What Gauge shotgun for Grouse hunting?

[JasonG]

I have been thinking about hunting grouse. I was wondering what shotgun gauge most people use for hunting them. I have also heard people use 22s. Any suggestions would be great. I do not have a dog so it would be me  just hiking. Thanks in advance Jason.

[Kola16]

12 for me 

[Mr56Jeep]

Any shotgun will be just fine.  Not the most sophisticated game bird.  I might use it as an excuse to buy the .410 I have been wanting but either a 12 or a 20 would probably be better choices.

[Forrestrover.02]

Took the 12 gauge out today. Didn't see any grouse, though.

[CP]

12g,  12g for everything, dove, quail, grouse, pheasant, turkey, ducks, geese, deer, etc.

[whitey]

12..

[Slingeroflead]

12 for me too

[wadu1]

I like a 10 gauge; loaded with 2 1/8 oz of number 7 1/7s  really I use a 12 with 2 3/4 # 7 1/2 or # 6. I do know a guy who only uses a 10 gauge for everyting from snipe to geese al I can say is  to much gun.

[BK Dave]

Something light in 12 or 20

[Forrestrover.02]

12g,  12g for everything, dove, quail, grouse, pheasant, turkey, ducks, geese, deer, etc.

[Bmcox86]

I use a 12 or my 22/410 o/u

[runningboard]

28 gauge Cortona over/under better pattern with shorter shot string than .410 same weight loads

[singleshot12]

Something light in 12 or 20

and most important one that fits and swings fast

[fethrduster]

A light, fast, 16 or 20 with short barrels is ideal.   Once you go 16, everything else pales in comparison.

[Stilly bay]

gauge is all relative. you can get light 12 loads that essentially are the same as what comes out a 20 or a 16 and you can get heavy 20 gauge loads that are closer to what comes of a light 12 payload. they even make special wads now so you can load 3/4 ounce of shot in a 12 gauge shell ... which is what you usually shoot with a 28.

any gauge will work. worry more about your shot size / choke combination.

that being said...

I prefer a nice light 28 gauge because both my rotator cuffs are fried and if I am going to tote around a gun all day long I would like to be able to lift it at the moment of truth.  but even though its light the shells I use are stuffed with an ounce of shot so its really a lot closer to a 20 gauge or even a 16 payload.

I like size 8 or  9 for ruffed grouse with an IC choke.

forget all of the above...just grab a shotgun, some shells and go out and kill a grouse. worrying about this kinda stuff will give you heartburn.

[washelkhunter]

forget all of the above...just grab a shotgun, some shells and go out and kill a grouse. worrying about this kinda stuff will give you heartburn.

[/quote]

 
Thats good advice right there. I've been wanting a light fast handling single shot for use as my truck gun. Big 5 last week had the Baikal MP18 on sale for $120. Got one in 12ga and couldnt be happier. weighs all of 5.8 lbs. Nothing fancy but the thing is built well and is easy to tote around. Im just using 2 3/4 no:6 for the birds. Might have to buy a 410 barrel some day for it.

[fethrduster]

I think a single shot is a great truck gun idea.  There's a really nice Iver Johnson 16 single at a local shop for $100 that I thought about getting.  Would be a fun turkey and snipe gun too.

[JasonG]

Thank you guys for all the advice!! Time to get a new gun!

[runamuk]

only shotty I have is a single shot 410 ... rumor has it its enough

[TheFewTheProud]

A 12 or a 20. Keep it simple

[ORCA_SIX]

12 or 20 gauge single barrel shotgun with a mod choke. You can find them for cheap. 100-250 max at any gun show. 

[runningboard]

if you wanna go cheap get a 20 gauge single barrel break from a pawn shop for $60-$100 max & get some game load, done

[csaaphill]

16 guage wish more peeps used and talked about em.
I bought mine for just that reason everyone uses 12-20 guages I wanted something different so baught a 16 gauge. Nice gun too.

[Stilly bay]

16 guage wish more peeps used and talked about em.

I just drank the kool aid and joined the 16 gauge cult. they sure are nice to carry around and pack a wallup when you need it. whats the old saying? carries like a 20 and hits like a twelve. I get it now.

[csaaphill]

16 guage wish more peeps used and talked about em.

I just drank the kool aid and joined the 16 gauge cult. they sure are nice to carry around and pack a wallup when you need it. whats the old saying? carries like a 20 and hits like a twelve. I get it now.

nice good to see someone use one.

[Roper]

If you're on a budget, a 12 gauge Remington 870 is hard to beat for an all around gun. 26 inch barrel can swing in brush for grouse or reach a duck coming to dekes. It will throw anything from and ounce to an ounce and a quarter. If you can find one with Remchokes, jump on it, otherwise look for a Modified choke. You can shoot trap or 5 stand with it. Used Wingmasters can be found in gun shops and at the WAC shows for decent prices. Ammo is found everywhere. JMHO...

[MountainWalk]

.22lr for me!

[Special T]

Older Savage Model 24 in 22lr over 20 ga. I have one and love it. They are now making them in a different model 42. They should be offering similar calibers in the future. 

[ORCA_SIX]

Older Savage Model 24 in 22lr over 20 ga. I have one and love it. They are now making them in a different model 42. They should be offering similar calibers in the future. 

I am waiting on the 12ga/.223. I read that they are suppose to make those models eventually. Should be a good truck gun.

[Special T]

I would buy one of those as well, but i would hope that they offer it in a .243. 

[brokenvet]

12 Gauge with dove loads

[Glockster]

20 is plenty. 

[Mr56Jeep]

20 is plenty.

 

[PolarBear]

.410 here.

[hiway_99]

A single shot 410 got the job done this weekend for me.

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[C-Money]

28ga- 12ga is ideal. A .410 would be fine for the ones that dont wanna flush. 7 1/2 or 6 shot is my favorite.

[fethrduster]

16 guage wish more peeps used and talked about em.

I just drank the kool aid and joined the 16 gauge cult. they sure are nice to carry around and pack a wallup when you need it. whats the old saying? carries like a 20 and hits like a twelve. I get it now.

Atta Boy.  Glad to see another convert.  The church of the sweet sixteen is alive and well.  We even have our own society!  www.16ga.com 

[wildweeds]

The best gauge is the one that is right for you,if you can't hit anything with a 410 obviously that's not a good fit,if you can hit 95% what you shoot at with a 20 then thats the one,if you have a hard time hitting with a 20 then a twelves your bag.All about practice really.If you practice frequently you'll have gimme shots that are easy,and you'll also do well on the tough shots too with practice.Butt,belly,beak BANG!

[Phantom Gobbler]

Must be drinking the same punch, cuz I also just picked up a 16 gauge last week. Now need to find a few feathered targets.

"I've had sasquatch take pictures of me, but I'm sure it's because he liked my 16 sxs and not because I'm the most interesting man in the world.  All seriousness aside, there is a subjective allure and romance that comes with shooting a nice sxs that is hard to quantify". - 16 Gauge Society

 
 

[jess]

12 gauge works great.. Too bad the 28 gauge is so hard to find shells for.. Thats the perfect grouse shell!

[RadSav]

20 or .410 for me.  I like the 28 but I do not reload and shells are hard to find.  Traded my 16 Ithica for my first 20 double gun.  Been a 20 guy ever since.  Though Dad's old .410 comes out once a year to put a few blues in the crock pot.

One of my Oregon buddies had two Valmet 412's one was 12/.223 and the other 20/.308.  Both were dang good shooting guns.  I see them come around every so often in the online broker sites.  Usually priced quite well.

[Stilly bay]

Must be drinking the same punch, cuz I also just picked up a 16 gauge last week. Now need to find a few feathered targets.

"I've had sasquatch take pictures of me, but I'm sure it's because he liked my 16 sxs and not because I'm the most interesting man in the world.  All seriousness aside, there is a subjective allure and romance that comes with shooting a nice sxs that is hard to quantify". - 16 Gauge Society

Nice shotgun! Thats a 16 gauge sterly in my pic too. just picked it up at the beginning of Nov. I love that gun, feels more like a 20.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Nice shotgun! Thats a 16 gauge sterly in my pic too. just picked it up at the beginning of Nov. I love that gun, feels more like a 20.

Stilly - Ditto on your SW!  Our guns look mighty similar!  Mine didn't like the Remington High Base 1 1/8 oz, 2 3/4 in. loads I fed it last weekend.  The shell casing expanded and was hard to get out of the breech. The recoil was also a bit much in the light gun. 

I have ordered some B & P 1 1/16 oz 2 5/8 in shells to try next!  My first American SxS adventure.  Mine is a reconditioned Savage 1936 model.

[AWS]

I wouldn't run any heavy load in a fine SxS, I shoot 7/8 & 1 oz loads in my old 12ga sxs's they work just fine for ducks, sharptails, and wild pheasants.

[Phantom Gobbler]

I think the choke and shell combination used is more important than the gauge for grouse.  Anything from 28 gauge to 12 gauge will fit the bill if the choke(s) are open enough for a quick shot through the brush/trees!   

[gadwall]

Something light in 12 or 20

and most important one that fits and swings fast

 

Gun fit and familiarity is real important with wingshooting wether you are beating the brush for ruffs or walking ridges for blues and spruce grouse.  You have to be able to "Move, Mount, Shoot" in one qiuck fliud motion.  If you bird hunt alot, then get a gun for grouse/quail/doves like a small frame 20 or 28, and leave the 12 for waterfowl and chukars etc.  If you bird hunt a little here and there, stay with one gun you like and shoot it for everything.  I have a 28 that I really like for all types of shooting, even ducks over decoys as long as the shots are close.