Looking for a dedicated woodcock gun

I use a 20g win101 skeet/skeet and sometimes the same in mod/imp on woodcock with alot of success out to yardages I shoot grouse using 7/8 or 1oz 7.5 shot lead (that's right lead.... only migratory bird I can use it on still and absolutely will not put steel through it and can't afford the softer non toxic). My Brittanys love to find and point the woodcock but won't pick one up, must not like the taste. A cheap option would be a chopped single to Cyl bore if you're shooting I'd that close I'll advise against the rifled barrels only speaking from my experience trying it through a few diff slug guns, figured I'd try to take the odd grouse deer hunting (dogging) and it didn't work worth a damn.
 
sherlockbonez said:
I had a 12, very nice hunting gun but just didn't fit me.
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I had one as well. Pre-paid for it at Epps with the understanding that I would get the nicest one when the shipment came in. When the gun finally arrived, the wood had less grain than cardboard. Gun worked well but I couldn't get past the stock so sold it.
 
Thanks for all your advice, I guess I have some homework to do now to verify what I will prefer. I spoke with a gunsmith around here and he told me that with spreader load that he reload specifically for his 20ga he has the same or a better results than those special woodcock gun with rifled barrel. You also end up with a more versatile gun.
 
If you reload you can buy Spread-R disks from Polywad. They will ship to Canada if you ask nicely ;)

My woodcock gun is a 20 gauge Ithaca SKB Model 100 SxS which someone once brought to Frank Ryan of Fonthill to lop 1" off the barrels (rendering them 24" cyl/cyl) and re-stock with an English stock hollowed out to reduce weight.

It snaps to the shoulder, points like a wand and woodcock fall when it goes bang. But it swings like a drinking straw and is guaranteed to reduce your skeet scores ;)

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Whatever you end up getting, make sure it fits you. This is very important. When you bring the gun to your shoulder it should point where you're looking. I practice my gun handling at home, pick a spot on the wall then point the gun at it. I agree with those recommending cyl. or I.C. chokes. Kent cartridge makes ( or used to ) a spreader load in 12g., but I'm not sure about 20. Consistent, uniform patterns are what bring down birds, so pattern your gun with a variety of ammo. If you find a good gun that fits, buy it; a gunsmith can always open up the chokes later if they're not right.
 
For the fitting, my uncle wrote a book about that and my dad is a woodworker. He told me he's gonna give me a hand with the fitting of the stock. That's nice as I have to focus on getting a nice barrel and the stock can have some dings and bad finish as we will refurbish it anyway. I have to try to get something with more wood then less though, it is always easier to remove wood than add it. But you are right, a good fit is important. I am not that informed on the price of the gunsmith as I am getting back to hunting. Any general Idea how much it should cost to open up the chokes or make them so you can use screw in chokes?
 
I use my grouse gun, an IGA Uplander in 28ga. Lots of wood in the stock, pretty neutral in balance and quick to get up. It also fits me quite well. it has fixed IC and mod. I am going to try BPI brush wads to see if I can get an "inside 10 yd" load working. The new dog works pretty close, and early season ruffs and woodcock are behind the leaves in no time, so I need to open things up a bit. 28 ga ammo is hard to come by, unless you roll your own. Before the 28, BPS 12 ga, 7/8 oz #7.5, and cylinder choke.
 
Cannot say that I go woodcock hunting very much,but when I do, I use a 28 gauge gun.At the present time ,there are a number of less expensive SXS and O/U 28 guns on the market.
 
For close work on any bird in the bush , my best gun is a SxS AYA model #3 in .28 ga. , in IC & M chokes.
Light to carry & swing . All the power / shot you need for that work .

My 2nd. best is an Ithaca SxS 20 ga. Model Flues , in IC & M.
 
Thanks everybody. On a side note, I just got my Brittany yesterday so I have some different things to do to prepare this for now ;) . I will most likely shop for a gun during spring. With what I saw and heard I guess the easiest for the close work would be a 20/28 Ga with reloads that would spread the load properly. I also heard about some spreader choke that spin the wad at the end that seems to give a proper pattern. I will let you know with some pictures how it turns out when I start those tests.
 
Br00ss said:
Thanks everybody. On a side note, I just got my Brittany yesterday so I have some different things to do to prepare this for now ;) . I will most likely shop for a gun during spring. With what I saw and heard I guess the easiest for the close work would be a 20/28 Ga with reloads that would spread the load properly. I also heard about some spreader choke that spin the wad at the end that seems to give a proper pattern. I will let you know with some pictures how it turns out when I start those tests.
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Congrats on the new Britt. Get that spreader reload out of your mind and focus on learning how to shoot your new gun you will be a lot better off and kill more birds a IC and mod is all you need
Cheers

This is my youngest french Britt she is a real bad ass :) as you can see on the table
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If you're on a tighter budget than what a good SxS or O/U will cost, you can always go with the Browning BPS upland special. The 22" barrel is nice in the thick stuff and the English stock makes for a quick mount. Leave the included I/C choke in or pick up a skeet choke. You won't be afraid to put a few scratches on it either.
 
I started woodcock shooting many years ago {60's} as a teemager with a cut off single shot 410 , 7 1/2 shot and killed a lot of birds. Later I used a Rem 870 20 ga imp cyl #71/2 in the early season, #9 later when the leaves droped , then a rem 1100 20 ga skeet bore . The 410 was tough and the 20's were great . Very few times you got a second shot unless it was a double flush. We hunted over a Vizsla , who worked close, pointed steady and did a great job for us.
You don't need anything special, exotic , an open choke , IC / Skeet , light loads, {Canucks were the shells of the day back then}, small shot , 7 1/2 & 9 and a gun that points well for you.

If you can't hit woodcock with an IC or Skeet bore , 7 1/2 or 9 shot it is you , not the barrel or ammo.
 
petew said:
I started woodcock shooting many years ago {60's} as a teemager with a cut off single shot 410 , 7 1/2 shot and killed a lot of birds. Later I used a Rem 870 20 ga imp cyl #71/2 in the early season, #9 later when the leaves droped , then a rem 1100 20 ga skeet bore . The 410 was tough and the 20's were great . Very few times you got a second shot unless it was a double flush. We hunted over a Vizsla , who worked close, pointed steady and did a great job for us.
You don't need anything special, exotic , an open choke , IC / Skeet , light loads, {Canucks were the shells of the day back then}, small shot , 7 1/2 & 9 and a gun that points well for you.

If you can't hit woodcock with an IC or Skeet bore , 7 1/2 or 9 shot it is you , not the barrel or ammo.
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Well said
Cheers
 
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