Defining the "Perfect Grouse Gun"

[Double Play]

It's tough to chose sometimes but it's always good to have choices. Both these DHE's have 26" barrels and are choked IC/Full. The 0 frame 16 gauge (right) weights 6 pounds even while the 1 frame 12 gauge weights in at 6 pounds 4 ounces.

[C.O.B.]

I must admit I have never understood the reasoning behind choking a gun IC/F. IMHO the full choke bbl is to tight for a second shot at Grouse or Pheasant for that matter. The second shot is usually immediately following the first and the bird hasn't put enough real estate between itself and the hunter to warrant such constriction.

[Dean Romig]

Probably for the bird that flushes 'wild' at 30 yards and gets out to 45 by the time you shoot. It would be useless to use the more open choke on such a shot

[Double Play]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I must admit I have never understood the reasoning behind choking a gun IC/F.

Rich,
Having hunted with flushing dogs for many years I really appreciate those chokes. Unlike hunting over pointers you never really know when a bird will get up. If a bird gets up close I automatically grab the front trigger and can shoot without destroying the bird. If he gets up at a distance or on the rare occasion I miss the first shot I go for the back trigger and have enough pattern to get a good kill. Both guns have what I would call light full or even improved mod for the left barrels. The 16 is at .020 and the 12 is at .025. I know some think a 12 gauge is overkill but I shoot very light 7/8 oz loads and actually have a box of 2 1/2" x 3/4oz RST's in #10 shot that Morris gave me to try out on woodcock this year.

[Steve Hodges]

Mine loves to pose

[C.O.B.]

Haveing hunted with a pointing dog most of my adult life I have been spoiled I guess.

I have used Morris's #10 shot in a 28ga for Quail and Woodcock and like them alot.

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I must admit I have never understood the reasoning behind choking a gun IC/F.

Hard to beat that combination for late season but if I were to build a gun from scratch it would be choked Skeet and Improved Mod. Never seen a grouse stick around long enough for a quick second shot so I prefer a little extra choke and it gives me time to recover and re-aquire my target.

[C.O.B.]

My late season gun is a GH 16 0 frame choked .004 & .010. By late season I'm talking the end of October and the first two weeks of November the rest of the time I use primarly skt/skt chokes with the occasional gun thats IC/M.

Only 5 months to go!

[Steve Leffler]

I have a DHE 16 that has accounted for a good number of grouse. Weighs 6lbs 6 oz with 28 in barrels and just seems to find the birds when I shoot. Luckily it fits me really well. Never happy to leave well enough alone I just acquired a VH 20 with similar dimensions. The big difference is that it has a straight stock. My plan is to use the 20 in the early season when the woodcock are still here and switch to the 16 later in the year and for pheasants. At least that is the rationale I used to convince my wife I needed another gun

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Steve Leffler

I have a DHE 16 that has accounted for a good number of grouse. Weighs 6lbs 6 oz with 28 in barrels and just seems to find the birds when I shoot. Luckily it fits me really well. Never happy to leave well enough alone I just acquired a VH 20 with similar dimensions. The big difference is that it has a straight stock. My plan is to use the 20 in the early season when the woodcock are still here and switch to the 16 later in the year and for pheasants. At least that is the rationale I used to convince my wife I needed another gun

See this is the reason why I say there is no prefect grouse gun if there was a perfect grouse gun I would be limited to "one" and that ain't going to happen.........