Birdshot from smoothbore handgun?

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get a sitting grouse worthy pattern at 15 or 20 yards from a 6 or 8 inch barrel smoothbore handgun? The season for them is on here in Cali for the first couple of weeks of the deer season and we often see them when hunting the high mountains. Thinking a small and light gun along the lines of New Orleans Ace might be just the ticket.

THBailey said:

Just wondering if anyone has been able to get a sitting grouse worthy pattern at 15 or 20 yards from a 6 or 8 inch barrel smoothbore handgun? The season for them is on here in Cali for the first couple of weeks of the deer season and we often see them when hunting the high mountains. Thinking a small and light gun along the lines of New Orleans Ace might be just the ticket.

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Can you guys out there even use lead shot any more?

smoothshooter said:

Can you guys out there even use lead shot any more?

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As of July 1 this year, the three year "phase out" is complete and no lead containing projectiles can legally be used when hunting with one small exception. Pellets in air powered guns can still be lead. I used heavier than lead tungsten shot this year for my turkeys. Expensive as heck, but it worked well.

I doubt the ace would hold sufficient shot to do any damage even if it grouped. Most folks hand gun shot groups are pretty abysmal. I know a fellow that uses a percussion smooth bore pistol for rabbit. He is limited to about 30-35 feet and uses a 58 caliber (24 ga). This is something I want to do a little testing on. I have a few different smooth bore pistols. A smooth 50 cal, a 24 ga, a 20 ga and even a ten ga. Most barrels are simply too short for powder and a column of shot too. Shot cups are supposed to help slightly. Some make their own out of news print. I even read of a guy that shreds news paper and makes his own paper mache shot wad-cup combinations. that hold the right amount of shot. That is a lot of trouble to go to and still not gain much range. I look at them pretty much like Belly guns. Great for a few feet across a table or room, but not much good in the real outdoors.