Grouse Guns

[Rich Anderson]

As October approaches the quest for the "perfect" Grouse gun intensifies. Let me say right off there is NO perfect Grouse gun. This is a myth perpetrated by the gun writers, advertisers and manufacturers who tout sleek small bore guns with straight grips, slender splinter forearms and short open choked barrels.

There is a benefit to the myth of the perfect Grouse gun and that is that the quest will never end and the result is more Grouse guns in the safe.

I'll be heading to the Upper Peninsula next week for the month of October and I'll be taking 9 Grouse guns. The guns of Autumn will include 2 16's, 2 28's and 5 20's. There should be at least one "perfect" gun in the bunch:whistle:

[Phil Yearout]

Nine guns; wow! I thought it was a lot when I take three: the one I'll use, one back up in case of a failure, and my trusty old crappy weather gun. You oughta find a good one outa nine!.

[Rich Anderson]

You have to be prepared when your gonna be gone a month:)

[Rick Losey]

Rich

the "perfect" one for any given day will be one of the ones left back in the house

[Bill Murphy]

The perfect grouse gun is my VH 28 straight grip gun bored cylinder and full or my 10 gauge 26" Sauer bored a bit tighter. The Sauer is about five ounces heavier than the Parker, so it may not be "as perfect". I hope Rich has a good car alarm.

[Dave Noreen]

For us heathens in the Pacific Northwest --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/22%20SUPERSHOT%20Sealed%20Eight_zpsj9caq7qz.jpeg

[Rich Anderson]

For the locals in the U.P. the perfect gun is whatever they can use with a 4 wheeler:rotf:

[Dean Romig]

For us heathens in the Pacific Northwest --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/22%20SUPERSHOT%20Sealed%20Eight_zpsj9caq7qz.jpeg


Perfect example Dave - It even has "Pa'tridge Sights"





.

[Dean Romig]

I'll be heading to the Upper Peninsula next week for the month of October and I'll be taking 9 Grouse guns. The guns of Autumn will include 2 16's, 2 28's and 5 20's. There should be at least one "perfect" gun in the bunch:whistle:


Another unsuspecting neophyte sucked into the maelstrom of the "Myth" of the 'perfect grouse gun.' ;)





.

[Daryl Corona]

I'll be headed out to SD in a few weeks and right now there are 7 shotguns going (Parkers and Foxes along with a varmint rifle for coyotes) but unlike Rich I need to take all these guns. You see I have 2 Labs, Fox and Parker, and it is just not politically correct to shoot a Fox gun over Parker dog and vice versa.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!:whistle:

[tom tutwiler]

You guys are hard core. I'm headed to Maine in three weeks for ten days of hunting and plan on bringing a 20 gauge Fox and a 16 gauge Merkel O/U with 2 triggers. If the weather is right the Fox will get everyday duty. Merkel is my rainy day gun.

[Steve Cambria]

Wow, Rich! Nine grouse guns??? So much for dialin' it in! In New England they'd call that : "A trunk load of excuses!!" :banghead: Good hunting!

[CraigThompson]

Back in the day when I was eaten up with the bird hunting thing I had a pair of guns for everything . Nope they weren't Parker's or SxS's they were a pair of Browning Citori's in 16 gauge . Here in VA grouse coverts are in the mountains and a Browning Citori Upland Special 16 gauge with 24" barrels C/IC or M screwed in worked for me . If I were dove shooting or preserve hunting a Browning Citori Lightning with 28" barrels and chokes of IC/M or F worked well for me . I am sure if I were inclined these two would cover any upland stuff I wanted to do now . And quite possibly that Lightning could cover the goose stuff I've been doing . Back then I had Parker's Fox's and Smith's as well as guns from the Continent and the U.K. And liked them but when I was seriouse I used the Brownings .

[Jean Swanson]

Simple----The gun you feel most comfortable with !! I prefer my 28 PHE with 24' barrels. Quick and lite !!

[Dean Romig]

WOW a 24" PHE in 28 ga.:whistle: What a gun!




.

[Rich Anderson]

Another unsuspecting neophyte sucked into the maelstrom of the "Myth" of the 'perfect grouse gun.' ;)





.

The Hell you say:shock: I'm neither a neophyte nor unsuspecting I know there is NO perfect Grouse gun BUT there are MANY Grouse guns. I have added a 10th, a nice GHE 20 with 26 inch Damascus barrels......because it just might be.....well perfect:)

[charlie cleveland]

in the picture of the pistol what is the hammer for in the picture..i could not make out the small wording...charlie

[John E. Williams]

in the picture of the pistol what is the hammer for in the picture..i could not make out the small wording...charlie

I think this pistol featured an early "transfer bar" hammer safety, meaning you could strike the hammer with a "hammer" and the pistol wouldn't fire unless the trigger was pulled all the way to rear. I couldn't make out the wording either, but that's what I gathered from it.

[John Cinkoske]

Yes, "Hammer the Hammer" was tooting the Iver Johnson safety horn...

[Rich Anderson]

I always carry a hand gun with me Grouse hunting but it's NOT for the Grouse and it's a lot bigger than a 22:whistle:

[Russ Jackson]

Well ,Right or wrong :whistle: ,this is the latest addition to the " Grouse Arsenal " and I am going to make it my Go To Grouse gun this season ,a 16 Ga. VH Grade IC and IM ! It is going to be tough leaving the OO Frame 28 at home but this has been my decision for this season ! Now if I stick to it :rotf: ,which I doubt !!!!!!!!

[charlie cleveland]

good looking gun russ...now if you can just stick to your convictions....bet shes a grouse gun for sure...you will know by the end of the season if she is the perfect grouse gun.. now i aint got kno grouse gun but i got the perfect squirl gun the old 8 ga..ha charlie

[Russ Jackson]

Charlie ,that little 20 would make a nice Grouser For Sure , all you would need are the Grouse !!!!!!!!

[Bruce Day]

You fellows must be talking about those little grouse.

Here is one 36" wingspan. When they take off fast from 30 to 40 yards out you need a little more than a 28ga with open chokes .

[Russ Jackson]

Bruce ,exactly what type of Grouse is that ????????? Grouzzilla !!!!!!!:rotf: That would be a perfect Grouse Charlie for the OLD 8 !!!!!!

[Bruce Day]

That is a one year old male sage grouse. They get bigger.

They are in small flocks, post sentries and outliers and take off fast like any grouse. They will fly for a mile or so before settling back down.

You don't want to be undergunned but because the typical sage grouse hunt day is 8 to 10 miles of walking in rolling terrain you don't want to be lugging a heavy gun either. You need to be able to make a 40 yard or more kill shot because they can absorb lead, set their wings and drift for hundreds of yards . By that time a golden eagle could be on the bird and they will not back off for a dog or you.

[Dave Noreen]

As I remember one had to really be into wild game when the old boomer here was on the dinner table!! The two younger birds weren't too bad. Outdoor Life did an article on Sage Grouse in 1970 and stated that probably the best Sage Grouse hunting in the country was around Craig, Colorado. After reading the article I was there the next weekend.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Hunting/Sage%20Grouse%20near%20Craig%20Colorado%201970_zps doejmfp7.jpeg

Didn't see another bird hunter.

[charlie cleveland]

are these big grouse sometimes called praire chickens or is the chicken a differant bird...like to get a shot at one of those grouse with the old 8 ga...charlie

[Thomas L. Benson Sr.]

Dave: Nice job including the late sixty's El Camino I take. I'm guessing 69 Thomas

[Dave Noreen]

Nope. It was a 1970 El Camino. From the front --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Hunting/OpeningDay1970Colorado.jpg

Traded the El Camino off in San Diego in the fall of 1973 for a 1973 Alfa Romeo and within a month got orders to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska.

Saw quite a few of these along the Stewart - Cassiar Highway coming down from Alaska last week --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/DSCN0828%20close%20up_zps2spz1qvr.jpg

[Michael Muth]

That is a one year old male sage grouse. They get bigger.

They are in small flocks, post sentries and outliers and take off fast like any grouse. They will fly for a mile or so before settling back down.

You don't want to be undergunned but because the typical sage grouse hunt day is 8 to 10 miles of walking in rolling terrain you don't want to be lugging a heavy gun either. You need to be able to make a 40 yard or more kill shot because they can absorb lead, set their wings and drift for hundreds of yards . By that time a golden eagle could be on the bird and they will not back off for a dog or you.

I need to go to this golden land! Where is it?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I will be taking 4 guns with me to the UP for my 2 week trip. They will all be 20 ga. this year to simplify things, although I have many fine, light 16 ga grouse guns.
1. VHE 20 w/cut 26 1/2' cyl/cyl
2. Ugartechea 20 grade 2, w 27" IC/M, st. grip , 5 3/4 lb
3. Lefever Durston Special 20 26" IC/M
4. Fox A 20 w/ 26" cyl/cyl(factory)--I have been so busy lately that I have not even been able to get out and shoot this gun yet, it will get its baptism under fire in the UP.
Hope to see Rich, Eric, etc up there.

[todd allen]

All of the above mentioned guns will work on Ruffs. An oz. of 7s at 1100 fps is my load. Sage grouse is a whole nuther thing. 12 ga. tight chokes, and number six shot gets it done, where we hunt.
We used to always schedule a couple of days out of our deer hunt to chase sage grouse, aka camp meat. Goes great with some fine Scotch, or Canadian Whisky around a camp fire.

[Mills Morrison]

My goal in life is to own a Parker 28 gauge. Of course, my other goal is to win the lotto

[Daryl Corona]

Go ahead and buy the 28 Parker Mills. You'll feel like you hit the lottery.:)

[Bill Holcombe]

I just want to point out that I think all you Grouse hunters have way to many guns on your hands and that I would gladly lighten your load of any guns you wish to send my way.

I would be most willing to bear ya'lls overflow, especially if ya'll have any 32inch 12 gauge 3 frames you don't need :)

Just trying to make it easier to pick.

[Chad Hefflinger]

First trip up to northern Michigan last weekend. It was green, hot and the hunting was tuff. I took up the 28 ga repro, but my 16 ga Trojan with 28" tubes choked about .007 and .020 got the call this weekend with rst 10 shot woodcock loads in the right and rst 7 shot in the left. This may be my new favorite grouse/woodcock gun. I did not get a chance to pull the trigger on a grouse, but I can proudly say I have never missed a woodcock with this gun, I am now 1 for 1...:rotf:

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Todd, I will be shooting #7's this year thru my 20's. I have a thousand 3/4 oz #8's on hand, but picked up a bag of straight 7's a couple years ago, and will use them on this trip. Loaded up 200 7/8 oz of 7's this weekend using 20/28 powder @ 1150 fps. Increased the payload to 7/8 due to the larger shot size, and will expect there to be fewer cripples and more dead in the air birds with this load--probably adequate for early season released pheasants also

[Kenny Graft]

Hey Harold...I hope you all have a great time chasing the KING!.....You will have to post pictures of your adventure, the dog work and birds. I also have some big plans this October. A new CSMC Fox grouse and rooster gun will arrive in the next week. It will also be my first time to hunt Wisconsin....me and Ruby are chomping at the lead...(-: SXS ohio

[Eric Eis]

Heff, I was up in Mid Michigan last weekend, man it got hot fast and I won't run dogs in that temp. I think I was out of the woods by 9:30 ..... But it was fun...!

[Chad Hefflinger]

Heff, I was up in Mid Michigan last weekend, man it got hot fast and I won't run dogs in that temp. I think I was out of the woods by 9:30 ..... But it was fun...!

About the same with us, my fat out of shape Drahthaar was pretty much done after a few hours. I will not run dogs in that kind of heat either, I ruined an old lab years ago in South Dakota doing exactly that. I think we fished more than we hunted, but next trip up in a couple of weeks should be much better.
Those hot days are hard on my liver also, I'm pretty much programmed to start drinking scotch once the dogs, guns and gear are taken care of at the end of the days hunt.
When all that is all done by noon or before, it makes for a rather early evening....

[Eric Eis]

About the same with us, my fat out of shape Drahthaar was pretty much done after a few hours. I will not run dogs in that kind of heat either, I ruined an old lab years ago in South Dakota doing exactly that. I think we fished more than we hunted, but next trip up in a couple of weeks should be much better.
Those hot days are hard on my liver also, I'm pretty much programmed to start drinking scotch once the dogs, guns and gear are taken care of at the end of the days hunt.
When all that is all done by noon or before, it makes for a rather early evening....

Where do you hunt in Michigan? Maybe we could touch base for lunch or a hunt... Also understand about quiting early, it can make for an early evening...:rotf:

[Chad Hefflinger]

Eric,
We stay in the Lewiston area, and typically hunt south of there and around the Atlanta area.

[John Dallas]

If you have to put the dogs up before noon on the weekend, stop over to Lewiston Sportsmen's Lodge for a round of clays on the prettiest course you will ever see, (particularly in the fall) then lunch at Tally's Bar.

[JeffTowner]

I will be headed to northern Minnesota next week to audition three potential "Grouse Gun of the Year" candidates. The reigning champion is a customized Fox Sterlingworth with 28 inch barrels in skeet and IC. Challenging the champ will be a VHE recently restored by Brad B. The challenger is a "Skeet" model from 1937 with 26 inch barrels choked skeet and skeet. Finally, the long time backup is an AYA Model 2 with 29 inch barrels and thin wall choke tubes from Briley. All three are 16 gauge of course. I'll post complete results once the audition is complete.

[Michael Muth]

Ill be taking my modern westley Richards 12 which handles like a 20, and my Parker gh 28gauge (which just heads up, I'm looking to trade for a light/handy westley, Rigby or H&H 12/16 if anyone's looking to swap)

[John E. Williams]

Grouse season is something of a mess here in the Kentucky/Indiana area this year. Grouse and woodcock seasons have traditionally (as I remember) opened on October 1st in Indiana, with Kentucky's season opening shortly thereafter. Well, Indiana's DNR reportedly did a total of 12 roadside drumming surveys and heard no grouse, so are prepared to declare the bird extinct and have suspended the season indefinitely. Woodcock will open on the 15th, which should be fine with October's full moon occurring on the 27th, I believe. I have a number of excellent areas within thirty miles of home and had splendid luck last year.

Kentucky's seasons both open November 1st with grouse hunting suspended between the 13th and 16th for the modern gun deer season. Apparently, one can hunt woodcock right through this period. In Kentucky, our grouse zone covers the eastern third of the state with any of the nearest opportunities being about 100 miles from my house. I'm hoping gas prices remain somewhat low because there's going to be lots of driving this fall. I hope we all have some excellent days afield.

My primary grouse and woodcock gun is this old Parker Trojan 16 ga. built on the #1 frame. It's suffered at the hands of previous owners, as you'll note by the beavertail forend, replacement buttstock, buffed receiver, and so on. Still, I don't think money could buy the gun. I've often said that a week spent with H&H or Purdey could not produce a shotgun that fit me any better. It's one of those magical guns in that I have no recollection of sight picture, or even an awareness the gun was ever present and shouldered beyond the initial lifting of it.

http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq51/ghostdncr/Parker/1920L_zpshnuw5zwc.jpg

[Rich Anderson]

We finally got some cooler weather and even though it had rained during the night and in the early morning I met a friend at the Haymarsh to run some of the summer off the dogs.

Daisy never missed a beat and did a wonderful job, Jamies setter Clara did well and made some nice points but still needs some retrieval work but Daisy always came to the rescue.

Daisy got into a bunch of Woodcock and as I'm not a shooter of these and it was hellishly wet and I had to cross a creek to get to her I leashed her and dragged here out to get back to the task before us which were the Pheasants.

The Grouse gun I used is a DH 16 with 26 inch Damascus barrels choked IC/F. With the typical early season's thick foliage it should prove useful next week in the Upper Peninsula.

[Bruce Day]

You call those little things grouse guns?

Well here's a grouse gun! CH 10 ga original 26" barrels and cylinder bored .

[Bruce Day]

And another. For those manly men.

[Rich Anderson]

:You call those little things grouse guns?

Well here's a grouse gun! CH 10 ga original 26" barrels and cylinder bored .

IF you need or really even think a 10ga is a Grouse gun then you should just go to the store and buy a chicken.:rolleyes:

[Fred Preston]

They from Wells Fargo?

[John E. Williams]

I shoot geese with a 10 gauge. Heavily feathered, flight toughened, late-season Canadas. I'm shamelessly thankful I don't have to lug that monstrosity afield in pursuit of grouse (and woodcock). Beautiful gun to be certain, but I'd have no desire to carry it any farther than from here to the truck, which would amount to about thirty yards at most. Oh, and in pleasant weather and broad daylight. :rotf:

[Rick Losey]

i would have to dig out the books-

but didn't Burt Spiller start out with a 10 gauge for grouse

[Dean Romig]

Yes he did, but it didn't take him long to come to the realization that it wasn't the perfect grouse gun.





.

[Mark Britton]

The perfect grouse gun is the one that has your head on the stock,
eyes down the barrell, shooting where he's going and not where he's been ! Beware of the man with one gun, he might know how too use it. I used to be that guy.

[Rich Anderson]

In all reality the perfect Grouse gun does exist,.......it's the next one:) I'll be taking 10 perfect Grouse guns with me tomorrow for a prolonged hunt....the month of October:)