Grouse hunters are an eccentric lot, often seeking out the unusual. I believe that the resurgence in popularity of the Gordon setter, for example, has a lot to do with nostalgic nimrods wishing to hunt behind the classic, turn-of-the-century grouse dog.
That same taste for the out-of-the-ordinary also holds true in their selection of shotguns. Without having the figures to prove it, I am sure that the side-by-side is carried by a much higher percentage of grouse gunners than by hunters of any other upland species. Likewise, while the 12 and 20 certainly dominate as favored gauges, the 16 and 28 are far more common in the grouse coverts than they have a right to be, given their small share of the overall scattergun market.
Rationally, I can't put my finger on my own attraction to the 28. Although it is the smallest bore that I'd recommend for grouse, it hasn't much of a weight advantage over some of the lighter 20s. I guess I'm drawn to its slimmer profile, and, to be totally honest, maybe I find a 20 just a shade too common.
An unusually large proportion of the 28s you'll see are doubles. Most come with barrels in the neighborhood of 26 inches and are choked either skeet-skeet or improved cylinder-modified. Although some of the skeet guns may be a bit heavy and have somewhat odd dimensions for hunting, most 28s you pick off the rack will transport you almost automatically to your favorite covert. The 20, on the other hand, often has longer barrels and tighter chokes and is about as likely to have been designed for the pheasant hunter as for the grouse hunter.
Those who have not shot the 28 will be surprised by its stopping power. I've found that standard skeet loads are great for woodcock and also double nicely on grouse early in the season.
But what about those longer chances at ruffs, when the leaves are down and the flushes wilder? Switching to a bit more potent load should be sufficient.
Federal Premium copper-plated 7-1/2s or 8s have worked well for me. I haven't had a chance to try them on grouse in my newest 28--a Hatfield 20/28 two-barrel set with the smaller tubes choked skeet-skeet. However, I've used the copper 8s on desert quail in Arizona and on preserve bobwhites and chukar, which are roughly the same size as grouse. My results have been excellent.
I've also killed pheasants with a 28, which makes me quite confident that it can consistently do the job on grouse.
I think that you'll find the 28 to be an excellent choice, especially if you spend a lot of time early in the season chasing woodcock in the thick stuff, but still bounce the occasional ruff. The 28's feathery weight and quick pointing characteristics are what endear it to me in such circumstances.
George Bird Evans made the apt observation that many of us who pursue grouse and woodcock are consummate gun nuts (obviously my choice of words, not his). We no more than have one fine gun in our possession, than we rush to acquire another that we think will make us even better shots. (My theory is that we can't swap women, or at least not on a very regular basis, so we swap guns instead.)
Evans postulated, however, that we would probably be better off to acquire one good gun and stick with it. While some may smirk at such an idea, especially coming from a man who inherited a Purdey, it makes a lot of sense. Some of the best wingshots I've ever hunted with are people who have carried the same gun for years.
For those fortunate enough to live in the midst of excellent populations of grouse and native woodcock, the 28 will do nicely as their one-and-only gun. But some of us, myself included, inhabit less-favored regions. Iowa, where I live, isn't exactly noted for grouse and woodcock, although the timberdoodle hunting can be surprisingly good when the flight birds are coming through. Outside of a trip or two per season to greener pastures, I find myself pursuing a lot of pheasants.
As mentioned earlier, I have killed pheasants with a 28. But when I'm serious about it, I switch to a gun which I could just as easily use on everything from woodcock to birds much larger and more tenacious than grouse. My old 16-gauge Sauer, which has been with me for over 15 years now, is the one gun with which I'd never part.
Relegated to the bottom of the heap for a number of years in this country, the 16, of late, is enjoying a surge of popularity. Browning has given new life to its Sweet 16 and has added a Citori in the same gauge as well.
There isn't any doubt in my mind about the 16 having the necessary punch to handle grouse and woodcock. In fact, back in the days when I was using the Sauer for almost all my shooting, I found an ounce of 8s--far below a 16's maximum load--to be a good choice for both birds.
There are some old 16s around with chambers shorter than 2-3/4 inches. Many of these can be lengthened, and that is probably the best choice if the gun will stand it. However, some European guns may not. There are also some few lucky souls with English "best" 16s chambered for 2-1/2-inch shells who wouldn't dream of reaming their shotgun's chambers, and I don't blame them.
For those short-chambered guns, there is hope. Lyalvale, an English shotshell maker, is importing ammunition to the United States in large quantities now.
There are some things to beware of with the 16. The gauge's single advantage over the 12 is a reduction in weight. That can only be realized if the 16 is built on a smaller frame. There are plenty of old guns around that are not much more than 16-gauge barrels on a 12-gauge frame. They are not what a grouse hunter wants.
The ideal 16 was either made from the ground up as a 16 or, perhaps, on a 20-gauge frame. That is the case, for example, with the Winchester Model 21. If I ever find one of those with a straight stock, double triggers, short barrels, and open chokes, I'll probably deplete my bank account or sacrifice my first-born child.
A 16 double should weigh between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds. My Sauer, with 28-inch barrels, is on the bottom end of that scale. Unfortunately, among new doubles, not many, but some rather pricey Spanish sidelocks fit that description. Those who know, tell me that they are worth the money if you want a good, new 16.
Searching the used-gun market is the other option and will, on occasion, turn up some bargains in the American classics. I stumbled on the Sauer by pure blind luck in a sporting goods store. As soon as I had it in my hands, I knew it was going home with me.
For those partial to magazine guns, the Winchester Model 12 and the Browning Sweet 16 are well represented on the used-gun market. Neither will set you back nearly as much as most good doubles, but both are likely to be a bit long in the tube and tight in the choke for most grouse hunters. Although I wouldn't suggest bobbing the barrel on those guns, opening the choke is not much trouble.
For those who press me on the point, I'll admit that there are plenty of 20s that will do just fine for the grouse and woodcock hunter. Forgetful hunters will certainly have less trouble picking up shells than they would for either the 16 or the 28--both of which are less likely to be available at the local "Gas and Go" than is even the .410.
But gunning with a 28 or a 16 adds a certain quality to the hunt, a quality that by-and-large eludes description. It seems to take me back to the earlier, simpler days of the sport.
Copyright (c) 1996 Larry Brown. All rights reserved.
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