My 'best grouse gun' criteria:

- under 6lbs. for one-hand carry all day long;

- Straight stock for quick mounting;

- SxS or O/U for short length in heavy cover;

- single trigger and roomy trigger guard for Minnesota Decembers;

- Cyl. and Mod. chokes;

- 20ga.;

- and a perfect fit to the shooter.

There are quite a few guns that meet all these criteria, and many others that come reasonably close. My 'best grouse gun' for the past 12 years is a Bernardelli Hemingway.