Grouse hunting guns
- Thread starter Galipo
- Start date
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Not much of a grouse hunter. Ditch swatting with a IGA Uplander 410 SxS, or a 28ga.......have a bit of a.28 addiction.....
rifleman762
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Stevens 305f 13" barrel 22 WMR. For road grouse 
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- Location
- West Central Alberta
Welcome to the forum. If you have a dog that is birdy then bring it along. It can only help. I like to shoot them on the fly and a dog is a necessity for me. We have very dense cover and very, very short time to acquire your target, swing fire. About half the time no swing just a snap shot so you can see why a dog gives me a better chance. Different game in different types of cover. North Ontario pretty much like my part of BC. Lot of spruce swamp. The prairie guys play a different game but equally interesting. In all scenarios a dog who is willing is a plus. They do not have to be classic English Pointers with style, if your dog gets birdy then start from there. At least you get a heads up that birds are close.
A 20ga SxS is perfect. Have a ball.
A 20ga SxS is perfect. Have a ball.
I've used SKB M100 and M200 20ga SxS for years. They are very good field guns on par wit Browning SxS and O/U quality. Pricing is a bit lower but those prices are rising.
The M200 and M100 come with 25 and 28 inch bbls. The 25s are choked IC/M which is perfect for upland but I always felt they were a bit too short for me. YMMV. Last year I purchased a 20ga M100 with 28" bbls that had the chokes reamed to IC/M. It's almost perfect as a bird gun except it's missing the second trigger.
The M200 and M100 come with 25 and 28 inch bbls. The 25s are choked IC/M which is perfect for upland but I always felt they were a bit too short for me. YMMV. Last year I purchased a 20ga M100 with 28" bbls that had the chokes reamed to IC/M. It's almost perfect as a bird gun except it's missing the second trigger.
Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
For grouse, I carry a 12ga, usually a short barreled slide-action. A SXS, especially in 20 or 28ga is a quintessential grouse gun, just have never had a need to own one.
I'm assuming you mean ruffed grouse in the forests rather than sharp tail grouse on the plains.
For ruffed grouse I hunt over a Llewellin setter and I use either a German 16 gauge SxS that weighs 6 pounds 6 ounces or I use a 12 gauge single barrel English game gun that weighs 5 pounds even. Both have very open chokes. I use very light and slow loads in both guns, 3/4 or 7/8 oz of shot and less than 1175 FSP. I don't shoot unless they are flying.
For ruffed grouse I hunt over a Llewellin setter and I use either a German 16 gauge SxS that weighs 6 pounds 6 ounces or I use a 12 gauge single barrel English game gun that weighs 5 pounds even. Both have very open chokes. I use very light and slow loads in both guns, 3/4 or 7/8 oz of shot and less than 1175 FSP. I don't shoot unless they are flying.
I use a 12ga o/u choked Skeet/Skeet with 2&3/4 and 1&1/4oz of #7.5's
And yes, I bring my hunting dog hunting.
Cheers
Jay
Thanks for the tips guys. I'll check out a couple of those models you suggested and see if I can find one.
Are screw in chokes important at all? Or should I focus on finding a gun with a cylinder/modified combo?
Yeah, I'm focused on the forests of Ontario. I see grouse all the time out hiking and fishing. I also have flocks of turkey that walk through my property occasionally. Would a 20 gauge be capable of taking one of them?
Are screw in chokes important at all? Or should I focus on finding a gun with a cylinder/modified combo?
Yeah, I'm focused on the forests of Ontario. I see grouse all the time out hiking and fishing. I also have flocks of turkey that walk through my property occasionally. Would a 20 gauge be capable of taking one of them?
Screw in chokes just let YOU decide how the gun will be choked.
If I was looking to buy a shotgun to hunt upland, I would want screw in chokes.
Barring that, I would try to find a shotgun with more open chokes. Skeet/Improved Cylinder or Modified.
Most shots on grouse are fairly close...
Cheers
Jay
I see I already answered your question in the General Discussion forum, but to that I'll add that it's possible to adjust the fit of a shotgun yourself, lengthening the stock with a recoil pad, shortening it, adding padding so that it comes up to your cheek in the most ideal way. I do find that most production guns give me a good fit from the start. Otherwise, I can never tell what to do on my own, so I usually seek advice about fit from an onlooker who knows something about it. And always remember, you should point a shotgun, not aim it like a rifle.
20 gauge will kill a turkey no problem. Depending on range I would recommend larger shot and a full choke but to each his own. When I was a kid we shot them with a 410 at 25 yards, and of.course with 22s at longer ranges (legal in BC).
I shot my last one with Kent #5 from a 12 gauge at 53 yards. 20 gauge would be similar to the 12.
Just pattern out the gun first.
I shot my last one with Kent #5 from a 12 gauge at 53 yards. 20 gauge would be similar to the 12.
Just pattern out the gun first.
