grouse hunting gun?

Single shot .410, it removes their heads. Grew up using a .22 and shot it well, but nothing works better on chickens than a .410
 
I shoot an ithaca model 37 feather weight in 16 gauge it's smooth and wicked fast. If you like old school and can find one they are fantastic old shottys.
 
Until you encounter birds that flush at >20m, where a 410 is pretty well useless.


I've been doing it since 1970, what do you want me to say? I see more of them within ten feet than I do past 50 feet, I walk up to them if they are too far away. You don't always get them all.
 
I've been doing it since 1970, what do you want me to say? I see more of them within ten feet than I do past 50 feet, I walk up to them if they are too far away. You don't always get them all.

To each their own... it works for you. I have killed hundreds with air pistols and slingshots, but I would not recommend them to most hunters... it depends greatly on where, when and how the hunt takes place... your .410 should work most of the time... and I have had some success wingshooting with a modified choked .410... but prefer the 28 or 20 gauge in most situations.
 
The 410 is great except at a distance, when you ruffle a birds feathers and flies 50 feet up into a tree where you can't get a shot close to the base of it, you'll be wanting the 20 gauge, which, is a bit overkill for 20 feet away, but you end up doing more of a head shot to knock them down at moderate range as compared to a body shot which you end up doing with the 410.

20 gauge gets my vote.
 
I use a .22 lr while out elk and moose hunting. The grouse are usually sitting on the trails and logging roads providing an easy head shot.
 
I'm going to pack a little badger this year with a reddot and CB longs.
it's sighted in with the cb's at about 10 yards.
 
Cooey 750 single shot .22 LR; follow them up into the trees and pick them off when the try to hide. I've shot plenty "ditch chickens" roadside/trailside but I won't claim to have wingshot any with a .22
 
I have been using a 12g Benelli M2 (nice and light, comes up quick) with a Mod choke and #8 it seems to work nicely for me. Later in the season I will switch to a full or number 6 or even 4 if they don't like me getting close.
 
It's pretty hard to beat a good, reliable, single shot .410 I hunt with friends who seem determined to stick with 22's. The only thing is that I'm the one who seems to get the grouse, while they miss away trying to shoot the heads off with the 22's. Get a .410, you won't be sorry. Just put a butt-cuff shell carrier on it - it's amazing how fast you can reload a single shot from one of these, and that way you always have shells for it when you pull it out from behind or under your truck seat. Been doing that way for close to 40 years, it's hard to argue with success.
 
I actually have a little badger... I notice on the road they seem to sit and almost not notice you. When you are walking more in the bust they flush up and take off from much farther away.
 
Its not hard at all to beat a 410. Its called a 20g

It's pretty hard to beat a good, reliable, single shot .410 I hunt with friends who seem determined to stick with 22's. The only thing is that I'm the one who seems to get the grouse, while they miss away trying to shoot the heads off with the 22's. Get a .410, you won't be sorry. Just put a butt-cuff shell carrier on it - it's amazing how fast you can reload a single shot from one of these, and that way you always have shells for it when you pull it out from behind or under your truck seat. Been doing that way for close to 40 years, it's hard to argue with success.
 
Is it hard to hit them up close with bird shot? Since the shot doesn't have time to spread... And if you hit them at that range (within 10 m) with 12 gauge bird shot are you not going to blow them to smithereens?
 
Back
Top Bottom