What rifle to "push bush"

The sub-.275 caliber question is moot, as it pertains to small game only. The thing you need to read up on is whether or not it's a "shotgun-only" WMU. I was out this year in 85B, which is a shotgun and muzzleloader only season, where as my good friend was 20 minutes down the road in WMU84 and he could have taken any one of his various .303s.

However, for coyotes in 85B[Huron county] I had to go out and buy a .22-250 in order to be compliant with the sub-.275 restriction.

In regards to the original topic, I've got a Marlin 336 with a Williams receiver aperture sight in .35 Rem that makes a bit**in' bush pushing rifle.
 
brybenn said:
If u r in the real southern ontario the caliber must be 270 or less. I'd use a shotgun personally. 2506 works well in more open areas
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Wrong.

That restriction applies to small game only. If there is a rifle deer season u can use any center fire u want.
 
Depends on what im pushing.

If its the open hardwoods its my Ruger M77 in .308 with Leupold 2x7

The swamps and tight bush I alternate between Win 94 in 3030 and Rem 870 with slug barrel (both open sights).

Myt next firearm purchase will likely be a Ruger 77/44 for pushing.
 
Mauser 98 chambered for the 7x57, 23" barrel, 7 lbs. without scope. Fixed 4x Leupold and the old Warne Premier QD mounts, gives you the best of both worlds. Take the scope off when dogging, and you could even change ammo if you wanted, 175 gr. with open sights and 140-150 with scope, though this is bordering on being a PIA, and I personally don't do it. I've never felt handicapped using a bolt over a lever gun.
 
Farva. I was in Bruce County so rifle season but only a few minutes down the road it was shotgun only.

A shotgun seems like a good option for pushing but not so good when your blocking or pushing on the edge of the field.

I think the optics/sights are more important to get right than the acctual rifle, if you cant get on the target quickly nothing else really matters.
 
Browning BLR 81 in 358 Winchester with a Leupold 2x7x33 VXII LR pushing 225gr Nosler Partitions @2470fps. Will reach out to 300+ yards if you have to and cycles fast for a second shot if you need it. Hits like a sledge hammer as well. 2 power for pushing and 7 power for the longer stuff....
 
Whatever rifle you can shoulder quickly. Be that your grampy's Enfield or the latest mossberg leveraction abortion.
 
When I had legs, feet and wind, and pants in 38 waiste size, I used a Win 94 to push bush for decades, in 30-30, 32 Special, 356 and 375 Win. Nothing was more fun to carry at the time. Browning BLR's are just about as wonderfull and you can scope'm easy! I'm a Poster (blocker as somebody called it) now, with my Stoney Point shooting stick with a 7mm-08 or 308 and the yung'un's do the push'en!
 
If I had to settle on only one gun for most Ont deer it would be a BLR in 7-08 or .308 with a red dot sight. Very quick in the bush at spitting distance, and I can make reliable hits offhand at the 200 yard gong at the range ( never shot a deer that far yet). Anything along the lines of a 30-30, a BLR a 760, 742 or BAR are all good reliable ontario deer rifles! Fortunately I don't have to choose just one, so I have a new to me ruger .44 semi that I used for dogging this year, a .308 BLR and a couple of bolts that I take for evening watches... Life would be boring with just one gun
 
I have alot of guns that can be used for bush hunting, thats what i always hunt...the thick stuff.
-Ruger Deerfield 44Mag or Ruger Mini 30 Not the most accurate but great for fast repeat shots up to 100 yards & under.
-760 Carbine 308 or 30-06 or if you can find a 35 Whelen. These will reach out and do the job on anything in Southern Ontario.
-BAR .308 30-06 270win or 243 These tend to be a little on the heavy side but shoot great. Although! some of the newer models are lighter .
-BLR .308, 30-06 and or .358 These are great....!
-Marlin Guide gun 45-70 or the .444P
I can go on and on. I could list a few light bolts guns as well that would work fine. Rem Model 7, Rem Mountain rifle,
Sako Finnlight, Tikka T3, Win M70 Classic Compact or a Ruger 77 Ultralight if you can find one.
Most importand is what fits you the best. Keep in mind it's always nice to carry a light short rifle when doing lots of walking. I more often reach for my Mini 30 and Ruger 44 when dogging for Deer. Not the most accurate compared to some of the others listed....my Mini 30 will at best will shoot 3" @ 100 yards off the bench, not really super accurate but great for running follow up shots. Make the first shot count to minimise the follow up shots.

Go handle a few of your options at a gunstore before you buy. Always nice to get a feel for the rifle before you buy.
Good luck.
 
My go to is a rem 7600 in 308 - I know everyone says they are rattly but I have shot may deer with it from both stands and the ground and it works for me - have also used a marlin in 3030 and am now trying out the Rossi Carbine in 44Mag - have not had the opportunity to shoot with it yet and am interested to see how it works.
 
MaxKW said:
Farva. I was in Bruce County so rifle season but only a few minutes down the road it was shotgun only.

A shotgun seems like a good option for pushing but not so good when your blocking or pushing on the edge of the field.

I think the optics/sights are more important to get right than the acctual rifle, if you cant get on the target quickly nothing else really matters.
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The area I hunt is right on the South side of the Huron-Bruce line. I went out and bought a Mossberg 500 2 barrel combo for it. The 24" rifled barrel with rifle sights turns out to be a pretty good bush pushing gun for me. I had a hell of a time finding it though. Should have bought it years ago.
 
This!

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I was hunting out of Lucknow and also had permission at a place near Whitechurch, very nice area and I would imagine even nicer in the summer time.
 
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