Compact brush/forrest rifle options? (White tail)

[Slaymoar]

Caliber: I figure the caliber would be in the 30-30 to 308 realm, but I'm open to anything that is offered in cheap and abundant options. Preference is 308, it is practically perfect for my frame.

Action: Can be anything, bolt or lever are both good.

Optic: Needs to mount a scope at the rear, not forward like some rifles. I would be using a 1-4x24 offering. No need for open sights.

Budget: $500-1000. Not $1500, not $1200, but max of 1000. I would like to remain in the $750-850 sweet spot.

Size: Looking for a brush gun. Weight is not a huge deal, anything under 8 pounds really.. But I would prefer something compact.

Game: Mostly deer and coyote. Would also dispatch occasional nuisance animals for farmers with concerns.

I would love to hear your experiences with brush rifles and what works well while hunting in the woods / brush..

Thank you!!

 

[terez]

Well I am a lil biased as I have a 243 for sale in the hunting rifle section.....

But I think this advice is sound regardless.

A 243 bolt rifle with scope/sling is ideal for deer/coyotes and light varminting especially in ON.
The 243 is a low recoil but powerful round that has the flexibility of light weight bullets that reach out flat shooting for varmints, medium bullets for coyotes and other heavy vramints and or when you need to shoot longer or in the wind, and heavy bullets which are a proven excellent deer round.
All relatively inexpensively available wherever ammo is sold. If you handload it is potentially the best all around cartridge going.

Prolly no better cartirdge if you have only one rifle for ON hunting...it will do it all with readily available ammo, reasonable recoil and great accuracy.

As for rifle config...thats a personal prefenece although 243 is far better suited to a bolt rifle as it uses spire point bullets although box mag fed levers and semis are avail.

The bolt gun is simple, rugged, easy to clean and maintain and generally the most accurate.


I have a as new Ruger stainless sybthetic bolt action 243 with a simmons 3x10 mounted and zeroed.
Gun is as new having been only shot for breakin and scope zero.
Ya can't go wrong here....my trader rating speaks for itself too.
It is advertised at $600 shipped which is a super deal....$500 shipped wil buy it this week as I am working on a project that requires the funds .


Good luck on yer quest for the right rifle!

 

[kennymo]

Marlin makes a few models of 18" barreled lever action. 30-30 or 45-70. The laminate stock models with the large lever loop go for around $600.
The remington 760/7600 (whatever they call it these days) pump is available in a 30 06 18" carbine for a little more reach.
Other than that look for a short bolt action in 308 or something of the like. There were all kinds of short carbines in years gone by too. Check used listings.

 

[cote_b]

Ruger Scout in .308. Bolt action, 10 round mag, 16" barrel. Stainless, laminate with a picatinny rail for easy optics mounting. Even comes with ghost ring sights. Usually about 899 plus tax new.

 

[hoytcanon]

Ruger 77 or Win 70 compact in 7mm-08... The best of all worlds... If the shorter LOP is bothersome, it is a few bucks to extend the stock. I bought a 77 Compact in .308 and did a one inch extension with African Blackwood (there are $10/5 minute fixes though)... It is a perfect little brush gun... I had no problem shooting it "as is" but I am 6'4" and the extra inch increased my comfort. I have a Leupold 1.5-6X on it. Perfect. I don't really agree with a .243 for your application... It is a good deer/coyote "open country" combo, but IMO there are better options for a "brush gun."

 

[Duffy]

I have a Win. M100 in .308 and it is one of my "bush rifles". Another favorite is a Savage 99 in .300 savage or .308. But whenever I hear the term "bush rifle" what often jumps to my mind is the handy little Ruger semi-auto in .44 rem. mag.

I never think of any bolt action as a bush rifle.

 

[hoytcanon]

I never think of any bolt action as a bush rifle.

Funny, you hear that all the time, but I always figure that in the bush, you can usually only get off one shot anyway... In which case a bolt is perfect.

OP - if you had not included coyotes in the equation, I might have said get a Rem 742 Woodsmaster (used) in .308 etc... Great brush gun for deer... Just not the best if you are trying to "reach out there" for coyotes.

 

[NB_GSXR]

I friggin love my Ruger M77 Compact Stainless in .308. Way lighter than the "Scout" and shorter with normal rear scope rings. Was expecting mediocre accuracy from the short pencil barrel but put 5 rounds into a toonie at 100yd my first trip to the range.

(Random pic off the web to illustrate compactness)

 

[kennymo]

Your budget is big enough that you might consider getting a 30-30 or something short for the bushwhacking game and pick up an H+R single shot as a dedicated pest control gun in say 22-250.

 

[metalbender]

Used to have a Remington 600 series in 308 for a camp gun. Barked pretty loud with the short barrel but would fill the bill quite nicely.

 

[ddaongam]

Browning BLR in .308 would be my choice. Easy to find in the EE too at a reasonable price.

 

[daveg01]

Sounds like a 30-30 lever action is perfect for your needs. It is a 100 yard gun really but nice and short plus not too heavy. That's what I use in the thick stuff.

 

[barrett50cal]

For your stated needs and budget, a Marlin 336BL 30-30 lever bush-gun might be the ticket, out the door for under $550, with sling and scope you're still ahead.

 

[hoytcanon]

For just deer in the bush, you can't go wrong with a Winchester Pre-64 Model 94 in .30/30... You can find them in excellent condition in the $450 range... And NOTHING carries like a '94!

 

[dirt dog]

ya model 94 30-30 trapper is what i use i cant see past 50 yards in a good spot anyway where i am
get a winchester, marlin is easier for scope mounting though 30-30 will do the job either way

 

[SuperCub]

Lever guns are ghey! I'm glad Remington didn't make the 870 in a lever action.

Having said that ..... I can't imagine a better "bush" gun than a 20" bbl 760 in 308 with a Lyman all steel receiver sight. This thing screems FUDD!

 

[Calum]

H&R/NEF handy rifle...
Works well for me.

 

[Homesteader]

Another vote for 760/7600. I'm running a 760 in 308 win, with a Trijicon 1-4x30 with the green post. Excellent machine out to 300yds, which is plenty far.

 

[Mr. Friendly]

see if you can find yourself a 16" lever action carbine in .44RM. Rossi makes them in the '92 action. alternatively, if you want an even shorter barrel, go get yourself a nice Mare's Leg and add a full on butt stock. then you've got a 12" barrel.

 

[diemaco]

Good suggestions so far, you could probably find a ruger no 1 in your price range, or just buy whatever bolt gun you want and shop the barrel to 18 or 20".