Bird Shot through .45

[Dan-o]

I bought some of the bird shot for my 44 mag.
The "Pattern" opened up amazingly quickly.
I don't think it was any good past 2 yards.
I think you'd be way better off with a 22 shooting normal ammo.

[2MANY]

Clucking and clubbing is the rage.

[fly-by]

Having tried a judge (ineffective) and a dedicated .22 (2 guns, too bulky) I find "trail mix" in a revolver to be the best compromise.  A 7 or 8 round 357 where the first two rounds are light .38 specials works great and does not destroy the bird.  If you run into something bigger, you can advance the cylinder manually or just squeeze off 2 quick shots to get to the full house .357 rounds.  Same concept works with .44 special/.44 mag but you only have 6 rounds to work with.

Your current pistol may be fine. 230 grain ball at 800 something  should just poke a .45 hole.

[300rum]

.45 ACP birdshot is the best for auto loading pistols, it feeds real well.  Does an excellent job on snakes, I have killed many with it. 

For grouse, though, just shoot them with your regular carry rounds.  Don't try for a head shot, aim for their "shoulder" where the head meats the breast, if you hit a little bit of the breast you can just cut it out and you'll be fine.

[boneaddict]

Being a lazy chicken farmer.......   I can tell you that ten yards is very generous.   Shot loads out of my .357 (maybe) or .41  meet that criteria, but thats about it. 

[BLH69]

 

Judge is not worth a chit on grouse. Ruger Mark VI target is the perfect grouse medicine.

[300rum]

We had a rooster and he attacked my wife one day.  I drew and he soaked up two 9mm Speer Gold Dot +P right in the the old KFC breast.  He was a beast!  Finally the ol' pumper stopped and he tipped over and then the hen's put the hurt on him, got back at him for all of those times.   

Being a lazy chicken farmer.......   I can tell you that ten yards is very generous.   Shot loads out of my .357 (maybe) or .41  meet that criteria, but thats about it.

[YoungFowler]

Good stuff guys! Thanks for the input

[boneaddict]

We had a rooster and he attacked my wife one day.  I drew and he soaked up two 9mm Speer Gold Dot +P right in the the old KFC breast.  He was a beast!  Finally the ol' pumper stopped and he tipped over and then the hen's put the hurt on him, got back at him for all of those times.   

Being a lazy chicken farmer.......   I can tell you that ten yards is very generous.   Shot loads out of my .357 (maybe) or .41  meet that criteria, but thats about it.

    They are nasty little crap birds.   I love when they do that.   The whole kick em when they are down runs deep with chickens

[Forrestrover]

We had a rooster and he attacked my wife one day.  I drew and he soaked up two 9mm Speer Gold Dot +P right in the the old KFC breast.  He was a beast!  Finally the ol' pumper stopped and he tipped over and then the hen's put the hurt on him, got back at him for all of those times.   

  Reading this just made my day.