Looking for a dedicated woodcock gun

Mount Sweetness said:
28ga Remington 870 Wingmaster with Skeet choke
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My all time favorite 28ga :) Is yours a fixed skeet or choke tubed gun
Ya think I love them LOL

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My issue isn't hitting them up close, it is having to wait so I don't turn them to mush. Early season birds are not visible for long in my favourite haunts, at least the ones that weren't clearcut this summer. The nice thong with a double gun is that there is always the left side (or top, as the case may be) for something different.
Cheers,
Al
 
castbullit said:
My issue isn't hitting them up close, it is having to wait so I don't turn them to mush. Early season birds are not visible for long in my favourite haunts, at least the ones that weren't clearcut this summer. The nice thong with a double gun is that there is always the left side (or top, as the case may be) for something different.
Cheers,
Al
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Haha same thing here, that's why I was looking at something with wider spread. I will start getting the dog ready, get back in shooting shape with proper form. Then I'll have a look at something specifically for woodcock. Consensus here seems to be use something light that you are comfortable to shoot then adjust.
 
I'd just find whatever fits and handles the best, in the right gauge. If the chokes are too tight, I suppose they can be reamed?

I believe that prophet river carries those RST spreader loads?
 
I've hunted grouse & woodcock over the past 1/2 century with a variety of guns, from a 410 Model 42 Winchester to a 12 ga. Model 12, including pumps, auto-loaders, SxS's and
O/U's ... and am currently using a 12 ga. Union Armera (Grulla) SxS.

A couple of favourites from along the way include 3 - 20 gauges .... Winchester 101 O/U Skeet, a Browning BSS (SxS) and an Ithaca 200 SxS. I used standard AA Skeet loads of
No. 9 in all of them and was completely happy with their performance.

Any of those 3 guns can be found for a reasonable price, and if "fixed choke" ( which they all should be ), can be easily taken out by a competent gunsmith ... something like
$ 50-75 per barrel. My current 12 ga. chokes for upland are .007" and .017" about a tight "skeet" or "light I/Cyl." and a "light modified".

As has been referred to ... gun fit is everything, with plenty of practice at clay targets pre-season.
 
Unofficial results against a snowy bank. Two shots, each load, IC choke, a little under 3/4 oz #6 (more official like results once duck season closes and I have time to go to the range):

As compared to my standard WAA28 wad, WAA28HS hull, W209 primer. Different powder with the brush wad. May change the powder again, as I had to dial it back a fair amount from the manual - too hot, and really dirty.

At 20 yds, I get ~6" wider pattern, but the centre half is pretty thick, with the outer half thinner than the original WAA28 load - original tends to be pretty even. I am not sure that it has helped with getting birds on the ground - my grouse percentage was fairly abysmal this year. I will try again with #7.5 on a pattern board and let you know.

How did the pup do this year?
Cheers
 
There are a lot of nice older shotguns that others have mentioned that can be more readily and cheaply obtained with very tight chokes for older paper wads. I would get whatever fits you and points right, and get the chokes opened up.

My favourite woodcock gun is my 20ga BSS Sporter with a shortened LOP and 28" and skeet 1/skeet 2 chokes. The shorter stock and the long barrels make it balance nice and it points very quick for me.

I have a 16ga model 12 with an English stock that feels like it will be a perfect woodcock gun. I just need to send it to get the choke opened up.
 
I have used dozens of shotguns over the past 40 years... my all time favourite is a Citori Lightning 28 gauge... followed by a Citori Upland 20 gauge.
 
I second the Citori in 28gauge. 26" barrells choked IC, IC is all you ever need. I have used this combo for many outings. Any 28 gauge shotgun is a joy to shoot, especially for woodcock over a dog. I also use sxs's in 28, 20 and even 16 gauge in the same combo of choke and length of barrel with the same success. Check out Prophet River Huglu sxs 28 gauge for a good price. I have quite a few of these and they have never let me down. Great guns for the price.
 
Not a lot of Woodcock in these parts but this little gun would be close to ideal. Iside 28 gauge with 28 inch barrels and choke tubes. It is as light as a feather on a scaled frame, quick to point but swings surprisingly well. It even has Woodcock engraving on the receiver. It is a very nice shotgun to carry all day.

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And the winner is
Iside 28 gauge with 28 inch barrels and choke tubes. It is as light as a feather on a scaled frame, quick to point but swings surprisingly well. It even has Woodcock engraving on the receiver. It is a very nice shotgun to carry all day.
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I have the same gun in 20 gauge and its a dream to use in the uplands.
 
fishslinger said:
And the winner is

I have the same gun in 20 gauge and its a dream to use in the uplands.
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IIRC yours is a step up from mine. This one is the 2nd or 3rd tier model with engraving and yours is the top tier Jubilee Prestige. You had sent me some pictures a year or so ago. This one is perfect for upland but I often wish it were a 20. I would like to use it for early season teal/widgeon but the nontoxic shot is outrageous and scarce.
 
This little 20 gauge (Huglu) CZ Ringneck did some good shooting that day! Not a high end double, but they do the job!
In our hunting group, we all have high end doubles in our safes, but for some reason these Huglus get used more often.

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