What gauge for upland birds?

[patdaddy]

Back in high-school, about 14 years ago now, me and my dad did some upland bird hunting, chuckar and hungarian partridge. We used 12 ga pumps.
Now im wondering, is something else more appropriate, say 16 ga, 20 ga or 28 ga?
Thanks

[robl]

hard to beat the versatility of 12 gauge, BUT a nice 20 or 16 gauge English stocked side by side is about the ideal upland gun. Even if you get a pump or semi look at Remington 870, 1100 & Brownings BPS straight stocked guns. They are very quick! I used an 870 Special Field for several years on chucker, huns quail, grouse and pheasant. I regret trading it off. My wife has a LT20 Special Field, half the price of the least expensive s/s it handles very close to a nice double.
I have a Merkel 12 english stocked s/s I am learning how to shoot now.

[zeus]

For pheasant, its tough to beat a good 20 o/u. I have a Ruger red label that I bought for my son that should be great. My hunting buddy has been limiting out every year for as long as I can remember with his. I still use my Beretta Silver pigeon O/U in 12 though. May pull out the 20s this year though

[dmize]

I reload and a 12 ga 870 Express Super Mag takes care of everything from doves to turkey.

[dvnv]

I use a Remingtom 31 (pump action) in 20 guage for much of my upland game. Mostly because I think I do slightly better with it that the various SxS that I own, even though I like shooting the double barrels better.

My father and grandfather settled on SxS in 16 guage for about everything. They spent more time at it than I ever will, and I'll guess had their reasons, though they were not limited to upland game. My grandfather did use a 20 for quail. They also used low base for everything but waterfowl.

I know a couple of guys that use 410s for quail. They are both near the end of their hunting careers and are more than decent shots.

Match the shot size to the quarry, put it where it needs to be and they all work.

I'd pick a 16 if pheasants are the norm, and a 20 if not. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a 12 guage...no need for heavy loads though. dvnv

[Markbo]

I pretty much save the 12's for ducks are larger. Anything smaller, the 20's are much nicer to carry around all day!

[patdaddy]

Thanks everyone
Ive got an 870 12 ga., but its awful heavy. mabey i need a 20 ga SxS

[dmize]

I have had 3 SXS's and 2 O/U's. Plus my 870.
Try several before you buy one,I dont have the money or desire for a high dollar shotgun ie. Red Label,Gold Label or Browning so I have never even picked one up, but on the more affordable field guns there is a difference in stocks and the way they come up. A Stevens ended up working the best for me and a Mossberg works best for my son,both are O/U's.
Interestingly even tho I am not a shotgunner,I bought a really old as in 1890's English double barrel 10 ga muzzleloader to shoot at rendevouz's and THAT old turd is INCREDIBLE,honestly points just like my finger and have pulled off some amazing shots on running squirrels,rabbits and doves.

[steveb]

Patdaddy, check out www.uplandjournal.com Best bunch'a bird chasers around. Tell'em steve b sent ya. steve b

[paulg]

When I was a kid my dad had, and still has a Remington Wingmaster in 16ga. He took quail, rabbit, squirrel and ran off a few trespassers and gas thieves with that old shotgun.

[brionic]

I use a 20 gauge Hi-Standard pump with 2 3/4" 5 or 6 shot. That combination have been very pleasant to shoot and have put plenty o' meat in the pot.

[derekr]

My Grandfather was a quail hunter and he left me his quail gun. It is an old Ithaca model 37 Featherweight in 20 gauge. Very light and slick as glass. I treasue that gun.

[steveb]

There's some difference between eastern upland and western upland, bird hunting. You'll have to be more specific. Grouse and woodcock can be handled by 28 or 20ga., easily, and little to no choke. On the plains, bigger birds and more distance. The land of 12ga's.. steve b

[dougader]

On chukar and sage hens in SE Oregon I always carried a 12 gauge Remington 11-87. You never knew when a rabbit would go dashing by, either. But you do a LOT of walking, at least where I've gone with the guys near French Glenn, and a lighter gun is always welcome.

[rWt]

Aug 11, 2011 7:52:41 GMT -5 steveb said:

There's some difference between eastern upland and western upland, bird hunting. You'll have to be more specific. Grouse and woodcock can be handled by 28 or 20ga., easily, and little to no choke. On the plains, bigger birds and more distance. The land of 12ga's.. steve b

+1

In Michigan I use a 28ga for everything upland. Also take it south on quail trips. I have a 12 for waterfowl.Both SXS, But SXS are more difficult to fit right and thus can be more difficult to shoot. Hard to argue with an O/U.

Is also hard to argue with a 16 or even the one-gun 12 pump. At the age of 64 now, I try to find guns between 6-6 1/2 pounds-light enough to carry all day and not too whipy. I have 29 inch barrels on my 28 to give it more weight out front for a better follow through.

I sometimes shoot 2 1/2 inch shells in my 12ga. Essentially a 20g a load with a 12ga pattern. Open chokes are fine. The best shooting SXS I have owned was cyl/cyl and hit everything with authority, including with 2 1/2 inch loads. I have impcyl and imp mod in my 28g a and it works just fine.Use a load that's around 1150-1200 fps and you'll be fine.