Best calliber for grouse
 

I have been using a 20G and my son has been using a 12G. I'm considering buying a new O/U and I'm not sure if I should get a 12 or a 20. (The one I'm using is trouble.) Last year my son shot a grouse at maybe 15-20 yards using his 12G with a light skeet load...maybe # 8 or 9. The shot absolutely destroyed the bird with nothing much left to eat. He was using a Modified choke. I use # 6 in my 20G and have never seen that. Still I've heard of many guys using the 12G. What do you guys think?

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Well, if it was me and the gun was strictly for chickens, the 20 gauge would get the nod. They'regenerally lighter and with most loads, less recoil. Personally, I use a 12 gauge with number....6 I think, but I've used a 20, and for most purposes, I'd grab the 20. However, if I was also hunting waterfowl, turkey or pheasents, I'd get a 12 gauge, just for the extra omph. Hope this helped

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

YOU OVERCHOKED!!! if your shooting 1- 20 yards try no choke at all no matter wat the gauge. a cylinder bore without a choke at 20 yards is just as deadly as a full choke at 40. if you were using 3 1/2 inch or 3 inch loads that might be a bit heavy. we took a soda can at7 yards with 2 3/4 inch loads #8 with a .410 and it looked like barely half the thing was left. i'd go with the 20 gauge definitely. perfect for turkeys, birds, squirrels, rabbits, and it's light too. good luck

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

"The shot absolutely destroyed the bird with nothing much left to eat."
I shoot 12ga all the time and never seen that at thatdistance. I like 12 because it give just a bit more. I shootan O/U that is almost as light as 20's. Beretta is my gun of choice. Light and relieable. However, shoot whatever is comfortable. That is what's best.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I like my twelve guage with a modified choke for shooting at wing shots.
I use number six also and it works good for me.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Yes, it would be overchocked for the distance however, that's something than can happen on occasion! I'm not terribly surprised to hear of so many fguys using the 12G as usually you grab what you own. I guess if the right 12G comes along, with lightweight and reasonable cost, I'd certainly consider it if it fits.

Thanks guys!

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I thought the topic was what was the best caliber,not guage. anyways what about .22 LR. I have a revolver and I have some #12 shot for it. I also have a scoped Glenfield model 60 [marlin].

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I like my 12 guage with #7 and a full choke.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Haven't you had a problem with destroying all the meat?

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

arooster, I think if your to close that will always be a problem
unless you shoot them in the head.

phildenton, Any rifle will work if you are a good shot and hit them
in the head. But, that 22 birdshot you would be better off throwing
it away. Try shooting a glass coke bottle from about thrity yards and
see for yourself. That stuff is no good.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

1100lt 20 ga 26" imp. 1 oz 7 1/2 is death to a grouse.......i find 12ga to bulky in the woods of the UP....

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Thankyou for the advice, I am now glad I only bought a couple boxes of 20 rounds each to tryout. I will just use it at the range on paperand not buy any more.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

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

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I like a 28 guage and maybe I'll go to a 20 at the biggest. IC chokes and #6 shot in whichever I'm shooting.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I gave some thought to getting a 28G but those shells are incridibely scarce in these parts. Not sure why. I guess this is a Goose / Duck predominant area but there are Grouse and Sharptail etc...

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I looked at cci's site for info on those little shotshells, and found that they were only designed for short range pest controll, up to 15 feet.

wish i had looked it up BEFORE I purchased.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I still like my12 ga.and have been hunting birds for thirty-one years and still do not have any problems with my 12 ga. My brother uses a 16 ga. and I have friends that use the 20 and 28 ga. all work fine. I know alot of
young people that uses a 410 and that works as well. I do not have many
grouse burgers either with my 12 ga. and it works great for me on wing
shots. So I guess it is all that the user preffers more than anything else.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Interesting how diverse the opinions are on this. I happen to be in an area today where the grouse are exceptionally abundant this year. The fellow at the sporting goods store was out of .410 cartridges because out there...that's the favourite. Even he can't completely understand why.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Guns, chokes, loads, and guage questions are quite subjective, and everyone has their own opinion. He's mine. Hopefully it helps.

If your going to get a new gun, get one that fits you properly. One will shoot a properly fit gun better than they ever thought possible. If you aren't sure about gun fit enlist the help of the professionals at a gun shop or grab a book on the subject. If the gun fits you will shoot it well, and guage selection becomes a little less important.A proper fitting gun, because you will shoot it better will allow you to be more effective, and feel more confidentwith a lighter guage.

As for choke selection, I follow the standard that the closer the standard shooting range the more open the choke. I hunt almost exclusively grouse and woodcock. I either use a 20g s/s choked sk/ic, or a 28g o/u choked sk/sk. Again, if the gun fits, the pattern will go where you point the gun, so choke selection becomes a little less important.

Remember too, that a smaller guage gun doesn't mean less pellets in the pattern. An ounce of #6 is the same number of pellets whether packed into a 12g hull or a 20g hull. The only thing that changes is the length of the shot string.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I usally use a 20gauge, but this summer i picked up a used 16gauge and been taking that to the woods this year, got 5 birds with it so far. its a nice caliber if you want something right in between a 12 and a 20 gauge, you might want to consider it also.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I use a 12 gauge O/U and haven't seen that kind of problem with either grouse or even woodcock. I'm typically using 7 1/2 shot size.

I don't think you would go wrong with either 20 or 12. Would depend more on what you like better. I think if you opt for a 20, you will probably be able to get a lighter gun. I don't have any problem schlepping my 12 around for a day, but to each his own.

Good luck.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

i just use my .22 lr and shoot them in the head. works good for me and wastes no meat at all

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

Well, I finally picked a Browning Citori Classic Featherlight in 20G. Its a breeze to carry and I like it very much. I like the smaller frame of the 20G. Can't wait to get out again!

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

finner...you think the 16G is making a comeback? I hope it does!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

If ther it such a thing as over gunned for grouse THIS IS IT.

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

50 years at grouse hunting here in pa.. our woods are thick with trees..when grouse goes up, its quick..weight of 12 ga is terrible to lug around ..that was my view..

but i found the gun that is ticket.. BERETTA URICKA FIELD 12 GA.. i sold my old shotguns and bought this wonderful shotgun.. its like feather in woods, handles great ..i use 2 and 3/4 inch low brass in 7 and 1/2 while leaves are on trees..choke is improved cyl because most shots are not over 25 yards..you could use skeet/cyl choke also..NOW,after leaves come off its all new ball game..i use 2 AND 3/4 INCHno.6 shot HIGH BRASS with a FULL CHOKE..my barrel is 28 inch but many use 26 inch..28 inch BALANCES better but is hard to swing in brush but you get used to how to make it work..

that about it..i HIGHLY rec you get a uricka field,it can be used for just about anything and its light..no way i would use 20 ga anymore with gun like this..

get your guns cleaned up and sell them..i did and i am a very happy grouse hunter..

if anyone needs info on grouse hunting here in pa,feel free to pm me..

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

I went for a Browning Citori Classic Featherweight in 20G. I like it very much. I handled a Urika Field in 20G and it did impress me. Very light without the cumbersom feel of my Remington 11-87. It hasme thinking of dumping the 11-87 ever since!

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

yes, 20ga is real nice BUT if you want to hunt pheasants and spooky grouse, 12 ga is way i would go..grouse get spooky after they are hunted and when leaves come off,your shots will be 40 yards easy..

right now i am shooting grouse at 20 yards,not for long..the 12 ga is light ,i carry it thru heavy laural and no problems..i have 28 inch barrel and i am using the IC choke now and will switch to FULL after leaves come off..

yes, 11-87 is way to heavy,even in 20ga..i have never hunted with such a great shotgun as this URICKA FIELD..

i got mine at dicks last year..i sold all my shotguns that were semi-auto,6 of them..all were to heavy..browning is nice gun..

i just bought 2 browning buckmark plus pistols,took me 9 months to get them..browning makes real nice guns..

RE: Best calliber for grouse
 

28 and 20 work fine for quail and smaller birds but i'd go with 12. little more range and power for large birds such as pheasant that might take off farther ahead. I'd work with the chokes to see to find something that will work for ya and not destroy your birds. I go with IC and Modified in mine. The only other thing I'll suggest is that you make sure the gun fits you and if the recoil is still too much then consider buying an addition recoil pad.