Brush guns: did you trade your lever for a bolt action?

I read a test report some years ago in which they tried a whole slate of cartridges shooting at a target through hardwood dowels. The supposedly great "brush" cartridges fared poorly and medium velocity, high sectional density(long in relation to diameter) with a fast rifling twist did best. Not a real scientific test because it is practically impossible to duplicate shooting at game through brush but interesting nonetheless.
 
Every type of gun has its place, but for me there is something just right about tramping trough the the brush with a lever action rifle (it makes me happy). Bearing in mind that where I hunt you can't see better than 50 yards and nothing more dangerous than black bear (I carry a 30-30 which is plenty up close and personal). So I say get a new bolt action and try it out. Worse case, you have a new gun;).
 
My newest brush gun, 77/357
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Loaded with "heavy-for-calibre" hard cast bullets...
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My trusted .45 Colt Marlin with a good 250-300 grain hard cast bullet works good too....
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These bullets are 200 & 250 gr.....
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I love the pistol calibre rifles, they do it for me but it is nice to know what turns other folks cranks.....:wave:
 
I rehomed my lever gun for two single shot rifles as my "bush guns"...

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H&R handi rifle in 45/70 and another in 30/30.
Both iron sights.
For longer stuff I have my Handi in .243.
I'm pretty happy with the combo. :)
 
I have both. Both for different applications - if I am guiding friends - Marlin 45-70. If I am just out & about when predator season is hopping - it will now be my Ruger Gunsight Scout (for the box magazines).

Never had to pull a trigger aiming at anything yet, just loud deterrents- so thats the best bush gun !
as far as speed of reloading goes - the lever is just easy & FAST, but the Ruger's bolt is an easy compromise when you get a 10 round magazine that you can swap out for a fresh 10 rounds in less than 5 seconds over the Marlin's 4+1.

On the other hand - my 45-70's 405 grain hand loads powdered up hit a TON, not many small trees or much 'brush' wavers the 45-70 round & one shot is all it should ever take.
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**both on iron sights when in brush gun mode.
 
Remington model 7 stainless synthetic in 7mm08, light, short, points like a dream. Also works good in the open so when you have a longer shot, you aren't wishing you brought a rifle instead of a 357 mag or a slug gun.

Second choice when in real thick stuff is my Ruger 44 Carbine, almost no recoil, instant follow up shots, deadly accurate up to 100 yards, decent whitetail killing power under 50 yards. And the VERY smallest cartridge I would ever use on anything as big as a deer. And never at ranges past 50-75 yards. That's why my first choice is the model 7.
 
I looky at the inventory and lately the BLR 358 seems to skream the loudest.
Quick, easy, accurate, good look'in, and a pleasure to pack.
A world of win.
 
I've never missed shot due to using a bolt action in the bush. But I woudl have had to have passed up on some shots with a 30-30 when I got to an opening.
 
I always carry my little Ruger Frontier 358 in the thick stuff because its so handy and light, but the only time it ever killed anything was in the wide open spaces where any other rifle would have done the job too..
 
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