I've personally killed a bunch over the years, bolt-action 16ga, 16ga sxs converted from MZL, 410 sxs, 20ga sxs, a couple 12ga O/U Skeet guns, a sawed off 12ga single, a Berretta 300th Anniversary MZL single shot 22 and trapline 22LR pistols. Growing up ruffed grouse were a staple and a game bird. As a kid my dad had bird dogs and a trip up to the grouse woods was worthy of taking me out of school for a week. Birds were never shot on the ground only on the wing and preferable over a point or flushed by the dog. Around the house targets of opportunity were taken with a JG Higgins single shot 22lr. I have fond memories of those days.
I ran remote traplines over northern MN and WI grouse supplemented a diet of beaver and muskrat meat mostly taken with the trapline gun (Lamma XXII and S&W 34)often on the ground. The pelts didn't prime up till Nov. so Sept and October were dedicated to birds on the wing over pointers and spaniels. My wife at the time shot a 870 skeet gun untill I bought her a Ithaca 37 Ultra-feather light English, her dad a Rem 31 Skeet gun, her mom a LC Smith sxs, and me a Ithaca SKB 100 opened to SK&SK, my German shorthair and his Brittanies.
Now my goto is a 5 lb. 15 oz Italian 12ga sxs.
