Crow Shotguns some odd number

[M Jager]

Well with all Dave's excellent "X" shotguns 101 treads going on, I figured its only fair that the "crow shotguns" get there time in the spot light.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to crow shotguns.
A. Light weight for fast handling
B. Heavier weight for less recoil durring sustained shooting.
Pumps and autos have deffinate avantages in crow shooting because high capacity is the name of the game. Mag extentions are legal most places and if you shoot well with one the extra shells can't hurt.
Barrel lenghts normally run from 24-30 inches and chokes modified to i.c. Better shooters sometimes use full to get a touch more range but tight chokes can be a handicap on close birds. 7.5 shot is most popular but 8's and even 9's work well also.
For what its worth, Bob A from Kansas has the record for most lifetime crows with over 100 grand, many if not most of which fell to a 870 twenty gauge. I believe he shoots benelli autos now.
Personally, I have shot crows with about ever popular pump made-Ithaca, Remington, Winchester, Browning, Win Mod 12, Mossburg, Benelli in gauges running from 20 through 10. Autos include- Rem 1100, Beretta 390, Browning A-5, and maybe a couple others I have forgotten.
I have also used over unders, but two shots and an empty gun isn't much fun when the shooting heats up.
Honestly, crow hunting gives one the oppurtunity to use their favorate firearms and get challenging wingshooting in during the off season. But be warned, it may start in the off season but it becomes an obsession that makes you forget about all those "other seasons."
Matt

 

[Dave McCracken]

Matt, good thread. Crows are found everywhere, are abundant, offer challenging targets, and are smarter than they should be. They also eat game bird and raptor eggs. The official name for a flock of crows is a Murder of crows.

Most folks I know do not have a dedicated crow shotgun. They use a GP shotgun and have fun. I like Full myself for the range, especially if hunting with another fellow with an open choke. He takes them close, I take them further out.

Shells used tend to be what's on hand. Usually that's 8s or 7 1/2s. I have used 6s to good effect.

Got any good recipes?

 

[HSMITH]

I use 1 1/4oz of magnum #5 shot loaded to some rather hot speeds and a full or turkeyXfull choke. I used to take the 870, but now it is all SuperX2. Steel shot works nicely on crows too in the high velocity 3.5" with #2 shot and a full choke.

I tend to shoot backup/long range. If a couple birds come in I take the back bird and work in as they fall. Crow hunting is fantastic wingshooting practice that you just can't get elsewhere.

 

[M Jager]

Dave,
Believe it or not I have eaten crow, found it lacking as table fare. Very dark and very tough.
Now recipes for shotshells I have a bunch.
Rem Nitro 27s are great, as about any decent target load.
For reloads I always shot 1 1/8 of 7.5 in a claybuster wad behind Clays powder.
One time I load up a batch of barnburners with longshot and with an extra full choke you could really reach out but I stopped using them due to excessive noise.
Crow hunting is also a wonderfull way to introduce new shooters to hunting. Last year I took out many people from college who had never hunted, and the looks on those peoples faces was priceless. Some even express that they had more fun than anything they have ever known.
Matt

 

[Dave McCracken]

H, sounds like practice for waterfowl. Definitely more than needed, but sometimes excess is far from wretched.

Matt, kudos for helping start off new shooters. Thanks...

 

[sm]

Crows...goodness, well I've generally used a 12 ga pump or semi with Mod chokes. Heavy Trap loads of #7 1/2.

The old "pigeon" load works quite well ...hey take a sharpie color the pigeon black and there ya go.

Now backing up folks I have used my old duck load of 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 oz of #5s.

For pure-dee fun factor...single shot shotguns, got folks yanking on forearms, triggers...and no matter how hard you pull or yank...you will not get a repeat firing from a single shot.

The trick to using a .410 or 28 ga single shot...doubles, got to have a good pard to synch and double up. Shooting your pards chips after he hits the clay at skeet is good practice.

I have fun ...laughter has probably caused me some misses...still had fun tho'.