Thread: Bush rifles

I've had heaps of different "bush rifles" over the years - half a dozen open-sighted lever actions, a chopped, scoped and suppressed lever action, open sighted bolt actions, a scout rifle, shortened, suppressed bush pig style bolt actions etc, and I hunt the tight shit in the Kaimais. Nowadays I just use a standard length, unsuppressed Brno bolt action in 243. It does everything, it isn't a hindrance in the bush, it isn't a problem if I want to hunt open country. As others have said, just buy a rifle in a reasonable calibre and get out there!

The two I mainly use now if its thickish bush would be my howa mini in 6.5 gren or my rem 600 mohawk in 243

Originally Posted by blip

The two I mainly use now if its thickish bush would be my howa mini in 6.5 gren or my rem 600 mohawk in 243

ahhh yes the Rem 700 mohawk designed as a light bush carbine

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

ahhh yes the Rem 700 mohawk designed as a light bush carbine

Prolly forerunner to the model 7

Originally Posted by blip

The two I mainly use now if its thickish bush would be my howa mini in 6.5 gren or my rem 600 mohawk in 243

Go the Mohawk !

I don't have one but like the idea of the little light short single shot brake actions. (in a larger bore),
1 -3x min mag. i have used 1, 1.5 and currently us a 2x bottom but that becase I also want to take some longer shots 250 mtr-300 mtr shorts.
Caliber is not a big deal for the short ranges hunted in the bush anything will work but i do belive you still need something that is able to take some longer shorts when you come to clearings or bush margins on the tops.
out to 100 mtr anything 222 and up will work, 357, 44mag pistol calibers, but if you want to shoot further you need something a bit faster.
Out to 200 mtr anything in the 223, or 30-30 familys, 35 rem, 350 Legand, 360 buck hammer etc etc,
if you want to get to 300 or more mtr you probably need to pick a 308 family and don't cut the barrel too short, 6m, 6.5mm, 7mm 30 cal etc.
I carry a 20" barrel lever action in 358win but its a reloaders only proposition as you can't buy much ammo, however I can load it down for sub 100 mtr shooting but still reach out to 300 mtr.
Z

Sako A7 in 308 16" barrel, dpt can and VX3hd 2.5-8x36. Perfect combo for Nth island bush.

Originally Posted by Bobba

Sako A7 in 308 16" barrel, dpt can and VX3hd 2.5-8x36. Perfect combo for Nth island bush.

Identical set-up here, except 2.5-10x42 scope. Perfect combo for Sth island bush & modest tops work. Shoots Superformance 150g SST at about 2770 fps.

Originally Posted by luckey

Identical set-up here, except 2.5-10x42 scope. Perfect combo for Sth island bush & modest tops work. Shoots Superformance 150g SST at about 2770 fps.

Same setup but aimpoint red dot fitted that can be swapped out with qd rings on a swaro 3-9 #4 reticle scope for low light and longer range shots.

Always liked carrying a M94 in the bush, very easy to snake through the scrub and tree-fall holding it with one hand around the lever. Not really enough legs for out in the open, but hard to beat in the scrub before carbon fibre stocks and suppressors became a thing.

Depends too on your attitude to your gear, rifles do get a bit of a hiding in the scrub unless you take very good care to carry them carefully, but that detracts from the hunting, so if you can't live happily with water and scratches on your Sako, don't buy one for bush hunting.

Another 2c I will add is that a bush rifle slung on your shoulder is about as effective as a lawnmower without its blades when you see a deer up close. So you want something that is comfortable to carry in your hands for long periods of time as you weave your way through the scrub. This means light and well balanced.

If I was setting up a bush rifle tomorrow, it would be something from the list below.

Remington Model Seven, 08 family cartridge with 1-4, 1.5-5 or 2-7, Carbon Fibre stock and suppressor bushing close to forend.
Howa Mini, 6.5 Grendel (or possibly 7.62x39). Same scopes/stock/suppressor situation as above.
Rossi lever action .357/44 with 13" barrel and suppressor. I would stick with the wooden stock version as it has less to get caught on supplejack etc.
Winchester Model 94, 30/30. Ideally the 16" barrel model with a peep sight. (Only if you don't like hearing what people are saying).

Likely nothing wrong with the likes of a Tikka or Bergara either. They just aren't on my list because I haven't used them myself to be able to comment.

Originally Posted by longshot

Always liked carrying a M94 in the bush, very easy to snake through the scrub and tree-fall holding it with one hand around the lever. Not really enough legs for out in the open, but hard to beat in the scrub before carbon fibre stocks and suppressors became a thing.

Depends too on your attitude to your gear, rifles do get a bit of a hiding in the scrub unless you take very good care to carry them carefully, but that detracts from the hunting, so if you can't live happily with water and scratches on your Sako, don't buy one for bush hunting.

Another 2c I will add is that a bush rifle slung on your shoulder is about as effective as a lawnmower without its blades when you see a deer up close. So you want something that is comfortable to carry in your hands for long periods of time as you weave your way through the scrub. This means light and well balanced.

If I was setting up a bush rifle tomorrow, it would be something from the list below.

Remington Model Seven, 08 family cartridge with 1-4, 1.5-5 or 2-7, Carbon Fibre stock and suppressor bushing close to forend.
Howa Mini, 6.5 Grendel (or possibly 7.62x39). Same scopes/stock/suppressor situation as above.
Rossi lever action .357/44 with 13" barrel and suppressor. I would stick with the wooden stock version as it has less to get caught on supplejack etc.
Winchester Model 94, 30/30. Ideally the 16" barrel model with a peep sight. (Only if you don't like hearing what people are saying).

Likely nothing wrong with the likes of a Tikka or Bergara either. They just aren't on my list because I haven't used them myself to be able to comment.

I’ve got two 94’s, one is a 20” 30-30 made in 1955, the other is a 16” trapper 30-30 made in the late eighties. The latter has a rugged peep sight mounted and it is great to carry in the thick stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m shooting 150gns threw a 16”708 vx3hd nice and lite shoulders well iv had short .308s in the past to they go fantastic

Howa superlite 308, 14.5" barrel, Vixen 2-8, weighs 2.45kg all up, good wee shooter and still puts the factory 150gr superformance out at 2750fps so good for 350 easy. If they made a floorplate for them I'd be happy, hate magazines in hunting rifles.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Howa superlite 308, 14.5" barrel, Vixen 2-8, weighs 2.45kg all up, good wee shooter and still puts the factory 150gr superformance out at 2750fps so good for 350 easy. If they made a floorplate for them I'd be happy, hate magazines in hunting rifles.
Attachment 259302

This is the winner so far.that speed with factory ammo is amazing, almost unbelievable.

Rem M7 in a KS McMillan, 16" 7mm08 with DPT and Leupold Mk4 m3 3.5-10x40 (has done everything from 20-300m).

Best load for this is a Nosler BT 120 going about 2650fps.