Upland Game?
- Thread starter calgarysparky
- Start date
I like a relatively light quick handling gun for upland. Currently I use a Franchi Renaissance O/U, a Beretta A303 semi auto. and occationaly a 1926 Parker SxS. As you can see a variety of shotguns. Most important is to get a shotgun that feels comfortable and fits you. There are used guns on the EE that would suit you needs or else you could look at good pumps such as the Browning and Remington wingmaster. As for gauge I only use 12 gauges but a 20 gauge would suit you as well and is easier to get in a lighter gun.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Hi Calgarysparky, and welcome back to upland bird hunting! It would be very helpful to know what type of upland birds and what method of hunting. I will give a shot at advising you anyway!
Forest grouse are often shot sitting alongside logging roads with a .410 single shot. That's probably not what you had in mind?
Hunting the same bird with a flushing dog might mean a quick handling double in 12-16-20 ga, an ounce or 1-1/8 ox of 6's or 7-1/2's and IC or Mod chokes. If hunting in the bush with a pointing dog, cylinder and Improved , 3/4 -1 oz of 7-1/2's and as small as 28 ga. might be more appropriate.
Prairie birds are different - sharptials in late season either walked up or hunted with a flushing dog are 12 ga. full choke propositions, as are late season pheasants. #5 or 6 shot is required.
Early season prairie birds shot over pointing dogs can be taken with the same gun and loads as forest grouse. Huns tend to be very fast, small 7-1/2 or 8 shot and quick handling guns help for them.
Hunting ptarmigan on the mountaintops calls for a light gun because of all the walking, and modified choke because of the open upland tundra country that they are found in.
About shells - when hunting upland birds, avoid 3" shells or any short magnum loads. High quality shot in a moderate velocity standard load will kill as far and as cleanly as a "magnum" and will not beat you up in the process.
Trap shooting calls for a full or modified choke 12 ga. Not many people shoot any other gauge,
but perhaps you actually meant to say Sporting Clays - in which case any good upland gun can be used, because sporting clays is designed to duplicate a variety of real hunting situations.
Skeet is shot at close range, and again skeet guns are upland bird guns, just choked a tad more open than IC.
I will caution you to not buy one of the trendy ultra short barrel guns. There is a very good reason that top sporting clays competitors prefer 28-30" barrels: they are easier to hit flying things with. I suggest that you choose a light 12 or standard weight 20 ga, with 28" barrels in a double and 26" in a pump or semi - action type is your call. This length of barrel tends to handle quick enough in the thick stuff but still gives you the balance and swing to hit birds and targets smoothly. Interchangeable chokes are nice but not an absolute requirement. Chokes used the most in a double would be IC for the first shot and Mod for the second. IC in a single barrel 12 and modified in a single barrel 20 would handle most situations nicely.
I actually split the difference and do most of my upland bird and sporting clays shooting with a 28" 16 ga, O/U with IC/Mod but that's not a gauge for everyone.
Forest grouse are often shot sitting alongside logging roads with a .410 single shot. That's probably not what you had in mind?
Hunting the same bird with a flushing dog might mean a quick handling double in 12-16-20 ga, an ounce or 1-1/8 ox of 6's or 7-1/2's and IC or Mod chokes. If hunting in the bush with a pointing dog, cylinder and Improved , 3/4 -1 oz of 7-1/2's and as small as 28 ga. might be more appropriate.
Prairie birds are different - sharptials in late season either walked up or hunted with a flushing dog are 12 ga. full choke propositions, as are late season pheasants. #5 or 6 shot is required.
Early season prairie birds shot over pointing dogs can be taken with the same gun and loads as forest grouse. Huns tend to be very fast, small 7-1/2 or 8 shot and quick handling guns help for them.
Hunting ptarmigan on the mountaintops calls for a light gun because of all the walking, and modified choke because of the open upland tundra country that they are found in.
About shells - when hunting upland birds, avoid 3" shells or any short magnum loads. High quality shot in a moderate velocity standard load will kill as far and as cleanly as a "magnum" and will not beat you up in the process.
Trap shooting calls for a full or modified choke 12 ga. Not many people shoot any other gauge,
but perhaps you actually meant to say Sporting Clays - in which case any good upland gun can be used, because sporting clays is designed to duplicate a variety of real hunting situations.
Skeet is shot at close range, and again skeet guns are upland bird guns, just choked a tad more open than IC.
I will caution you to not buy one of the trendy ultra short barrel guns. There is a very good reason that top sporting clays competitors prefer 28-30" barrels: they are easier to hit flying things with. I suggest that you choose a light 12 or standard weight 20 ga, with 28" barrels in a double and 26" in a pump or semi - action type is your call. This length of barrel tends to handle quick enough in the thick stuff but still gives you the balance and swing to hit birds and targets smoothly. Interchangeable chokes are nice but not an absolute requirement. Chokes used the most in a double would be IC for the first shot and Mod for the second. IC in a single barrel 12 and modified in a single barrel 20 would handle most situations nicely.
I actually split the difference and do most of my upland bird and sporting clays shooting with a 28" 16 ga, O/U with IC/Mod but that's not a gauge for everyone.
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- Location
- Ontario Windsor area
What was the flavor of the month back then?
There are a few new manufacturers now than back then, but the prices have jumped considerably.
870 Wingmaster or a Browning BPS come to mind.
Then again longwalker said it better!
Rob
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I tend to shoot everything , trap, skeet, upland, and even waterfowl if the chance presents intself, with sub gauges either a go gauge FAIR O/U or a 28 gauge Ugartechea SXS.
I have also used just aquired a nice light 16 that weighs 5.8lbs.
If upland birds are going to be shot more than skeet and trap, a lighter gun is advisable , simply because you carry it more than shoot it.
If you are going to shoot 400 skeet birds every weekend, a bit heavier gun, possiby a 20, would be better, and it would still be light enough for upland.
Some guys like the lighter framed 12 bores as well , but I don't like shooting them for several reasons, unless , of course i'm shooting black powder and brsass cases.
Don't worry too much about the sub gauges "running out of steam " after 25 yards, because they don't.
If you center the bird's head or the clay in the shot pattern it will go down dead or broke!
The biggest disadvantage with the 16 and the 28 however, as opposed to a 20 or a 12, is ammo availablility - there just isn't the selection and amount of those around as opposed to the 20 and 12 gauge .
A note on chokes :
Personally, I shoot everything with IC/MOD chokes in my fixed choke guns, ad rarely change a screw in choked gun to anything else as well.
I have never missed a bird because I was underchoked, missed a few I shouldn't have shot at maybe, and certainly missed a few because I MISSED!!
IC/MOD barrels will get it done all day long!
Cat
I have also used just aquired a nice light 16 that weighs 5.8lbs.
If upland birds are going to be shot more than skeet and trap, a lighter gun is advisable , simply because you carry it more than shoot it.
If you are going to shoot 400 skeet birds every weekend, a bit heavier gun, possiby a 20, would be better, and it would still be light enough for upland.
Some guys like the lighter framed 12 bores as well , but I don't like shooting them for several reasons, unless , of course i'm shooting black powder and brsass cases.
Don't worry too much about the sub gauges "running out of steam " after 25 yards, because they don't.
If you center the bird's head or the clay in the shot pattern it will go down dead or broke!
The biggest disadvantage with the 16 and the 28 however, as opposed to a 20 or a 12, is ammo availablility - there just isn't the selection and amount of those around as opposed to the 20 and 12 gauge .
A note on chokes :
Personally, I shoot everything with IC/MOD chokes in my fixed choke guns, ad rarely change a screw in choked gun to anything else as well.
I have never missed a bird because I was underchoked, missed a few I shouldn't have shot at maybe, and certainly missed a few because I MISSED!!
IC/MOD barrels will get it done all day long!
Cat
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- Location
- Saskatchewan
The CZ guns have a decent reputation, if it FITS YOU you will have a serviceable gun.
After trying "adjustable" chokes ( Polychoke, etc) on a couple guns I would not recommend them. Pattern quality is so-so and the big blob on the end of the barrel does not aid most shooters hit percentage. Interchageable choke tubes are another matter, most new guns come equipped this way, and they can help in a few specific circumstances when all shots are very close or very far. The finest hand built doubles normally do not have interchangeable chokes because the barrels would need to be made too thick or flared at the muzzle to accommodate them. But choke tubes are now commonly supplied in some pretty good handling doubles.
Most beginners ( and many experienced shooters!) do not have the shooting skills needed to make changing chokes a real advantage, and as Catinthehatt explained, fixed IC/Mod is very versatile and is ideal for most Western Canada upland bird hunting situations.
Another thing, if you find a good gun that is choked too tightly, for about $80 /barrel you can have the chokes opened up. The job should be done by a competent shotgun smith, not a rifle smith who happens to have reamers and can do the job cheaply. A poorly done choke reaming job can ruin a good shotgun. Don't ask me know I know!
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I have to agree with the comments that you made on the CZ guns Longwalker, I have owned 5 or 6 and never had a dog in them, but mine were newer guns, some of th older ones had firng pin issues.
My CZ 28 Mini Bobwhite was a bird killing machine!
Cat
My CZ 28 Mini Bobwhite was a bird killing machine!
Cat
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little bear
Regular
I use a 12 over/under, full/modified choke, and I agree with Longwalker, stay away from magnum shells. I use field load, 2 3/4 no 6 or 7.5. For ptarmigan here on the island, it means climbing up mountains with your gun strapped to your back, so a light gun is a must, and there is a lot of win shots. For grouse, I use a single shot 16 gauge.
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
CZ makes a good shotgun - currently, at least - I love my CZ partridge 28 gauge!
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
You can get a brand new Maverick 88 shipped to your door for $265 from frontier firearms, it's a great gun ane a great price. The Maverick 88 is basically a cheaper mossberg 500.
