collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Bird Shot through .45  (Read 5467 times)

Offline YoungFowler

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2016
  • Posts: 289
  • Location: SW WA/NW OR
  • Go Vandals!
  • Groups: Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl
Bird Shot through .45
« on: September 12, 2023, 11:00:12 AM »
I work in the woods heavily as a forester, and often run into grouse far off of roads. Carrying a shotgun isn't conducive to getting my work done, but I'm considering switching the loads in my side arm to some of these .45 #9 or so bird shot. Anyone have experience with this? Is it safe for the gun with the rifling? I'm not trying to shoot far, since I'm not there to hunt, but want to take advantage of those birds that just stand and stare at 10 yards.

Offline 2MANY

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 5059
  • Location: Yup
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2023, 11:17:37 AM »
I haven't worried about that but that doesn't make me right.

Ever crouched down and clucked them in to stick clubbing range?

Offline ducks4days

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2021
  • Posts: 933
  • Location: Ravensdale
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2023, 11:56:02 AM »
I killed a rattlesnake years ago, .40S&W bird shot at 5 yards. I wouldnt trust it to do anything passed 15y, the rifling and lack of powder just make handgun shotshell not effective. You may also run into cycling issues with autoloaders, depending on the handgun platform and cleanliness. Plus, youre going to have to shoot birdshot at a bear or cat or bipedal predator just to get a real round into the chamber, or manually load the birdshot round when you see a bird. Neither option is ideal. 

If you want to take grouse with a handgun just get a target .22.  :twocents:
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline CP

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 7032
  • Location: Mukilteo
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2023, 11:58:55 AM »
I’ve tried that in the past.  The rifling will disperse the shot pattern very quickly giving a very short effective range.  I mean a few yards, not 10s of yards.

Lead shot will stick to the rifling; not unsafe, but hard to clean out.  I learned to fire a FMJ round or two to help clean out the lead fouling.

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2023, 12:01:35 PM »
I killed a rattlesnake years ago, .40S&W bird shot at 5 yards. I wouldnt trust it to do anything passed 15y, the rifling and lack of powder just make handgun shotshell not effective. You may also run into cycling issues with autoloaders, depending on the handgun platform and cleanliness. Plus, youre going to have to shoot birdshot at a bear or cat or bipedal predator just to get a real round into the chamber, or manually load the birdshot round when you see a bird. Neither option is ideal. 

If you want to take grouse with a handgun just get a target .22.  :twocents:
.22 shot shells have been very hard for me to locate, at least locally...
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

Offline acrocker

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 171
  • Location: Snohomish
  • Groups: RMEF, DU, NRA
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2023, 12:12:11 PM »
I've used .44 mag birdshot loads effectively on grouse in the past, but I think regular 22lr ammo would be more effective and have a longer range...

Offline Oldguy

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 695
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2023, 12:51:03 PM »
 I harvested a rabbit at about 20' using a .38 shotshell in my .357. I'm sure it would be very effective for grouse for close range.

Offline RobinHoodlum

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 231
  • Location: Skagit County
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2023, 01:34:38 PM »
I tried what you are proposing with 'snake charmer' shells. No good. Peppered and lost a few birds. Most seemed unscathed, but probably a few that ultimately died. Under my personal code of hunter ethics (not judging anyone else here!), this was a short lived experiment that I found unacceptable.

I'll throw out a possible alternative though. I was able to borrow a Thompson Contender one fall from a friend. It was a 45/410 and the 410 was both accurate and highly effective on grouse. Would take up a bit of room on your cruiser vest though.

Offline passman65

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Mar 2023
  • Posts: 330
  • Location: Shelton area
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2023, 02:32:38 PM »
TAURUS JUDGE should work

Offline metlhead

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 1688
  • Location: sw wa
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2023, 02:52:44 PM »
Ditch the Judge. Pack a LeMat

Offline wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 7272
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2023, 04:44:01 PM »
Back in the day I carried an M6 scout folded in my day pack.
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline BeerBugler

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2016
  • Posts: 274
  • Location: SE Idaho
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2023, 07:15:04 PM »
Judge is not worth a chit on grouse. Ruger Mark VI target is the perfect grouse medicine.

Offline ducks4days

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2021
  • Posts: 933
  • Location: Ravensdale
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2023, 07:58:15 PM »
 :yeah:
Judge is not worth a chit on grouse. Ruger Mark VI target is the perfect grouse medicine.
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline Ricochet

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 891
  • Location: Oregon
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2023, 07:58:55 PM »
My limited experience with shot shells in my .357 led me to believe that if I was close enough to a grouse to kill it with the shot shell, I was close enough to shoot its head off with a regular round. I've killed more grouse with a stick than I ever did with those worthless shot shells.
It is not my duty to validate your delusions.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."-Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Offline huntingfool7

  • Trade Count: (+17)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1722
  • Location: Puyallup, WA
  • Groups: huntingfool7
Re: Bird Shot through .45
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2023, 08:33:20 PM »
Ten yards is effectively out of range for those.  They're best at half that or less.   It's the rifling in the barrel that buggers the pattern. 

You'd do better head shooting them with the 45 or a 22.  Will also make you a better shot.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Accura MR-X 45 load development by Karl Blanchard
[Today at 08:50:29 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by WoolyRunner
[Today at 07:36:44 PM]


Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help? by VickGar
[Today at 04:54:03 PM]


Nevada bull hunt 2025 by Karl Blanchard
[Today at 03:20:09 PM]


I'm Going To Need Karl To Come up With That 290 Muley Sunscreen Bug Spray Combo by highside74
[Today at 01:27:51 PM]


Toutle Quality Bull - Rifle by lonedave
[Today at 12:58:20 PM]


49 Degrees North Early Bull Moose by washingtonmuley
[Today at 12:00:55 PM]


MA 6 EAST fishing report? by washingtonmuley
[Today at 11:56:01 AM]


Kings by Gentrys
[Today at 11:05:40 AM]


2025 Crab! by ghosthunter
[Today at 09:43:49 AM]


Survey in ? by hdshot
[Today at 09:20:27 AM]


Bear behavior by brew
[Today at 08:40:20 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by bearpaw
[Today at 07:57:12 AM]


A lonely Job... by Loup Loup
[Today at 07:47:41 AM]


2025 Montana alternate list by bear
[Today at 06:06:48 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal