Stork delivered a new 5lb 10oz baby today

[Andy]

I set up a paper target in my back yard and from 20 yards with my M/F 16 GH and RST Falcon Lites the pattern was slightly high but more evenly uniform and spread than I would have dared imagine. I repeated it, and the shot pattern wasn't too awful tight again and I think for Grouse and woodcock flushing a bit further out (a la Srebro..) it will be just fine as is. I have yet to do other guns.

[Brett Hoop]

Grouse gun chokes are interesting topic for me also. Much depends on how and when you hunt them. My choice being hunting with pointing dogs, and young ones almost exclusively, I don’t shoot wild flushes. No matter how much experience a dog has with grouse some birds are going to get bumped, but when all goes well the experience is up close and personal. With both grouse and woodcock I would be confident in saying inside 25 yards for the open first barrel. And although being sick with “ the next ones the best one”. The gun that’s first out and most successful is a 20 ga with .005/ .010 with 7/8 oz of 8s in the right and 7 1/2 or 7s in the left.

I also have a very fine and great handling flushing dog that I could brag on his large number brought to hand birds. For his work I require a bit tighter chokes, even though I can read him well and know when he’s hot. The distance to first shot is frequently a bit longer.

[Gary Laudermilch]

I would suggest you borrow an open choked gun and shoot it some at clays to get a feel for what it will do. A Q1/Q2 repro would fit the bill quite nicely. You just might be pleasantly surprised. Make sure you use the ammo you intend to hunt with as the shell alone can make a huge difference in pattern performance. When it comes to woodcock and grouse it depends what dog you are hunting behind. It does not matter much what choke you have at 10-15 yards. Even a cylinder bore will blow a bird to bits if centered.