410 full choke, or 20 gauge modified for grouse?

[Recurve-Elk]

What would you go with for grouse?  410 full choke, or 20 gauge modified, and What size shot? 

Ive got a single shot in each and I can't decide which one to take with me to college for grouse hunting.  410 would be cleaner and less ruined meat, but the 20 would surely stop a bird in its tracks.

[Gutpile]

I use both but really like the .410. The 20 is good if your not ground sluicing them but if you are the 410 gets the not. It doesn't blow them up if they are close.

Heres a weekends worth a few years ago. All with 410's

[Recurve-Elk]

Great job, that's some good eating right there!!!

Ya I plan to stalk and take them from the ground.  I don't have a dog.  So sounds like the 410 is the one.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

[uplandhunter870]

im a .410 nut so naturally id say .410 but being a college student myself i can attest to the actual amount of funds available for hunting, its not much. 410 shells are expensive especially the 3 inchers i like for grouse. if you can reload take the 410 by all means but if you stuck buying factory loads take the 20 it will be easier on your wallet

[ORCA_SIX]

20 gauge, little bit more lenient if you are shooting by branches and trees. The other thing is, some 20 gauges shoot slugs. Nice to have in case you run into a deer, cougar, etc during the respective seasons.

[JackOfAllTrades]

With this wet spring..  After last years totally wet season.. I'm doubting that there will be many Grouse for us.  That said, nuthing wrong with the 410 or the 20ga. I use a 12ga with #7 target load, and while I won't shoot them point blank, 15yds does not blow the bird up. Anything equal to that in your shotties should do fine.

-Steve

[CP]

I use a 12g with 1oz of #7 @ about 1290fps (handload).  For the dumb ones that refuse to fly I just aim slightly above the head and it ruins no meat.

I suggest that you pattern both the .410 & the 20g and see which one looks better.  You’ll be surprised how tight a .410 can be.

[MHWASH]

I too have used both and prefer the 20. Alot of time the .410 does not have enough energy for those longer shots when you know you can't get any closer. I've lost more than one to my BIL because of this. The .410 full can be just as hard on meat as the .20. You will also be handycapping youself if you do much shooting on the fly with the .410.

 If you want to sell the .20, let me know.

[44 Flattop]

After 42 years of grouse hunting, I consider the .410 a 33 yard shotgun.  The 20 extends that a bit.  If the shots will be long or very very brushy, I'll use a 20.  Otherwise I prefer my little .410 O/U.

[Special T]

I think the savage 24 is the best of both worlds 22lr on top and 20 ga shot gun below!

[Dave Workman]

If anybody read my review in GUN WORLD of the .410 Stoeger double s/s, that's what I'll start the season with.
Both bores are fixed FULL and I recommend 3-inch No. 6's.

X-ing my fingers for a good late hatch. 

[Andrew]

I'm having my grandfathers Savage model 24's sites fixed (inherited the gun last year)...can't wait to get out, 22 for the village idiots that don't fly, 410 for the cowards!  85 MORE DAYS!!!

[WSU]

Where are you going to school?

[C-Money]

If most of your shots are at birds on the foot....410.  If you think most of your shots are going to be at grouse on the wing...20ga. I use a single shot 12ga with trap reloads and its way over kill!!

[700xcr]

If most of your shots are at birds on the foot....410.  If you think most of your shots are going to be at grouse on the wing...20ga. I use a single shot 12ga with trap reloads and its way over kill!!

What choke is in your 12ga? I am planning on using an 870 12ga. with a skeet choke and #8 shot.

[CP]

You can shoot ¾ oz of shot from a .410, or from a 20g or from a 12g.  Each will have the same number of pellets.  Each is capable of killing a grouse; each is also capable of tearing up a grouse beyond being eatable depending on distance, choke and shot placement. 

The differences are the 20g will pattern better than the .410 & the 12g will pattern better than the 20g; the .410 will have more recoil than the 20g and the 20g will have more recoil than the 12g.

¾ oz is about the top limit for a .410, the bigger bores of course can throw more shot.  More shot plus more open choke = bigger pattern at the same density = more room for error.

[BiggLuke]

20 gauge is much cheaper ammo.
and... if you get a flusher and miss with the .410, you'll be wishing you had brought the 20.

just saying....

[carpsniperg2]

20 mod

[rtspring]

20 gauge  Modified,

more things you can do with the 20 than the 410

[Skyvalhunter]

12 gauge

[fethrduster]

Neither.  16ga improved cylinder.

[BiggLuke]

Dumb Ass... did you even read his post?
He don't have a 16 gauge... it was an either/or type qestion.

Moron....

[Armadillo]

  thanks for your two cents

[Armadillo]

i'll vote 12 guage also

[Recurve-Elk]

Sounds like the 20 will do the trick, and be more versatile if need be.

[Kowsrule30]

I like my .410 single shot New England.....  But 90% of my grouse are taken with a TC Contender in .410 with a fuller choke......  My 20 and 16 gauge rarely get used unless loaned out..... I'd take my 12 before my 20 anyways...... I look at it as if you need a 20 you'll probably need a 12....  So I'd bring a 410 and a 12..... And no..... I'm not a *censored*!!!!!!!!!!!!     

[satchel3006]

Following that logic if you need a 12 you probably need a 10 gauge. I'd vote for the 20 gauge

[Dave Workman]

I have three double S/S shotguns,

a .410 with double full fixed chokes

a 20- with F/MC fixed

a 12 with F/MC fixed

I like both the 20 and the .410 but have killed more grouse with the 12

I think you will be fine with the .410, especially if you load up with the 3-inchers..

[Shoffy]

I like a 20Ga. Mod/Full

[bloodhound]

i use my old procter and gamble bolt action single shot 22lr. i can hold it with one hand and shoot it like a pistol. im gonna find a way to put a scope on it for longer shots but ive never had a problem hitting them in the head with iron sights

[E Tilton]

If most of your shots are at birds on the foot....410.  If you think most of your shots are going to be at grouse on the wing...20ga. I use a single shot 12ga with trap reloads and its way over kill!!

What choke is in your 12ga? I am planning on using an 870 12ga. with a skeet choke and #8 shot.

I shot a 12ga for a while on upland birds and jumping woodies. I usually shoot a M or IC, depends on how long your shots are. For upland birds and jumping woodies, 7.5 M/IC works great and if you carry a few 6's, 4's, and BBB's with a modified you can take geese, rabbit, and beefy puddlers if you happen upon some.

[fethrduster]

I hunt grouse with an open choked 16ga sxs with light, but fast loads.  7/8 or 1oz 6's or 7.5"s is plenty. 

[Kola16]

If most of your shots are at birds on the foot....410.  If you think most of your shots are going to be at grouse on the wing...20ga. I use a single shot 12ga with trap reloads and its way over kill!!

What choke is in your 12ga? I am planning on using an 870 12ga. with a skeet choke and #8 shot.

I use a 12ga 870 with a full choke and I still havent damaged a bird. I even shot one at 10 yards. I did shoot one last year with my 17hmr Half of the bird was there and the other half

[bloodhound]

I use a 12ga 870 with a full choke and I still havent damaged a bird. I even shot one at 10 yards. I did shoot one last year with my 17hmr Half of the bird was there and the other half
[/quote]

17hmr you should be able to hit em in the head no prob at 75-100 yards! why you aiming for the goods?

[bobcat]

I use a 12ga 870 with a full choke and I still havent damaged a bird.

If you're not destroying birds at 10 yards with a full choke, 12 gauge, then you're not a very good shot. You must be just catching them with the a stray pellet or two way outside of the center of the pattern. Or are you so good that you only hit them in the head?