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Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 190 Location: Washington State

Some months ago I acquired a vintage 870 in 16ga. It's a plain Jane for sure but it turns out she does the job just fine. That's when the end that is breathing is working right.

Second morning out I'm rounding a bend in the road and I spot a big fat blue grouse. As I get closer it starts getting jittery and does it's thing, swing, BANG, dead grouse. About the time I'm congratulating myself his first partner departs the nearby brush and I don't even get a bead on him and the second one takes off. Now I'm stunned and can't figure which one to shoot first when numbers three and four also take flight, swing, BANG, miss. Swing, BANG, miss. Again,

Four empty hulls, one grouse. Dang! At least the 16 works on the metal and wooden end.

Over the four days of hunting I saw lots of birds, mostly in very tight cover, and often running their butts off in all directions. All total I brought down 4 Ruffed and the one Blue.

My greatest surprise was that I saw very few hunters. I felt that was odd due to the fact the opener was on a weekend. I'm hoping it remains like that but I'm not holding my breath. We'll see in a couple of weeks when I head back up.

Great pic! Thanks for sharing, you're making me very very antsy to get out into the woods.

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

Looks like the previous owner took good care of that Wingmaster for you.

Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA

Well Done! I've been dying for some new reading material.

It looks like I'm still at least three weeks away from getting into the field.

Keep us updated on your next adventure.

Best,

Fernando

Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 190 Location: Washington State

Roper: An inspirational photo and post. Hope to get out for grouse this weekend when I check my huckleberry patch in the high Cascades. I almost always see ruffs and blues on the way up there.
By the way, what's that sweet-looking 870 weigh?

I have an 870/16, not quite as vintage as his piece. Mine was made in 1962. It is also Modified with a 28" barrel. I just set it on my Digital scale and it came in at 6.12#. I was surprised I thought it weighted more than that. Of course it was not loaded.

The piece I have is like new, it was a safe queen for all these years. The original owner who I purchased the piece form used it on one pheasant hunt and it had less than a box of shells thru it.

Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 72 Location: UTAH

Nice pic. I need to figure out how to post pics. My four boys and I went out for the opener of the Utah grouse hunt two weeks ago. We bagged 7 nice blues and 6 ruffies. A very good opener for us. Next weekend we'll be looking for sage chickens and chukars! Wink

Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 72 Location: UTAH

Well......that didn't work. Any help with this issue would be appreciated.

Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 72 Location: UTAH

Well, I headed up the mountain to chase Blues again today. I was able to drop three nice Blues right before dark. Dang I love bird hunting!! Laughing

Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 10 Location: N.E. Michigan

Roper, I have a modified choke in my favorite grouse gun, 1940, 16 ga. Model 12. I tried some of the Poly Wad Spreader loads, that I originally bought for my full choke 2 9/16" chamber, 1923, Model 12. These are available in #6, 7 1/2 & 8 shot. These loads are great for tighter choked guns, in the brush for grouse and woodcock and for the first shot over a pointing dog in the field for pheasants. They are a little pricey but I think there great for the few shots a year I'll be using them for the first or second round in the magazine.