Ruffed Grouse, shot size?

F

fivehundredlimited

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Location
Muskoka, Ontario
Hi all,
The ruffed grouse season is still a long ways off, but I have a pile of #5 shotshells and I'm wondering if they could be used on grouse. My usual load is #7 1/2 target loads which seem to do the job. I'm hunting in Northern Ontario, so mostly hunting the bush which can be fairly thick at times. Would #5 shotshells work or would they do too much damage to the meat? What's your go to grouse load?
Fivehundred
 
#5 would be perfect.
I have used up plenty of old lead #4 on grouse with good results.
The pellets tend to punch through the bird better leaving less lead in the meat.
 
I am lover of #5 shot for all my small game ,but if I am just looking for grouse I will go with 6# ,,I like the shot to be big enough to cut threw some brush as I never get a clear shot ,,lol,Dutch
 
fivehundredlimited said:
Hi all,
The ruffed grouse season is still a long ways off, but I have a pile of #5 shotshells and I'm wondering if they could be used on grouse. My usual load is #7 1/2 target loads which seem to do the job. I'm hunting in Northern Ontario, so mostly hunting the bush which can be fairly thick at times. Would #5 shotshells work or would they do too much damage to the meat? What's your go to grouse load?
Fivehundred
Click to expand...

I'm typically a #6 man. But 5's r fine.
 
#7 1/2's everywhere... tighter patterns better chance of getting pellets through a screen of brush, if they flush in a thicket, and plenty of energy to kill cleanly... never #4's, rarely #5's, occasionally #6's coupled with a tighter choke on skittish birds, #7 1/2's 90%+ of the time.
 
My choice is 7 1/2 but fives will work just fine, especially in heavy brush country. I end up using sixes when the stores run dry and I get caught without 7 1/2's. Use them up.
 
I use 7 1/2's; good pattern density without getting too many pellets in the meat. That's for wing shooting. If you're ground sluicing then it probably won't make much difference.
 
In my 20 gauge I have used 6, 7 1/2 and 8 with decent results - as stated, head shots are the way to go.

Just don't "accidentally" stuff a #2 magnum steel down the tube by mistake and shoot close - after following the 20 yards of feathers there isn't much left at the other end :)
 
galamb said:
Just don't "accidentally" stuff a #2 magnum steel down the tube by mistake and shoot close - after following the 20 yards of feathers there isn't much left at the other end :)
Click to expand...

Haha, I won't push my luck that far.

Thanks for all the response so far. I do try to only wing shoot, but maybe I'll give the #5 shotshells a try for longer distances.
 
Guys talking about head shooting are not talking about wing shooting... if you are pot-shooting sitting birds with a full choked gun, then #5's will work to take off heads... but wingshooters are not using full choked guns and IME don't use #5's and certainly not #4's... couple #6's with Mod or Light Mod (on more skittish birds) and #7 1/2's with I/C (for 90% of your WING shooting) and you are golden.

On dual purpose woodcock and grouse hunts, I just use a Skeet choke with 1 1/8 oz. #8's... the birds go down cleanly and pellets are not an issue.
 
:dancingbanana:I like 7.5 coupled with two modified choke on my Superlight... i will go for wing shot, if i see birds on the ground, i will push on them until they fly off and then take a shot or two... JP.
 
I use 7 1/2's and 8's for both wing and ground shooting (if I am hungry enough) and a mod choke. I have killed hundreds of grouse using this combo and works like a charm. I have used 6 and 5's on sharptail and when I had to on ruffed grouse. I prefer to use 7 1/2's but in a pinch 6 and 5 will work. Try them all out and have fun!
 
I use #4 in my 20g, full choke. Finding 5 or 6 seems more difficult around here, but I will use those if available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom