Buddy's Gun

[singleVI]

My buddys looking for a deer gun for brush/thick woods(in KS). He has a Remington 710 .270 for normal/longer ranges. He doesn't want to spend alot of money since hes in college(I assume under $300). I suggested an H&R 30-30 like mine since its inexpensive and handy(but a single-shot). I also mentioned a shotgun barrel with iron sights for slugs/buckshot since he has a 12ga 870(5 shots). I told him to look in some pawn shops for a low priced Rem 7600-7400 or Win M94. Is there anything else I could let him know about?

[beemanbeme]

What's wrong with what he's got?  You're telling him to get a single shot.  A single shot from a .270 ought to do the trick if he does his part.  If he's got some realistic powered scope on it like 1.5x5 or 2x7. A 4x at most. 

[elmer]

He may want to read this article and then just save his money and stick with his .270.

http://www.huntingclub.com/Projects/Project.aspx?id=103772

[K.K]

Also, keep in mind that "brush guns" are short, handy rifles that help get you, not the bullet, through the brush. I also think that your buddy is all set with what he has. Just my 2c

[Don Fischer]

Agree with KK. People keep confusing rifles/guns with cartridges. There is nothing lacking in the 270 as a cartridge but there may be in the 710 as a rifle. I like a shorter barreled rifle for heavy cover.  A short action with a max 20" barrel would suit me fine. I don't agree with short actions for lightening weight but in a heavy cover rifle they reduce length and still let you use a 20" barrel. I also like lower powered scopes on most everything. If you haven't looked thru a 2 3/4x scope in the woods at dusk, your missing something. Those also ride lower on the rifle and make it better handling in my opinion. My next choice would be a fixed 4x and then a 2-7x. A 2-7x is slightly bigger than a fixed 4x but not much. In fact the newer ones might be as small. Been awhile since I've looked at scopes. I have never seen a big game rifle that had any advantage by installing more than a 2-7x scope. In fact in the majority os situtations, a fixed 4x is a great compromise that will allow accurate shooting to 300 yds easy.

There's a reason the mod 94 was such a good brush gun and it had nothing to do with the cartridge. Overbuilding a rifle and compensating with a cartridge does not make an ideal hunting rifle.

[dukkillr]

If your buddy wants a new rifle then he should go get it, if he thinks he needs a new rifle, he's wrong.  The idea of a "brush" gun drives me crazy.  I can't remember a time in my life when I've said to myself, "you know, if only I had a rifle that shoots a bullet a little slower, and has 2 inches less barrel I'd have killed that deer."  I've killed 2 deer and 2 caribou at extremely close ranges in the past few years, and I've never had any trouble with my .270, 30-06, or 300WM not working. 

Get a 3-9x scope and shoot that 270 for everything you do. 

[billy_56081]

His 270 would be a fine brush gun and there would be nothing wrong with a slug barrel on that 870 with either a low powered scope, red dot or iron sights for a brush gun either. In fact with todays modern slugs an accurate slug gun is right there with 30-30 ballistics.

[singleVI]

Well his 270 has a 6-18 power scope on it so its too powerful for quick shots. I let him shoot my H&R 3030 and he liked it alot so that's what hes gonna get. He'll just have to make sure he gets em with that one shot.

[GRIMJIM]

What no one likes lever actions anymore? I take a marlin 30-30 when I hunt in wooded areas.

[singleVI]

$$ H&R cheaper Than 94 & 336