The last grouse shot had me worried.

[Maritime Storm]

On the last day of Grouse season I fired on, hit(body shot) and lost a bird at 20 yards. At first, I thought I had missed, having checked where the bird flew from I found blood splatter and feathers, after a thorough search of where the bird landed I was unable to retrieve it. That started me wondering how many others I had actually hit this past season that I thought I had missed on(missed about 6). My next question needs to be answered, should I be switching ammo types(American Eagle 36gr HP) to something else, should I be spending more time at the range or should the Marlin 55GDL come out of retirement during bird season. I bagged 5 birds & 1 rabbit(so far, season still open) and the wounds from that ammo seemed sufficient for the task at hand, however the last bird has bugged me ever since. Like the rest of you, I don't like the idea of game running/flying off to die somewhere in pain. Any thoughts?

[Keith L]

In my state I would be arrested for using a .22 on birds.  Here it is required to use a shotgun.  Grouse normally is good for a 20 ga., and one with short barrel and open choke.  I have no experience to share on using a .22 for this.  Sorry.

I wonder where you hit him to have him get away.

[trotterlg]

I'd bag the .22, even though it is legal here I use a 20 gauge.  I have a Savage 24 30-30 over 20 gauge, so during Grouse season Cougar and Bear are also open so it works out fine for me.  I only shot one this year, but it stayed shot.  Larry

[GatCat]

I usually go for head shots with the .17m2, but I have used the aquilla SSS ( 60 grain ) on lots of grouse, with body shots. Every one dropped right away, with very little meat damage. But, the Aquilla's were not shot out of an NEF, you'd have to check for accuracy. An old timer once told me that in his opinion, for body shots, a .22 short is best. Perhaps (??) the concept is the same, a slower bullet that stays in the body longer, before exiting, might (??) result in more shock. I know this goes against the Ft/Lbs concept of killing power.
Or, maybe try a blunt-nose bullet, like the CCi SGB, for more shock, and probably less meat damage then the HP's.
Mark

[Maritime Storm]

Thank you for your thoughts. I originally bought the Sportster for hunting both Grouse & Snowshoe Hare. The idea at the time was simple, the H&R would do less meat damage and be lighter to carry than my Marlin 55GDL. The old goose gun was bought new, I had the barrel shortned to 25.5" which made it balance perfect, it throws a modified pattern with a 1Oz handload I use. On paper it's damn near a perfect bird gun except it weighs in at over 8lbs, considering the kilometers walked for each bird seen, it gets heavy quick.

[petemi]

I've got a little 22 inch Pardner .410 that works well on birds and bunnies.  It is light to haul around and swings fast.  I use my .22 rifle and .44 cap and ball revolver for snowshoes once in a while for something different after the grouse season closes.

Pete

[ratherbefishin]

with a .22 its head shots only-no mistaking a kill or a miss,and besides no meat loss.I've picked up an all weather  H&R ''survivor'' in 20 guage though,nice and compact and 3 shells in the buttstock-mainly because I can carry a slug in my pocket in case I see a deer

[petemi]

I always carried a couple of slugs and buckshot in my vest quail hunting in Florida.  Deer and quail seasons overlapped.

Pete

[trotterlg]

Here, Grouse, Cougar and Bear are all open at the same time.  I use a Savage 24, 30-30 over a 20 gauge, so I am all set for whatever I see.  I only got one grouse this year, but I only went hunting them twice.  I do think birds need to be shot with a shotgun, that is what they were made to do do.  Larry

[Maritime Storm]

Valid points from all. My father is from Cape Breton, down there it is illegal to carry a rimfire before the end of deer season and it is illegal to shoot grouse with a rimfire. Here grouse can be shot with any rifle of less than .23 cal, a shotgun using lead shot smaller than BB or steel shot smaller than F, and any muzzleloader. My father's suggestion was to carry the shotgun until the end of deer season(mid-november) then the Sporster from their on(Grouse season closes the end of the first week of December) until the end of Rabbit(end of February).