Brush Guns one mans opinion

[Bob33]

I hunted dense brush on the westside for elk many years. On one occasion I saw a bull across a clearing at 322 yards.

I'm sure glad I had more than a "brush gun" at the time.

[Biggerhammer]

I'm sure glad I had more than a "brush gun" at the time.

 

[Firetwin3]

My dad still has an old Remington 600 .308 with the top rail, and had a cut stock (and possibly barrel) to accommodate smaller shooters. So this has always been my idea of a perfect brush gun

But you just need a gun that your comfortable with at all ranges.

[HawkCreek]

If the "brush gun" is implying a slower larger bullet does any better then a smaller faster bullet busting through brush then,

I personally believe the term "brush gun" should go away along with the term "stopping power".

They are both myths.

Their have been tons of tests that shot a larger slow moving bullet deflects just as easy as a fast moving bullet.

If "brush gun" is referring to a rifle with a shorter shorter barrel, with open sights to be shot at close ranges possibly in dense cover (but not through it) then my choice would be any of the following, LOL

Winchester 30-30 lever action
Any shorter barrelled 45-70 lever action
Ruger mini-14 in .308 Do you mean a Mini-30 in 7.62x39? Otherwise a Mini-14 is Rugers idea of a scaled down M-14 which is 7.62x51 (.308) Mine is an 18" barreled version and weights close to 9 pounds unloaded.
Seeing a pattern here?

I grew up hunting the dense forest Olympic Peninsula black tail and elk.
I have always use the same bolt action type rifles that I use hunting the East side.
Similar to what I shoot now:
Ruger M77 MkII, 7mm mag with VxIII
Sako Finlight, 300 Win Mag with VxIII

I could never find an ounce of reason
(except to justify increasing the size of my rifle family, and that would be reason enough to buy one)
that would put one of the "brush guns" mentioned in a better position for me to succeed then the bolt action rifles I use currently.

I've seen the same tests you have and I agree the evidence shows that there is no such things as a brush busting caliber.

I also find it amusing that you hunt in the thick stuff with heavier rifles (larger caliber at least) than I hunt on the open areas of the dry side. I think this is a great example of "dance with the one that brung ya" (or that you brought as it were). Obviously the 7mm and .300 have worked in the brush just like a .308 and .30-06 have worked for me in the open.

[Alchase]

 

Do you mean a Mini-30 in 7.62x39? Otherwise a Mini-14 is Rugers idea of a scaled down M-14 which is 7.62x51 (.308) Mine is an 18" barreled version and weights close to 9 pounds unloaded. [/b]

 
Yes, I meant the Mini-30, sorry I tend to group all the variants into "Mini-14" name.
I use a "sporterized" version of the M14 on occasion in the service. Have found memories of a dependable, efficient weapon.

[Alchase]

I have always preferred to use a scope in thick forest as well. When hunting Blacktail bedding areas, a scope can definitely helps in low filtered light to follow the ear twitch or tail flick to the body where a shot can be taken. Just make sure you dial your scope back a bit, LOL.
A few years back hunting near Summit Creak. I noticed movement barely 20 yards away through the dense trees and undergrowth. I threw my rifle up and all I saw was grey hair!
I could not even tell what part of the bucks body I was looking at.
The previous hunt, I had been in Winthrop, and I forgot dial my VXIII down at the start of this hunt. By the time I realized what was wrong, he was in to thick for a shot.
A correctly adjusted scope or even an open sight rifle would have been back straps for dinner.