Grouse Potting-12 Or 20 Guage?

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ratherbefishin

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I use my .22-but am thinking about getting a stevens 311 double in 20 guage[if I can find one]whatwould your choice be?This isn't classy wing shooting-this is just chicken potting on logging roads.
 
Sounds like an awesome idea.

I use a 410 single shot. Faster to load than my Ithaca pump 20. A double 20 is cool. Load fast and you've got that fast 2nd shot, but I've got three out of a covey single-loading. Bang, bang, bang.

I've potted grouse on the road before with a 12. Too big a load for up close if you ask me, but real good for dropping them out of a tree 40 yards away.

A 20 would be good for that too.
 
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If I were choosing between a 12 ga and a 20 ga for potting birds along the road I'd pick the 20. It will reach out as far as you need, provide less kick, and is less likely to shred birds that are perhaps a little too close.

That being said, when it comes to upland hunting I'll stick with my side-by-side 16 ga. Just something about that combination that works for me.
 
NWTHunter said:
If I were choosing between a 12 ga and a 20 ga for potting birds along the road I'd pick the 20. It will reach out as far as you need, provide less kick, and is less likely to shred birds that are perhaps a little too close.

That being said, when it comes to upland hunting I'll stick with my side-by-side 16 ga. Just something about that combination that works for me.
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X2 for the 16 bore.
 
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I have a cherry little ithica 100 SxS 20 guage that my father gave me. It has an adult buttstock and a shorter one too, I started using it with the short stock when I was 10. works perfect for me.
 
I also favour the 20 over the 12 for grouse. However and I am sorry Grouseman but now that I have the 16 I find that I prefer it over the 20. You will not be unhappy with your choice should you decide to go with the 20.
 
You may wish to look at a Baikal sxs in 20ga....comes with screw in chokes and compatible with steel shots. Good value for the money in terms of a solid hunting tool......believe that's what you wanna use that for.
 
Hey grouseman:bangHead: , i think you need to repost your grouse hunting treatease for the new guys here as i don't think they get your meaning. :popCorn: Unless you actually want them to use slingshots for road hunting instead of a shotgun:shotgun::slap:
 
ratherbefishin said:
the 311 in 20 guage seem to be scarce as hen's teeth-there;s the odd 12 around but I have never even seen a 20
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I have both a 12 and a 20. I haven't hunted with the 20 much yet, as I got it just last year and I have too many various shotguns to give some of them much field time.

However, the Fox B in 12 ga was one of my first SXS's and to this day holds the record for the worst POS I ever bought. It looks great! Case colours are bright and vibrant, the wood is plain, but it's real walnut at least and it's the original finish in mint condition. Shoots like a dream, too. Seems like I can't miss with that gun as long as I can keep the damn thing functioning. It's a love - hate relationship. It looks great and shoots great. On the other hand, it's always breaking and it swings like a club.

Still, there's no guarantee that the 20 will be as problematic. I don't believe that even as I say it, because IMO the B's issues stem mostly from poor design. The 20 can't be that much of an improvement.

The next question becomes "What can you get that's better in the same price range." Precious little, I'm afraid. I guess it depends on whether you'd rather kick in a little more and get a better 20, or buy a 12 ga.

Lots of decent 12 ga's out there. You can even get one of Tradex's "experienced" spanish 12's for dirt cheap, if you really just want a beater for out in the field.

Do you have your heart set on a 311, or what are your actual criteria?
 
none said:
Hey grouseman:bangHead: , i think you need to repost your grouse hunting treatease for the new guys here as i don't think they get your meaning. :popCorn: Unless you actually want them to use slingshots for road hunting instead of a shotgun:shotgun::slap:
Click to expand...

Trying . . . to stop . . . fingers . . . from typing. . . GAAAAAH!
 
I use a Remington 870 20Ga. for grouse and find it to be an excellent choice. Shooting over a Springer Spaniel who stays close, I use a 24" deer barrel with number 7.5 shot. Spreads all over the place but inside 25 yards, you can't beat the kill ratio. Really great for woodcock in heavy cover as well. When hunting open areas, I switch to the 28" modified barrel for a little more reach as the dog tends to range a little further in this situation. If you hunt without a dog, probably the 28" barrel is a better all around choice. But for those who like to get into the thick stuff, have more fun and a heck of a lot more shooting, don't be afraid to use that deer barrel and watch them tumble down. It also does not hurt the rifling in the deer barrel one bit.
 
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