Low power scope or peep sight for "brush gun"?

[Pete112288]

I am sure this has been discussed before but couldn't find a previous thread. Just out there looking for opinions and different points of view.
If you had to chose between a low power scope or a peep sight for a "brush gun" (often hunting timber, thick brush, and clearing edges MAX range normally 100-120 yards).
I have always done better and been more confident with a low power scope. When set on 3 or 4 power I tend to be able to get on target quicker even in the thickest of brush than I can with open sights. I don't care for standard open sights, rather have a peep, I shoot better with peep than standard rifle sights. I have a 1.5-4.5 power on my slug gun and love it. But there is something I love about not having that extra weight and such of the scope, esp when it hangs up on brush more often. I go back and fourth, just like my 22 for grouse, I go back and fourth between scope and opens so often on that thing just cause I can never make up my mind. The idea of this question is geared towards a 30-30 for deer.
Pros and cons of each? Whats your thoughts?

[BULLBLASTER]

For me I like to have my scopes around 6-7 power while in the brush.  Anything less and it looks way too far away. I can get on target in an instant and this has never hindered me at all. I like a 3-9 or 3.5-10 scope

[JimmyHoffa]

deep, dark timber on a cloudy/rainy day, early/late, I prefer the low setting on the scope to be honest.  But seems the peep is very close second.  For the sunnier days or edges and clear cuts or jack fir, I think peep would do.
Seen some elk in that steep and deep old growth and could barely see them without optics.

[ckr]

I would look at the leupold eer 2.5 fixed.  I have one on my 1895 and love in in the brush.  It's also easy to use out to 150yards.  It really makes a difference for me in low light.  The extended eye relief allows me to shoot with both eyes open which is nice for finding targets in the thick stuff

[Bob33]

I vote low power scope.

[GoldenOscar]

I feel lonely, only peep voter so far......I like the way a 30-30 carries with the iron sights and a peep is pretty darn fast....

[HntnFsh]

I say low power scope also. A couple years ago I was muzzleloader hunting some decent timber. Had a cow tag. Got into elk. pulled up 3 or 4 times and couldn't shoot because the peep sight was obscuring too much of the area around the elk I pulled up on. Made it hard to tell if I was taking a good shot on a single elk or if there were other elk bodies in the way of good shot. Was very frustrating. I had recently bought Williams sights for my rifle and my sons. took mine off. Never mounted his. Sold both sets. I'm not a fan of peep sights in the type of area your talking about. In nice open country. or target shooting. You bet. But not in the thick stuff!

[CP]

red dot

[Miles]

Open sights.

[CP]

Or all of the above:

[Bill W]

Back when I was a young sprout deer hunting in the back woods of Pennsylvania we encountered a herd of deer behind the family cabin.   It was so dark under the trees that I couldn't see my peep sights.  A scope would have made the shot possible.   

I'd go with a low power scope that gathers light.  Early morning and just before quitting might be tough with a peep.

[Jellymon]

I love my 2-7 leupold on my marlin 30-30. The field of view is really good and I can get on target quickly. Plus no issues in low light.

[Woodchuck]

If you are more comfortable with a scope, I say stick to it. 

[jay.sharkbait]

Peep

[headshot5]

For the way I hunt on the west side in the rain, a peep is the only way to go for hunting certain areas.   

[MountainWalk]

I really like a good peep. Not all ring sights are created equal either.  It's not ideal, for sure. At dusk, at any range beyond hundred yards or so it takes me a little longer to connect. And it doesn't transmit light to my eyes. But it's impervious to rain meaning that there isn't any lens to get rain splattered, way lighter and more portable and doesn't hang up in brush. A bolt rifle just carries better one handed sans scope. That and a serious rifle peep equipped just looks *censored* proper.

No doubt a scope is better all around, but in the deep stuff, I don't feel too handicapped. Old habits die hard. Learned to shoot with ring sighted m1 carbines and 22's.

[Fl0und3rz]

Peep or open sights. 

[flcracker]

I've got a fixed 4x on my 30-30 and love it

[birddogdad]

if it is truly a "brush gun" a quality bright peep is my choice. no issues with acquiring jumped game, or rain/snow issues (not that we have this in the wet northwest)....  proficiency to 200 yards with quality peep is not difficult either..

if you feel comfortable with a peep, go with it, if not or your vision is not great, low power scope is option, I have (2) 45-70's one peep, one lp scope mostly for my dads vision issues, I have carried both, prefer high quality peep with bright dot. extreme low light situations advantage with LP scope (early / late)

[superdown]

I don't have my peep on it yet but this is my marlin 30-30 with xs scout rail and leupold  1.5-4 scout scope and leupold qd rings.I like being able to switch back and forth at will. 

[Angry Perch]

I voted scope because I think it's the most functional option, but I don't think I could ever mount a scope on a lever gun.
 

[Bofire]

scope

[JimmyHoffa]

Could always get a see through scope mount so you can look beneath the scope down the peep.

[MountainWalk]

Some ring sights allow you to unscrew the aperture. This helps nicely. Here are a few views from behind the bolt of the 70.

[MountainWalk]

.

[Firedogg]

I like a low power scope with see thru mounts to be able to use iron sights if I felt like it. It's how I have my .45-70 set up.

[scoutdog346]

I wish they made a .5 to 3 power.  The kind u can slap to the side and use the open sights under the scope.  any Scope with European glass. Euro glass can get drops of water on the glass and it will still out perform most scopes with no drops of water. sitting on a 45/70. Synthetic stock. Semi-automatic. Full metel jacket bullets. 45 cal is big enough it dont need to mushroom and that way it will bust threw brush better maybe? To me that would be the ultimate brush gun. if it was legal and such a thing???...lol.  Do they make somthing like that? Lol

[Biggerhammer]

I wish they made a .5 to 3 power.  The kind u can slap to the side and use the open sights under the scope.  any Scope with European glass. Euro glass can get drops of water on the glass and it will still out perform most scopes with no drops of water. sitting on a 45/70. Synthetic stock. Semi-automatic. Full metel jacket bullets. 45 cal is big enough it dont need to mushroom and that way it will bust threw brush better maybe? To me that would be the ultimate brush gun. if it was legal and such a thing???...lol.  Do they make somthing like that? Lol

Haha! That may work in a Peyote induced "Spirit World".

[JimmyHoffa]

I wish they made a .5 to 3 power.  The kind u can slap to the side and use the open sights under the scope.  any Scope with European glass. Euro glass can get drops of water on the glass and it will still out perform most scopes with no drops of water. sitting on a 45/70. Synthetic stock. Semi-automatic. Full metel jacket bullets. 45 cal is big enough it dont need to mushroom and that way it will bust threw brush better maybe? To me that would be the ultimate brush gun. if it was legal and such a thing???...lol.  Do they make somthing like that? Lol

.50 Beowolf?  Most .45/70 would have difficult time due to the big rim, probably have to go tube mag or revolver.

[mazama]

I like both,I have a 1-4 leoppld on my 350rem mag,peep on my muzzle loader with a merit insert,i can adjust to smallopening for targets, it is adjustable small to large.

[scoutdog346]

Doesn't a 45/70 have way more penetrations then a Beowulf .50 ?  I saw a frind  shoot a big cow elk in the shoulder from 60 yards away and it barely went through the first shoulder blade.  It was a hollow point.  It ran and it took 28° to find it.  Not a good day and bad feeling for both of us becouse i was the one that said it would b good out to 70 yards.

[Biggerhammer]

A .450 Bushmaster would be much closer to 45-70 performance than a .50 B when it comes to a AR.

[jay.sharkbait]

A .450 Bushmaster would be much closer to 45-70 performance than a .50 B when it comes to a AR.

.450 uses pistol bullets....   .452 bore

.458 SOCOM uses rifle...  .458 bore

.375 SOCOM is the way to go in a largish bore AR15 IMHO.....

[JimmyHoffa]

Do they still make that version of the M1 Garand in .458 Win Mag?  That should make a fun brush gun.  Probably only way I'd be convinced to carry that dang rifle again. 

[jay.sharkbait]

Do they still make that version of the M1 Garand in .458 Win Mag?  That should make a fun brush gun.  Probably only way I'd be convinced to carry that dang rifle again. 

McCann passed away a couple years ago.

I always thought it would be fun to do one in 35 Whelen.

[MountainWalk]

A 458wm  Garand?  That rifle would automatically transform you into a certifiable Tyranosaurous Rex.

[Bofire]

Mr Mcann let me shoot one of the 458 Garands once at Tacoma Sportsmans club. Very nice rifle, not that much recoil.
I liked it
Carl