I guess you and I have a different perspective on 26" barrels for New England grouse. I have a PHE 26" Parker 20 bore with fluid steel barrels and open chokes. The perfect grouse gun? I don't think so. I would prefer another two inches on those barrels or even better, four inches. Longer barrels don't get caught in brush and they can be handled with one hand in brush if the gun is light enough. Twenty six inch barrels are what everybody thinks of when it comes to grouse. But I have taken most of my grouse with a 28" 20 bore improved cylinder and modified. I like the longer barrels. Grouse shooting in tight cover is instinctive shooting and to my way of thinking, longer barrels are better at this.
I agree that the 16 bore with open chokes is the ultimate grouse gun. Probably my best shooting percentage wise was with a 16 bore and one ounce #9 loads. The perfect grouse load in my opinion.
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