the only guns i use for hunting grouse it my .410 (which works excellent), my 20 ga. (this is cause you can take a longer shot if needed) and my .22LR (sometimes use this one for a challage). everytime i go out hunting i take one of these guns, i mix it up, the 12 ga. i have is only used for geese/duck hunts, i find it you want to have some great grouse burgers then you can use your 12 ga to hunt them. theres my .02