Chicken gun?

[CanuckShooter]

I gave my 410, that I've had since my teens, to a young fellow of 11 and now I am looking to buy myself a new chicken gun.

What are you guys using, I'm thinking a 20 ga would make a good chicken gun and the ammo is probably cheaper than the 410 which is a bonus. Not sure if I'd get a single shot again, a pump or auto.

I own a real nice 12 ga Beretta O/U but it's too big and pretty to use as a chicken gun and have it bouncing around on my atv.

20 ga? yes?

[north american hunter]

nice little single shot 20 gauge. cant get much better than the for chickens.

[brewster29]

Bonus with 20 gauge is easy to source ammunition and the price is about a third of 410.

[CranePete]

My go-to grouse gun is a Stevens O/U 28ga. A few more pellets, a bit faster, and less expensive to shoot. It’s very light and very fast on target.

[3blade]

My preference is 12g for wing shooting and 410 for spot and stalk, but nothing wrong with 20. Mossberg 500 in whatever flavor you like. There’s a 500 “turkey” 20g with a 22 inch barrel that would be a handy chicken gun. You can beat the hell out of it and not worry.

Cheap o/u’s tend to fail at the worst times. I hate it when guns break mid hunt.

[curtz]

Originally Posted by north american hunter

nice little single shot 20 gauge. cant get much better than the for chickens.

Agreed, specially if want to carry it on your atv. We bought one for dad years ago and he loved that little single 20. I use a over under 20.

[wallz]

My takedown 10/22 is my chicken gun. Cheaper, quieter, can usually get the whole lot of them together, or the majority before they split.

Plus head shots are way more fun!

[FishOutOfWater]

There's a "tacticool" Mossberg 500 pump 20 gauge with ghost-ring sights & 20" smooth barrel on GunPost in Edmonton... $400

And a Mossberg 500 20 Gauge Youth Pump Action Shotgun
in Whitby, Onterrible with a 22" vent-rib and traditional-style furniture (youth stock) for $425.

Swap the stock on either one, to a full-length traditional-style polymer 500 stock. Easy to find part.

And the shorter 22" barrels (smooth or V-R) would make bush-hunting more manageable IMO, versus the 26-28" vent-rib.

[elkhunter11]

A 20 gauge makes much more sense for ground swatting grouse, than a 410 ever will. When ground swatting, the best way to keep shot out of the meat is to shoot high, into the head/neck, and the denser 20 gauge pattern is much more effective for this.

[partsman]

Have carried a 22/410 for years but got a 30/30/20 gauge I want to try and had picked up two side by side coach guns, one in 16 gauge and one in 20 gauge, thought they might be nice on the atv.

[32-40win]

Used pretty much everything but an autoloader for chickens at one time or another, 870 12ga, Stevens 22lr/20ga, Spanish SxS 20ga, BPS 12ga, Valmet o/u 20ga, Baikal single 12ga, CZ Ringneck 20ga, FAIR Iside 20 ga hammergun, Browning A-Bolt 22 and a newer T-Bolt, CIL/Anschutz single .22LR, BLR 22, maybe something else I've forgot about.
Think actually, my favorite was the Baikal, had an under lever release to open it, which is an amazingly easy action to use. Would have preferred 20ga though. Wouldn't buy another BLR22, needs a sidegate for loading singles or a bigger chamber port. I believe the Valmet 20ga o/u probably accounted for the larger portion of chickens I've shot.

[338wea]

I have a 20, haven't had a chance to shoot a bird with it yet though

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by north american hunter

nice little single shot 20 gauge. cant get much better than the for chickens.

With about a 12 in. barrel.

Grizz

[Pathfinder76]

A Purdey SXS 20 Gauge.

[Bushleague]

I either use my Remington 870 12 gauge, or an old pump action .22 with iron sights and a tube mag. If I'm not walking too far usually the 12 gauge, just use small shot, an open choke, and aim high if their real close.

If I'm planning to do a bunch of hiking its usually the .22, can fit all the shells I need for a day in that tube mag. In the type of crap where I hunt, if a grouse is out of iron sight range, your probably not going to have a clear shot at it anyway... and for head shooting grouse at close range irons are way better. No over/under line of sight guesstimating that a scope throws into the mix.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

With about a 12 in. barrel.

Grizz

You could call it shorty.

[catnthehat]

We really overthink this stuff sometimes.
if it's going to bounce around under the seat of a truck or on a quad, a cheap single shot, be it a shotgun of any gauge or a .22 is probably the cheapest, most durable way to go.
When I trapped, my main rifle was a single shot .22, I killed more small game than I can count with that type of rifle.
Lately for nuisance squirrels at the lake I havbe been shooting an old Remington model12 , and although I like the little rifle I hate tube magazines so I single load it which is a bit of a pain, so I have decided to go bck to a single shot .
Cat

[tony d]

I use the cheapest fold in half 20 gauge I could find works great dont care if I loose it drive over it etc it is expendable and a hell of alot cheaper and more effective than a 410

[thumper]

My little Savage o/u 22/20gauge was perfect. If they want to flush, the open choke 20 gauge was deadly. If they wanted to sit, the .22 was the ticket. Withe the short barrel, it broke down into 3 pieces that would fit into a day pack too!

[SamSteele]

Originally Posted by thumper

My little Savage o/u 22/20gauge was perfect. If they want to flush, the open choke 20 gauge was deadly. If they wanted to sit, the .22 was the ticket. Withe the short barrel, it broke down into 3 pieces that would fit into a day pack too!

I was just going to recommend this myself. I have a Model 24, which has since been replaced with a synthetic stock version (Model 42?). Pretty great little rig for sitting or flying birds.

I also have a Chiappa Little Badger, which is surprisingly accurate for a little single .22. It comes in a little backpack bag, which is handy at times.

SS

[brewster29]

I got tired of the cost of 410 ammo so I sold my Savage 24 22/410 and bought this H&R Tamer 20. I should have bought one years ago when they were available. It folds up to fit in my pack; plus the 20” mod choke delivers a nice dense pattern at 25 yards, and ammo is $13 a box. It is spending the summer in my RV.

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by brewster29

I got tired of the cost of 410 ammo so I sold my Savage 24 22/410 and bought this H&R Tamer 20. I should have bought one years ago when they were available. It folds up to fit in my pack; plus the 20” mod choke delivers a nice dense pattern at 25 yards, and ammo is $13 a box. It is spending the summer in my RV.

This ^
Spare ammo in the butt if not mistaken. I’ve seen H&R Center fire riflecombos
My two 410s have collected dust and ammo prices……eyes roll….

My go to is a single Turkish 12g and Chiappa Lil Badger , both fold and are gtg for carrying both in backpacks, or my Ithaca 37/16g.
If I had reloading components/press for 410 I’d giver a go.
Best of luck on your choice!

[1899b]

Last fall the misses used an old Baikal 12 gauge and I was using a Ruger 10/22 compact for the most part. I enjoy both shotgun or rimfire. Slight edge to the rimfire for me especially when hiking. Less bulk with rimfire ammo but to each their own…

[bezzola]

I use a remington match master 22 and i also use my winchester sxp 20

[CranePete]

I’m starting to feel like the odd man out…nobody else shooting 28ga?
CranePete

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by CranePete

I’m starting to feel like the odd man out…nobody else shooting 28ga?
CranePete

28 gauge SxS for pheasant , sharptail and Huns, but I don't ground swat ruffed grouse.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by CranePete

I’m starting to feel like the odd man out…nobody else shooting 28ga?
CranePete

I hunt uplNd with every gauge exceot the 10 now, it all depends on what I want to shoot that day
Cat

[Twisted Canuck]

I got my daghter an older lightweight Remington 1100 LW in 20g for busting clays, and it was perfect for that. But it also has worked out great for pheasant and chickens. Quick point and shoot gun, cheap ammo, and pleasant on recoil. Works like a darn if there are a couple chickens around too.

[Huntsman]

Saw this on G nutz
Wears a synthetic stock.

[oldjeda]

Anyone ever try those new 12 gauge 1 3/4” short shot shells for chickens? I’ve seen them advertised but not sure what size shot they even come in.

Just asking.....