Is .17hmr a worthy upgrade for ruffed grouse over .22LR?
- Thread starter bisonviril
- Start date
theoutdoorsman
New member
- Location
- Peace region, BC
I’ll second this, the quiets start to drop within grouse ranges as well. I’m switching from cci mini mags to subsonic HP’s this year since they are more quiet, but still on the button within ~35yards. CZ 457 with a leupold 2.5x20 or 4x28 is perfect grouse medicine
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I grew up head shooting ruffed grouse in the head with my pellet gun, then upgraded to 22lr. Did that for years, then decided to try my 17HMR. I only use the CCI fmj rounds, they work amazing. I have taken them at a hundred yards after it has been spooked, then flew and landed thinking it was far enough away...it wasn't.
I have had one shot at those ranges hit the very top of the breast, and there was less damage than a normally 22lr at close range.
I say if you want to use it, go right ahead. Not a fan of shotguns for grouse. Sometimes I use my 22lr/410. But always just hit them in the head with the 22lr. I use round nose bullets in my 22lr for grouse. Have been using Winchester dynapoint for quite a few years.
I have had one shot at those ranges hit the very top of the breast, and there was less damage than a normally 22lr at close range.
I say if you want to use it, go right ahead. Not a fan of shotguns for grouse. Sometimes I use my 22lr/410. But always just hit them in the head with the 22lr. I use round nose bullets in my 22lr for grouse. Have been using Winchester dynapoint for quite a few years.
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Those capercaillie birds look like a male spruce grouse got drunk and banged a Merriam's turkey........
Our COS would have a sh!t if someone shot a turkey with a centerfire rifle.
I'm guessing the meat is red, not white like our turkeys. And apparently gamey as well.....
https://www.professionalsecrets.com...game/game-meats-guide/game-fowl/capercaillie/
Freezing one's nuts off in -30 below to shoot a gamey capercaillie would not be high on my bucket list........
Well I never had wild turkey or capercaillie… so can’t tell. But I love ptarmigan and pretty much all game birds so far. I have a Norwegian friend and I want to go for a winter capercaillie hunt with him one day. He told me that even non resident can go and go pretty much anywhere too.Those capercaillie birds look like a male spruce grouse got drunk and banged a Merriam's turkey........
Our COS would have a sh!t if someone shot a turkey with a centerfire rifle.
I'm guessing the meat is red, not white like our turkeys. And apparently gamey as well.....
https://www.professionalsecrets.com...game/game-meats-guide/game-fowl/capercaillie/
Freezing one's nuts off in -30 below to shoot a gamey capercaillie would not be high on my bucket list........
So for all the cci subsonic hp user out there, is you hit the breast area of a grouse at say 30yards, what kind of damage does it do? I try for head shot 95% of the time but sometimes a body shot is the only shot.
I used round nose and they don’t make a mess when hit in the body but sometimes birds get away w/o finding them so I decided to stop using round nose.
That is indeed the wisest option.
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Our BC wild turkeys have white breast meat, prepared properly it tastes pretty good.
My understanding is ptarmigan have red breast meat, as do our Spruce Grouse. I do not care for spruce grouse meat as I find it tastes like pine needles. September 1st killed spruce are a little better.
Ruffed grouse are delicious, blue grouse are pretty good as well. Now California Quail are the best tasting upland game bird I've ever eating. I do not hunt them anymore, as there are only a few around Creston and are not open to hunt. Not even sure how they got to Creston from the Okanagan. I can assume someone transplanted them?.........
From my research those Capercaillie's taste like sh!t, (extremely gamey meat). I would never shoot one, but that's just me.......
what did you say?
