I can't figure out what points PeteM was making in his last post and I also didn't catch the medium that he was describing in the penetration test. Was it stainless steel or grouse flesh? However, the point I am making is fairly clear. We don't normally pass up shots longer than 20 or 25 yards in the grouse woods if they are presented, and a #9 will not penetrate a grouse enough to be lethal if the range is much longer. I wouldn't want to have to hit a grouse with 15 shot to bring it to ground. Recovering #9 shot from strong flying doves after killing them with #7 1/2 was enough evidence to convince me that #9 is not even a humane killer on these thinly feathered birds. Who among us would turn down a 35 yard shot on a crossing dove?
