Question on grouse

[moetzmoe]

I backpack into high country wilderness areas and hunt deer and elk with a muzzleloader.

I need a compact and quiet weapon to take the grouse encountered almost daily to cook in camp and think a quality air pistol may be the answer.

Does anyone have an idea?

Thanks

 

[JungleShooter]

I have never had the chance to hunt grouse so far, but what you're doing up in the wilderness sounds very cool!

A few questions to clarify:
(1) What impact energy (not muzzle energy) do you need on grouse? (For headshots the necessary impact energy is negligible, for body shots a different story.)
(2) What caliber would you consider minimum?
(3) What would be the outer limit where you'd want to attempt a shot?


The reason I'm asking is that it seems to me you're hoping to get 3 things in one airgun that are mutually exclusive :
▪ Short (pistol!)
▪ Quiet
▪ Powerful (to be confirmed upon your answers to the questions above)



Most of my own airgun purchases suffer from similar high expectations like your grouse gun quest!
To help me and other understand this predicament I made up a little infographic.

It's message: You need to lower one of your 3 requirements somewhat.

The infographic includes some remedies — tips and tricks how you can still get pretty much what you want.



➔ Once the power/ caliber/ range questions are clear we can look for specific guns that could work. I have some ideas.

Matthias

 

[dogz]

Walther P22 with the 3" barrel with birdshot is what I carry, plus I normally carry one clip with hp's in case I run into something a bit bigger than a grouse that needs encouragement to seek like elsewhere

 

[redchinviking]

This was my solution. Ruger Mark IV tactical lite with a suppressor in .22LR. Weighs under a pound and very quiet. I take it with me elk hunting and never hesitate to shoot it even when we're close to elk. With subsonic ammo it will not cycle but I'm ok with a single shot and it sounds like a pellet gun!-) this thing is sooo much fun. I was able to head shot a pile of grouse this last season. No damage to breast meat is awesome

 

[3chester]

Wrist rocket sling shot and a glass marble, olive oil, chili seasoning mix, frying pan, sharp knife.

 

[quigley257]

Amazon product ASIN B00TEACFXWI have shot enough grouse with my 1377 to know that they are accurate and powerful enough to do the job. They also offer a buttstock so you could configure it as a carbine or a pistol(since they're not considered a firearm). Here is a set that includes scope mounts.

Amazon product ASIN B00ZBONFO8

 

[26Reload]

Taken some with the Crosman pellet gun in .177....but it gets loud....
I you have a ruger single six and use the non-powdered rounds there is basically no noise.....
Head shooting grouse out to 10 yards is quite possible.....plus extra rounds in case ya miss.......
I have eaten many from this combination...
They also have the heavy .22 bullets that are subsonic that will go thru grouse bodies....

 

[HSmithTX]

I've killed more grouse with rocks than with a gun..... That said a 22 rifle with shorts is plenty quiet and I have shot a bunch with them.

 

[codyadams]

I have killed a lot with a Crossman 2240 co2 pistol. Works well in 22 cal, accurate enough, about 30-40 shots per co2, plenty for a hunt, relatively light and pretty cheap. Slightly on the loud side however, almost as loud as a cb short .22 rimfire.

The most effective solution would be a supressed 22 pistol with standard velocity loads, however expensive, and some added weight depending upon setup.

If your willing to practice a lot, the quietest/cheapest/lightest solution is a cold steel take down blow gun. Send a broadhead through the vitals, and it works pretty well. I tried the wrist rocket thing, and never was good enough to be effective consistently. A blow gun was easier to be accurate with, at least for me.

 

[cohunt]

Check your state hunting regs-- some won't allow air guns at all

 

[brcfo_outdoors]

in CA it is legal to use airguns of any caliber on grouse. Additionally, sooty and ruffed grouse are the only upland game birds that can be taken with a pistol or rifle (ie. rimfire).

§311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game.

The take or attempted take of any resident small game with a firearm shall be in accordance with the use of nonlead projectiles and ammunition pursuant to Section 250.1. Only the following may be used to take resident small game:

• (a) Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller using shot shells only and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is used to reduce the capacity of a magazine to fulfill the requirements of this section, the plug must be of one piece construction incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.
• (b) Shotgun shells may not be used or possessed that contain shot size larger than No. BB, except that shot size larger than No. 2 may not be used or possessed when taking wild turkey. All shot shall be loose in the shell.
• (c) Muzzle-loading shotguns.
• (d) Falconry.
• (e) Bow and arrow (see Section 354 for archery equipment regulations).
  • (1) It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey by use of hunting arrows and crossbow bolts unless fitted with a broad head type blade which will not pass through a hole seven-eighths inch in diameter. Mechanical/retractable broadheads shall be measured in the open position.
• (f) Air rifles powered by compressed air or gas and used with any caliber of pellet, except that wild turkey may only be taken with a pellet that is at least 0.177 caliber.
• (g) In addition to the methods listed in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above, firearm rifles and pistols may be used for taking rabbits and squirrels only; except in Los Angeles County where rifles and pistols may not be used.
• (h) In San Diego and Orange counties only, rabbits may be taken at any time during the open season by means of box traps. Such traps shall not exceed 24 inches in any dimension, shall be tended at least once every 24 hours, and shall show the name and address of the trap owner. All rabbits taken under this section shall be immediately killed and become a part of the daily bag limit.
• (i) Electronic or mechanically-operated calling or sound-reproducing devices are prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds.
• (j) Coursing dogs may be used to take rabbits.
• (k) Archers hunting during any archery season may not use or possess a firearm while in the field engaged in archery hunting during an archery season except as provided in subsection (k)(1).
  • (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the lawful possession of a concealed firearm by an active peace officer listed in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3, of Part 2 of the Penal Code or a retired peace officer in lawful possession of an identification certificate issued pursuant to Penal Code Section 25445 authorizing the retired officer to carry a concealed firearm. Nor shall this section prohibit the lawful possession of a concealed firearm pursuant to a concealed carry permit issued pursuant to Penal Code sections 26150 or 26155.
• (l) The use of live decoys is prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds.
• (m) Pistols and revolvers may be used to take sooty and ruffed grouse in those counties only and for the season described in Section 300(a)(1)(E).
• (n) Crossbows, except for provisions of Section 354(d) and (g).
• (o) Dogs may be used to take and retrieve resident small game.

 

[Scott E Ames]

Crossman makes a pump pellet pistol that is around $75. You won't need a long range system for grouse. I shot 5 out of the same tree with my bow a few years back. range was about 15 yards. They all just looked at their fallen buddies like "why are you doing that?". When it got down to 3 left they flew off. Found 3 of the arrows in an opening about 200 yards away. They really taste great after a long day of elk hunting !!
The Crossman pistol is plenty accurate to take care of any short range work like that. You can experiment with the # of pumps to adjust the noise and accuracy to meet your needs.

Amazon product ASIN B00TEACIIO

 

[Scott E Ames]

OOPS
Quigly257 beat me to it while I was typing.
I would go with the 22 caliber if you are going to use reduced pumps to quiet things down. It will give you a little more "thump".

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

I use CB caps in a ruger single six, although finding CB caps might be a challenge.