Bush gun question

powdergun

powdergun

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I've been thinking of a bush gun for deer. My focus right now is a lever gun in a big bore round.

.444
45-70
450 Marlin

I've got a lot of info on the first two but I haven't heard much about the 450 marlin. Anyone out there have some side by side practical experience with these rounds. They'll all do the job I need a gun that can shoot well to 200 yrds. I'll be 95 % in the bush in a stand but may run into something in the fields when I am going to and from my stand.
 
I shoot both a .444S and an XLR .45-70. Very different, but the effects of either are reasonably similar. I'll be the first to say it - if you're a handloader, or know one, the .45-70 is the most versatile and potentially the most powerful of the 3. In order, for one gun I'd go .45-70, .444, then .450. Any of them is devastating within a couple hundred yards with the right load/bullet. Helluva lot of fun to shoot, too. The shorter barrels make for easier carrying, but barrel length isn't a prime consideration - the levers pack so easily. A 350 gr RN bullet at close to 2200 fps is a nightmare for anything it collides with.
 
Another (better ;)) option for a "bush gun" is the 7600 carbine in 30/06.

They are fast, accurate, dependable, use pointy bullets, detach mag, are scoped easy and carry well. Perfect!

Mine's a 760/.308Win.

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I, based on no relevant reason, am counting the days until I am out of college and can buy a .444 Marlin. The prospect of using relatively plentiful .44 mag bullets to plink with appeals immensly to me. For sheer utility, the handloader can make the .45-70 sit up, roll over, bark and make coffee due to the selection of bullets available. My understanding with the .450 is that is was meant to be a juiced-up .45-70 that wouldn't get used in older, weaker actions
 
powdergun said:
I've been thinking of a bush gun for deer. My focus right now is a lever gun in a big bore round.

.444
45-70
450 Marlin

I've got a lot of info on the first two but I haven't heard much about the 450 marlin. Anyone out there have some side by side practical experience with these rounds. They'll all do the job I need a gun that can shoot well to 200 yrds. I'll be 95 % in the bush in a stand but may run into something in the fields when I am going to and from my stand.
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I would get the 45-70, although they all have their good points, the 45-70 has more.:sniper:
 
What do you guys think a 45-70 compared to a 12 pump with a rifled barrel for a bush gun? How would each compared when shooting through brush and the thick ground cover of southern ontario? Haqs anyone seen a real world comparision of penetraion/deflection shoting through brush. tree limbs etc..?
 
I have found the best "bush gun" is one that you can shoot at least 300 yards with......you have to step out of the bush sometime and when you do, that buck you pushed out of the bush will be standing at 300 yards.....
 
220Swifty said:
the 358 win is a nice little round that can fill the bill for sure.
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...or the .350 Rem Mag. we've sold a pile of them lately to guys that want a light, little gun with enough punch for elk, moose, bear in the bush but also might need to shoot a few hundred yds when out of the bush.
 
I can only speak for the 450 as I bought a mint used one (Marlin 1895M). I added a Williams peep sight and a Burris scout scope on a forward rail, thinned down the forestock,added a Limbsaver pad and refinished the wood.
Accuracy with the Hornady Leverevolution 325gr is terrific @100 & 150yds.- more than adequate for field/bush use. I'm REALLY impressed.
The 18.5" GG size barrel is a sweet carry in the bush and a fun rifle-worth checking out.
 
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Let me weigh in on the question of the rifled slug gun vs the 45/70.
I have a siamese mauser, and I load it in the range of 4000 ftlbs energy at the muzzle, I do not think your slug gun is going to exceed 2000, or if it does, not by much. The 45 is a rifle, and you can count on it as far as you want, if you can correct for height, I would have no hesitation shooting anything with it at 300 yards if I knew how far to hold over, the slug gun, however, shoots slugs that are even ballistically worse than a 45 bullet, and in the same weight range. I think a deer would be exceptionally unlucky to be hit by a slug at 300 yards. I know he would if I were shooting.

As a weapon to carry for your safety, the slug gun is excellent. I know a few guys who cruise timber and carry them, and they have the advantage of being able to put shot loads in them also, as most things find 00 Buck discourging. There are lots of good choices for a brush gun. A good friend shoots 220 grain 30 cal bullets at about 2250 fps from No.4 Lee Enfield. He can put 10 of these in the magazine, and I have seen him shoot 4 inch groups at 100 yards. This rifle is all you need at 150 yards to shoot anything.
Al
 
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