk+ depending on the rifle. all seem to work.

 

[stubblejumper]

When I used a 22 for ruffed grouse, it didn't matter what load I used, if you shoot them in the head they die. And if I ground swatted a grouse with a shotgun, I shot high, so the bottom of the pattern hit the head and neck.

 

[chrismc]

I have used quiets on upland - they work great! I would not blame the ammo one bit.

 

[jlovie]

I've had good luck with Federal Champions, 40 grain hp. Thinking about trying some solid points for a high body shot, head shots aren't always my forte.

 

[GMC403]

Remove

 

[kjohn]

I've had good luck with Federal Champions, 40 grain hp. Thinking about trying some solid points for a high body shot, head shots aren't always my forte.

You are braver than me. Head shots have never been my thing. The only one I ever intentionally did a head shot on, I just barely cleaned the top of its head off. Like I said above, I've been shooting Prairie Chicken and Ruffed Grouse with solids since I was a kid, and have always used solids.

 

[mbogo3]

Headshot grouse with everything from a 30-30, .308 Norma Mag,.270,.223,44-40,.250 Savage,all shotguns and pelletguns.Bodyshots with a .22 don't ruin the breast if you shoot them through the wingbutts sideways.A .22 short HP was perfect.

 

[jlovie]

You are braver than me. Head shots have never been my thing. The only one I ever intentionally did a head shot on, I just barely cleaned the top of its head off. Like I said above, I've been shooting Prairie Chicken and Ruffed Grouse with solids since I was a kid, and have always used solids.

That's the way I'm leaning on trying this fall as well.

 

[canadian hunter312]

Yep, you definitely missed or grazed those birds. Any solid hit in the head or neck from a .177 or .22 pellet gun or any 22lr ends with grouse in the bag. Even body shots with 22 shorts puts them down. No point in chronographing the quiets as any 22 round that has enough energy to make it to the bird will also have enough energy for lethal penetration.

We all have our off days where we try to find any excuse to blame for not bringing home dinner. It happens.

 

[jsavoy86]

Went hunting this past week. Grabbed the wrong ammo for my 22lr, opened my ammo can and all I had in there was CCI quiets (710fps I think, round nose bullet). Taking the old adage of Run whatcha brung to heart I zerod the rifle with this ammo and proceeded to shoot a grouse in the head.

Well the little bastard just flew away! Flabbergasted and thinking maybe I missed or hit low or something, I tried again on another bird. Same thing! Crack! Thwack! Off it flies...

So I'll never use this ammo again on game. Now I'm left wondering what I should be using - or more specifically, what others have been using. I was planning to bring CCI standard, worked fine on a bird last year, but after this experience now I'm wondering if I should step it up from that.

So, what do you like to use on grouse with your 22lr?

Literally the exact thing you are explaining happened to me. Minus I bought the CCI quiet with the intention of being quiet and grabbing a couple grouse while out deer hunting.
I shot… Seen the feathers and off went the grouse. Last time I take Steve rinella’s advice Lol

 

[Camaroguy]

I use Remington yellow jackets. head neck shots.

Plus one for yellowjackets. The velocity makes them flat shooting out past where you'd reasonably consider taking a shot. I'm not going to say you missed, but I'm surprised to hear the cci quiet couldn't keep the bird down.