Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Grouse Hunting Choke.

For what it looks like, POI, or both?

Both--but would rate POI as more important, as did Bob Brister.

Agree definitely on POI. Have seen more than a few top shooters shoot any good shell, not worrying about what it looked like on paper, and go on as if nothing changed.

Some may prefer one over the other, and others shoot whoever pays them or supplies the shells.

And, that in SxS’s and O/U’s, the patterns overlie each other at 25-30 yds. Same POI. I’ve not ever had it not be so, but I imagine there are guns where it happens.

I'd be more concerned with how the gun fits you than the choke, if it is a gun you wish to pursue. I didn't learn about gun fit until I was already on my third of fourth shotgun. Some shoot better than others for me but most of mine are choked modified. It seems most old guns are choked mod or full, I've read they needed tighter chokes back in the day because of the paper shells. IM would make for a nice late season gun when birds are runnin and flushing further out.

George,

I have seen patterns from doubles diverge WIDELY in doubles, both O/U and SxS--but due to my profession have probably patterned a lot more shotguns that most. One O/U 28-gauge, from a highly regarded company, placed the lower barrel's pattern right where the gun pointed for me--and I am pretty average in "dimensions" myself. The upper barrel placed the pattern so much higher that the bottom of the patter barely touched where the shotgun pointed, and if I recall that was at 30 yards.

I was working on Shotguns for Wingshooting at the time, and consequently shooting a LOT of shotguns with different ammo at a local Sporting Clays range. If I recall correctly, that was the FIRST shotgun I took to the range without patterning it beforehand, and halfway through a 25-bird round it had me talking to myself. I patterned it afterward and found out why. (The really odd thing is that when I reported it to the shotgun's maker, they didn't seem to care. I suspect the reason was "crooked" choke-tube threads in the top barrel, but by that point I didn't care enough to measure things.)

That was 20+ years ago, and ever since I've at least shot every new-to-me shotgun at a dirt bank to see where the pattern centered before taking it hunting....

Hope you are doing well!

John

Hi John, and thank you. As far as I know, I am well overall other than three weeks from now, I’m in line for a new right knee. I hope you are doing well as well.

I can see where that situation would have you talking to yourself. It’s very surprising to me that a good company would allow a gun like that out of the door…to a gun writer yet. And even more so, that they didn’t seem to care too much when notified.

Bought a new Dickinson a couple of years ago and they included a target showing both barrels nicely in a thirty inch circle at 25 yds. Recently, I picked up a Batista Rizzini 20 ga. and a Browning Citori Superlight Feather 16. First thing I did was take and shoot them both in the same way at 25 yds. Both guns’ barrels patterned on top of each other. It was kind of a relief actually.

I’ve had some inexpensive SxS’s and some O/U’s back in the day, but they all did the same. I guess I’ve been fortunate.

Best!

My favorite is a Franchi Falconet 12ga. w/24” barrels choked C/IC

I didn’t, not properly anyway, until I started futzing with sub-bore turkey guns and TSS. A major hurdle was that neither of the ranges I frequent allows shotshells on the rifle ranges, nor targets placed anywhere but on the berms. Our clays range has a patterning range, but it’s only open with an RSO on site. Solved that by becoming an RSO myself.

Patterning revealed that the CZ O/U 20 turkey gun I so eagerly acquired was shooting 8” apart at 40 yards. Since they wouldn’t/couldn’t do anything to fix it, and the only fix was expensive and troublesome custom tubes, it went away.

Cyl and AA 7.5's or 8's from a 28 or 20ga for ruffs for me.

The vast majority of my vintage shotguns are cylinder bore, but I normally run cyl/IC in my guns with screw in chokes , and shoot everything that flies with them from chukars to geese
Cat

The very reason they have a pattern board and a grease roller at most Sporting Clays ranges worth a flip. If you do not have a gun that is fit to you or know where in the world a gun shoots you are just pizzin in the wind.

Back to the original question, open chokes for grouse, especially in the thick eastern woods. A modified is mostly too tight. However, you can always have a fixed choke opened up.

My primary grouse gun, 20 gauge Franchi Highlander sxs. Choked IC/full #6 shot

I use my Winchester 101, 26" barrels, choked Skeet 1 and Skeet 2. 1-1/8 ounce 7.5's .

I like the traditional live pigeon gun chokes, I/C & I/M.

Stoked with 7-2 inch shells and choked grouse 1…

What is that shotgun ?

I hunt prairie grouse sharptails and prairie chickens I use a modified choke in a single barrel gun. In a 2 barrel ic and modified early to mid season with 6 shot. After November I pull the ic put the mod in the bottom barrel and full on top by then the birds are full feathered and have a good fat layer so I use 5's and 4's for full penetration and structural damage farther out. Depending on conditions and your dog's ability you know where you shouldn't shoot. Works for me I lose very few birds your ability and your dogs are the key...mb

Burgess wrist slide action 12 gauge shotgun with Damascus barrel and solid rib…

Shrapnel, you find any deals at Cody?