qajaq59
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When I hear brush gun and the Northeast, I immediately think of a Winchester lever action 30-30.
Best Brush Gun
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krs
Member
Mine was a Remington Model 14 pump in .35 Rem, but my old man swore by his Win .30-30 for all deer in the heavy brushed steep sloped canyons where we could pretty much count on finding deer.
Lot of good times but 'ol 60 yr old Ken (me) feels the pain of all that hard work.
Lot of good times but 'ol 60 yr old Ken (me) feels the pain of all that hard work.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Oh lawdie have mercy.... A "Brush Gun" (for those that know) has zero, zilch, nada to do with actually hitting brush and carrying on a true trajectory because no caliber can do that, period. In my opinion.
A brush gun has ONLY to do with its shortness/lightness/handiness for (a) squeaking through brush while carrying it with minimal snagging, and (b) quick shouldering/handling characteristics to facilitate the snap shot you are far more likely to encounter in brush. A brush gun is for when you maximum shot is going to be 40 or maybe 50 yards, and most shots are gonna be at 10, 20, or 30 yards.
Someone said a CZ 527 in .35 Rem - hmm, tasty. But I don't know if the action is big enough for that. I doubt it.
Wanta B
Member
Normaly when I hear the term "Brush Gun" I think Short barrel leveraction.
1)They are VERY fast with a bit of practice.
2) Nothing to catch on thick "Brush".
3)Extremely easy to maneuver.
4)Accuracy,practice,find the ammoe that you and the rifle do best with and head shots on what ever are yours at 200yrds all day long.
I have a Marlin Guide Gun stainless .45-70 18.5" Barrel,Marlin 1894ss-ltd .357 with fiberoptic sights,Puma 92 ltd ss 16" .454 with fiberoptic sights.My 1894 is Stainless Laminate stocked and has a custom rail mount with an EOTECH such that the irons can still be used.I will be putting Ghostrings on the GG with tritium front by Brockman's Gen III and custom rear tritium.Goal here is sleak,easy to use sights,hard hitting fast follow up shots...easy maintenance and not afraid to get it messy.
Crawling thru' thickets might give another nod to the levers as you have the whole "same ammoe" thing going on for rifle and pistol.
Give a look at Springfield's M1 SOCCUM....nice sleak profile,16" barrel,great sights that have tritium for low,or no light...reliable and fast follow up shots.Fast reload box magazines and plenty accurate out to 500m and .308win is good for anyhting in the lower 48.
It is a bit on the heavier side of things for brush carry I guess.
Wanta B
1)They are VERY fast with a bit of practice.
2) Nothing to catch on thick "Brush".
3)Extremely easy to maneuver.
4)Accuracy,practice,find the ammoe that you and the rifle do best with and head shots on what ever are yours at 200yrds all day long.
I have a Marlin Guide Gun stainless .45-70 18.5" Barrel,Marlin 1894ss-ltd .357 with fiberoptic sights,Puma 92 ltd ss 16" .454 with fiberoptic sights.My 1894 is Stainless Laminate stocked and has a custom rail mount with an EOTECH such that the irons can still be used.I will be putting Ghostrings on the GG with tritium front by Brockman's Gen III and custom rear tritium.Goal here is sleak,easy to use sights,hard hitting fast follow up shots...easy maintenance and not afraid to get it messy.
Crawling thru' thickets might give another nod to the levers as you have the whole "same ammoe" thing going on for rifle and pistol.
Give a look at Springfield's M1 SOCCUM....nice sleak profile,16" barrel,great sights that have tritium for low,or no light...reliable and fast follow up shots.Fast reload box magazines and plenty accurate out to 500m and .308win is good for anyhting in the lower 48.
It is a bit on the heavier side of things for brush carry I guess.Wanta B
Wanta B
Member
I have to agree with PremiumSauces.
thunder173
Member
+1 to Third Eagle,...
I have one of those old Ted Williams 30/30's bought from either Sears or Monkey Wards,...to far back to recall,... about a lifetime ago,...it's taken a lot of deer,..and I've quieted down a bunch of yotes with it as well,...passed it on to my son,...but I still "borrow it back" every now and then.....I am using a .44 Mag Trapper Winchester anymore. It get's it done well in the thick stuff too.
I have one of those old Ted Williams 30/30's bought from either Sears or Monkey Wards,...to far back to recall,... about a lifetime ago,...it's taken a lot of deer,..and I've quieted down a bunch of yotes with it as well,...passed it on to my son,...but I still "borrow it back" every now and then.....I am using a .44 Mag Trapper Winchester anymore. It get's it done well in the thick stuff too.
Wanta B
Member
Completely forgot about the old Savage 99 FL .308 I got from a pawn shop.It is preaty beat up but works just fine.I intend to have the barrel cut down to 16.25".Also just put a 99 .243 box mag on lay-a-way.
a light 25-06 would work, but a fairly compact .308 would be better IMHO.
A couple things:
As a few people have mentioned, there are no "brush buster" rounds. A The atricle someone sited and several others have proven this in testing. 45-70's don't plow through brush while 7mags defelect feet off course when they hit a twig.
It is really compactness and easy maneuvering that makes a good brush gun.
You are trying to cover a wide range of applications with one tool, which comes with tradeoffs. Depending on the level of your other activities, you may be disappointed. The 30-30 that would serve you well in the woods would not be optimal for open country coyote hunting, nor any real serious target shooting. So if your coyote hunting will be done more in wooded areas, and your idea of target shooting is plinking for fun at ~150 yards, a 30-30 lever gun would fit the bill nicely. As soon as you start to get more serious about target shooting or coyote hunting, the 30-30 may not seems as well suited. So having one tool for all these jobs is like saying you don't want ato own a wrench set, you just want to have 1 crescent wrench or a pair of vice grips instead.
Although the notion is ridiculous, I think a 308 with a 20" med. weight barrel(something like the remmy LTR) is the best tradeoff if you absolutely had to have 1 rifle only for all applications. You can get factory ammo from 110 gr hornady tap for coyotes out to very long range, match ammo for target shooting out to ~700 yds, and tough 180 grain grand slam loading from companies like speer that would be great for anything like elk or moose out to 300.
A couple things:
As a few people have mentioned, there are no "brush buster" rounds. A The atricle someone sited and several others have proven this in testing. 45-70's don't plow through brush while 7mags defelect feet off course when they hit a twig.
It is really compactness and easy maneuvering that makes a good brush gun.
You are trying to cover a wide range of applications with one tool, which comes with tradeoffs. Depending on the level of your other activities, you may be disappointed. The 30-30 that would serve you well in the woods would not be optimal for open country coyote hunting, nor any real serious target shooting. So if your coyote hunting will be done more in wooded areas, and your idea of target shooting is plinking for fun at ~150 yards, a 30-30 lever gun would fit the bill nicely. As soon as you start to get more serious about target shooting or coyote hunting, the 30-30 may not seems as well suited. So having one tool for all these jobs is like saying you don't want ato own a wrench set, you just want to have 1 crescent wrench or a pair of vice grips instead.
Although the notion is ridiculous, I think a 308 with a 20" med. weight barrel(something like the remmy LTR) is the best tradeoff if you absolutely had to have 1 rifle only for all applications. You can get factory ammo from 110 gr hornady tap for coyotes out to very long range, match ammo for target shooting out to ~700 yds, and tough 180 grain grand slam loading from companies like speer that would be great for anything like elk or moose out to 300.
The Bushmaster
Member
cinteal...No you have no idea what hunting in brush is until you get down off your stand and actually hunt. You know. Track and stalk. I lived in Oregon and hunted the Cascades from Canada to California and you have no idea what brush hunting is...
I live in Ava, Missouri now and hunting the hardwood forest is a cinch except for the ambushers in tree stands...The leaves on the ground are a pain in the a$$ though...
Premiumsause...Sounds like you have hunted the brush...+1
I live in Ava, Missouri now and hunting the hardwood forest is a cinch except for the ambushers in tree stands...The leaves on the ground are a pain in the a$$ though...
Premiumsause...Sounds like you have hunted the brush...+1
Bushmaster . . .
I don't stand hunt, thus my comments on catching bolts on brush. In fact, I don't deer hunt anymore . . . no challenge in stands or slipping through the bottoms. Somewhat puzzled why you assumed that I was a "ambush" hunter.
As for brush, I do coon hunt. I have had to get on my hands and knees and crawl to get out of places my Walkers took me. They're cutting the world down here and the young stuff that comes up where trees used to be and the light the 600 acre clearcuts let into the forest to grow underbrush where the canopy used to restrict it . . . yeah, I DO know what brush is . . . Brush with thorns, sitckers, vines, and dense saplings.
For the folks that get off the roads and railroad tracks (abandoned), unless you're in old forest (which there's not much left here), 80 yards is about as long a shot as you can get down here. I don't know where Ava, MO is, but my guess is that your notion of Arkansas is the north part . . . I'm from the south part . . . big difference. Cane breaks, flooded timber, logging refuse and the wonderful stuff that grows around it. If ever threatened, I won't run to the hills . . . I'll head to the bottoms . . . if I can't fend them off with my Bushmaster.
But I agree, the folks that drive to their stands, actually park under it, drink coffee and "wait" for something to happen upon them, I don't call that hunting, either.
I don't stand hunt, thus my comments on catching bolts on brush. In fact, I don't deer hunt anymore . . . no challenge in stands or slipping through the bottoms. Somewhat puzzled why you assumed that I was a "ambush" hunter.
As for brush, I do coon hunt. I have had to get on my hands and knees and crawl to get out of places my Walkers took me. They're cutting the world down here and the young stuff that comes up where trees used to be and the light the 600 acre clearcuts let into the forest to grow underbrush where the canopy used to restrict it . . . yeah, I DO know what brush is . . . Brush with thorns, sitckers, vines, and dense saplings.
For the folks that get off the roads and railroad tracks (abandoned), unless you're in old forest (which there's not much left here), 80 yards is about as long a shot as you can get down here. I don't know where Ava, MO is, but my guess is that your notion of Arkansas is the north part . . . I'm from the south part . . . big difference. Cane breaks, flooded timber, logging refuse and the wonderful stuff that grows around it. If ever threatened, I won't run to the hills . . . I'll head to the bottoms . . . if I can't fend them off with my Bushmaster.
But I agree, the folks that drive to their stands, actually park under it, drink coffee and "wait" for something to happen upon them, I don't call that hunting, either.
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I've never lost any big game, but in really thick brush I've lost small game on several occasions. One of the places I hunt rabbits has dirt roads and pastures surrounded by almost impassable brush. Since I have to hunt that area with rimfires and airguns, (noise considerations. I have permission, but the land owner doesn't want me alarming the neighbors), I quickly learned that it was a headshot or nothing. All the rabbits had to do was make it ten feet into that brush and they may as well have been on the moon.
I imagine PBD's bear was similar. Sometimes animals can move a couple hundred yards in thick brush even with a fatal shot and if there's no blood trail... I've always managed to track my own, but a buddy of mine lost a deer once and after he shot it there were three of us in the woods trying to track the darn thing.
The Bushmaster
Member
O K cinteal...I'll concede to ya. And you are correct. Ava is in the southern/central part of Missouri in the Ozarks. Also Mark Twain National forest and wilderness is close by...
I've turkey hunted in Mark Twain and abouts years ago (Natchez?) . . . I like it. However, I did run into things I wasn't prepared for like turkey gobbling across a ravine that I would have had to have ropes to rappel into. Don't get 100 ft tall rock outcroppings too much down here . . . ain't got too many rocks, matter of fact.
And, to be honest ,and not make myself look to be great white brush hunter . . . I do hunt old forest, now . . . big time open . . . and yes, slipping is a cinch. And, because it's bottoms, leaves are mostly washed into piles and it's always somewhat damp . . . poor critters ain't got a chance . . . less when I was lighter
And, to be honest ,and not make myself look to be great white brush hunter . . . I do hunt old forest, now . . . big time open . . . and yes, slipping is a cinch. And, because it's bottoms, leaves are mostly washed into piles and it's always somewhat damp . . . poor critters ain't got a chance . . . less when I was lighter
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Mike U.
Member
I didn't see the muley, but, I did see BIGFOOT! 
SwampWolf
Member
When I think "brush gun", I think of a carbine relatively short and light that packs a punch. It's especially important to put game down quickly in heavy brush so that they don't travel far-because moving long distances in heavy cover can mean never finding the quarry. In my experience, the Savage 99, chambered in .358 Winchester, brings deer and/or black bear down quickly with any reasonably placed shot and the 20" barreled carbine is handy in thick brush. It's my pick for sure in the deep woods cover I hunt in in Pa and Mi.
Rifleman 173
Member
How about a Spanish Mauser or an Indian Enfield in .308 caliber? Those would be the cheaper way to go. A Remington in .308 would be the pricier way to go. All 3 rifles would serve you well and they would cover a decent distance well over 200 meters or so.
CZ-527 is the best. It's light and the scope can come of in less than a minute. Since I roll my own I found the Sierra #2205 is the best hunting round. My interpretation of a "brush gun" is one that is light, easy to carry with a shorter barrel and you can carry with a lot less effort than a longer and heavier rifle. Any shot you take that hits a bush or branch is going to get deflected whether it's a .22 or 30-06.
If I was limited to the conditions of short range (under 200 yds) and thick stuff I would go a different route.
I would pick an AR15 chambered in 6.8spc. I would make it a 16" lightweight profile (not HBAR) flattop. I would top it with a 1.5x5 Leupold illuminated scope.
I think that a 6.8 spc AR would certainly meet my needs for a short range deer, coyote and target gun.
I would pick an AR15 chambered in 6.8spc. I would make it a 16" lightweight profile (not HBAR) flattop. I would top it with a 1.5x5 Leupold illuminated scope.
I think that a 6.8 spc AR would certainly meet my needs for a short range deer, coyote and target gun.
dodge
Member
I found the mule deer in the picture and it's just above dead center of the picture. Here in North Central Pa. when someone mentions a brush gun, they are usually talking of a lever action 30-30 but with that said I use a Marlin guide gu in 45/70 with peep sights. Anchors the deer right now without any trailing.
d2wing
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Lots of brush here in Northern Minnesota. Any of the rifles mentioned will do the job. My new favorite is an AR15 in .223. It is light, short, quick and accurate and does the job. My second favorite is an old Winchester 94 lever in .30-30. It doesn't have quite the accuracy of the AR for coyotes. The AR is not legal everywhere for deer. I also have an old Remington pump .35 cal. that has taken lots of deer. I also have a 742 and 7400 in 30-06 with see thru mounts that are great but a little heavy. I don't believe caliber makes much difference at close range or in heavy brush. I sometimes just carry a .357 revolver in really thick heavy stuff. I used to have a .243 that is popular in this area as a dual purpose round. I agree with the BLR in .243, in .308 they had a pretty good kick, but are effective. SKS would work but is a little long, heavy and not real accurate. AK pretty much the same but a little shorter than the SKS.
I like your choice of a 25-06. A very good cartridge if you can find it in suitable brush rifle.
I like your choice of a 25-06. A very good cartridge if you can find it in suitable brush rifle.
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Macmac
Member
I live in NH, will be 57 This coming Sunday, and as a wee lad saw real brush guns in Vermont New Hampshire and Maine.
Almost all of these were Winchester lever guns in 30-30, .32, .35, and an odd .40 somethings.
None ever have scopes. No shooting was done anything like at 200 yards.. more like 10 yards to maybe 75 if you could see that far in the woods.
A few bolt guns that were short carbines in 30 cal and I don't mean military carbines... Hunting Mausers that were never military, in either original cailburs like one I have as 6.5x54 MS, or 6.5 x 55. The better part of these have a 20 inch long barrel and are compact.
A longer gun maybe with a scope is not a brush gun.. Winchester mod 70 and like guns are not brush guns. Unless there is a carbine version.
The idea in the day was a long slow and heavy slug cut brush and killed game, and it did.
I would agree the 7.62 x 39 rnd would do as well in real hunting ammo and not milsurp, and that the SKS would be a better brush gun for cheap than nearly anyother as new gun could be.
I own 3 AK clones and to me these have too many things sticking out to be a great brush gun, but they would do.
In NH we are limited to a 5 round mag, and that doesn't mean a 40 rnd mag with 5 shells either..
So short clean lines free of the snaggies is a brush gun, in slow heavy slugs, is what you want if you really want a brush gun.
Almost all of these were Winchester lever guns in 30-30, .32, .35, and an odd .40 somethings.
None ever have scopes. No shooting was done anything like at 200 yards.. more like 10 yards to maybe 75 if you could see that far in the woods.
A few bolt guns that were short carbines in 30 cal and I don't mean military carbines... Hunting Mausers that were never military, in either original cailburs like one I have as 6.5x54 MS, or 6.5 x 55. The better part of these have a 20 inch long barrel and are compact.
A longer gun maybe with a scope is not a brush gun.. Winchester mod 70 and like guns are not brush guns. Unless there is a carbine version.
The idea in the day was a long slow and heavy slug cut brush and killed game, and it did.
I would agree the 7.62 x 39 rnd would do as well in real hunting ammo and not milsurp, and that the SKS would be a better brush gun for cheap than nearly anyother as new gun could be.
I own 3 AK clones and to me these have too many things sticking out to be a great brush gun, but they would do.
In NH we are limited to a 5 round mag, and that doesn't mean a 40 rnd mag with 5 shells either..
So short clean lines free of the snaggies is a brush gun, in slow heavy slugs, is what you want if you really want a brush gun.
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