Opinions Please
 

My dog has decided he wants to be a serious grouse dog. Last season he was flushing grouse and I shot them with a .22LR. Yes, it's legal and they just flush into the trees here. A few days ago he flushed some in a willow bottom. I hit one with my.410 single shot and he retrieved it (SHOCKING!). I forgot how much fun wing shooting could be. I don't think the .410 is ethical.

I can take no credit, he learned it all on his own. We have 18 so far for the season.

I am on a budget and am looking to pick up a 20g. SS or an O/U with adjustable choke.
Looking at;
Remington SPR 310 w/ 26" barrel?
Stoeger Condor w/ 26" barrel?
Stoeger Upland w/ 26" barrel?
Opinions please?
I would love to spend up for a Citori or a Bennilli but the lady of the house wouldn't be peaceful about it. :rolleye0011:

Wow. I wish I had such a natural. What a feeling that must be. You don't have to force the dog he just wants to do it. You must be so proud. What's you dog's name? Do you have a picture?

Tom

His name is Wilson and he is actually a sled dog/wolf mix. It's astonishing. He's the yellow dog. The black dog just goes along for the walk. I am pretty proud, thanks. It has reinvigorated my fire for bird hunting. We are actually looking at getting an ADD Deutsch Drahthaar pup in a year or two now.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/upland-bird-hunting/302266-opening-morning.html

you left handed? is that why SPR? I bought my son a 20g ithica...nice lil gun...less than SPR and can get in 28g

No I'm right handed is the SPR lefty specific? The SPR is one of the 3 guns mentioned to me by a friend.

no...but its bottom ejection same as ithicas....I think a better choice for resale then a leftie

SPR 310 is an O/U

ah...new the odders was O/U...nut that one..me learned'd sumin...and 310...dang thats pretty gun

Lotta people on here don't like the SPRs. Personally, I own one and it keeps up with my dads citori. The only thing about 'em is that they can be hard to find parts for because they're made in the old ussr. My recommendation is get the SPR and if you're thinking of making it you're main shotgun get a 12 ga.

Thanks!
No it's not my main shotgun! I have a 12g. and it's a little rough on grouse and huns. It has a fixed MOD choke.

1 vote for the SPR

Either Stoeger.............would be my call.



I have the Condor O/U in 12 gauge, but I use my 20 gauge SXS (Marlin LC Smith) for smaller birds.

Thanks!
I'm kind of leaning towards the Condor myself. I was thinking of the Condor Field Combo 12/20 so I can get an adjustable choke 12 g. and a 20g. in one shot. But it of course is a bunch more money.

http://www.stoegerindustries.com/fir...ger_condor.php



Worth the extra $$$ in my opinion (it's really not that expensive).




Look on-line and then ship to local FFL dealer and pay the transfer fee.




http://www.impactguns.com/store/037084310411.html




Hope this helps.

Hey Sheridan, Thanks for the links.

I guess I don't really understand how a 20 gauge shooting the same shot size with, say, 1 ounce of shot at similar velocities will tear up a grouse any more than a 12 gauge with a similar load. Unless you want a 20 gauge just because you can, I'd say the best thing to do would be to buy some 12 gauge shells with lighter 7/8 to 1 ounce payloads.

And consider yourself lucky to have a dog that works birds purely on instinct. It would seem to be a very rare gift even for dogs specifically bred as hunting dogs. My dog (a golden retriever/border collie mix) can't even figure out how to retrieve a tennis ball. Oh, he'll chase it as long as it's moving, but once he catches it he just sniffs it and looses interest. I doubt he's cut out for hunting.

Mike

But if you just gotta get yourself a new shotgun... I like the Stoeger O/U's, as they seem really nice and are inexpensive for an O/U. Another I'd look at is the Mossberg Reserve O/U. I have a friend that has one and it is really just as nice as many of the O/U's that cost 2-3 times as much. They're more than the Stoeger O/U, but they are a lot nicer looking with scroll engraving and gold accents and such "typical" to an O/U upland gun.

Mike

"I guess I don't really understand how a 20 gauge shooting the same shot size with, say, 1 ounce of shot at similar velocities will tear up a grouse any more than a 12 gauge with a similar load. Unless you want a 20 gauge just because you can, I'd say the best thing to do would be to buy some 12 gauge shells with lighter 7/8 to 1 ounce payloads."

I've already done that. I believe it's the choke and not the shot size. The modified choke is too tight and turns the breasts to hamburger.

And consider yourself lucky to have a dog that works birds purely on instinct. It would seem to be a very rare gift even for dogs specifically bred as hunting dogs. My dog (a golden retriever/border collie mix) can't even figure out how to retrieve a tennis ball. Oh, he'll chase it as long as it's moving, but once he catches it he just sniffs it and looses interest. I doubt he's cut out for hunting.

Mike

I consider myself very lucky. Wilson is an incredible dog in so many ways. Not to brag, but, when I fostered him he was 16 months old, untrained and completely out of control. I had no desire to keep him but figured I would at least try to train him. He was COMPLETELY off leash trained in 4 days! Heel, recall, etc... everything! I kept him! Thanks much Mike I know I am really very fortunate. I am really glad he was saved from being euthanized.

I could care less about vanity features. IMO- it makes as much sense as buying a pretty hammer.