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Member Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 1863 Location: Wisconsin

As told by the author of an article with a similar name, is a 16 gauge SxS. The article is in the July 2015 issue of Sporting Clays. There; he said it, I believe it, and that settles it. Reno

That's all I use and I use the same gun for grouse, woodcock, pheasant, quail, chukar and small elephants. I have some 12 and 20's but I haven't used them in years. I have to pick my shots on pheasant and any long shot because my SxS is choked Cyl and a small amount of choke in the left barrel. Given the fact I spend more of my time grouse hunting it works well.

Now I would opine that the best grouse gun is the one you can hit them with, regardless of ga or choke.

Good Hunting,
Mike

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 247 Location: Wickenburg, AZ

This story was posted on another site and is worth reading

THE FIVE FOR FIVE GUN

Some years back, just after the second big war, there was a rather elite Grouse Club over in Michigan, called the Five for Five Club. To earn membership, you had to go out with five shells in your pocket, and come home with five Grouse. Any experienced Grouse hunter, will tell you five birds for five shells expended, is almost impossible, without a little luck, and few have ever been so lucky.
At a luncheon one day, was privileged to set at the table with the only Lady that had ever earned membership in the Five for Five Club. My first question to her, after congratulations, was what kind of Grouse Gun would one need to make five for five possible ? I expected her answer to be some kind of expensive double I couldn’t afford. But to my surprise, her Grouse gun was an early nickel steel Winchester M-1912 plain barrel pump gun, in 16GA with a full choke ? ? ?
Next question was why the M-12, when I was sure she could afford the expensive double if she wanted one ? Her answer was that the double might be a little more stylish around the club house, but she did not know anyone who had achieved five for five with a double. She went on to explain, a double gun has a rib, and a rib forces you to sight a shotgun, as if you were shooting a rifle. This slows your shot. And many doubles are equipped with a selective trigger, and trying to decide what barrel you are going to shoot first, when a Grouse gets up, can slow your shot to the point you can’t get a shot off. And a double may not throw the shot pattern where you are looking, or where you are sighting, at least not with both barrels.
A nickel steel M-12 in 20/16 GA on the other hand weighs no more than a light double. And the nickel steel M-12 is the best balanced, best pointing, best fitting shot gun in the world, period, regardless of cost. She went on to explain, When a Grouse gets up, turns on his after burner and takes off, your M-12 comes to shoulder, you watch the Grouse, follow him with your eyes, you have no conscious awareness of sighting at the Grouse, you are not aware that you made the shot, pulled the trigger, but you must have, you heard the shot, felt the recoil, saw feathers fly, saw the Grouse fall. But this sequence of events that you know must have taken place, is only dream like. You were in perfect control of the gun, but it was like the gun was in control of you. Then she said this is difficult to explain, you have to experience it to understand it.
I asked about the full choke ? Did she like to let the Grouse get out aways before she shot ? No, she said if you waited to let a Grouse get out aways, there was a good chance you couldn’t get a shot off. When a Grouse got up, she always got a shot off. But this meant she often shot right through brush or leaves. She liked the Full, IM or Mod choke, because brush and leaves destroys some shot pattern. With the tighter chokes, she still had enough pattern left to bring old ruff down.

If it's not true, it ought to be.

Member Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 1863 Location: Wisconsin

Great story Walt, I wish I had been there. Reno

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1975 Location: Maine

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3184 Location: NCWa

Ah, a 16 SxS is only part of the answer- the real question is: Which 16 SxS?

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Usually, the one left at home.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1391 Location: Denver, Colorado

My perfect ruffed grouse gun. 16 English boxlock, 5lbs14, Circa 1906.

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AM wrote, "Ah, a 16 SxS is only part of the answer- the real question is: Which 16 SxS?"

So true and I hope that those of you searching for the perfect SxS will find it, I did. Very Happy

AM wrote, "Ah, a 16 SxS is only part of the answer- the real question is: Which 16 SxS?"

So true and I hope that those of you searching for the perfect SxS will find it, I did. Very Happy

Joined: 19 Apr 2014 Posts: 431 Location: Maine

With your favorite 16 SxS and your faithful bird dog it doesn't matter, you look good even when you miss.

Joined: 07 Aug 2013 Posts: 163 Location: Utah

Bill, I love the look of your SIACE. Very Happy

Very pretty gun and I don't even like S x S's. To shoot that is.

That one is particularly friendly looking, something like.........grouse, a setter, a glass of smooth bourbon and a fireplace in December.........maybe a few of jschultz's brass shells..

I'm not that classy........but if I was.....