doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Are 12 gauges dead now?

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I do appreciate the responses. Both guns are choked about .008 and .018. When I hunt ruffed grouse in dense cover I often use spreaders in the left barrel.

I am thinking of using the same on the quail, #7.5 shot.

Ought to do it?

My opinion is they ought to work great.

I am a shotgun nerd. I shoot 8s in the right chamber and 7s in the left so that averages out to 7-1/2s!

Best,

Mike

Thank you all for your helpful info!

Gnomon, are they going to be released or wild birds? I have hunted "buhds" most of my life down here. A 20 is fine, nothing bigger is needed even if the birds are wild. If wild, I would recommend a skeet and i/c. One reason is, this is your first go at it, and wild birds will get on out there pretty quick on you if you're not used to covey rises. If released, a cylinder and skeet, or two skeets. The released birds rarely get up and go like wild birds. Occasionally you will find released birds that came from captivity where they had long flight pens. They will fly much better.

Hope you enjoy it. Where are you going to be hunting, if you don't mind my asking?

Stan

Stan, thanks for advice. Makes sense. I have hunted grouse and woodcock in dense New England cover for many years and am used to fast rises. I also hunt pheasant and recently hunted ptarmigan in the sub-arctic. I used a 20 gauge on the ptarmigan. For many years I used a XXV on the grouse with great success and more recently a Merkel 1620.

As you know, grouse in dense cover are very vexing. Rarely a second shot!

I am going on my first Georgia quail hunt in a few weeks down at Southwind Plantation in Bainbridge Georgia. I'll be shipping my gun down and will probably take the 20 ga AyA. For some reason they seem to want to discourage anything larger. I don't understand the reason but they said something about concern for the dogs. I don't get it.

But I suppose I'll find out!

An .008/.018 20g wouldn't make me feel the least bit disadvantaged.

You might check with them on the use of spreaders, as I've heard guys here worry about their dogs when spreaders are used. They may have their own policy. I've never used them and with that choking, I wouldn't feel any need for them.

Chuck- good point- I'll check with them first.

Since this is the first time I'm going there they may be a bit leery but I have never before heard their degree of paranoia re the dogs. They must have had some real yahoos shooting there.

I think you'll enjoy Southwind. Its about an 60 miles east of me. They hunt some beautiful longleaf pine/wiregrass woods. You're AYA will make a fine "bird" gun. A lot of plantations are weird about big bore guns. Some look down upon a 12ga and some won't even allow them. The 20ga is the traditional "gentleman's" quail gun down here (with 28ga becoming increasingly popular) and some places think its a sin to shoot birds with anything but. At New Years, we hunted at a plantation near Albany and I had to put to put my gauge reducers in my favorite 12-bore.... even though my light 12ga loads were equal to a standard 20ga. load.

Have fun on your hunt and be sure to post photos!

Adam

Funny, I've hunted South/Southeast Georgia several times. Always carried my Weatherby 12g O/U with light #8 loads and no one ever raised an eyebrow. Wonder if the perception has changed in the last few years, it's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to hunt...

Adam - thank you for the insight. While they didn't come right out and tell me I couldn't use the 16, it was pretty clear what they meant. I shoot the AyA 20 ga as well as any gun I have but like my 16 ga a lot.

I won't take ammo with me - I'll just buy theirs.

I appreciate you telling me this. Don't want to get off on the wrong foot!