Best Lightweight Deer Brush Gun
- Thread starter -Doug-
- Start date
Tough to beat an M94 or M336 as a "brush" gun, but for me, I have what I feel is a near perfect brush gun, a Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier in .358 Win with a VX-3 1.75-6x32 mounted. This rifle is light, compact, accurate and packs a hefty wallop. I have taken many deer, bears and moose with this rifle, mostly under 50 yards, but can still confidently shoot out to 300 across a marsh if necessary.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I agree with the above comment about reaching out to 300 if needed. Why handicap yourself. Get a rifle that can handle both.
A 243AI in a light and compact package, would be the dirtiest of all of the tricks listed. And very capable at any distance a feller would decide to shoot a deer at.
Don't see the requirement for larger diameters, and larger recoil, for this this application.
R.
Don't see the requirement for larger diameters, and larger recoil, for this this application.
R.
A fellow I used to hunt with years ago used to call the 30-30 with open sights "a sharp stick".
His reason was that if you step out onto a big clear cut and see a buck or moose at 300yds and you only have a 30-30, you might as well just have a sharp stick instead.
A fellow I used to hunt with years ago used to call the 30-30 with open sights "a sharp stick".
His reason was that if you step out onto a big clear cut and see a buck or moose at 300yds and you only have a 30-30, you might as well just have a sharp stick instead.
Hunting with a lever action is fraught with compromise... and almost none are good. There are certainly many tools available that do a better job, with way less compromise.
R.
I'm not a big lever fan but as long as one realizes the limitations of the rifle and accepts and hunts within those limitations, they will be fine.
There is no such rifle that will be without compromise for all applications such as a bush gun or LR rifle, but I suspect that a good 22" bolt action 30-06 with a 2-7 or 3-9 would be close.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I have a browning A-bolt micro 284win with a 20" barrel. It's topped with a leupold 2-7 scope. It works well in the timber or reaching out to 300 yards. Capable of taking elk as well.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
A fellow I used to hunt with years ago used to call the 30-30 with open sights "a sharp stick".
His reason was that if you step out onto a big clear cut and see a buck or moose at 300yds and you only have a 30-30, you might as well just have a sharp stick instead.
Ha ha ha, yeah that's a good one.
The Winchester 1894 is a great brush gun; the blunt tip bullet charges through the branches with less deflection than a high speed pointy bullet. I like the hammer safety, quick to focus iron sites, light weight and ease to carry with the slim lever action. The downfall is if you find a good one beyond 100 yds. . Another good choice, I also like, is my Savage Featherweight in 308 using round nose bullets. Having a scope it's not as quick and easy in thick brush but has the advantage in shots over a 100 yds. I also use my M70 FW, in 308, with 180 gr round nose bullets.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
I have a Remington Mohawk 600 in 308 that would work well.
7600 .308, barrel shortened to 18.6". 1-8X SFP illuminated LPVO in low QD rings.
So it's easy to go to the irons and keep it simple and lighter weight with a 4 shot, flush fit magazine.
Nice set up for NIGHT hunting !
RJI forgot to mention another great brush gun. I have a Remington Model 25 in 32 WCF (32-20). The little pump is around a 100 years old but very good condition and very light and a joy to shoot. Close shots, 75 yds and under, perfect. Also two 1892's, carbine and a rifle, in 44-40 that work well hunting in close quarters in brush.
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Nice set up for NIGHT hunting !
That's a white light/IR flashlight. I just need an IR laser and another bubba'd pic rail on the right side.
This is the only rifle I have left of many just the ulimate whitetail woods hunting bolt rifle .
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
Tough to go wrong with a Winchester 94 in 30-30 , or 32 special .
