What gauge do you shoot for upland birds?
What gauge do you shoot for upland birds?
What gauge do you shoot for upland birds?
grant wrote:I shoot 12 now, but thinking of going to 20....
I use to shoot a 12 gauge only, last year I started shooting my dad's Remington 1100 20 gauge after he got his Benelli Legacy 20. last summer I got a Beretta 391 20 guage and next year i am thinking of switching to a 28 guage o/u.
A 12 guage is simply too easy to hit birds with, a 20 is almost just as easy and I have shot a 28 guage a few times at them and that is fun.
I have been using a 12 guage - a cheapy - but my first gun to make sure I liked the sport before we paid a bunch of money. I hate the thing! It doesn't pump right, starting to flinch because sometimes it doesn't fire - it is a true hazard. Therefore, I am on the hunt for a new one, being I love the sport and couldn't see not being able to watch my dogs in action!
I was looking at a 20 guage Franchi - I saw someone in one of these threads passed one up. Any advice on that? I thought it was just the perfect weight - very light. We'll see, my husbands always got bright ideas about the guns I need!
Caren
I was looking at a 20 guage Franchi - I saw someone in one of these threads passed one up. Any advice on that? I thought it was just the perfect weight - very light. We'll see, my husbands always got bright ideas about the guns I need!
Caren
I don't want to start an arguement here but I don't think shooting at birds with a gun that is more of a challenge for you to kill a bird with isn't the thing I want to do out of respect for the bird. I do like the challenge to shoot the small guns on trap. That is a sport. But anything that lessens the chance of a clean swift kill on a bird just isn't right in my opinion. Now if you are as good with the 28 or use it wisely I have no problem but hunting isn't the place to use a weapon just to haver more of a challenge for the shooter. Wounded game is the thing I hate the most about hunting.
Ezzy
Ezzy
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=144
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=207
It's not how many breaths you have taken but how many times it has been taken away!
Has anyone noticed common sense isn't very common anymore.
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=207
It's not how many breaths you have taken but how many times it has been taken away!
Has anyone noticed common sense isn't very common anymore.
shot guns
I have been using my 20 ga Beretta for both sharptails and pheasants. I have also shot some pheasants with my new 28 ga. Even late season birds can be handled with a 28 when you take the right shots, nothing over 30 yards, the 28 is a lot of fun light and easy to swing. We can get by out here passing up a lot of shots simply because of the numbers of wild birds. If you pick your shots and have a well broke dog just a few minutes the right situation will present itself.SDGORD
- tfbirddog2
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what gauge?
I don't have a problem using either 12 or 20's to do the work I prefer my 20 o/u for quail, and my 12 for pheasants.Really anymore it just happens to be what ever I grab.You would be surprised at how far out 28 will actually touch.
It is aslo Turkey season here in the Sunflower state and I will be using my new Beretta 12 ga. Xtrema 3.5.
It is aslo Turkey season here in the Sunflower state and I will be using my new Beretta 12 ga. Xtrema 3.5.
If it has a trigger and goes boom and throws a straight pattern I'll find a way to hit my birds with it. If not a straight pattern then I'll hope for alot of shells.Gregory wrote:Birdhunter...
That's why I hunt with a.12.12.12.12.12.14 and a 16..I'm well bonded:>)
Actually here are my guns of choice (and guage) that I'll use:
I have 100% confidence in myself with these three shotguns, my 870 Wingamster 12 gauge, my Beretta 391 urika 20 gauge and my dad's Remington 1100 20 gauge. Any of those three and I have no doubts when a bird gets up.
Bird.
Sounds to me like you have lots of confindence with those guns of yours..
The 14 gauge and one of the 12's above are vintage Muzzleloader doubles (English) the 14 is an 1828 Thomas Cook,and the 12 is a 1845 John Manton. I hunt with them,but I have to pick my shots as they are Cyl/CyI choked in both...
I usually take three with me when I go away from home.two 12's and the 16...
I had 20's one time or another,but couldn't shoot them worth a darn.Just didn't feel right in my hands for some reason....
The gun that I probably shot more game than any other was an 870 12 full choked.That was many, many moons ago.....
G.
Sounds to me like you have lots of confindence with those guns of yours..
The 14 gauge and one of the 12's above are vintage Muzzleloader doubles (English) the 14 is an 1828 Thomas Cook,and the 12 is a 1845 John Manton. I hunt with them,but I have to pick my shots as they are Cyl/CyI choked in both...
I usually take three with me when I go away from home.two 12's and the 16...
I had 20's one time or another,but couldn't shoot them worth a darn.Just didn't feel right in my hands for some reason....
The gun that I probably shot more game than any other was an 870 12 full choked.That was many, many moons ago.....
G.
Confidence/cocky/sure of one's self whatever you call it. I shoot alot and each of those three has about the same feel to it as the other, different weight of course but they all have the same drop/l.o.p, and so on so they all fit me perfect.Gregory wrote:Bird.
Sounds to me like you have lots of confindence with those guns of yours..
.
Re: 16 Gauge
Can't go wrong at all with the 870, or Remington in general!Kurzhaar wrote:I now prefer to hunt with my Browning 16 Gauge Citori. I previously carried a 12 gauge Remington 870 that I have had since I was 14. I'd like to try a 28 sometime.
I shoot both a 12 and a 20, and sometimes a 16.
The 20 was my first, a Mossy 500 pump as a gift, and is now also used by Danyelle.
The 12 was my second, a '64 Browning A5 Light Twelve, and was the first gun I bought myself.
The 16 is my grandfather's Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen. I get to use it when I've been good.
I enjoy a variety. I can hit with any of these guns, and the only problem I ever run into is when switching between one of the A5's and the Mossy 500. I end up trying to pump my autoloader, or forget to cycle the pump. (am I the only one?)
The 20 was my first, a Mossy 500 pump as a gift, and is now also used by Danyelle.
The 12 was my second, a '64 Browning A5 Light Twelve, and was the first gun I bought myself.
The 16 is my grandfather's Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen. I get to use it when I've been good.
I enjoy a variety. I can hit with any of these guns, and the only problem I ever run into is when switching between one of the A5's and the Mossy 500. I end up trying to pump my autoloader, or forget to cycle the pump. (am I the only one?)
- Steven
Justus Kennels.com
Justus James Ayres SH CGC - Justus - Rest in Peace, buddy.
Wind River's JK Clara Belle - Belle
Wind River's JK Black Tie Affair - Tux
Justus Kennels.com
Justus James Ayres SH CGC - Justus - Rest in Peace, buddy.
Wind River's JK Clara Belle - Belle
Wind River's JK Black Tie Affair - Tux
I shoot a Browning Gold 12 gauge 3" with a walnut stock. It was the first gun that I owned personally. I recieved it for Christmas like 6 years ago, what a great present. I havent got to use it much although were hopefully were getting some property soon so ill be able to use it alot there definatly. But otherwise I just found a preserve by my house where im gonna train my new Vizsla in a while. Ill get some time hunting there with it as well.
oops I was thinking there for a second how many birds you actually get to bring home in 1 peice with a 3 inch. lol
I could see people using a 12 or 20 on grouse and pheasants. a 20 with partridge and quail, even a 410 with quail but you gotta make sure that gun will put the bird down with one shot. It is one thing to hunt birds it is another to make them suffer until the dog gets there to put it out of its misury. Sure there is the shot where you iss and it catches the bird funny but we try to not make those shots and go for a clean kill.
I could see people using a 12 or 20 on grouse and pheasants. a 20 with partridge and quail, even a 410 with quail but you gotta make sure that gun will put the bird down with one shot. It is one thing to hunt birds it is another to make them suffer until the dog gets there to put it out of its misury. Sure there is the shot where you iss and it catches the bird funny but we try to not make those shots and go for a clean kill.
- Wagonmaster
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Well, it's not there
I shoot 16 ga mostly.
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I love the twenty. The guns are light and the payload more than adequate for what I hunt. IMHO, if the gun is loaded right, that makes all the difference. When we hunt pheasants, I shoot the Federal copper #4's with great results. On grouse...my favorite...I handload special brush loads for both tubes. The big thing, I think, is having a gun that fits you and a gun that you practice with. Back to the post...I just love the twenty!
Put some ground under the dogs...
I used to shoot nothing but a 12 ga citori. But soon came to realize from the influence of some friends a 20 ga would be a good fit. So I switched to a 20 ga Franchi o/u and loved it so much I now shoot a 20 ga. s/s. I have found no handicap with it, not even when shooting late season roosters. The way I look at it is if your dog is pointing the bird it will only be a short to medium shot anyways.
ou hav to remember a twety shoots just as far as a twelve. The twelve just has more beebees so you might have a killing pattern out a little further. And if I feel I need a little extra I go with a 3" shell.
Ezzy
Ezzy
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=144
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=207
It's not how many breaths you have taken but how many times it has been taken away!
Has anyone noticed common sense isn't very common anymore.
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=207
It's not how many breaths you have taken but how many times it has been taken away!
Has anyone noticed common sense isn't very common anymore.
A three inch shell? The only time I shoot a 3 inch shell is on waterfowl or turkey. That is probably a good choice in alot of scenarios. I just perfer to shoot a lighter load. I usually shoot 2 3/4" - 7's or 7 1/2's. I realize it maybe light, but it brings them down for me so I perfer that. It is alot cheaper as well the way I shoot.
- Pryor Creek Okie
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Of course you're referring to the most common loads, not the gauge, right?ezzy333 wrote:The twelve just has more beebees ...
Sometimes when we go to the gun club, my dad shoots my A-5 Light Twelve with 1oz loads, and I shoot my Veloce 20 ga. with 1oz heavy game loads (cheapest thing at Gander/Rural King). Two different gauges, same amount of lead in the air.
I've heard that larger gauges pattern a load better than a smaller gauge, but that's just hearsay. I've not seen any data. And from the score sheets at the club... well, I'm not gonna go there.
- Steven
Justus Kennels.com
Justus James Ayres SH CGC - Justus - Rest in Peace, buddy.
Wind River's JK Clara Belle - Belle
Wind River's JK Black Tie Affair - Tux
Justus Kennels.com
Justus James Ayres SH CGC - Justus - Rest in Peace, buddy.
Wind River's JK Clara Belle - Belle
Wind River's JK Black Tie Affair - Tux
I didn't vote either for the same reason.Wagonmaster wrote:didn't vote. no slot for a 16.
I only use the 12 ga for deer, geese, and ducks these days.
In order of preference:
- Remington Sportsman 48 16 ga. auto
- AH Fox 16 ga double
- AH Fox (model B) 20 ga double
The 16 ga. is definitely my all time favorite. If more people tried it, I think more people would buy it. Shoots loads like a 12 with recoil of a 20!
What gauge do you prefer
Shot a 1100 12 gauge for years, but switched to a Benelli Montefeltro 20 gauge about 8 years ago and haven't shot a 12 since. Of course I hunt about 90% quail and 10% dove.
- Wagonmaster
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I am actually looking for a Browning Super Feather in 16ga. They only made them for a short while and i didn't have the cash at the time. Now they discontinued them and I have to find a nice used one or a NIB one. I have been looking at Gun Broker every day.Wagonmaster wrote:Sorno, what are you getting? I have the Browning, but have been looking at the F.A.I.R. which comes in 16.
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