Perfect gouse/woodcock gun

[fishhawk]

Yep. I like my upland gun so much i have been using it for turkey the last few years. So far it is 4 for 4 on turkey - just gotta get them inside 30 yards.

Species8472 Looks like a Beretta you have there. Fine example of a upland gun.

[huntervinni]

Thought I would of seen some more 28ga but I guess not. Love my 28ga choked skeet and IC with #9 shot for woodcock.......they just don't stand a chance. Can walk for miles with that gun as its light and just feels my a part of my body. Works well on grouse too and never felt I was under gunned.

[kickingfrog]

… and that's when the fight started.

In all seriousness it's great to see that ideas and opinions have been shared. My first answer is my gun is the perfect gun. My second answer is I can't even decide on a perfect grouse gun and there is no such thing as a perfect grouse gun. What works for me and what I like can't, won't and shouldn't be what everyone wants/likes.

I have 5 guns that I use for grouse. I love them all and I think two of them love me back. One I'm not sure about and two we are still getting to know each other. I use a 16 gauge sxs with fixed chokes skeet and IC I think, a 20 gauge O/U with removable chokes, a 28 gauge O/U again with interchangeable chokes, a 20 gauge Ithaca pump fixed mod, and a 22 lr/20 gauge combo that I always wanted as a kid but never owed until recently.

My preference is wood stocks and 2 barrels because I like having 2 different chokes more than a 3rd shot. When I'm deciding what I'm going to bring on a walk I start from the 20 gauge O/U and then work from there. If it is going to be very wet day and or there are any leaves still on the trees the 16 gauge is more likely. It's an older gun that I bought used for a song and has so much character already I can't add any more to it. The 28 gauge is the lightest double and I like it early. The other factor for me is my most regular hunting companion is my brother and he only uses a 20 gauge so if we're hunting together having all the guns shooting the same shells does make things a little more simple.

Having said all that, my favourite gun is the Ithaca ultra-featherlight 20 gauge pump because my dad only had one gun and it was a 20 gauge featherlight. Love is rarely rational.

[fishhawk]

Thought I would of seen some more 28ga but I guess not. Love my 28ga choked skeet and IC with #9 shot for woodcock.......they just don't stand a chance. Can walk for miles with that gun as its light and just feels my a part of my body. Works well on grouse too and never felt I was under gunned.

Big fan here of the 28 gauge, especially for woodcock and rabbits. Also lots of fun on the skeet field.

[greatwhite]

Do you take a specific gun for a different area or just depends on your mood.

… and that's when the fight started.

In all seriousness it's great to see that ideas and opinions have been shared. My first answer is my gun is the perfect gun. My second answer is I can't even decide on a perfect grouse gun and there is no such thing as a perfect grouse gun. What works for me and what I like can't, won't and shouldn't be what everyone wants/likes.

I have 5 guns that I use for grouse. I love them all and I think two of them love me back. One I'm not sure about and two we are still getting to know each other. I use a 16 gauge sxs with fixed chokes skeet and IC I think, a 20 gauge O/U with removable chokes, a 28 gauge O/U again with interchangeable chokes, a 20 gauge Ithaca pump fixed mod, and a 22 lr/20 gauge combo that I always wanted as a kid but never owed until recently.

My preference is wood stocks and 2 barrels because I like having 2 different chokes more than a 3rd shot. When I'm deciding what I'm going to bring on a walk I start from the 20 gauge O/U and then work from there. If it is going to be very wet day and or there are any leaves still on the trees the 16 gauge is more likely. It's an older gun that I bought used for a song and has so much character already I can't add any more to it. The 28 gauge is the lightest double and I like it early. The other factor for me is my most regular hunting companion is my brother and he only uses a 20 gauge so if we're hunting together having all the guns shooting the same shells does make things a little more simple.

Having said all that, my favourite gun is the Ithaca ultra-featherlight 20 gauge pump because my dad only had one gun and it was a 20 gauge featherlight. Love is rarely rational.

[dean.f]

…

My preference is wood stocks and 2 barrels because I like having 2 different chokes more than a 3rd shot..

This is a very valid point, can count on one hand the amount of times I've needed the third shell unless I've flushed 2 birds very close together....

[mark_t1012001]

20 gauge. 3" chamber. 26" barrels. Double barrel. Tang safety. Easy to change on the fly barrel selector (or two triggers). One you can change as you mount the gun on a flushing bird. Multi choke so you can adjust as the season changes. As said, it has to fit you and shoot where you aim it. 7 1/2 shot. Then take it out and pattern it with the shells you're going to use and see what the chokes actually do at the ranges you expect to be shooting. Some guns/shells pattern tight some pattern open. You'll be surprised. Some guns don't shoot where you aim them! Just one grouse hunters opinion.

[Jnyiri]

Thought I would of seen some more 28ga but I guess not. Love my 28ga choked skeet and IC with #9 shot for woodcock.......they just don't stand a chance. Can walk for miles with that gun as its light and just feels my a part of my body. Works well on grouse too and never felt I was under gunned.

That would be me with a 28 ga.

[kickingfrog]

Ya, mostly mood. More gut feeling and a little logic.

[hollywood]

There was a grouse guide in Michigan who for 3 years, carefully measured the distance his clients shot grouse ....the average distance was 12 yards! The 2 most important attributes for a grouse/woodcock gun: 1. the guns fits you (shoots were you point quickly) 2. open choke. Although I have quite of few shotguns to choose; my go-to gun is a 20 gauge Laurona sxs choked skeet/skeet loaded with 8's or 7 1/2 shot. This gun just fits me perfectly.