What does everyone use as their "bush" gun?

Specialty bush gun:
.356 win M94 with Leupold 1-4x and 220-250 gr bullet - Killed a bull elk this year at less than 20 yards. Farthest kill with this gun was a moose at exactly 250 paces three years ago. Closest, two deer at about 8 paces.
Other guns I use in bush are:
"Big critter" gun:
.35 whelen Rem 700 C 1.5-5 Leupold, / 250 grain. Used it to kill several deer, 9 elk, one moose and one caribou at last count. Range 20-200 yds, most around 80-100. Really like this cartridge.
"Versatile" bush guns:
Savage 99f .308, Lyman peep sight, (only one deer with this rifle so far) Started hunting big game with 3 other .308's, They work reliably. I'll always have one in the rack.
and "new to me" this year -
Merkel Combination gun, 7x57R under 16 ga. Used 175gr in the rifle barrel and a slug in the shotgun barrel. Killed a whitetail with the rifle in November ( 201 paces). Only got a raccoon so far with a slug.
 
Just finished load development for a BRNO 21H that's going to be my 'close cover' rifle. Very light and handy rifle, handles almost like a bird gun. Double set trigger that I'm totally in love with. Even the non 'set' trigger is OK. Has a Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x20 in CZ rings.

The 170 grn Hornady el cheapos were going into one hole, think that's my load, but the 200 grn Accubonds are so cute I can't stay mad. And the best part is, I don't have to carry around a lever gun;-)
 
Longwalker said:
Specialty bush gun:
.356 win M94 with Leupold 1-4x and 220-250 gr bullet - Killed a bull elk this year at less than 20 yards. Farthest kill with this gun was a moose at exactly 250 paces three years ago. Closest, two deer at about 8 paces.
Other guns I use in bush are:
"Big critter" gun:
.35 whelen Rem 700 C 1.5-5 Leupold, / 250 grain. Used it to kill several deer, 9 elk, one moose and one caribou at last count. Range 20-200 yds, most around 80-100. Really like this cartridge.
"Versatile" bush guns:
Savage 99f .308, Lyman peep sight, (only one deer with this rifle so far) Started hunting big game with 3 other .308's, They work reliably. I'll always have one in the rack.
and "new to me" this year -
Merkel Combination gun, 7x57R under 16 ga. Used 175gr in the rifle barrel and a slug in the shotgun barrel. Killed a whitetail with the rifle in November ( 201 paces). Only got a raccoon so far with a slug.
Click to expand...

Just curious, you mention a Merkel combination gun, do you have a picture of it by any chance? I've looked at a few websites but I wasn't able to find an OU combination. I used to have a Brno 7x57R over 12ga but I got rid of it. Why I don't know:rolleyes: , but I've recently picked up another the same, plus a set of 12ga skeet barrels.:)
 
Winchester M70 Classic Compact with a B&L Balvar 1.5-6x20mm Scope in 308.
Remington M740 20" Barrel with a Williams peep sight in 30-06.
Marlin M336SC Lyman peep sight in 30-30.
 
I grew up hunting in the bush with a Marlin 30-30. Now I use my Interarms Mark X .270 for feild and bush. This year my dad took a nice deer at 176 yards in the bush with a .243 through some brush, one shot. So I would not get to caught up on changing calibers for bush hunting deer.

Now that being said you can never have to many guns.
 
AAAhhhh!

So many guns yet so little time!

I've picked up a pair of 9.3x57mm Husqvarnas that I'll be reloading for this winter. Lobbing 285 grains should do the trick on anything that comes my way! I'll probably scope one and leave the other with irons for foul weather shooting.

I'll also have an 8mm Husky with irons and a Jungle Carbine for really thick bush. And if it's really wet, the SKS is always an option. My final choice will depend on how my experiments with different rifles and loads work out between now and next autumn.

I shouldn't rule out the Mannlicher rifle or carbine with 205gr handloads, the CZ858-2, M305 or any of an assortment of milsurps. But realistically with 4 or 5 days for big game hunting if I plan ahead, I'll be taking three or four rifles max.
 
Oops, I just discovered today that one of my 9.3mm's is loaded 9.3x62, thankfully before I fireformed the brass out of 9.3x57 fired in it's chamber! It will still fit the bill as a bush gun very nicely!
 
Mainly a Savage .308 left handed bolt unless I think it will end up getting banged around quite abit on the trip then it is an old sporterized #1 .303.
 
After reading through this I was wondering what cal. you guy would suggest out of the above mentioned ie 45/70 308 30/30 ect would you take up against a Grizzly ( not mentioning shotguns just rifles )
sorry for the hijack :)
 
I use a Remington model 742 in .308 ( it has only jammed on me once by the way ) with a wide angle weaver 4x fixed. Works well for me... was my grandfathers gun... so he still comes along. As for the grizzly bear question.. I have never shot one but I am confident with calm nerves and a five shot clip the old .308 would do just fine!! Not that I wouldn't rather have along a 300 mag!!!
 
If you're out hunting for grizzly, then none of the calibers listed is really optimal. I'd much rather have a .338 or .300 Win Mag with a low-power scope and some controlled-expansion bullets than a .45-70, .308, or .30-30.

If it's grizzly _defense_, then I think it's sorta like that old line about the best gun at a gunfight is the one you brought... any of them "could" stop a bear. Though odds are it'll eat you first, regardless of what you brought;-)
 
BLR in .308 or sporterized .303
Anything that's ugly enough I won't care if I scratch or drop it. I tried pushing bush with the SKS, but didn't like it cause it was a pain in the butt to load/unload/make safe all the time.
 
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