20 guage,grouse hunting, shot size.

Pierroy · #1 10-14-2013, 09:27 PM

I was out for some ruffies,spucies.i have a 20 guage.they only had 7 1/2 heavy field at home hardwear.i got 5 birds today 3 sunday.is this a good size shot.should I have smaller. I never really paid much attention to it.p.s my buddy got a blue grouse.huge bird.

elkhunter11 · #2 10-14-2013, 09:33 PM

7-1/2 is perfect for grouse. If you are shooting them on the ground, just shoot high, and take off the heads, the tighter the choke, the better.

Cooeylover · #3 10-14-2013, 10:35 PM

I use 5 or 6.
Prefer 6 but 5 if 6 is not available.

X2 on the head shots.

Hotwheels81 · #4 10-14-2013, 10:57 PM

I have tried 6-7-8 and prefer 6 with a cyl bore, aim high and catch em with the bottom edge of the pattern... Easy to pick the pellets out too when it's bigger shot.

catnthehat · #5 10-14-2013, 11:11 PM

Sometimes I use nickle 6's or 7's, quite often however it will be a 3/4oz load of nine's at skeet velocity .....
Cat

Big Daddy Badger · #6 10-15-2013, 01:10 AM

4-6... Usually 4...I like bigger shot...its easier to find a pick out if you bugger it a bit.

Alberta Bigbore · #7 10-15-2013, 03:00 PM

Im using 7 1/2 and 5.. lol

timsesink · #8 10-15-2013, 04:03 PM

Lesson is it all works! 4-8

saskbooknut · #9 10-15-2013, 04:54 PM

20 ga. with one ounce of 7 1/2 - Kent Fastlead or handloaded nickel plated for Ruffed Grouse, one ounce of #6 similar loading for Sharptails is my medicine.

rugatika · #10 10-15-2013, 08:51 PM

#6

"No Choke"Lord Walsingham · #11 10-15-2013, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Sometimes I use nickle 6's or 7's, quite often however it will be a 3/4oz load of nine's at skeet velocity .....
Cat

Hard to imagine a better load for Grouse than this Sir! Quite fine taste in shot you have. I have yet to try 9's... But then again I am a 12 Gauge guy, still get many pellets with a 7.5 and I love how they can give me that extra oomph for taking out a tough target. Usually 6's for Squirrel, non-pheasant Upland Birds and Hare/Rabbit sized game.

The 20 is most excellent and obviously, those birds taken with the 7.5's from Home Hardware did the trick! Nothing wrong with using that stuff. I second the advice as per shot placement for birds on the ground posted above.

densa44 · #12 10-16-2013, 08:49 AM

I just shoot the largest lead shot that the gun club sells, it was very cheap per flat. It kills them dead in the air. The size is either 71/2 or 8.

catnthehat · #13 10-16-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "No Choke"Lord Walsingham

Hard to imagine a better load for Grouse than this Sir! Quite fine taste in shot you have. I have yet to try 9's... But then again I am a 12 Gauge guy, still get many pellets with a 7.5 and I love how they can give me that extra oomph for taking out a tough target. Usually 6's for Squirrel, non-pheasant Upland Birds and Hare/Rabbit sized game.

The 20 is most excellent and obviously, those birds taken with the 7.5's from Home Hardware did the trick! Nothing wrong with using that stuff. I second the advice as per shot placement for birds on the ground posted above.

I really think and have comne to the conclusion after over 45 years of hunting birds in all sorts of conditions over all sorts of dogs and without, that the comment about shot placement is the one main ingrediant to putting birds in the game bag!

really like a skeet load of 9's because the pellets kill well but if hit in the body with a few, they don't go deep in the breast and are easy to pick out.
The nickle plated stuff however, does not drag feathers in with it, and often in deep woods the heavier shot may help, but if the shot is not in the killing area all is for not.
Cat

V_1 · #14 10-16-2013, 03:12 PM

Anywhere between 6 and 8, inclusive.

Pierroy · #15 10-16-2013, 09:59 PM

Thanks allot for all the advice.i did well on mon.getting 5 spruce grouse my shots were mostly clean. Used 7.5.Sure was fun.missed on 3 ruffed.my buddy got a blue.nice large grouse.picked up a box of 6 shot today. Me and the wife went out today after work at 4:30. One ruffed buzzed me close.no other chances.gonna try again on the weekend.really want to find those blues.

NewGuard84 · #16 10-16-2013, 10:23 PM

I find having a variety handy can be useful if shots vary. Was out two weekends ago and enjoyed experimenting with some different loads, all within the ranges mentioned already. Some were entirely open shots, one had a branch very slightly obstructing the shot. I like to think my choice of load made the difference

P.S. Everyone please share your favourite grouse recipes on the appropriate thread! There were some good ones, but more ideas would be great.

MK2750 · #17 10-16-2013, 11:30 PM

Just to keep things confusing, I keep #8 or 7 1/2 field loads in my right pocket and #6 field loads in my left. I load the bottom barrel (IMP CYL) with the 7 1/2s or 8s and the top barrel with the 6s.

SirQuincyM · #18 10-20-2013, 01:47 PM

In my 20 Ga Shotguns I use #6 Lead , 1 Oz for all Upland.

Just got back from S.Dakota Pheasant Hunt... #6 did the job!!

petew · #19 10-20-2013, 05:25 PM

Early season with leaves on I like 6's and now with the leaves off 7 1/2's.

north american hunter · #20 10-20-2013, 05:27 PM

I always use #6

32-40win · #21 10-21-2013, 10:34 AM

For chickens I just use the 20ga 2-3/4" 7-1/2 target loads, no recollection of what weight is in those any more, loaded them 25 yrs or so ago, just about out of them now, think they are 1oz.. For pheasants I have been using Win pheasant loads with #5 plated shot, it will reach out and touch those surprise birds, that get up and on the wind, pretty nicely.