doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best Possible Grouse Gun

Love the tag line Jay! Dont forget to make that point with the NRA.

Tom,

I'll have to try it out in your neck of the woods. Lest year was fairly decent; I flushed a few every time I went out. However this year has been very slim.

Mike

I always get a laugh out of folks who insist that DTs are an advantage on a grouse gun! I can see an occasional advantage to 'tight choke first' on incoming waterfowl, and on far-flushing pheasants. And indeed I almost always use my DT Coggie for ringnecks.

But in the grouse coverts where most shots are taken within 30 yards, and heavy cover makes long first shot opportunities few and far between, my non-selective ST Bernie does it all. Unless you resort to potting birds in trees, I can't think of a situation that calls for a tighter choke on the first shot.

So here's my question for you DT fans: under what circumstances (and how often) would a 'tight choke first' be advantageous for grouse hunting?

What's a 'grouse'? ...and why does that one guy carry 4 guns? ...lets see that could be upwards of 8 triggers...Lots to think about to take a shot.

Ted will enjoy this. Of all my guns the most chosen for the coverts of the coveted Ruffed Grouse is the Darne V19. It came equipped for both the retractable and the clip in slings. I took the retractable mechanism out altogether thereby moving the balance point further forward. I use either black powder unbuffered loads without shot containing collar or spreader loads from Kent. Gun now has 2 3/4" chambers. Gun weighs under 6 lbs with chambers loaded - light for a 12 but with 27" barrels.
Has proven to be quick and yet not whippy. As to the season - best I have ever witnessed. Not uncommon to put up 20 birds per day. Have one friend who hunted for a full day and had 59 flushes - without a dog - Now how many were the same bird being flushed I have no way of knowing. I can tell you that pointing dogs still have a good chance of showing their stuff here as the birds have not reached post graduate level and still hold for a dog - not always but often enough - and a good grouse dog which can trail without flushing all the time pointing will provide an album full of memories. The birds are being hunted enough to get them past the wilderness naivity stage where they would sit and look at you with cocked head and black pea eye but not to the point where they flush at the sound of a footfall or breath to eagerly taken. Season is over here for this year and the snow deep. I hope they winter well and are again abundant next autumn.

Homer must have started this thread with " tongue in cheek ", just to get everyone going . Not having seen anyone tote the fine Remington name [ please , at least when it comes to doubles ], my 1889 or 1994 rate right up there with the best . Light , quick to point , double triggers , excellent workmanship , and they stay together. Jay , I enjoyed your reply until you got to Democrap - we must have a serious talk . Paul

I believe I am what used to be referred to as a Truman Democrat, but let's have that talk. Perhaps after a round or two of clays or skeet.

Tally ho!

JDG

Jack, if a single trigger keeps you from swatting them off tree branches, go for it. 2 barrels means 2 triggers in my book.

My favorite grouse gun is a 22cal short in any configuration or make. Maybe even a pistol. Perfect for those NW logging road gravel pickers.

I have never hunted grouse but my all around gun is my Model 21 I/C-CYL with 28" barrels. I have to chuckle when someone says they are too heavy or don't swing.