Thread: Bush rifles

Originally Posted by Tahr

Not many bush pigs go real bush hunting.

there used to be alot of bush pigs hunting the RSL club when i was living on central coast NSW........ dangerous times for a young kiwi

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 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.

I'll put myself in the minority then.

I run the Bergara B13 takedown in .308 and 16” barrel. DPT suppressor and cheap 3x9x40 scope on it. Zeros in at 100m and will shoot almost through the same hole on the target it’s a real little tack driver. Don’t be worried about it being a single shot, very seldom do you get a second chance bush stalking anyway. Only down side is it’s fairly heavy for its size but it’s a solid piece of kit and still shoots a 3” group at 300M.

I chose this as my first rifle because it’s super easy to use, not much to go wrong with it in the field and with a bit of practice you can chamber another round in less than a couple of seconds.

get what @Shearer has can,t go wrong

Re-read your header. What am i using
My bush rifle is a mid 1970's Savage 99 308 that I rebarreled to 358 win with a 20" SS tube and a Hardy compact silencer 80mm forward. Started with a Nikon Monarch 1-4x20 with #4 reticale. Found I was doing more shooting past 150 mtr that expected so upgraded to a Burris 1.5-6x42 with an illuminated #4 variant retical. This died and was replaced by Burris with a 2-10x42 FFP scope. This is certenly much better for looking into shadows along the bush margins. I restocked it with a laminated one from Boyds what I drilled a few more holes into.
I reload so for bush shooting it loaded with 38/357 pistol bullets at 16-1700fps. and I carry a few 225 gr loads at 2450 fps in the stock pack for when longer shots comeup.
I don't fully load the mag so if I need to add a full power load I can just open the action and push one in.
Down side is it's got heavier over the years. Scope, stock Pack sling etc.
My other 1960's Sav 99 in 243 with the oridinal 2.75x26.5 scope is much lighter, stock is trimmer and no add ons.
Thats why I'm sort of looking at the single shots, as I do like the hole a 35 cal makes. Lots of frontal area.
Z

A well known lightweight bolt action in 6.5 creed, 7mm08 or 308 with a 16 to 18 inch barrel dpt or similar can, and a vx3 2.5-8 is about perfect to me.

Another plug for the kimber hunter. Awesome gun for the price point. Hard to go past a tikka as well, popular for a reason.

I prefer a repeater over a single shot, the occasional quick followup or shot at a second animal does arise.

what about the ruger ranch range 16 in barrel threaded and 3 position tang safety my own is 450 bm yet to use on game but love it 250 gr ftx at 2300 or my fun load of 230 gr 45acp fmgs for $160 per 500 getting 2007 fps and 2in group at 100 . Just use a suppressor as the brake is a bit rough on the ears and Im an x gunner .

A guy I used to go hunting with in the uraweras use to use some kind of ruger ba carbine in 308. Cant remember what it was ruger compact or something like that?

I've recently gone from a 16" Howa 7mm08 with gunworks maximus suppressor and VX1 to a bit more of an all rounder that I've spent some more dollars on. Tikka 7mm08 with 18" barrel in a GRC classic stock with 3-15x44 VX5. It's been fluted, bedded and an aftermarket trigger spring installed. Greystone did the gunsmithing and the suppressor. Really nice rifle to shoot, nice to carry and will be a great all rounder for 90% of my hunting. I've "developed" a mild bush load for it but am working on something for longer hunting ranges now too.

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 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 Edunn

@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.

150lrab give it a try you won’t be sorry

Originally Posted by Kelton

150lrab give it a try you won’t be sorry

@Kelton good to hear you're enjoying the 150gr lrab. I gave the 150gr ELDX a crack today. 7 Shot a ladder over 3gr powder at 0.5gr increments to get approx velocities and the whole ladder grouped under an inch with good velocity. I suspect when I choose a single powder charge the group should be at least as small as the 7 shot ladder. The LRAB is next on my list to try - might flick you a PM to see how you're going with it.