Thread: Bush rifles

Originally Posted by blip

Makes me wonder how noticable 1 or 2 inches off the barrel really is only really noticable to me if I get the tape measure out...

If I was purely making a bush gun I would stick to 16" but the 18" Tikka certainly isn't cumbersome. Feels like a good compromise between overall length and retaining a bit more velocity.

Pensas sika.

Yea I havnt felt the need to chop any of my rifles just so I can take it in the bush other than a 22lr possum gun that had a rusted out muzzle

Originally Posted by blip

Fuk that dreaded name popped up. Bush pig is such a stupid name for a rifle. Back in the day it was just called a carbine

Damn right!
Who started this naming a carbine as a ‘bush pig’?

Why not one of the fast twist 223s, plenty of energy in close, ability to place shots very precisely through trees etc.

Now tell me all your first hand "I shot a deer through a 3" tree with my great big gun" stories . . .

I shot a tree with my meduim gun. Needed a quick follow up shot as well

Originally Posted by Tentman

Why not one of the fast twist 223s, plenty of energy in close, ability to place shots very precisely through trees etc.

Now tell me all your first hand "I shot a deer through a 3" tree with my great big gun" stories . . .

But I DID shoot a deer through a young beech tree 3”+ thick!
Bullet took out a shoulder on one side and ribs on the other and stopped under the skin. 308 for the win!

Nice one, I currently shoot the 7mm-08 in the standard barrel. The bush-load you are developing, would it be closer to a subsonic. Wanted to to try some sub-sonics with the 7mm-08, but it doesn't look like these are commercially sold. I'm thinking of keeping with 7mm-08 for longer shots and then buying a 308 for for a bush gun where I can use subs with the dogs.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Damn right!
Who started this naming a carbine as a ‘bush pig’?

I think it was Greg Duley/NZ Hunter when they started selling chopped and suppressed Tikkas, calling them "bush pigs".

Originally Posted by Quintin

Nice one, I currently shoot the 7mm-08 in the standard barrel. The bush-load you are developing, would it be closer to a subsonic. Wanted to to try some sub-sonics with the 7mm-08, but it doesn't look like these are commercially sold. I'm thinking of keeping with 7mm-08 for longer shots and then buying a 308 for for a bush gun where I can use subs with the dogs.

@Quintin not even close to subsonic. Still going 2650 fps. All I meant by bush load is that it's cheap and cheerful and I'm not too worried about precision. I used "developed" a bit tongue in cheek because I chose a projectile that I have plenty of (139g interlock) and powder that I have plenty of (AR2206H) and randomly chose a load somewhere below book max, and I don't need to do anything more with it. I figure for the amount of shots the dog gets over her head (maybe half a dozen a year, if she's lucky) a std suppressed 7-08 is fine. Most shots I take with her there I've already got her in heel anyway. I'm currently developing a load which I will use for tops/open country hunting and I suspect it will take a bit more effort to get that shooting how I want it.

Originally Posted by Tahr

They do look a bit retro don’t they…
But there will never be as many deer shot in the trees with so called “bush pigs” as there all ready have been with 25” SMLE’s. Dunno how they did it.
The majority of ‘bush pigs’ and their owners spend most of their lives in open country and scattered/open bush. Not many bush pigs go real bush hunting.

@Tahr I've been "real" bush hunting (at least I think?) with an old sported 303, a 7mm rem mag (terrible idea) and a bush pig, and now with my 18" suppressed 7mm08 - I would rather have the bush pig for dedicated bush hunting any day of the week. I do think the "bush pigs" are attractive because they get close to a quiver killer in that they are very handy in the bush but with the right hand loads can shoot reliably out to most common hunting distances. Maybe this is why, as you say, many of them spend their lives in open country too.

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Damn right!
Who started this naming a carbine as a ‘bush pig’?

A bush pig was an ugly sheilah from waimate!!!!

Originally Posted by tanqueray

I think it was Greg Duley/NZ Hunter when they started selling chopped and suppressed Tikkas, calling them "bush pigs".

Ah the NZ special then, take a concept that pre-exists and claim you invented it or somehow made it special.

Honey, wool, rugby, rifles...

Just remember the UK did it first (although maybe not better...)

Originally Posted by caberslash

Ah the NZ special then, take a concept that pre-exists and claim you invented it or somehow made it special.

Honey, wool, rugby, rifles...

Just remember the UK did it first (although maybe not better...)

Attachment 259497

Gosh you must be fun at parties

Yet, it is kiwi reviving the concept and making probably one of the best reproduction currently available worldwide:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....mpleted-81778/