ideal small game shotgun?
- Thread starter Goose25
- Start date
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
GameStalker30-06
CGN Regular
- Location
- Newfoundland
My upland favourite and current. 12 gauge O/U, mod/full choke, 28'' barrel. Used with # 6, 7 1/2 shot. (Am thinking about changing the choke setup to ic/mod). I also love walking the old trails looking for grouse with either my single shot winny 37a in 20g or my winny 37a 12g. I've had pumps,semi's, s/s and did not fancy them well. I will never have anything else other than an O/U for upland.
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- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
When I first got my 16 gauge sxs for upland it was about 20 years ago, and it was a bit hard to find 16 gauge shells,... not impossible, but difficult.
Last year I found there were 16 gauge shells everywhere...
Even Long Range Steel offerings,...
but you're right, ... if you can't get the shells, what good is the gun..
I still have boxes and boxes and boxes of iperial half brass 16 gauge shells, and even some cannuck,... I haven't bought 16 gauge shells in a bout 3 years and am not sure who is offering them now..
A 30" pump might be the "magic wand for ducks and pheasant, but I think you'll all that extra length to be a bit of a pain in the thickets for grouse, rabbits and woodcock.
A double trigger 26" SxS in 20ga with SK/IC chokes is about perfect. Mine's a CZ.
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I used to use a 12 ga Remington 870 for bunnies, grouse, partridge, etc... However, the 12 ga. really isn't "meat friendly." So...I looked for alternatives.
I dislike semi-autos because they require more in-depth maintenance that say a pump or SXS due to the gas system and they can be finicky under freezing conditions.
A few years back my uncle gave me a lovely Fox SXS shotgun in .410ga. Double triggers, choked mod/full with colour case-hardened frame. Joy to shoot and it is now my "goto" bunny/grouse gun. However, it really requires you to become a better hunter because you're simply not putting out anywhere near the same volume of shot you would be with the 12 or even 20. You also have to learn to pass on shots that would've been "doable" if you were shooting a 12. Definitely not a choice for novice hunters!
For the upcoming season I'm switching things up and will be taking my new SXS 16 ga afield! I've still got a few boxes of vintage shells kicking around, but the local Canadian Tire was able to supply me with a number of boxes of new Federal shells that will take care of my needs for the upcoming fall/winter season.
I've always enjoyed the 16ga and it really is a great do-all loading, especially for upland game. It is somewhat heavier than the little Fox, but even with the second tube, it shouldn't be any harder to tote than the Remington 870. As for the upcoming bunny hunting season, things are looking really, really good! Took a run into the woods this afternoon on the ATV. Had 6 snowshoe hare run in front of the X2 on the way into the trailer alone! Hopefully the foxes won't have them cleaned out by October!
ROY-alty33
Regular
- Location
- Not quite beyond Hope, but close
For me its my great uncles 20 ga Cooey single shot for birds or my Mohawk 10c for bunnies. I put a red dot on the .22 for fast and accurate target aquisition (sp) cause we all know how fast bunnies can move.
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I usually use my 20ga Wingmaster but I think the absolute Ideal would be either a 26" O/U 20ga or 28ga 16ga Would be real sweet too though.
What my upland hunting is really missing is a dog though. It just doesn't seem the same without a good dog
16ga Would be real sweet too though. What my upland hunting is really missing is a dog though. It just doesn't seem the same without a good dog
That's two of us so far...
Actually, that's three of us so far. See my earlier post, #8.
Ted
i have a single shot remmington 20 gauge thats bagged a ton of upland birds.
i find doubles tend to be on the heavier side for walking in thick brush, and in NB guns have to be unloaded when driving, so the break action is great for fast loading, and handy unloading.
ive had a double, a semi, several pumps and i keep going back for my little remmy for partridge hunting.
i find doubles tend to be on the heavier side for walking in thick brush, and in NB guns have to be unloaded when driving, so the break action is great for fast loading, and handy unloading.
ive had a double, a semi, several pumps and i keep going back for my little remmy for partridge hunting.
My uncle always said the same thing, never listened to him and it never cost me a bird or bunny!!!!!! I have shorter SxS and O/U's and they never go in the bush with me.
Slayer
- Location
- marmora ontario
I can't beleve that there aren't any 28 gauge guys out trhere!!!!!!!! My choice would be a CZ bobwhite straight stock 28, JITC
Same here, short barrels are far to whippy for me. 28" minimum on break action guns for me.
