What would you go with for grouse hunting..a 20 gauge pump action or a 12 gauge dbl barrel.

[eddie21]

What would you go with for grouse hunting..a 20 gauge pump action or a 12 gauge dbl barrel.

[Jere Smith]

Either, but the 20 will do the job.

[Beekeeper]

It depends on how you handle the particular gun and maybe the gun itself. A long barreled 20 gauge with a tight choke may be more of a handicap than a smooth swinging 12 Ga double with more open chokes. Both guns with open chokes will get the job done. In grouse hunting you typically work in tight cover. Shorter barreled, quick handling, open choked shotguns tend to be the chosen firearm.

[kolbster]

i would go with the 20

[99explorer]

This is a good question, because you rarely get more than one or two shots at a grouse, so the double would not be a handicap. But 12 gauge doubles are usually built on larger frames than twenty gauge doubles, and are therefore not as fast-handling. I would go with the 20 gauge pump in improveed cylinder bore.

[bonnier-admin_2]

In Alaska, the best gun was my Ruger Mark II 22 pistol.

[buckhunter]

When I grouse hunt I choose the lightest shotgun. Lots of hills where I go. I also consider the choke. I hunt in heavy cover so I like a wide pattern.

[idahooutdoors]

For hunting thick forest cover I actually prefer a light weight single shot .410 for grouse....either it's because thats what I grew up using, or because it swings fast in the thick stuff..but do better with it than my 12 or 20 gauges...never have any kill problems using 3 inch 6 shot.......

[Winchester 92]

I'd shoot a 20 based on the weight, but it's all preference.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

A lot depends on what you mean by grouse. If it's sharptails on the prairie and you're hunting with a pointing dog, a 20 gauge would work early in the season but you'd have to switch to a 12 gauge after first week or so because the birds won't sit long enough for you to get up on them. I'd definitely go with a light auto 12 guage rather than a double. I have a bit more trouble sighting on fast shots with a double barrel as opposed to an over/under. And a good light auto will give you the same sighting plane and fast shooting capability as an O/U but but usually at a lot cheaper price. Go with a 2.75" 12 gauge auto and choke tubes. I'd pick a 26" barrel. You can adjust to cheaper, lighter loads and wide open choke for close, fast shooting (i.e. for huns and ruffed grouse)or heavier loads and a tighter choke for tougher birds/shots (e.g. pheasants, sharpies, or ducks).

[cody r]

a remmington or browning 20ga a bennellii aint worth the money

[jestr1]

I would go with whichever you are more comfortable walking and carrying. I prefer the action of my old pump but my dad had a double 20 I used to love for duck hunting when I was getting started. Its all personal preference. Either will work well! I use high brass #6 3 inch if your gun takes them.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

What? Three inch magnums for grouse? Oh, you must be talking 20 guage. Okay. Yep, those in #6 shot should be good enough.

[tony167n]

I have a sxs 12 gauge and it works wonderfully in the late season when the grouse start flushing farther away from you...but I found out the hard way that it has maybe too much power in the early season when grouse flush like 5-10 yards from you, and that's when you should use the 20 gauge

[bamaoutdoorsman93]

probley the 20.