7.62x39 for grouse ?

I hunt grouse every year.
I dont like using a shotgun because I dont like picking crap out of my dinner.
So far I use a .22 and its hit or miss lol :p
Ive noticed that grouse are nearly bullet proof. In the past ive put more than several .22 into a grouse before it even slowed it down. So my though was perhaps a .223 but I cant afford a new rifle atm.
I once heard a brief mention that 7.62x39 is ideal for grouse. But nothing more on that.
Non corrosive ammo would be good, or will this caliber destroy the bird ?
Im thinking my sks with a scout scope or open sights.
Also tips on finding these damn critters lol im told my area is crawling with them but I find one or two a day if that.

You want to hunt birds the size of a small chicken with a rifle capable of killing deer? Don't know about Canada but down here you can't hunt game birds with anything other than bird shot (no buckshot or rifles).

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Originally Posted by Blackcat

I hunt grouse every year.
I dont like using a shotgun because I dont like picking crap out of my dinner.
So far I use a .22 and its hit or miss lol :p
Ive noticed that grouse are nearly bullet proof. In the past ive put more than several .22 into a grouse before it even slowed it down. So my though was perhaps a .223 but I cant afford a new rifle atm.
I once heard a brief mention that 7.62x39 is ideal for grouse. But nothing more on that.
Non corrosive ammo would be good, or will this caliber destroy the bird ?
Im thinking my sks with a scout scope or open sights.
Also tips on finding these damn critters lol im told my area is crawling with them but I find one or two a day if that.

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You still have time to totally change your post before the others see it.

Looking after my boy BlackCat! :encouragement:

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Originally Posted by Blackcat

I hunt grouse every year.
I dont like using a shotgun because I dont like picking crap out of my dinner.
So far I use a .22 and its hit or miss lol :p
Ive noticed that grouse are nearly bullet proof. In the past ive put more than several .22 into a grouse before it even slowed it down. So my though was perhaps a .223 but I cant afford a new rifle atm.
I once heard a brief mention that 7.62x39 is ideal for grouse. But nothing more on that.
Non corrosive ammo would be good, or will this caliber destroy the bird ?
Im thinking my sks with a scout scope or open sights.
Also tips on finding these damn critters lol im told my area is crawling with them but I find one or two a day if that.

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(Second Response)

Yes, its perfectly fine to shoot grouse, or any other small bird with 7.62x39...as long as a muslime is holding said grouse or other small bird. .50bmg also works fine in that situation.

Blackcat, if you can't be successful on Grouse (As they drum log's to announce thier presence) I must admit that Ya'll should use Elephant rifles on Misquotes. I've eaten more grouse waylay-ed with a hand thrown rock than taken with Birdshot from a 410,16,or 20 Guage. My Grouse Suggestion is a 4 OZ rock, a pine stick of 16 inches or more, and the pocket knife of Ya'lls choice. JMHO.

Sounds to me more like a accuracy problem then a caliber problem.

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...skqwf6ocd.jpeg

If you hit a ruffed grouse in the wild with a 7.62x39 in PA you may get feathers and skin to eat. A shotgun is an instinctive weapon to be used quickly. A rifle not so much. Your way more likely to miss or hit something unintended Blackcat. Just thinking of my time out in the thick viney stuff they like to hang in and spring up with a God awful noise when your about to step on them. Gone in the blink of an eye.

What!
A 410 works just fine. A Mossberg 500E with a 24" vent rib barrel is just the ticket for getting grouse. YMMV

Come on, 18 inches of 410 is more than enough for grouse zigzaging through the pine stands. Put it on them while they are drumming the timber, a stick or rock is more than enough.If Ya'll are good enough you can ring their necks before the wingbeats end.

.22 is legal here no worries. Lots of folks hunt grouse with them. But yes gone in the blink of an eye is what I find.
I cant see them on the ground the grass is too tall. They take flight and I figure 2-3 seconds and they are gone into the thick brush.
My only luck has been when they are in the open and thats by chance. In which case no problem getting them.
Im told by locals a .22 is fine but id rather have something a little more effective.
I have a 12 guage remington with 28" vent rib... Would that work ?
Again... Unless im starving I really hate crap from a shotgun in my game. Is it even possible to shoot game birds and not have them full of shot ?

As a child my Grandfather shoot Canadian Geese on the Mississippi during November with a 22 Short, I swam out and retrieved them. We ate good. When I grew to be a Man I had to hunt those same geese with Steel shot and a 12 Gauge by Law, and Fido hit the River to Fetch them home. It became a delicacy. Grandpa accused me of wasting money using a 12 Gauge shell on a GOOSE. I have no reasonable argument that I was ever able to engage with my Grandfather. Now what reason do you have to hunt Grouse with anything other than a rock or stick?

I would recommend something smaller, lighter. I have used my Dad's 20 gauge Parker s x s. Great grouse gun. Quick handling, instinctive. Dad was way better at it than I ever was. Then again he survived fighting the Japanese as a Marine in the Solomon's.

Personally I use my .50 cal Cva Optima inline muzzle-loader with a power belt ballistic tip and a 100 grain powder charge. One shot one kill. I just shoot for the beak and if I miss the concussion knocks them out long enough to retrive then hit them in the head with the synthetic buttstock. No waste of meat that way.

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Originally Posted by M118LR

As a child my Grandfather shoot Canadian Geese on the Mississippi during November with a 22 Short, I swam out and retrieved them. We ate good. When I grew to be a Man I had to hunt those same geese with Steel shot and a 12 Gauge by Law, and Fido hit the River to Fetch them home. It became a delicacy. Grandpa accused me of wasting money using a 12 Gauge shell on a GOOSE. I have no reasonable argument that I was ever able to engage with my Grandfather. Now what reason do you have to hunt Grouse with anything other than a rock or stick?

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Skill haha... Seriously though its a skill I would also like to develop. Unfortunatly its the same as with a gun... If I cant see them in the tall grass I cant hit them. Theres about 2-3 seconds as they are in flight then they are gone again. Also ive noticed when they flush it always seems to be within 10-20 yards in my experience.

I can follow them and generally track them to wherever they land but then they vanish again till I get close and they fly away again.
If I could figure out how to spot them and sneak up without frightening them a stick would be good. That sort of tracking amd stalking is what id like to know more about. But seems like a difficult thing to figure out.

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Originally Posted by Blackcat

Skill haha... Seriously though its a skill I would also like to develop. Unfortunatly its the same as with a gun... If I cant see them in the tall grass I cant hit them. Theres about 2-3 seconds as they are in flight then they are gone again. Also ive noticed when they flush it always seems to be within 10-20 yards in my experience.

I can follow them and generally track them to wherever they land but then they vanish again till I get close and they fly away again.
If I could figure out how to spot them and sneak up without frightening them a stick would be good. That sort of tracking amd stalking is what id like to know more about. But seems like a difficult thing to figure out.

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You have to wear moccasins and walk like a Indian.

Not sure what province you are in but in Sask it is illegal to hunt an upland game bird with a center fire rifle; only rimfire rifles or shotgun. Migratory game birds are shotgun only and steel shot. I hunt grouse with a 22 all the time. Headshots only. Sounds like you need to practice more or need a more accurate rifle. They are a delicate bird and don't take much to kill.

STOP, STOP RIGHT NOW... a 7.63 round hitting the ground will bounce.. is there any chance there are other hunters around???????

I would NEVER EVER bird hunt with you if you were using a rifle/// even a .22- how would you know if the was not somebody on the other side of the bushes...

If I knew you were within a mile of me..I would leave the woods

AGAIN..STOP, DO NOT PASS GO

If you were hunting were you can see a long long long ways or KNOW there are no others in front of you.. .22 is fine

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Originally Posted by Maine-Marine

STOP, STOP RIGHT NOW... a 7.63 round hitting the ground will bounce.. is there any chance there are other hunters around???????

I would NEVER EVER bird hunt with you if you were using a rifle/// even a .22- how would you know if the was not somebody on the other side of the bushes...

If I knew you were within a mile of me..I would leave the woods

AGAIN..STOP, DO NOT PASS GO

If you were hunting were you can see a long long long ways or KNOW there are no others in front of you.. .22 is fine

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Nobody around here nope. Nearest neighbour from me is several kilometres/miles offgrid living in tents. Once you get to the sealed road from my place its give or take an hour to the nearest signs of life. Not an open flat area either its all steep mountains. Nothing here will travel terribly far unless im aiming at clouds. Certainly anything ive ever shot at here hasnt travelled more than 100 yards and that was what I was aiming at. All of them also hunt grouse with a .22. Im completely sure its legal in my area. Rimfire anyway but I think cdell is correct about centerfire for game birds now that I think about it. So... .22 or shotgun I guess it is. Or sticks and stones.

What....it sounded you said 7.62x39 for Grouse but that can't be. Say it again please....

use bigger shot maybe like #4 or something?
maybe a 22 mag?

Haha yes thats correct 7.62x39 lol. Im not using this... It was a question :p My first thought was .223
But I dont have anything in that caliber. .22 works for locals but not so much for me. I would rather not use a shotgun but if I have too... Well that works.

A .22 mag now thats a possibility... I believe thats what the previois owner of this place used.
#4 buck... Possibly. See I like to hunt and eat game bird but nobody in my family touches it because weve all had bad experiences biting down on stray shot. Im trying to avoid that unless im actually starving. When I run this by other hunters in my region they are usually a bit surprised that anyone would use a shotgun around here.

I like to fix bayonet on the old No.1 MkIII...that way you have the option to shoot them as they fly if you miss your bayonet stroke. 'Course, it's a little unwieldy in the piney woods but since we're talking grouse with a SKS (BTW, do you have the underfolding bayonet or the stick-on kind? I think the stick-on kind are little pointier, guess it depends on whether you are a thruster or a slasher), I'm guessing we are actually talking about the most sportin way of going about it. Sure, anyone can knock over a grouse with rock or a stick, or maybe even a head shot with a .22 pistol...but flyin'? With a SKS? C'mon, it doesn't get much more sportin than that. We are talking those stupid blue grouse, right? The ones that fly ten feet after you spook them? Give you plenty of chances to snuff em? Head shots, OK, but give them the bayonet option. You'll be glad you did. Because the prairie chickens around here will not at all ever give you a chance to throw a rock at em and kill em. No way. You don't even know they are there until they've scared the daylights out of you and are long gone out of range before you can get your composure back and get off a shot. Even over dogs, sometimes. Worse than dang pheasants. A nice little 20 ga upland gun is perfect. Why carry a heavy 12 around all day if you aren't going to shoot it?

Yeah lmao its the dumb ones. Ive heard the prairie ones are more difficult. The local ones often commit suicide under peoples truck tires.
You could hit them with a stick. But again where I am its all thick brush and waist level grass. I tend to lose sight of these buggers pretty quick.
A 20 guage would be nice.

Ya know, there's the old burlap sack and stick approach...when all else fails.

Burlap sack ? I can see using a stick but whats the sack for, to put the chicken in ?

I sense a snipe hunt....

Over the years I've use everything from a stick to a 30-06,on grouse, that includes bows, rocks and slingshots. I honestly don't know what works best for you, yet a 7.62x39 seems like overkill. Then agan... everybodys style is a bit different.

What I do know is that a sweet and slender 500E Mossberg has claimed a lot of grouse for me over the years. What can I say, other that a 500E is sexy hehehe...anyway that's my fluffy/tasty bird killing gun...and so far it has worked marvelously. YMMV

I kind of figured 7.62x39 was overkill myself thats why I asked lol. Idk... Decisions. I cant say any of my guns are great for grouse but they seem to be what everyone else around here is using. I think I posted something similar a few years ago someplace. Ive seen grouse take several shots point blank from a .22 and keep going. (No they werent a miss :p ) If I were to use a rifle I think a want a bit more power to get a clean kill.
A shotgun would work well I may go that rout.
A .22 mag might also be decent.
The previous owner of this place left all sorts of ammo around. .22 mag and those .22 bird shot rounds. Its like a regular .22 but its loaded up with bird shot. I gather he used those for grouse and rabbits.

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Originally Posted by cdell

Not sure what province you are in but in Sask it is illegal to hunt an upland game bird with a center fire rifle; only rimfire rifles or shotgun. Migratory game birds are shotgun only and steel shot. I hunt grouse with a 22 all the time. Headshots only. Sounds like you need to practice more or need a more accurate rifle. They are a delicate bird and don't take much to kill.

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if you want more power in a bullet, why not go for a .17 hmr..its a rimfire round ;)

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Originally Posted by hawgrider

Personally I use my .50 cal Cva Optima inline muzzle-loader with a power belt ballistic tip and a 100 grain powder charge. One shot one kill. I just shoot for the beak and if I miss the concussion knocks them out long enough to retrive then hit them in the head with the synthetic buttstock. No waste of meat that way.

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Y'all realize the above is my attempt at sarcasm. I know of
no bird hunters in meatchicken that use anything but a shoutgun. You freaking Canadians are goofy! Funny thread though.

Well, I've been told that during the Korean Conflict one Old Army Platoon Sargent used a Water Cooled Machine Gun on Pheasant. Unfortunately he didn't lead it enough so he only managed to start a small brush fire with the Tracer Rounds. So I can't relay how effective the 50 Cal is for Bird Hunting. But it has been used overseas anyway. LOL

It could work, and after you harvest a few, you can determine the effectiveness of it for yourself. If it blows a big hole through the bird and the meat, don't fret, it may still be a workable solution.
It just depends upon how destructive it is, what it leaves intact, versus what is destroyed. You are the judge on that one, if it works OK, then you have a good method.
PS:: When you can afford a new rifle, get a .22 MAGNUM. I have seen one punch a hole through a mild steel plate. After seeing that, I traded my TC Contender for it.
Something just like this will kill grouse, and with every shot shot you should get you a bird. You will have as happy as can be with it. You can use solid or HP, then figure out which works best, after you shoot a few of them.
PSS: I am giving honorable mention to the .17 HMR too, and I have never fired one. But, the numbers are there and everything that I have read about it, sounds good. It should punch right through a grouse.

Attachment 13121
This one is priced at $220, that is cheap, and it is an excellent brand name to boot.
Up for sale we have this Mossberg model 142A .22 bolt action rifle. This rifle has a Tasco 4x40 scope already mounted. The metal on this rifle is all chrome plated and in good condition. The writing however is a little worn. The wood stock is in good shape with only a couple of small dings and scratches. Bore is clean.
http://www.armslist.com/posts/464062...w--scope--1157

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Originally Posted by hawgrider

Y'all realize the above is my attempt at sarcasm. I know of
no bird hunters in meatchicken that use anything but a shoutgun. You freaking Canadians are goofy! Funny thread though.

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LoL I did get the sarcasm haha you're right we are goofy. Wait till you see what we can do with a frozen beaver ;)
Speaking of beavers... One ate the bridge to my shooting range. Ive got to get that fixed today before the snow flies.

.17hmr thats another one I didnt think of. It looks good, up there with .22mag im going to do some research on these calibers a bit thanks!