Stan,
It isn't a meat trip for me. Early in the season grouse and woodcock hunting is largely a spectator sport. I get a few shot at birds, but, it isn't terribly important to shoot at every bird, and won't happen anyway. Bringing one gun is a very good idea, it lessens the chance of theft, either from the vehicle, or the tin shack I stay at, which, is a possiblility in the neighborhood. My Dad taught me that bringing only one gauge of gun was a great idea, I've just taken it to the next level with but one gun.
The 20 is a recent gun, comfortable and easy to carry. As I said, I got some birds, missed some others. I could have done worse.
I'll use a gun with more open chokes this year, but, a little secret between you and I is I doubt I'll bring a bunch more birds home, and, I'm OK with that. I haven't killed more than a brace of grouse in a day in a long time, more than enough for me. Catching dinner with Lloyd, and the time spent afield with him, and the pooch and sometimes, our kids, is maybe just a bit more important to me than how many I got. It isn't that I'm lazy, I just enjoy the whole trip, and I honestly could make it work without a gun if I had to.
Best,
Ted
Yours is an admirable attitude, which I can appreciate. Moreover, I never suspected otherwise. It just seems a little late to start patterning it and deciding it is choked too tight, after using it for the "last few seasons", however many that is. You measured the muzzles' i.d.s and felt comfortable they were in the IC and Mod range. Did you not consider that to be mighty tight for under 25 yard shooting, even
without pattern verification? I would have just thought you would have been suspicious of too tight patterns before now. If it is worth shooting patterns to evaluate now, it should have been worth it before hunting it, I would think.
I guess I just don't understand the late motivation. Anyway, better late than never.
All the best, SRH
