Thread: Bush Gun

Hey team. Looking at getting a better bush gun setup. I do have a good 5-500m setup however, because of the expensive scope, heavier weight & longer barrel with muffler, I am finding it a little bit cumbersome in the bush. I like to move faster when not on hot sign & the bigger gun tends to hang me up a bit. Not looking at modifying this one as it's a dedicated tops / clearing gun with bush if it has to.
I already have a good 2.5-10x42 scope ready for the new gun. This one is just going to be a bush gun for the thick stuff on rainy days where getting the rifle a bit dirty is part of it all.
The meat & potatoes:
Short & compact
Cheaper than a tikka (my long range rig) as I will need to get suppressed & threaded.
Supressor brands? As I hunt with indicating dog in the bush
Calibre: happy go lucky here. Have been fortunate enough to shoot most calibres & can reload. Just not one where it's easier to find gold at the end of the rainbow than it is to find ammo / components.
Weight is not a massive concern within reason.
Any recommendations & thoughts welcome
Cheers for your time.

I have a howa mini in 7.62x39 stainless, shortened and suppressed for that purpose. DPT suppressor that seems to work well. I can reload for it but factory ammo is available at reasonable prices.
If I did reload my brass takes small rifle primers so easy enough to do.

Ruger Ranch 308 or 7.62x39.

howa mini in 6.5 grendel

Bergara BA-13 16" barrel 100%

.308 or maybe something else if you're feeling adventurous. I have a 300BLK. Similar muzzle energy to a .223, but with a .30 cal projectile. Surprisingly devastating at short range. It is relatively quiet and recoil is hardly perceptible.

I know you said not a tikka but just so you know they are coming out with another 16” 308 bush hunter supposedly with the lighter barrel this time, should be available by the end of feb

Originally Posted by samohtxotom

I know you said not a tikka but just so you know they are coming out with another 16” 308 bush hunter supposedly with the lighter barrel this time, should be available by the end of feb

Yep, I'm buying one this time around!

Cut down .303

Originally Posted by MB

Bergara BA-13 16" barrel 100%

.308 or maybe something else if you're feeling adventurous. I have a 300BLK. Similar muzzle energy to a .223, but with a .30 cal projectile. Surprisingly devastating at short range. It is relatively quiet and recoil is hardly perceptible.

Have a BA-13, 16” in .308 with DPT can. Open sights fitted for use when raining too much for optics. Use with Holosun red dot mostly but can swap over to 2-7 Burris mini scope when the mood takes. Brilliant for bush use, almost too fast on swing-thru shots. Mostly use subs but is perfectly useable out to at least 250m with supers.

BLR in .308

Single Shot Bergara in 308 with a Red Dot

Greetings,
Another vote for the Bergara SS in .308 either the 20" or 16"barrel. Both come threaded. The 16' has an 8" twist for heavy projectile sub loads.
Grandpamac.

Another vote for the wee .308 Bergara, short but still weighty enough to soak up some of that recoil. For what it is mines silly accurate with the Speer 165gr BTSP.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Cut down .303

+1 for 303. Doing one myself at mo. Surprisingly light cut down, rugged as, if the bore is not pitted and has even a modicum of rifling cast bullets matched to bore (slug it) can perform very well indeed. Go for 200+gn projectiles at around 1600fps and recoil is soft, accuracy is best around 1500-1650 fps, knock over anything you can hit out to 150m. Iron sights all that's required- fast, immune to weather and rugged. Plenty of supplies around. Lots of fun.