Chukar, shotgun, questions for the experts

[merkelman]

Third shot is always nice. If you have a good dog or dogs as i do, you can hit them with 9's and follow up with 7.5 or 6's once the covey breaks. Use what you shoot well!  Lighter helps with the hike!  If you need 3 inchers why bother to shoot at all. SHOT PLACEMENT IS EVERYTHING.

[ctwiggs1]

I come from a big game background that was followed by a military background, so I have never really cared about carrying  a gun all day.  It's kind of just part of the game. Generally speaking, I feel that my arms will outlast the dogs so I haven't had issues.  However, I am humble enough to admit that I am not in as good shape as I used to be, so maybe as I get older my mind will change.

I don't like having to sort through several guns, so my go-to has always been my 870 express that yes, I also use on ducks/geese.  For backup I have a beaten up Mossberg 500.  I've always appreciated the beauty of double barrels, but have never purchased as I can't justify the cost.

My Express was down all season last year and I ended up killing a lot of birds with my Mossberg.  I love that gun.

My wife typically carries a 20 pump and she also seems to do fine.

Curtis

[AspenBud]

I come from a big game background that was followed by a military background, so I have never really cared about carrying  a gun all day.  It's kind of just part of the game. Generally speaking, I feel that my arms will outlast the dogs so I haven't had issues.  However, I am humble enough to admit that I am not in as good shape as I used to be, so maybe as I get older my mind will change.

I don't like having to sort through several guns, so my go-to has always been my 870 express that yes, I also use on ducks/geese.  For backup I have a beaten up Mossberg 500.  I've always appreciated the beauty of double barrels, but have never purchased as I can't justify the cost.

My Express was down all season last year and I ended up killing a lot of birds with my Mossberg.  I love that gun.

My wife typically carries a 20 pump and she also seems to do fine.

Curtis

For all around durability you can't beat a pump gun, and considering the abuse a gun can take when chukar hunting that means something.

Thinking about it, a Browning BPS Upland Special in 16 gauge with 26" barrels would probably not be a bad option either. Carries like a 20 gauge, hits like a 12.

[jackson7]

Yes the purists say they prefer 2 barrels over everything else. However  when I take out the 20 gauge Ithaca and have a 3rd shot at a straggler most are wishing they had the same. As matter of fact a few have picked up the same gun to use as their devoted chukar guns.
Kind of like the fly fisherman using hardware. Just don't tell anyone.
I remind them that the pump is an American classic!
 

[Fishnfowler]

I've been shooting chukar for 36 years.  For me it is a 12 gauge SxS.  With that in mind, I will upon occasion drag a 20 up the hills, but I prefer a light 12 gauge game gun.  My favorite is the one in my avatar, a 12 gauge Ugartechea that weighs 6-1/2 pounds.  I went the route of the Ithaca 37.  Even when hunting Idaho, where I could stuff 5 shells in the gun, it never made a difference in my bag.  I can miss as well with 2 barrels as I can with one. 

As to the idea of being a purist, hunt with what blows your hair back.  As to the magical 3rd shot, that is a bunch of BS.   If someone thinks they can shoot as fast with an autoloader or pump as I can with my SxS, I challenge them to a contest of "fastest 25 shots."

At the end of the day it is always the quality of the hunt that counts, not the number in the bag.

Rob.

[wildweeds]

I'd comment that it's whatever you shoot well and............ don't care to much if it gets dinged,dented or scratched,guarantee that there will be a little bit of behind end time on the ground.

[merkelman]

I've been shooting chukar for 36 years.  For me it is a 12 gauge SxS.  With that in mind, I will upon occasion drag a 20 up the hills, but I prefer a light 12 gauge game gun.  My favorite is the one in my avatar, a 12 gauge Ugartechea that weighs 6-1/2 pounds.  I went the route of the Ithaca 37.  Even when hunting Idaho, where I could stuff 5 shells in the gun, it never made a difference in my bag.  I can miss as well with 2 barrels as I can with one. 

As to the idea of being a purist, hunt with what blows your hair back.  As to the magical 3rd shot, that is a bunch of BS.   If someone thinks they can shoot as fast with an autoloader or pump as I can with my SxS, I challenge them to a contest of "fastest 25 shots."

At the end of the day it is always the quality of the hunt that counts, not the number in the bag.

Rob.

a little wisdom... Happy 4th to all!

[nwwanderer]

I am in the whatever you shoot will corner.  I like the break actions for safety, good to look down that those tubes when you stumble up and down the breaks

[Curly]

I remember times when I was using my 870 (12 ga) and after emptying my gun, a couple stragglers jumped up at close range and flew away at with what would have been easy give-me shots...............(I swear they were laughing at me).      

[huntingfool7]

I'd comment that it's whatever you shoot well and............ don't care to much if it gets dinged,dented or scratched,guarantee that there will be a little bit of behind end time on the ground.

 
Something that won't have you staring at the ceiling, late at night, thinking about that scratch and dent.

[beninchelan]

Leave the fancy gun at home a light semi auto 12 &
Cheep 2 3/4 #6  shells. Or #4 in the snow ..

the best gun is the one that you shoot the best, remember those birds don't always  give the best shots & falls are hard on nice guns. I have a few that are testimony to that.  Also plan on carrying the gun for 8 hr so lighter is good.

[fethrduster]

Like Fish'nfowler, I've been hunting chukars for 32 yrs, and I used to carry an 8lb, full choke 12ga bps duck gun, because that's what I had.  Then I went to an 8lb 12ga o/u.  I shot ok with it, not great, but I didn't like the recoil either.  Then one day about 10 yrs ago I happened on a little 6lb belgian 16ga sxs, and on my first chukar hunt with it that fall, I got a triple and a double.  I've never looked back since, and my hits increased by going to a sxs vs a pump and o/u.  I don't have big hands, and I like the smaller, shallower frame of a 16 sxs in my hands.  It feels very instinctive. 16's hit like a 12, without having to resort to 3" magnums at longer ranges like you might in a 20.  To me, it seems like the perfect blend of weight/pointability and lethality.  1 or 1 1/8oz 6's in a light 16 double gun is a chukar's worst nightmare, and is something you'll enjoy carrying all day too.  A light 12 is also a great choice if you don't mind the larger frame and slightly increased recoil.

[Lee Root]

I kill a few chukars now and then.  I have been shooting a Beretta Onxy 686 12 gauge with 26 inch barrels. I bought it in 1989 if I remember correctly. I usually have improved and modified chokes in it. I wish it had 28 inch barrels, as I sometimes swing through birds and miss.  It is pretty banged up, and I had to glue the stock back together after I dropped it off of a cliff during a fall. It had a bead on the barrel, but it got knocked off during the same fall. I didn't notice it was gone for quite some time, as I never did look at it. For shells, I only shoot 7.5 handicap or sporting clays loads. When I find that I am taking shots that are too long, I will bring out a 28 gauge and shoot the same loads and shot size. It gets me back into not taking longer shots. My 28 is a semi and I hate the shells flying all over the place, and usually forget I have a third shot. Hit correctly, the 28 pounds them. My plan is to get a 28 over under with 28 inch barrels to replace the semi, and once I have that the 12 will stay home more often.

I also have three very good chukar dogs, one retired, one in the prime, a young male that is making the hunting really fun. Next season I will be taking out another pup who is going to be six months old in a couple of days. The dogs make the difference in my hunts.

Since we are dating ourselves: I shot my first chukar in the fall of 1974.

[packmule]

Again, thanks for all the input!

What are your recommendations, if any, for good side-by-side shotguns in the $500-$1000 price range?

[huntingfool7]

Again, thanks for all the input!

What are your recommendations, if any, for good side-by-side shotguns in the $500-$1000 price range?

Older and used with a couple triggers.  Good single selective triggers don't translate well to cheap.