I am just curious as to how many hunters out there use a 20 gauge for grouse and woodcock hunting? What loads do you use? What shot size? Who makes the best shells for hunting with a 20 gauge (Federal, Remington, Winchester)? I just purchased a Ithica/SKB model 500 with 26" barels in a 20 gauge for grouse and woodcock hunting this coming fall and looking for some advice. I am a dedicated grouse hunter and have been using a Ithica/SKB 100 12 gauge SxS for the last 17 years.
HOW MANY USE A 20 GA. FOR GROUSE AND WOODCOCK?
yukon_870
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I use a 20 gauge Weatherby auto loader to hunt grouse, woodcock and doves.
I bought this gun two years ago because it is very light and has very low recoil.
My shell preference is 1 oz of 7 1/2 shot; I prefer Remington loads but have also had good luck from Winchester.
I bought this gun two years ago because it is very light and has very low recoil.
My shell preference is 1 oz of 7 1/2 shot; I prefer Remington loads but have also had good luck from Winchester.
The 20 gauge is all you need, 7/8 oz STS or AA. I shoot 8's until the woodcock depart my area in Michigan, then use 7.5's through the season conclusion at the end of December. It has been my experience that it does not take a lot of lead to kill these birds, they are not pheasants. Hitting them is another story. I have hunted Grouse and Woodcock in Michigan since 1975. Jess
While I know the grouse your focus is, I've shot a lot of their plains cousin (prairie chickens) with different 20's over the years. Loads are a bit different than what the woods version are noted for. I use a 2.75" shell utilizing 1.125 oz of 6's n even 4's. Handloads have veried but to constant ones are a 1oz 571 load and a 800X/1.125 load. Handloads use 5's-7's. Woodcock I've never hunted even though we do have a migration through here.
Old Cowboy, is that one of them chickens I speak of?
Old Cowboy, is that one of them chickens I speak of?
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BTW, Oregon hunting regs allow taking of grouse with "any" .22 rimfire. This is because it's not easy carrying a rifle AND a shotgun during big game seasons. And centerfire rifles tend to make a mess of them. So I have two threaded Buckmarks that are suppressor hosts. Haven't taken a grouse yet with them, but I have popped rabbits.
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`20 ga was the only gun I owned until I was 30 years old. I shot a lot of grouse, ducks, and geese with it. Used 3" on ducks and geese and 7.5 shot on grouse. No dog in those days. Bill
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Yeah pheasantmaster, some call 'em "prairie chickens" they're different than "sage hens", my ol' daddy used to call 'em "pintail grouse", they're aka "sharptail grouse". Whatever, they're mostly what we got around here (northeast Montana) in the way of upland birds, them and a few hungarian partridges and a few ringneck pheasants.
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Sweet!! Browning there Brian!!
I use a Ruger MKII with a red dot site, We don't call them "fool hens" for nothing!!
Why use a shotgun on grouse?
A good 22lr makes a good head chucker!
I use a Ruger MKII with a red dot site, We don't call them "fool hens" for nothing!!
Why use a shotgun on grouse?
A good 22lr makes a good head chucker!
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timberfaller,in NB, CA We'd recognize you as a "road hunter". You're not shooting them in their true habitat. You're waiting for them to gravel
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