What size shot for Ruffed Grouse?

[bogwalker]

I usually use 6 shot. What do you use?

[Archerysniper]

7-1/2 or 8's in the 1-1/8 ounce loads

[Redlantern]

I shoot steel for grouse so I use 6's. If I were to go back to lead, I'd use 7-1/2's.

[walleye365]

i start with 8's as it thins out i go to 6 shot

[Matt Breuer]

I shoot 7.5 shot, 1 1/8th oz. Federal's.

[lovebigbluegills]

6's for me

[gritsnham]

Use 7.5 shot with a 12 ga you guys notice a lot of difference with the 1 and 1/8 oz shot?

[rwwong]

6

[CANOPY SAM]

7.5 shot, 1 1/8th oz. out of a 16 ga. Ithaca Featherlite. Use it for ruffies and sharpies. Full choke patterns nicely for me. Brand of shells doesn't seem to matter with these light loads.

[PerchJerker]

7.5 or 8 shot, usually in light target loads. 7.5 in express loads later in the season.

[certified jumbo]

8's.

[mixxedbagg]

Eric,

I shoot steel for grouse as well. Are you concerned about ricochet in rocky areas? I think about it sometimes when I'm on a trail that runs along a rock outcrop or has large boulders around.

[Fins-n-feathers]

I usually use high base 7 1/2

[Ely Lake Expert]

I use 7 1/2 standard trap load

[Redlantern]

Hey Mixxed, I haven't had any trouble with the ricochet, yet. Not sure if it's something to be really concerned about or not. I've been hit with ricochet bullets when I was in the service so to me that means that lead still will bounce. Granted, bullets travel at much more velocity than a shotshell but then again, if the shot is traveling at a slower speed, it probably won't ricochet as far. I'm no ballistics expert. I just don't like the idea of my daughters eating lead and I figure the cost of shooting steel is pretty negligible compared to their health. I have a feeling that lead will be banned in the future. I think it is already in some WMA's.

[Bobby Bass]

I shoot a side by side so I run 8's thru the mod side and 6's thru the full when "I want to reach out and touch somebody"

[varmithtr]

Federal upland load, 7 1/2

[JRedig]

Eric,

I shoot steel for grouse as well. Are you concerned about ricochet in rocky areas? I think about it sometimes when I'm on a trail that runs along a rock outcrop or has large boulders around.

I shoot steel as well, haven't had that problem...yet...usually shoot 6's.

[Hd Wtr Hillbilly]

7.5 early season and 6 shot when leaves fall

[mixxedbagg]

Thanks. I'm concerned enough that I always wear safety glasses when I hunt, even though I find wearing glasses or sunglasses of any kind to be generally irritating.

I do it for the same reason as you...I don't want to expose my son (or myself for that matter) to lead.

[bogwalker]

Expose yourself to lead? How would that happen?

[mixxedbagg]

Huh? I'm saying that I choose to shoot nontoxic shot because I'd rather not have lead shot in my game. I do my best to dig out the shot anyway, but sometimes you miss one.

[Redlantern]

Mixxed, same here.

[Lunker]

7, 7 1/2, or 8.

I'll throw a 6 in my full choke barrel now and then if I'm getting longer shots.

[Pinusbanksiana]

Two things struck me as I read this thread. One, you guys who shoot steel because you don't want to eat lead, don't you look your game over and extract the lead shot? I know some are hard to find but I guess I would rather bite down on a lead shot than a steel shot. And two, full choke for grouse? I shoot skeet chokes in both barrels for grouse. Most everyone I know has real open chokes for grouse.