12 Gauge For Grouse & Woodcock

trap333

New member
My upland bird gun is a Mossberg Silver Reserve O/U 12 gauge. For pheasant I use M over IC chokes. My son and I are going for grouse and woodcock later this fall. What chokes and loads would be best for those birds with a 12 gauge? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.
 
Well, for grouse and WC, you certainly have plenty of gun. Cylinder and Skeet 1. Agree with 7 1/2 and 8's.
 
We hunt them with 20 gauge's with Improved Cylinder Hevi Shot Pheasant 20 gauge 2 3/4" 6's. I absolutely love the 6's and being able to use the 20 gauge is super fun.
 
I've not hunt either of those much, but if I had to go with one 12-gauge load for both, I would probably use 1-ounce of #7 1/2 lead. It is my understanding that for some late season grouse hunting you might want to go with a little heavier load like a 1 1/8-ounce of #6 lead.
As far as chokes are concerned, a Cyl, SK, or IC will probably be your best choices since this is normally a close range affair.
Here are a few of my pattern numbers from some woodcock/grouse appropriate loads that will give you an idea of the kind of performance you might get with different chokes.

Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).

30 YARDS / CYL
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #8 lead (393 pellets) / pattern 218 (55%)
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 ½ lead (344 pellets) / pattern 194 (56%)
Reload 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #6 lead (267 pellets) / pattern 147 (55%)

30 YARDS / SK
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #8 lead (393 pellets) / pattern 256 (65%)
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 ½ lead (344 pellets) / pattern 248 (72%)
Reload 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #6 lead (267 pellets) / pattern 171 (64%)

30 YARDS / IC
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #8 lead (393 pellets) / pattern 305 (78%)
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 ½ lead (344 pellets) / pattern 288 (84%)
Reload 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #6 lead (267 pellets) / pattern 211 (79%)

40 YARDS / LM
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #8 lead (393 pellets) / pattern 251 (64%)
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 ½ lead (344 pellets) / pattern 260 (76%)
Reload 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #6 lead (267 pellets) / pattern 173 (65%)

40 YARDS / M
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #8 lead (393 pellets) / pattern 292 (74%)
Win AA XL 2 ¾” 1 oz #7 ½ lead (344 pellets) / pattern 272 (79%)
Reload 2 ¾” 1 1/8 oz #6 lead (267 pellets) / pattern 182 (68%)

Good luck!

PS: Sorry, had to correct an error on the LM choke #6 load percentage from 75 to 65%, it makes a little more sense now!
 
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