Bush Specialty Firearm

[Wiseguym70]

Howdy Folks.


I hunt some pretty thick woods where most shots from the stand are about 40-80 yards. I currently am using a full sized bolt rifle (300 win mag) for bears and deer in my area but am looking to get into something more compact.

Any recommendations on a rifle and calibre combo?. I am leaning towards a 45-70 (impossible to find) or a 358 Winchester.


Thanks in advance!

 

[steamy teabag]

Ruger Gunsite Scout 308 works.

 

[Evanguy]

For my compact hunting rifle I use a P14 chambered in 500 Jeffery with an 18" barrel, weighs 8.5 pounds.

 

[steamy teabag]

Marlin 4570 Trapper on the EE right now.

 

[ShrtRnd]

Marlin 4570 Trapper on the EE right now.

Between the EE and GP there’s usually a good doz or so available. 444 Marlin is also worth a look at.

 

[Cteve]

Ever consider a shotgun? slugs at that range and thick bush work well.

 

[9.3mauser]

.30-30?

 

[kayaker1]

Ruger Gunsite Scout 308 works.

Very hard to beat this option for lots of hunting situations

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

A Ruger American Ranch in 450 BM works well for me. I also use a Rossi 92 RH in 45 Colt. Great for working from a stand or blind.
The RAR wears a Leupold 1.5-4x20 with Pig Plex reticle. Nice for low light shooting.


I fit my Rossi with XS rear ghost ring & Marbles front sight. Great for workin' the bush if it ain't too dark out.
View attachment

 

[Suther]

If I was buying a gun for stand hunting with a max of 80yds my short list would definitely include the 444 Marlin.

30-30 and 35rem would also be worth considering, but something about the 444 makes it stand out to me. 45-70 would do, but it doesn't have the panache of a 444.

If you prefer bolt actions, the 358win you mentioned is hard to argue with, I've been interested in one of those for years (bought dies when Wholesale Sports closed years ago) but they're not common, especially in a lefty.

 

[The Kurgan]

Henry H series lever in 45-70 (18" barrel)

I also noticed a Ruger 44 Magnum Carbine on EE. Handy little rifle.

 

[obsessed1b]

I hunt very similar type terrain. 16.5" marlin 45-70, 18.5" rem 7 in 7-08, 19" mk4 no1 sporter, 20" crf .308.
My favorite is the marlin though

 

[Canuck65]

Lever: Win94 or Win86 Short Rifle if you want a heavy-hitter (the 86 is heavier than the 94, so save weight where you can). Maybe a Win88 in 358win.

Bolt: Anything with a short barrel and good iron sights. So not a magnum. Maybe a CZ 550 or a vintage Husqvarna or Gustav in 9.3x62 or 8mmx57.

Semi: Winchester 100 is a superb brush gun, but I've only seen them in 243, 284 and 308 - sounds like you want something bigger that.

Where I live there's ONLY tight brush unless you're a Hollywood hunter driving around in the cuts. I really like my Winchester 86 SR. 20" barrel, 45-70. Very accurate. 405gr Woodleighs on 3031 shoot like a dream. So does Federal 300gr blue box.

 

[iron cat]

I have used the same rifle for really thick bush and 300 yard shots with either scope or the irons since 2010.
It's a single shot in .303 British
Cat

 

[brybenn]

For close range hunting for bears my options are 4570 in a double which is regulated for 30 yards but can make hits to 75 yards and 100 yards depending which barrel I fire. The other option I use is a 458wm but I've been wanting to use a 10ga as well. 400 lgnd 360 bhmr and the old 44 mag have my attention for a new rifle for the exact purpose you want.

 

[Longwalker]

I think the whole "brush rifle" concept is over rated. I've tried several stubby barrel rifles paired with fat, slow cartridges. They work, but are very difficult to shoot well. A rifle with good balance, of medium weight and length and with a good trigger and good sights or a low power scope is way easier to hit with when it actually is time to shoot. I won't give up good shooting characteristics in order to gain a little "handiness". The old standard Winchester 94 or marlin 336 is a good example of a rifle type that handles nicely but can still be shot efficiently. Rifles that give up shoot-ability for handiness include all the "trapper carbines", the Marlin guide gun, and any bolt rifle with a barrel less than 20". The defunct Remington Model 7 with its 18" pencil barrel was so muzzle light it was a joke. Accurate with a rest, but a quick offhand shot? not so much. Anything a .44 magnum can do can be done better with no more recoil with a .308, and a .308 is much more capable when a moose steps out on the other side of a beaver pond. I tried to love a couple of 45-70's, but they went down the road. The .358 is a fine, powerful and versatile round, under appreciated. I liked a Winchester M94 AE .356 I had for a while. It was a dedicated bush rifle but was also capable of taking a moose at 250 yards, which I did.

 

[dan belisle]

BLR in 358 would be ideal for your scenario. - dan

 

[Longwalker]

What Dan said.

 

[Rman]

Largecalibreitis appears to be fairly contagious!
They'll come out with a vaccine soon!

R.

 

[wallz]

I know of a 450 bush master in stainless in ruger No1. New at a retail outfit. Also a good option.

I ended up with a 444 marlin late summer for my own use.