No Choke for Grouse??

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tim_up_north

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Any experience here with hunting grouse with a CYL 'choked' Shotgun.

Before I get a ton of obvious answers (I know shot distances are limited, poor patterns, etc...), I am curious to know if any one goes that way by choice.

Or suppose you're like me and have a shotgun with no choke as your only option (Looooong Story). Lets say the barrel is 26-23 inches (damaged and cut) shot size? range?
 
Choke was not invented by a grouse hunter, that's for sure. OC and #8s are deadly at the ranges you typically find in the bush.

You can tighten up your pattern significantly by carefully selecting your ammo. Shot size and hardness will have an impact on patterns, as well as the brand of wad. Higher velocity shells pattern differently from Target. Copper plating and using a buffer matrix will also tighten things up. Payload size is also a factor in how that pattern arrives on target. So it would not be unreasonable to get at least IC performance, possibly even close to Mod, just by changing shotshell specifics. This is where being a reloader is handy. So you could have one vest pocket with #8 soft shot for ruffies, and another pocket with buffered copper-plated hard #6 for sharptails.

But to find this out, you've got to do a lot of testing at a pattern board.
 
Great Input!

Thanks, its always good to get different opinions. More often than not you learn something, especially when someones experience takes you in a direction you hadn't tried and/or didn't even know about.

Is there a standard distance one should pattern at for an good representation?

As to where I hunt, this year I'm in Inuvik, NWT...but I should be back to Hay River, NWT by opening day for birds....and I've heard that this year the ruffies were thick like flies in Peace River AB...hoping (but doubtful) it translates into more of the rare little guys further north of 60....but who knows.
 
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40 yards is the standard distance, and fit the most pellets into a 30" diameter circle. Shoot first, draw circle around biggest concentration of pellets and count. Look for a nice even pattern, not blotchy or with a big blob of shot in one spot. Remember, the patterns for the open chokes will extend past that 30" circle, so don't forget to evaluate that area as well. That is still a large effective killing area.
 
Hmm, I would be hesitant to use something as large as #4 on ruffed grouse as it would likely pulverize them.

On the other hand, I find 7.5 to be ideal but it can be tough to penetrate thick bush at times.

I compromise with #6 shot. Yes, it makes bigger holes in the bird than the 7.5 or 8 shot, but tends to go through the leaves and branches a whole lot better. If you have to go with larger shot be sure you know your pattern and impact point for closer range shots!
 
I've had good results with my 14" barrels (cyl bore) # 2, 4 and 6 shot.

Do some target practice with the load you will like to use, you'll probably find the effective range to be about 25 yards, well within "usual" grouse range. (pop cans make good grouse stand ins! :D ) Be smart with your ranges and you'll be a happy hunter.
 
Pattern it the same as you would any shotgun with the ammo you intend using and shoot accordingly. It's not about the choke. It's about knowing what your shotgun will do with the ammo you hunt with.
 
12 ga O/U (full and modified)
Win ### 7.5 upland bird loads. 1&1/8 oz.

You're definately better off with an open choke or improved.

All I have is full chokes (and the mod on the OU) so I've been using that.
The good thing about it is, your pattern is so tight, if you're a good shot you don't wreck any meat. (You'll take the head or the wing clean off)
 
dave_t73 said:
Hmm, I would be hesitant to use something as large as #4 on ruffed grouse as it would likely pulverize them.
Click to expand...

Ive bagged dozens of Ruffed and Spruce Grouse this year with #4 shot and have yet to lose one once of meat.

Its all about the head and neck shots.
 
That's a good point when using larger shot: knowing the pattern. I agree its doable, but you just have to be more careful than with smaller shot.

If you happen to be wing shooting though, it can be quite difficult to just get the head shots.
 
Grouse

I have successfully used cylinder or IC for many years on quail, chukkar and grouse in 12, 28 and 410.

Any load seems to work, and i have most of them, but for instant dead go to 4 or 5 shot size even on the 410. One pellet does the job most effectively - If you are right on the bird not too much manages to get through the "holes" in the pattern....
 
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