Grouse load for .308Win

Lexthedestroyer said:
Morning gents (and/or ladies). I've been walking a lot of trails lately, and carrying my hunting rifle, I've noticed I'm seeing far more grouse than deer or bear... I've taken to carrying my 20 gauge instead on some outings, but I just KNOW that I'm going to eventually bump a massive trophy buck and knowing my luck, he'll be standing broadside at 80 yards or so... all that being said, has anyone come up with a .308 load for whacking grouse that won't scare the bejeezus out of the whole forest? From what I can gather online; light (100-120grains), slightly oversized cast with 2-3 grains of Bullseye seems to be the ticket. Just wondering if anyone has actually done it... and before anyone asks, not allowed to hunt with a pellet pistol in BC, and I'm a lousy shot with a slingshot.
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Years ago on one of my first hunting adventures I took the head clean off a grouse at maybe 20 yards with an sks...... true story but the next grouse i shot with the x39 made me go back to the .22 LOL

sounds like you might want to invest in a double barrel.
I have seen these rifles that have a deer caliber for one barrel and a 410 shotgun for the other barrel.
would seem like the best choice for your situation

edit to add..... this topic interested me so I did a bit of casual digging online last night and what you need is a combination gun.
Baikal makes something affordable along these lines with a few different options. One features a 12 gauge 3" top barrel and options including .308 for the bottom barrel. These guns can be extremely expensive but there are some offerings out there that are not wallet rapers.
 
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Lexthedestroyer said:
Well, I managed to get out to the range today, and I DIDN'T DIE! My test loads turned out great! 3 grains of Bullseye under a 71 grain, .312 plated bullet, drilled out flash hole, large rifle magnum primer. Hit 2" low at 15 yards. 5 shots, 1 ragged hole. Maybe a hair louder than I'd like, but I'm pretty happy about it.
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We're all pleased to hear about the accuracy and survivability of your load! Nice job.

It's always a compromise - If you want something quieter, you can shoot subsonic 22 rimfire (or better yet, CCI Quiet or even 22 shorts). My pick is the Chiappa Little Badger as it weighs next to nothing and lashes onto or fits in a pack easily.
 
alpining said:
We're all pleased to hear about the accuracy and survivability of your load! Nice job.

It's always a compromise - If you want something quieter, you can shoot subsonic 22 rimfire (or better yet, CCI Quiet or even 22 shorts). My pick is the Chiappa Little Badger as it weighs next to nothing and lashes onto or fits in a pack easily.
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The Savage Mark II (or dad's old Cooey, if I'm feeling nostalgic) loaded with CCI quiets is my usual go to for grouse. But I'm planning a trip involving a good amount of hiking in early November, and was looking for a compromise of sorts... as stated, I'm pretty happy with it.
 
Lexthedestroyer said:
The Savage Mark II (or dad's old Cooey, if I'm feeling nostalgic) loaded with CCI quiets is my usual go to for grouse. But I'm planning a trip involving a good amount of hiking in early November, and was looking for a compromise of sorts... as stated, I'm pretty happy with it.
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I hear you! I've taken my Little Badger on some backpack hunts - That's why I got it actually. I don't find a light and small 2nd firearm (folding at that!) to be much of a hindrance at all. Possibly quicker than swapping ammo or game getter, but different strokes... For turkey hunting I often take a light scoped 22 along with my 12ga, but that's a little different.

You might get quieter loads with Trailboss, and less concern about powder position in the case.
 
I've been using Hornady 100 gr SJ (short jackets) and Speer Plinkers of the same weight for fun shooting. Centrefire rifles aren't legal here for upland game unfortunately but they're still fun to shoot. I have a lot of SR4759 that I use for these and Trail Boss for heavier weights.


This is only 25 yards and the rifle used was a Ruger Scout .308 with a Burris 2.75 scout scope on the forward rail.
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Hornady left, Speer right.
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alpining said:
I hear you! I've taken my Little Badger on some backpack hunts - That's why I got it actually. I don't find a light and small 2nd firearm (folding at that!) to be much of a hindrance at all. Possibly quicker than swapping ammo or game getter, but different strokes... For turkey hunting I often take a light scoped 22 along with my 12ga, but that's a little different.

You might get quieter loads with Trailboss, and less concern about powder position in the case.
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Well, not like I need an excuse to buy a new rifle, but it always helps...
 
bb07 said:
I've been using Hornady 100 gr SJ (short jackets) and Speer Plinkers of the same weight for fun shooting. Centrefire rifles aren't legal here for upland game unfortunately but they're still fun to shoot. I have a lot of SR4759 that I use for these and Trail Boss for heavier weights.
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Pretty dang nice - Any idea on MV?
 
alpining said:
Pretty dang nice - Any idea on MV?
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Just a guess out of the short barrel on my Scout. Roughly a 100 ish fps less? Speer #11 below shows for a 22'' barrel. I don't think this load is even listed anymore in the newer manuals, possibly because IMR SR4759 isn't currently being made to my knowledge.

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I was doing some reduced load shooting a few years ago with some 150 gr FMJ's too for fun. They actually did better than I expected. Scope used was a Burris 2.75 scout scope mounted on the forward picatinny rail.
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Load data from here:
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Well you cannot shoot grouse in Ontario with center fire cartridge only shot gun or 22rf
 
I am 99% positive you can hunt grouse with a centre fire in Ontario with these conditions:

If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess or use a centre-fire rifle or shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (non-toxic equivalents include steel shot larger than triple BBB, or bismuth larger than double BB), unless you possess a valid licence to hunt big game (deer, moose, elk or black bear) during the relevant open season. This restriction does not apply south of the French and Mattawa rivers during an open season for deer that is restricted to the use of bows, or to hunters with a valid small game licence who are hunting wolf or coyote during an open season for deer, moose, elk or black bear.

A person hunting small game may not carry or use a rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a muzzle-loading gun, in the geographic areas of Brant, Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington or York. Note: It is illegal to hunt ring-necked pheasants with a rifle.

It would appear that when in possession of a proper licence (deer moose elk black bear) and during the open season you can possess a centre fire rifle and use it to shoot small game. Turkeys, waterfowl and pheasants would be exempt and cannot be shot with a centre fire rifle.

If anyone can clear up this rather vague wording the act has please chime in.

Darryl
 
Janeau said:
Will it be any grouse left after being hit with a 125 grains .308 bullet ?
Use the right gun for the job. Carry a Keltec or a survival rifle in your back pack be in .410 or .22.
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Very little meat damage with a slow moving cast projectile.


This thread reminds me how sad it is that we can’t pack a 22 pistol in the bush.
 
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I got a few grouse this year using 10.0 grains of trail boss under Berry's plated 150 grain flat nose (cmjfn) bullets in my .308 savage axis.
I'm getting 1.25" groups @ 25 yds. Noise is similar to a .410, maybe a bit quieter.

Zero is just about dead on at that distance, even though my rifle is sighted in at 150yds with my normal 180 grain moose ammo.

I had similar results with 14.8 grains of tb in a 30.06 with the same bullets. They aren't strong enough to cycle a remington 740, but that's to be expected.
 
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