I agree with this choice, example, I have a 12ga Browning Maxis with synthetic stock in 3” chamber & 28” bbl. It is light to carry, kick is very mild with target ammo in which 1 1/8 of 71/2 @1200 fps will down any Ruffie. I use skeet to ic choke for the Ruffies and shooting skeet. I can also use this gun for waterfowl using 3” steel, no need to punish yourself with 3 1/2 shells. Truly a do anything shotgun.
First shotgun recommendation for hunting grouse
- Thread starter Ottawa76
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I agree with this choice, example, I have a 12ga Browning Maxis with synthetic stock in 3” chamber & 28” bbl. It is light to carry, kick is very mild with target ammo in which 1 1/8 of 71/2 @1200 fps will down any Ruffie. I use skeet to ic choke for the Ruffies and shooting skeet. I can also use this gun for waterfowl using 3” steel, no need to punish yourself with 3 1/2 shells. Truly a do anything shotgun.
My 2 cents: A 12 ga. is a bit of overkill for most upland birds, until some distant comes into the scenario. As for Skeet, the 12 ga. is your best bet, if only for the cost of ammo. I'd if you have the money go for a quality over / under with screw in chokes. If your going to get serious about skeet stick with a 26" barrel & get a couple 2" extended chokes for hunting or sporting clays. Buy a quality gun so you don't have to do it twice. But most importantly, if you can, get fitted for a shotgun before you buy one. Your length of pull, cast off & drop will dictate what gun you want to buy. Generic shotguns kind of fit everyone "good enough" but nobody well. If a quality O/U is a bit too steep, I say look for a quality autoloader. Pumps for skeet are ok, but just put more steps in the way of busting clays.
In my neck of the woods, close sitting head shots are the norm. What's good for the goose, is good for the ruffed grouse!
It isn't the gauge that is overkill. It's the load of the shell. How much shot, what size of shot and at what speed. My 7/8 oz loads of # 7 1/2 moving 1150 fps are the same regardless of whether they exit a 12, 16 or 20 gauge barrel.
When growing up in West Kootenays and as a young adult, I always hunted grouse with a 22. Loved the walks in the fall and so many bush roads to wander down. So, I'm in the school of keeping it light and simple. Today, I have an old Remington model 24 that only shoots 22 short and functions perfectly with the little CBs. Or my little 410 single shot Belgian shotgun called Little Gem. it uses 2" rounds which I have yet to find for sale in Canada so I reload. My rounds are a bit shorter than the 2" and go about 800fps with #8 shot. It's even lighter than the 22 and quite accurate. I still think bout the Kootenays and grouse hunting when Fall arrives.
I have been using my trusty Remington 870 for grouse for over 15 years. 2 3/4 shell in a 6 or 7.5 shot This poor shotgun has been through a rough life, and after a good cleaning it still hasn't failed me yet. Last couple of years have started to use my Cooey .22 as it's lighter but more patience is required for those head shots 
if solely for grouse and the clay thrower i would go with an over/under with removable chokes. go to the clay range and see what everyone is shooting. 90% are over/under.
and same applies for true walking and hunting of grouse. if your driving around shooting chicken out the window get a shorter barrel 20g
and same applies for true walking and hunting of grouse. if your driving around shooting chicken out the window get a shorter barrel 20g
Get yourself a classic, if you can find one in good shape. The old Remington 870 Wingmaster Magnum. Will take 3" shells. Get the one with the stock that has the fleur-de-lis inscribed on them, one of the most beautiful, functional shotguns on the market(get a model from the 80's imo). With a little lube in the right places and a lot of racking, it will be as smooth as butter. Many many barrel options to choose from.
Lots of different opinions here. The OP inquired specifically about a grouse gun so to me, no 12 gauge, 3inch or 3 1/2 inch, steel shot is required. Light, short and well balanced are the way to go in 16, 20 or perhaps 28 gauge though shells can be harder to come by in some areas. A double gun, O/U or S/S works great if of sufficient quality to not be heavy or swing like a cast iron pipe. The older pumps; Winchester model 12, Ithaca 37 or Remington 31 are beautifully made guns and handle well in the shorter barrel lengths. The Ithaca, being bottom eject gets the nod for southpaws and both the Winchester and Remington 31 are made on 20 gauge frame regardless of whether 16 or 20 gauge.
Open chokes or even cylinder bore will generally work great at close range. Just depends on the type of hunting you do. If you drive back roads late season and look for grouse budding in poplar trees in late afternoon you may want a larger gauge with tighter chokes. I have knocked birds down at nearly 50 yards perched high in trees with full choked guns.
Open chokes or even cylinder bore will generally work great at close range. Just depends on the type of hunting you do. If you drive back roads late season and look for grouse budding in poplar trees in late afternoon you may want a larger gauge with tighter chokes. I have knocked birds down at nearly 50 yards perched high in trees with full choked guns.
As a kid, all I had was a Winchester 37A in 410 full choke to hunt grouse and snowshoe hares, and 2 1/2" shells (7.5). Had a great time still hunting the woods on the farm and surrounding area. Always brought home meat.
As a young adult, switched to hunting grouse with the 22LR. Never steady enough to reliably make head shots on grouse out past 25 yards, so always aimed for the crop, which resulted in more hits, and/or if they ducked (which they can duck a bullet under the right lighting conditions - and seen it happen often enough to believe the old stories).
A number of years ago, I went out with a friend who packed his Cooey 84 in 410...we had such a great day shooting ruffies with his 3" shells! Had forgotten how much I enjoyed it!
Since acquiring my first 28 ga shortly after that (Rem 1100 Sporting), I have become enamoured with the 28 ga. Now have a Win 37A, a FAIR Iside EM and a Benelli Ethos, as the wife laid claimed the Sporting 28. Would love to add a 870 in 28 to the collection. These have accounted for lots of ruffies over the past 5 years, as well as spruce hens, blue grouse, sharptails and ptarmigan. Look forward to opportunities for Huns, chukar and pheasant on future hunts to the prairies or Spences Bridge area.
I have also picked up Cooey 84's in 28 ga and 410, which I have given to my daughter and my mother for hunting grouse.
As a young adult, switched to hunting grouse with the 22LR. Never steady enough to reliably make head shots on grouse out past 25 yards, so always aimed for the crop, which resulted in more hits, and/or if they ducked (which they can duck a bullet under the right lighting conditions - and seen it happen often enough to believe the old stories).
A number of years ago, I went out with a friend who packed his Cooey 84 in 410...we had such a great day shooting ruffies with his 3" shells! Had forgotten how much I enjoyed it!
Since acquiring my first 28 ga shortly after that (Rem 1100 Sporting), I have become enamoured with the 28 ga. Now have a Win 37A, a FAIR Iside EM and a Benelli Ethos, as the wife laid claimed the Sporting 28. Would love to add a 870 in 28 to the collection. These have accounted for lots of ruffies over the past 5 years, as well as spruce hens, blue grouse, sharptails and ptarmigan. Look forward to opportunities for Huns, chukar and pheasant on future hunts to the prairies or Spences Bridge area.
I have also picked up Cooey 84's in 28 ga and 410, which I have given to my daughter and my mother for hunting grouse.
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- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Everyone always says good for southpaw’s but it’s total bs, as a left hander I’ve never said man I should have a bottom eject. It’s just not an issue, never have I been hit in the face with a spent hull and port loading a rh shotgun as a lefty is so easy. Ithaca M37’s are great, I own a couple but bottom eject has nothing to do with it for me.
For a grouse gun 12g all the way, 20g would be a close second. Good luck finding shells for anything less popular in a pinch when you’re in some out of the way town, especially now. 12g is easy to find and the birds don’t know the difference.
