good loads for grouse?

I use 7 1/2's. 8s should be fine. Doesn't take much to take one down, if you can get a shot off AND if you can hit it.

We went for a 2 day ruffed grouse hunt this last weekend with the Ruffed Grouse Society in PA. My buddy and I hunted 20 miles, flushed 45, had shots on about 15 and took 3.

I love grouse hunting.
 
I usaully use dove loads, or the 270 to the head or neck when no scattergun is available. You dont need a real heavy load for grouse.
 
I live in Michigan. Most folks use 7 1/2 shot, but the 8 should work fine in a three inch. Most use the 2 3/4 in 7 1/2. I have a over and under. I run the bottom barrel with a cly choke and 7 1/2, and the top imp with 6 shot. The shots here are really close and fast. That cly choke works great up close if your by them they come down. Most folks run to tight of chokes, and they will say they dont get much on the wing, but that is why to tight and you need to be right on. A good general choke is a med or improved. Like most .410's are choked full because of the small amount of bb's in them, and most kids or women dont get much with them. I got my wife a side by side choked improved, and med. I had my doubts till I tryed it on some skeet I was very surprized at the results. It works great for her with the grouse.
 
I usually use a 22LR for grouse, but if I was to pick up a shotgun I would stuff a handful of 7-1/2s in it, maybe 6s. They're pretty easy to kill.
 
I grew up using #6's and they worked fine. I never really much used anything else and the thought of using something else never entered my mind because I'm happy with the #6's.

NikonHunter
 
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