Best all around bush gun (rifle or shotgun)

9.3mauser said:
Finn Aagard mentioned in a couple of articles how his Winchester M70 .375 never felt right again after he chopped the barrel from 25" to 22", and he got rid of it shortly afterwards. Also interesting to note that the PH's of Africa, who do face dangerous game in thick cover on a regular basis use either doubles or large bore bolt rifles with longish barrels... no stubby lever actions or pump shotguns there.
Click to expand...

Finn was brought up with, and throughout his life remained fond of rifles with long tubes, and he's published the pictures to prove it. His preference for long barrels, rather than a questioning of the utility of short rifles, had much to do with his choice to dump his .375. When I had my first .375 Ultra built, it had a light fluted barrel 20" in length, and in all honesty it was a tad light in the front end. By contrast, my current .375 Ultra, another Brno 602, this time with a 22" barrel, and my 21" M-70 .458 are about right.

You might find a shotgun in the PH's hands when he's going into the long grass after a wounded leopard though.
 
Last edited:
Fyn said:
Agreed but he has stated he isn't hunting, he is looking for something handy to "discourage" unfriendly critters, which I would say won't be taking place 400 yards away across a lake.
Click to expand...

He also said he wanted versatility. We do some bear protection work around here, and if you are responsible for the safety of contractors working on a large site, or for a large group of tourists who, despite your best efforts, manage to get themselves strung out in a long line, arming yourself with the typical 50 yard and in bear gun immediately reduces your status from participant to that of an observer. Now, not everyone gets involved with commercial bear security problems, but if the family is out for a weekend adventure, and little Johnny is playing some 100 yards away from the camp and that 1 in 10,000 predacious black bear appears on the scene, is a 50 yard gun really what you want? Again a scoped rifle, chambered for an adequate cartridge (a .30/06 is a good solution if you have no preconceived ideas to the contrary) provides greater versatility when attempting to solve to the problem; a problem which might not come about just the way you expected it to. The shotgun however is the correct tool in any situation where the risk of over penetration might endanger others, such as in cottage subdivisions, or crowded camp grounds.
 
Last edited:
My camp and self preservation rifle when not hunting is my 350 RM in a Mod 7 KS with a light 20" barrel and a 1.5-5 Leupold. Loaded with 225 gn ABs with the plastic nose clipped off, it is among the fastest pointing useful caliber rifles I own. Boomer can attest to it's portability and pointability and never fear you don't have enough cartridge for a large aggressive bear of any description.
Those who advocate rifles chambered in pistol cartridges have never been close to real big grizzlies obviously, I sat in a truck and watched a bear walk by at 5 feet and thought maybe my 340 Wby with 250 Partitions MIGHT NOT be big enough. A fellow hunter turned this bear down at 150 yds with a 338 WM stating he didn't get the perfect angle and there was no way in hell he was pulling the trigger unless he could guarantee the bear collapsed where it stood 'cause he wouldn't go into the brush after it if it didn't. There is nothing in NA like a huge grizzly (polar bear) to make you rethink what you want to pack for self preservation. Looking at an animal as big as a medium sized horse, with muscles of steel and bones of titanium, teeth the size of small bananas and claws the size of big bananas and speed bursts than can catch a quarter horse in 200 mtrs..................My 350RM keeps me feeling warm and fuzzy and safe, a handgun cartridge rifle......HHHMMMMMMM........no thanks, 12 gauge.....no thanks.
The other factor Boomer brought into play, of distance dispersion of the group you are supposedly protecting, is also completely negated with the 350 RM as I can be a very lethal participant right out to 300 mtrs, if necessary.
To each his own, and I understand that the threat down east is black bears only and they don't require the same amount of killing as a determined grizzly, nor do they even come close to the size of a large grizzly, so geographical location plays a big part in what is appropriate self preservation medicine. Anyway this is my choice and I'm sticking to it..........
 
Boomer said:
He also said he wanted versatility. We do some bear protection work around here, and if you are responsible for the safety of contractors working on a large site, or for a large group of tourists who, despite your best efforts, manage to get themselves strung out in a long line, arming yourself with the typical 50 yard and in bear gun immediately reduces your status from participant to that of an observer. Now, not everyone gets involved with commercial bear security problems, but if the family is out for a weekend adventure, and little Johnny is playing some 100 yards away from the camp and that 1 in 10,000 predacious black bear appears on the scene, is a 50 yard gun really what you want? Again a scoped rifle, chambered for an adequate cartridge (a .30/06 is a good solution if you have no preconceived ideas to the contrary) provides greater versatility when attempting to solve to the problem; a problem which might not come about just the way you expected it to. The shotgun however is the correct tool in any situation where the risk of over penetration might endanger others, such as in cottage subdivisions, or crowded camp grounds.
Click to expand...

I think protecting contractors and self-protection are two different things.

I think for a self-protection gun, the 45-70 is the obvious choice in a stainless rifle because it's a tool gun. Your focus is not on protection, but in another primary activity, so it's important that the rifle be easier to handle, less heavy, and quick to sight - eg. a shorter barrelled lever or semi-auto gun with quick iron sights, or red-dot.

For a "protecting contractors" I might not care so much about it being stainless because it's a "professional gun" and you're getting paid to do a job, so it's okay to spend more time in maintenance and upkeep on a blued rifle. Your focus is on protection, so it's okay to have a heavier gun with a longer barrel, and with a scope because you're always focused on protection and therefore you're always ready.
 
Rem 870 with a 12 inch barrel, Hogue stock and a side saddle. It's what I use when I bear bait. It's worked well several times.

I load it with 0 buck and 3 inch slugs in the side saddle. Or if you load I use a slug and buck load I found. 7/8 oz slug followed by 6 000 buck in a Fiochi hull. Comes out to a 1-3/4 oz load. Heh. I think it's called a Blazing Sabot.
 
Ruger M77 Mannlicher 18' barrel in .308 with a compact 1.5-5 variable scope.

My reasoning.

Short, easy to handle and reasonably light weight. .308 performs excellent with a 18" barrel. Traditionally modified Mauser action with full blade extractor for guaranteed ejection; making follow up shots dependable when you get in a sticky situation. Low power variable scope for short to medium range.
 
Last edited:
BeaverMeat said:
Ruger M77 Mannlicher 18' barrel in .308 with a compact 1.5-5 variable scope.

My reasoning.

Short, easy to handle and reasonably light weight. .308 performs excellent with a 18" barrel. Traditionally modified Mauser action with full blade extractor for guaranteed ejection; making follow up shots dependable when you get in a sticky situation. Low power variable scope for short to medium range.
Click to expand...

I like:cool: Do they make the RSI with a 18 " barrel? I've got 4 red pad , tang safety 77's would love to have a full stock carbine.
 
BCpopgun said:
I'm looking for the best all around gun for bush/camp protection. I don't hunt but I spend a lot of time in bear and cougar country and I have a young family. It should be reasonably packable and able to work in all weather conditions.

I have been considering a 12G pump with an 18" barrel or a large caliber lever action (Marlin Guide etc.). I don't want a scope.

Any advice would be welcome,

Thanks
Click to expand...

It's hard to beat a plain jane, 3" chambered, 12 gauge Remington 870 for the OPs task. A Marine Magnum is more money but fits your weatherproof requirement.

A Mossberg 500 would be good as well as lighter weight (compared to the 870) due to its aluminum receiver.
 
Can't beat a handheld M134 mini gun for self defense in the "bush", unless you are being hunted by a Predator. Lol

Use what you are competent with, a man that uses a rimfire rifle like an extension of his body is far more dangerous than the guy walking around with a 10 gauge full auto he just picked up an hour ago. Whatever you choose, spend some quality time with it and it will be the right choice.
 
c-fbmi said:
.... 340 Wby with 250 Partitions MIGHT NOT be big enough. .... an animal.. with muscles of steel and bones of titanium, teeth the size of small bananas and claws the size of big bananas....
Click to expand...

b: Easy fellow...Take a deep breath! How many sheets did you have to the wind when you saw this amazing creature? ;)
 
Home3 said:
b: Easy fellow...Take a deep breath! How many sheets did you have to the wind when you saw this amazing creature? ;)
Click to expand...

Live in Toronto huh. Have you ever seen a big bear up close in the willows? The experience can make the biggest rifle feel somewhat inadequate. I don't think you need to question C-FBMI's credentials.



 
Last edited:
Not questioning anyone's credentials (what's that anyway!?). Just kidding around with his choice of words.

Since you asked, yes, in my previous life I did spend some time actually living and working in Grizzly country, interior B.C.. Not only I have seen them, but every morning going to work that was our main concern.

Absolutely majestic and outright scary creatures. Should not be underestimated. take any gun that makes feel safe.
 
Last edited:
An M44 with your favorite 7.62/54R reload would be the cheapest.
Spanish Mauser Model 1916 Short Rifle in 7.62/51
Lee Enfield No5 Mk1 Jungle rifle 303
Swedish M38 6.5/55
Norc mil SKS 7.62/39
Norc M305 shorty 308

I think I would try to get a K31 with a 18.5" barrel ( love the K31 )
 
Mossberg 590 marine magnum would take care of most scenarios.
Polar and Grizzly bears might be the exeption.
I personally have had more trouble with cow moose than bears
In my neck of the woods,
 
The bear I referred to earlier was well known by the locals and was nicknamed "loader" he was shot 2 years after I watched him and went just shy of 10 ft and 1200 lbs, he stood 5 feet at the hump. I heard he was 22 years old when taken. Having never hunted coastals, this is one of the biggest bears I've ever seen, my description may be somewhat overstated but not by much. The only bigger bear I've seen was my polar bear. Although longer and as tall not as heavy as "Loader"

 
geologist said:
It's hard to beat a plain jane, 3" chambered, 12 gauge Remington 870 for the OPs task. A Marine Magnum is more money but fits your weatherproof requirement.

A Mossberg 500 would be good as well as lighter weight (compared to the 870) due to its aluminum receiver.
Click to expand...

^^^ This, unless your going to the northpole!! Guys he wants to protect his family and a 12 gauge scattergun is the answer. The excitment of a charging animal is too much for the average person to aim a rifle. Having a shotgun is the equalizer. #4 shot first in the tube to blind the charging animal and then ssg or buckshot or slugs to finish the job. And do practice with it. And yes it is just my humble opinion.
 
tigrr said:
^^^ This, unless your going to the northpole!! Guys he wants to protect his family and a 12 gauge scattergun is the answer. The excitment of a charging animal is too much for the average person to aim a rifle. Having a shotgun is the equalizer. #4 shot first in the tube to blind the charging animal and then ssg or buckshot or slugs to finish the job. And do practice with it. And yes it is just my humble opinion.
Click to expand...


One still has to aim with a shotgun.

But regardless of the firearm used proficiency earned through practice seems to me to be a good idea.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom