Rifles for the brutal hunt.

Marlin 336SS in 30-30.
That gun has sat out in driving drizzle for hours and been dropped down a 20' high rock cut onto the sharp angular talus below.
Both it and the tougher than nails Leupold Rifleman 2-7x33 scope on it are covered in character scratches and dings but were both dead on target when I checked the sighting at the range a coupla weeks ago.
Son shot a moose with it just off the Dead Horse road out Marathon, Ontario way last fall.
Gole darn bull didn't know it wasn't supposed to die when shot with a lowly 30-30 but it did.
 
As to the crazy thick/dirty conditions the OP is describing I would be taking my 14" barreled T/C Contender cabines in either 375JDJ or 45-70.

Super short, accurate and the fastest handling rifles/carbines I have ever had the pleasure to shoot/hunt with and they can take a beating.

Now if shooting distances could go out way beyond 200 yards I'd grab my = actually I'm not really sure I have to many choices.
 
I dog a lot at our camp.
A good dogging rifle must be light, short, reliable, and have ghost ring sights IMHO. Scopes and red dots get snagged on everything in the thick stuff.
In the past I have used Ruger .44 carbine, .308 742 carbine (my current choice, mine is very reliable) and this year I bought a 1895 45-70 to try out. I wish I never sold my Ruger though...was a fantastic dogging gun.

Usually I am able to harvest at least one Deer while dogging every year, good observational skills are necessary. I find I see more deer dogging than being one of the watchers.
 
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7.62mm said:
I dog a lot at our camp.
A good dogging rifle must be light, short, reliable, and have ghost ring sights IMHO. Scopes and red dots get snagged on everything in the thick stuff.
In the past I have used Ruger .44 carbine, .308 742 carbine (my current choice, mine is very reliable) and this year I bought a 1895 45-70 to try out. I wish I never sold my Ruger though...was a fantastic dogging gun.

Usually I am able to harvest at least one Deer while dogging every year, good observational skills are necessary. I find I see more deer dogging than being one of the watchers.
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The 742Carbine .308Win is an excellent choice for your purpose, possibly unbeatable with anything. You have chosen well grasshopper. They all are reliable that I have owned personally and loaded for so many co-workers. I'm not getting where the unreliability issue's ever came from. They were the king of the jungle here 30-40 years ago. My issue with the Remington platform is the zero lowering if the forearm bolt starts to loosen. I just zero on a clean rifle and ensure the bolt is tight and nail polished to hold it. Don't fool with it till the season is over after that.
 
todbartell said:
nice scenery pics boys but I don't see much killin' going on :popCorn:
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Here is a pair that I took with the Ruger .44 Mag Carbine a few years ago!

2-Bucks-1.jpg
 
My rifle for rough conditions is about as rugged as they come. It is a JC Higgins 50 which is a commercial FN Mauser action with a chrome-lined barrel. When I got it the bluing was in very poor shape so I painted it with black enamel brake caliper paint and cured it in the oven. It is bedded in a McMillan stock that I figure is about as sturdy as anything available. For sights is has one of the old, steel Lyman 57 peep sights as well as a fixed magnification Leupold 4x33 scope. I really cant think of how it could be any better for rough use.

To make sure things go as well as possible I put electrical tape over the muzzle. I also have a zip-loc bag that has a complete set of spare parts as well as a broken shell extractor. Total cost for all of the spare parts is about $80. One of the nice things about a Mauser is that aside from being very rugged, every part can be cconveniently replaced in the field.

As for calibre this one is a .30-06 which for the hunting I do could never be a mistake.
 
Some of the bush I patrol in is so damn thick you could barely get a good swing with a machete.

I've carried rifles from a 15 pound GA Precision to an scoped 18.5" M14, 870's, Remington LTR, SKS, Savage .22 bolt actions etc. etc.

The rifle I have in my hands the most is a Remington 600 Mohawk in .308. Its been extensively modded, so have a lot into it but I'm not precious about it.

For the kinda bush the OP is trekking don't even consider a barrel over 18.5. Balloon over barrel... NO WAY I'd recommend a stick in it though !

Sling choice can be important too depending whether you want the rifle in your hands or on your body. I HIGHLY recommend Slogan Outdoor Ultraflex sling. It's thermoplastic rubber. If you don't need the rifle in your hands put it on your back and split both halves of the sling and put it on like a backpack. That sling really sticks to you. Or sling it across your back at a 45* angle. If the rifle is compact enough it doesn't get hung up on things too badly.

Most scopes are gonna get dented if dropped hard enough on rocks. I'm not a fan of the typical rings most hunters use. I prefer rails and rings by Badger, Nightforce or TPS. I like Talley lightweights but wouldn't want to drop them.

One of you fine gentlemen in another thread recommended this Russian 1.5-6 scope. Want to check that out because some of the Russian stuff I've seen is pretty tough... as long as it's not too heavy.

Sometimes I think a "cheap" surplus bolt action carbine is the way to go. If I had to buy something new it would probably be a Ruger Scout. Then again, it's a grand. Maybe one of the budget rifles like the American for about half that and who cares about it as long as it fires and does so accurately enough.

All this pretty wood and blued stuff is awesome but not for rough work imo.
 
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I know it has been mentioned...but Ruger gunsite. I also think of the wet coast, but for the world if you thought of what is used in Africa you would not be wrong.

A good manual action rifle in stainless, with a tough stock, and kill anything caliber.

Ruger gunsite
Baikal SXS in 45/70
Tough bolt gun in 30 cal or more
Shotgun in bolt or pump and capable of 70 yard shot.

High grade wood stocks and $2000 scopes could be used....but why. Tough and Utility. No tears when the gear gets dinged or scratched.
 
Swede96 said:
A military surplus bolt gun is the only logical choice.
It was designed to withstand abuse.
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They can be heavy. They are usually cheap though !

I have on just begun the test of my vanguard S2 Varmint for bush smashing. Its got a little weight, but nothing I cant in my current shape cant handle... (24 y/o and would be considered above average fitness) This stock is so far trumping all other wood stocks and synths Ive crashed around with. The synths (savage synthetics) seem to scratch very easily. Even get slight dings. The wood stocks on milsurp and and other rifles dents very easily I find... (laminate wood) The sks is great to chuck on the atv but expect it to look banged up. Same with any other wood stock. I find even with some of the slightest bumps against trees I get dents. This Vanguards stock has been holding up to a very rough first week of abuse... The varmint is a bit pricey but you have to try and bang it up quick so you don't have to try to baby it in the bush. So far it has taken everything like a champ, just wipe it with my glove and you wouldn't know its not a brand new gun... Use it to protect my face while going through thick stuff even. So pushing/breaking branches ect.
Some frost drops on it in this picture.



 
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