Grouse --- what kind of 12gauge do you use?

Captain Paul

Captain Paul

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People keep insisting on using minimum 24inch barrel with a good choke. I'm curious how many of you think this is true...

I've always used an 18 or 20inch barrel, no choke with #4 shot. I usually clip them once or twice, barely ruining the meat and I never missed one unless I shot prematurely. If I miss, my aim is to blame --- not the gun!

I'm no pro at hunting! I hunt grouse for fun since I'm a kid and thats about it! wondering why most say im doing it wrong, cuz its sure working fine for me! :confused:
 
20ga/.410 for my kids and a Weihrauch 80K/.22 airgun for me.Silent but deadly........................Harold
 
Browning citori, 12 guage, 26'' barrels, modified and improved cylinder fixed chokes, with a light 1 ounce load of 7 1/2's. (Target loads are great for grouse hunting).
 
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I use either the 20" barrel on my 870 with Improved cylinder choke tube, or my 26" barrelled Zoli O/U choked cylinder/improved cylinder and sometimes when I'm feeling nostalgic I carry my old 1897 Winchester.
All in 12 ga.
Eric
 
It depends on the area you hunt. The area I'm in is pretty thick bush, for this I use a 28/12 guage combo (a 28 gauge tube in my bottom barrel). If I am driving the log rods, I use a s/s coach 410 gauge.
 
Captain Paul said:
People keep insisting on using minimum 24inch barrel with a good choke. I'm curious how many of you think this is true...

I've always used an 18 or 20inch barrel, no choke with #4 shot. I usually clip them once or twice, barely ruining the meat and I never missed one unless I shot prematurely. If I miss, my aim is to blame --- not the gun!

I'm no pro at hunting! I hunt grouse for fun since I'm a kid and thats about it! wondering why most say im doing it wrong, cuz its sure working fine for me! :confused:
Click to expand...
If a person is going to use a 12 gauge , i ALWAYS reccomend an open choke and light 7/8oz target loads of 9's.
the shot does not penetrate far, but you get a good cloud for when shooting in deep brush.
That is if you are shooting them on the wing, of course .
Cat
 
I use my Citori 12 guage O/U, 28", modified over IC.

I have never felt over-gunned...the birds where I hunt are very skittish, and tend to run...flushing at about 25-30 yards when pressured.

Thick cover...I use #6's if the leaves are still on the trees...7.5 if not.(cheap field loads) I might see 1/3 of all birds flushed.
 
In a double - sxs or o/u - I wouldn't go shorter than 26" - too whippy. I use an Italian made sxs with 70cm barrels - about 27.5". I've had it fitted to me and the barrels opened to IC and M. It's great - that is if you consider the average "encounter-to-bag" ratio of 12:1.
 
Benelli Nova 12 ga. 26" barrel with IC. #6 early in season for ground cover, 7-1/2 after leaves have fallen. Works well for me, I just make sure to aim high if they are too close.
 
I've mainly used 26" 20ga in single, O/U, and semis...I find mod choke works well with that combo and the longer barrel helps swing the gun for a wing shot...I also have a 20" 410 SxS, but it doesn't swing worth ####...:)
 
870 with 28 inch barrel.....use the 12 guage when I want to save money on shells...7 1/2 shot. However, Wally World 20 guage shells this year, 29 bucks for a hundred, so I'm using my Mossberg pump 20 guage, 7 1/2 shot.
 
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