Shotgun for goosehunting

[Ranger Dave]

I use 7.5 as well for grouse. I use a youth 870 20 gauge. Its awesome hunting birds in trees. I gave up on the 12 gauge after hunting grouse with the 20 gauge.
I use a 870 Express 12 gauge for ducks and geese. I have the 3" model. Cabelas told me they sell more 3.5 guns now, but 3.5" shells don't sell well. Why buy a 3.5" shotgun if you can't afford to burn the 3.5 shells???

 

[Cinch]

When I used a full choked 12 gauge for sharptails and Hungarian partridge, I used #7-1/2 shot, and let them get out a bit. Now I use a 20 gauge, and still use #7-1/2 shot. I have never had any reason to use larger shot. I do switch to #6 shot for pheasants though.

I absolutely agree on going down in shot for sharp tail and huns. However, the OP is here in SK so I would recommend either #4 or #5 for pheasants. SK pheasants are wild, flushing long before you can hit them with a tennis racket like a pen raised AB pheasant.

 

[stubblejumper]

I absolutely agree on going down in shot for sharp tail and huns. However, the OP is here in SK so I would recommend either #4 or #5 for pheasants. SK pheasants are wild, flushing long before you can hit them with a tennis racket like a pen raised AB pheasant.

I was raised in Saskatchewan, and shot many of my upland birds there. I find that when hunting over good dogs,#6 is still effective on wild pheasant. When hunting released birds here in Alberta, we sometimes even use #7-1/2. My favorite load is the nickel plated Fiocchi load, the nickel plated shot seems to kill like larger sized lead shot, yet the patterns are more full due to the larger number of smaller diameter pellets.

 

[M'aiq the Liar]

I for one would stay away for the Mossberg Silver Receiver. It looks better than it works. I use a CZ Redhead for upland game hunting and I use a Remington M887 Nitro Magnum 3 1/2 for Goose hunting. Sometimes I hunt upland in thick mountain bushes and I don't want to scratch up my CZ so I just use 2 3/4 in my M887 and it makes a great goose and upland shotgun.