Under 100 yards

[Applefarmer]

30-30, 35rem, 44mag, 32spl, 357rem, hell even an SKS 7.62x39 your good to go. Really thick brush, short rifle like the Winchester 94 Trapper in 30-30 is the route to go. Personal experience, I've found the 94 action to be better in the 30-30 than pistol cals. If you want to use the 44mag or 357, go with a Marlin or my old favorite the IMI Timer Wolf, which is very expensive if you can find one. I've used the SKS in the bush, and it is the heaviest of the lot, but it works.

 

[hoytcanon]

Double jack...

 

[WhelanLad]

I don't want to be that guy that recommends another calibre... but, take a look for a old win 94 .375BB.... brass for days with resized 30-30 an bit more thump and wonderful for all animals out to 100m. I love mine in the thick stuff with a peep sight!

WL

 

[Ardent]

The .30-30 is a substantially better hunting cartridge than the .44 Mag. It leads in next about every category.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Seeing that the .44 mag has accounted for the Big 5 in Africa from handguns, I would not discount it for any critter in North America in rifle length barrels within 100+ yards.

 

[troutseeker]

I say .44 mag, much cooler than .30-30. Will do as good a job, and you'll have more rounds in the tube.

 

[Canuck Bob]

There is a reason Winchester sold many millions of 30-30 for over a 100 years. I carry a Win 94 in 32 Special for your described hunting. The ammo is available and always will be if you aren't a reloading gun nut. A peep sighted 30-30 or a scoped angle eject Winchester or Marlin. I'd recommend a Winchester if iron sighted and a Marlin if scoping.

 

[SKS47]

I would go with 44 mag. I have a Ruger 44 carbine and a Ruger 96/44 lever and both are short and handy and pack a big punch. Under 100 yards if you touch it with 44 mag it will go down. I have not experienced any problems with ammo availability.