Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: bulldogs40 on August 30, 2016, 08:35:33 PM

Title: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: bulldogs40 on August 30, 2016, 08:35:33 PM: I recently bought a new waterfowl shotgun and need to throw some shells through it. Seeing as how small game season is opening up I figure I might as well try and put some food in the pot too. I don't want to tear the bird up too much since its with a 12 gauge so what shot type is everyone recommending?
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: 87Ford on August 30, 2016, 08:42:24 PM: 7.5
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: jrebel on August 30, 2016, 08:42:46 PM: Ruff or Blue....anything 6 and up will work fine. I like 6 for all my grouse hunting but I shoot a lot of big blues. :tup:
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: timberfaller on August 30, 2016, 08:59:13 PM: Pretty hard to beat a good ole 22lr! Pops their heads right off!

But then if your Ruff'en logging roads, 7.5's will do!

Good luck and have fun!!
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: bobcat on August 30, 2016, 09:14:37 PM: It's not just the shot size that you need to consider, but the choke, the amount of shot, the size of the birds, and the distance of your shots. You said "logging road" grouse, so for that I generally expect long shots. I'd go with a modified choke and some 1 ounce loads of 7-1/2's for ruffed grouse or Blues if they're really close, and I'd go with 6's or even 5's for longer shots, and those should be 1 1/8 or even 1 1/4 ounce loads. I always keep some light loads in one pocket and heavier loads in another so I can grab whichever I need for any particular situation.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: wadu1 on August 30, 2016, 09:17:43 PM: I've never had one escape with 1 1/8 of #8's but 7 1/2's might be better.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 31, 2016, 09:09:47 AM: 7 1/2 or 8 dove loads and a modified choke is my preference.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: CP on August 31, 2016, 09:12:16 AM: #6 - I hate picking small shot out of my food.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 31, 2016, 09:14:56 AM: 6's seem to do the trick well.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: jackmaster on August 31, 2016, 09:34:04 AM: 6seem like the best all around shot for grouse, that way you can hop in the brush and bust some without having to change up.. Dave workman is the local grouse expert though I would definetly ask his advice, I think he eats , sleeps and dreams grouse 24/7 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: RatRodMike on August 31, 2016, 09:39:07 AM: I like to hit them hard with less so it's #6 for me (ruff or blue).
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: Alchase on August 31, 2016, 10:19:21 AM: 300 Win Mag, right next to their head.
No shot to dig out, LOL
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: boneaddict on August 31, 2016, 10:25:46 AM: My favorite is coming down the road, round a corner and find myself looking down the barrel of a 30-06 with a grouse between us. Lol. Oh the question.....
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: RatRodMike on August 31, 2016, 11:35:27 AM: I've killed a couple by shooting my muzzleloader into the road just before them and using the gravel as shot. Hillbilly Buckshot I guess.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: ecnclan on August 31, 2016, 09:42:14 PM: 7.5 with a imp cylinder choke in the thick stuff.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: UBA on August 31, 2016, 11:21:30 PM: Quote from: timberfaller on August 30, 2016, 08:59:13 PM
Pretty hard to beat a good ole 22lr! Pops their heads right off!

But then if your Ruff'en logging roads, 7.5's will do!

Good luck and have fun!!

:tup:
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: GoldenOscar on September 01, 2016, 01:00:43 AM: # 6's Give you a little more distance and little better imo if your gunninvg through some branches.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: biggfish on September 01, 2016, 03:15:48 AM: I've always shot grouse with 7.5 full choke but that's with a .410 only shot ruff never had any shot to pick out don't know how that extrapolates to 12 gauge.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: Bigshooter on September 01, 2016, 04:41:19 AM: Quote from: bobcat on August 30, 2016, 09:14:37 PM
It's not just the shot size that you need to consider, but the choke, the amount of shot, the size of the birds, and the distance of your shots. You said "logging road" grouse, so for that I generally expect long shots. I'd go with a modified choke and some 1 ounce loads of 7-1/2's for ruffed grouse or Blues if they're really close, and I'd go with 6's or even 5's for longer shots, and those should be 1 1/8 or even 1 1/4 ounce loads. I always keep some light loads in one pocket and heavier loads in another so I can grab whichever I need for any particular situation.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on September 01, 2016, 05:33:23 AM: For logging road grouse I use 275-70-17's
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: nwwanderer on September 01, 2016, 06:30:19 AM: Old paper with all the number wore off, various head stamps.
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: bobcat on September 01, 2016, 07:41:30 AM: Quote from: nwwanderer on September 01, 2016, 06:30:19 AM
Old paper with all the number wore off, various head stamps.

That's a good option, I like that. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: ForestDump on September 01, 2016, 03:56:20 PM: I use #6 or 7 with modified choke for all my upland shooting
Title: Re: Shot size for logging road grouse
Post by: Stump on September 16, 2016, 04:57:05 PM: In the timber 4 and 6 for blues. Don't miss many.