Brush guns
- Thread starter Gunplummer
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bamaranger
New member
best?
I've come to think that a "brush gun" is the suitably powerful rifle that gets through the brush, over the rocks, and up the mountain, the easiest. That usually means short and light.
I also think that no bullets really "buck" brush well, you hit a limb, and the deer is very far from that point, you and or the deer both, are in trouble. I lost I very nice buck this year, undoubtably hitting brush, on a standing deer at about 30 yds. I fully believed I had a clear shot or would not have taken it. Anybody that has not used the "hit a limb" phrase, has likely not shot a lot, or at, enough deer.
I wonder, for conversations sake, if the best "brush gun" might not be a rifle at all?? Seems maybe a 12 ga slug, a 695 grains (?) or more, with no twist rate, and point heavy by design, would have the best chance of continuing in a straight line after contact with "brush"? I dunno, but at one time was giving serious thought to using a pump slug gun in the brush/laurel .
I've come to think that a "brush gun" is the suitably powerful rifle that gets through the brush, over the rocks, and up the mountain, the easiest. That usually means short and light.
I also think that no bullets really "buck" brush well, you hit a limb, and the deer is very far from that point, you and or the deer both, are in trouble. I lost I very nice buck this year, undoubtably hitting brush, on a standing deer at about 30 yds. I fully believed I had a clear shot or would not have taken it. Anybody that has not used the "hit a limb" phrase, has likely not shot a lot, or at, enough deer.
I wonder, for conversations sake, if the best "brush gun" might not be a rifle at all?? Seems maybe a 12 ga slug, a 695 grains (?) or more, with no twist rate, and point heavy by design, would have the best chance of continuing in a straight line after contact with "brush"? I dunno, but at one time was giving serious thought to using a pump slug gun in the brush/laurel .
Worse than Greek Mythology
Like Art, I read an article that put a group of cartridges from the 30-30 up to the 375 H&H for a "brush busting test". They put a deer "target" from 7-10 yards behind a brush barrier and tested. None of them produced a hit in the vitals. I also experienced a friend that took a 50 yard shot with a 7mm RM and he was incredulous that he missed, so I went up into the stand to look at the angle of the shot. I saw a 1/4" branch broken 30 feet from the stand in line with the shot........
Like Art, I read an article that put a group of cartridges from the 30-30 up to the 375 H&H for a "brush busting test". They put a deer "target" from 7-10 yards behind a brush barrier and tested. None of them produced a hit in the vitals. I also experienced a friend that took a 50 yard shot with a 7mm RM and he was incredulous that he missed, so I went up into the stand to look at the angle of the shot. I saw a 1/4" branch broken 30 feet from the stand in line with the shot........
The best brush gun in my opinion is the Marlin 1895GS Guide Gun 45-70. Easy to pack in the heaviest cover.
Here is mine, it has a Leupold VX2 2-7, with a Russian Boar that I shot in Southern Idaho last April. With my handloads, 350gr. RN Hornady and a healthy does of IMR 4198, very devastating on bears and hogs and is EXTREMELY accurate!
Here is mine, it has a Leupold VX2 2-7, with a Russian Boar that I shot in Southern Idaho last April. With my handloads, 350gr. RN Hornady and a healthy does of IMR 4198, very devastating on bears and hogs and is EXTREMELY accurate!
I posted "slug" earlier, thats what I use in the brush or my .44mag SBH. Most shots in the brush are close and quick.
20ga 870 Express mag, Remington slug barrel, cantilever mount, Nikon Omega scope, Remington synthetic stocks. It would be better with out the scope in the brush to be honest but works well in the woods or small openings and its very accurate(2" groups) at 100yds on Fusion Sabots
The perfect brush gun IMHO, 10.5" SBH
20ga 870 Express mag, Remington slug barrel, cantilever mount, Nikon Omega scope, Remington synthetic stocks. It would be better with out the scope in the brush to be honest but works well in the woods or small openings and its very accurate(2" groups) at 100yds on Fusion Sabots
The perfect brush gun IMHO, 10.5" SBH
Brush Guns
If you have never plowed a branch or nicked a tree you haven't done much
deer "hunting" This type of hunting calls for offhand marksmanship. Not the same thing as deer shooters that are staking out food plots, fields, ect.
The new concept of 4x12 scopes on flat shooting sniper rifles is for the deer
shooters. The brush deer rifle should be enough gun to take your deer from
close to farthest range you may encounter were you hunt. This type of hunting
involves a lot of walking, so gun should be easy to carry. It has nothing to do
with shooting threw obstacles. Also a lot of the deer will be running, so a hi
power scope is not to useful. That's why 30/30 levers and similar guns are
popular, they get it done year after year.
If you have never plowed a branch or nicked a tree you haven't done much
deer "hunting" This type of hunting calls for offhand marksmanship. Not the same thing as deer shooters that are staking out food plots, fields, ect.
The new concept of 4x12 scopes on flat shooting sniper rifles is for the deer
shooters. The brush deer rifle should be enough gun to take your deer from
close to farthest range you may encounter were you hunt. This type of hunting
involves a lot of walking, so gun should be easy to carry. It has nothing to do
with shooting threw obstacles. Also a lot of the deer will be running, so a hi
power scope is not to useful. That's why 30/30 levers and similar guns are
popular, they get it done year after year.
I did testing of various guns shooting through brush and small branches.
I found that all bullets were affected. The 22 LR was stopped by branches and the 22 CF blew up on them.
The 375 H&H with a full load did best but the bullets still tipped if they hit something.
Best to have a scoped rifle and try not to shoot branches.
In SE PA there may be a antler law and seeing a tine length may matter.
Use a scope. A 2-7 or so is fine.
I found that all bullets were affected. The 22 LR was stopped by branches and the 22 CF blew up on them.
The 375 H&H with a full load did best but the bullets still tipped if they hit something.
Best to have a scoped rifle and try not to shoot branches.
In SE PA there may be a antler law and seeing a tine length may matter.
Use a scope. A 2-7 or so is fine.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
From a purely practical standpoint, again, there is no such thing as a "brush-busting bullet".
A "brush gun", to me, anyhow, is one which is light and handy, with which it is easier to maneuver in undergrowth while doing the still-hunt or "sneaky snake" style of hunting. It really doesn't matter about the cartridge, so long as it has adequate power for the intended game.
A "brush gun", to me, anyhow, is one which is light and handy, with which it is easier to maneuver in undergrowth while doing the still-hunt or "sneaky snake" style of hunting. It really doesn't matter about the cartridge, so long as it has adequate power for the intended game.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
"...I killed a 250 lb.hog through a 5'' pine tree..."
I'll take luck over skill, any day!
I'll take luck over skill, any day!
I would agree with Drm: In my 50 years of hunting, my guns used for deer hunting in North Central PA are #1. 30-30 Model 94. On this I put a Lyman receiver sight and take the aperture off, basically making it a "ghost ring". Gun #2. Ruger #1 in 45-70. On this I have a (IIRC) 2-1/2 power Leupold scope (maybe it's 1-1/2 power-can't remember). Gun #3. (my favorite, though I haven't seen it in 35 years) was an uncle's Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. It was a very early 50's gun, with receiver sights and absolutely beautiful. After Unc. died, his brother-in-law distributed the guns and it went to his son, who never used it before or after. An old single shot H&R shotgun, 16 ga. came my way. Never saw it before and have not shot it a single time.
Anyhow, my point is, as Drm said, quick target acquisition, unless you're taking hundreds of yards in your shots. For me, it always seems to be 25 to 40 yards at a moving target.
Anyhow, my point is, as Drm said, quick target acquisition, unless you're taking hundreds of yards in your shots. For me, it always seems to be 25 to 40 yards at a moving target.
