I have been shooting a 6.5X55 with 120 gr nosler bt at deer on relatively open ground for some time. This year I changed my hunting spot and find myself in dense tamarack woods. Problem is, the 6.5 bullets are bouncing all around the woods and hitting everything but the deer. I actually "keyholed" a deer this year. It got killed but it wasn't pretty. I have considered changing to 140 gr bullets and this does seem like a good option. However, I am in the position to build a new rifle. It will be built on a 98/29 persian mauser action. Is there a real brush busting caliber? My first instinct is to build a .338-06 on that mauser action. I would like some opinion on the subject.
Posts: 281 | Location: MN | Registered: 27 May 2001
I echo what TXPO said. Pick your shot carefully. Trying to push any bullet through brush is a bad idea. There is no such thing as a brush buster.
What I like to do if possible is to get on a ridge and glass the opposite side. This allows me to spot the animal and then pick an opening to shoot from. It works well for me and the places I usually hunt. Don't know what type of terrain you hunt though.
On a side note, ain't that 6.5 a nice deer round. I love mine.
Mac
Posts: 1638 | Location: Colorado by birth, Navy by choice | Registered: 04 February 2001
OB - Others have said it before me. There are NO brush proof bullets. If you gotta hunt in the jungle, you're just limited to close and unobstructed shots.
If you're just looking for an excuse to get a new rifle.......... Well, then we can talk?
Fess up. Which is it?
Posts: 19677 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 May 2002
Ditto. There is no such thing as a "brush busting" caliber.
To the degree that one bullet resists deflection better than another, high sectional density (heavy-for-caliber) helps. Actually, the 6.5 Swede with the classic 160 grain roundnose has one of the better reputations for brush penetration. Assuming your shots are going to be rather close, the fairly low velocity and arced trajectory of a 6.5/160RN will be irrelavant anyway, so I'd recommend you give it a try.
As far a a .338/06, it will do in brush as well as any, but not necessarily better than your 6.5/160gr.
Posts: 13274 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
No ridges, 40 acres all flat and heavy woods. I have cut shooting lanes out to 100 yards. Any further would mean clearing massive trees. Problem is that there are many small (1/4" and smaller) saplings and limbs that are not easily cleared. I would like to "mow" the woods but that aint happening. I have spider like lanes to shoot but what about when they won't walk in them? What I am looking for is somthing that won't deflect off these small twigs so easily.
Posts: 281 | Location: MN | Registered: 27 May 2001
I would sure like to tell you of a caliber that won't deflect off of small saplings but I can't....All will deviate from its intended course by alot. I wish there was a round that would plow through stuff like that and hit what it was aimed at!......I think you are looking for an excuse for another rifle!!! I bet the Boss Lady would buy that excuse...Hell!!!! I may even try that one some day!!!
If you guys had experienced a european-style driven hunt in the woods, you'd think differently! of course I second everything said above, but imagine you have less than one second to take your aim and shoot when pigs and roe deers are running like hell, and there are trees everywhere : in most cases you don't have time to find a clear... So you shoot a 9.3X62 or 9.3X74R and it works better than a lighter and faster bullet.
Oddball, you need a 9.3!
Posts: 552 | Location: France | Registered: 21 February 2002
I agree that any bullet would go "pweeeeew" into the blue yonder if they hit something askance.
Now, what about an "improving your odds" approach? Something like buckshot? If you lose one to a branch or sapling, it doesn't matter that much? I don't know what the range this would be effective but, according to my shotgun reloading info, 1 3/4 oz of #1 buck (30 cal, 40 gr pellet) would hold 19 pellets. If you lose half to the brush, that's still 9 30 cal holes? (assuming a tight choke) If so, a 10 ga might solve the issue.
What do you think? Dutch.
Posts: 4564 | Location: Idaho Falls, ID, USA | Registered: 21 September 2000
Powerful rounds like the .375 H&H will deflect less than weak rounds but they all tumble and deflect to some extent if they hit something.
It's best just to deal with whatever gun you have and make the best of it. Since hunting for most of us is for fun we know when to shoot and when to hold back as the bullet might deflect too much.
So if someone has a 6.5 XX that's fine for deer. If someone wants a .338 XX then get one but it won't make a big difference.
Hey Oddball, a 12 guage with 00 or 000 buckshot is the closest you will come to having a brushbuster(shortrange at that) and only because it has numerous pellets that have a chance at finding a clear hole. Even then you will need to see the deer clearly through the "light" brush for it to even have a chance at working. However, never shoot through any brush even with a shotgun and expect it to work. You must wait for a clear shot or do more cutting of obstructions. I myself have a great deer stand spot with seven radial shooting lanes that spread out over a 160 degree area. I just have to wait for the bucks to clear the brush but sometimes they don't and that that.
Not knowing what your hunt area looks like but could you utilize some type of tree stand at the center of your cleared shooting lanes? At least that might put you above the saplings.
Oddball Just to second what the other boys have said, there are no bush busting rounds. The degree of deflection and keyholing will wary a lot, but there will almost always be a sertain deflection when hitting grass, twigs, limbs, bushes and trees. I�ve done it...from 243 Win. to 375 H&H.
About the 6,5 Swede, it�s widely used here in Scandinavia on everything from birds to moose. Nosler PT 140 gr. are popular as well as the 160 gr Hornady. And we do a lot of bush hunting as well, so don�t lay off your 6,5 for that reason. But again..... any oportunity to by a new rifle is welcome
Regards
Posts: 1881 | Location: Southern Coast of Norway. | Registered: 02 June 2000
quote:Originally posted by Oddball: No ridges, 40 acres all flat and heavy woods. I have cut shooting lanes out to 100 yards. Any further would mean clearing massive trees. Problem is that there are many small (1/4" and smaller) saplings and limbs that are not easily cleared. I would like to "mow" the woods but that aint happening. I have spider like lanes to shoot but what about when they won't walk in them? What I am looking for is somthing that won't deflect off these small twigs so easily.
Posts: 2258 | Location: Bristol, England | Registered: 24 April 2001
Oddball you have deer because of the brush if you cut to much you well not have the deer. I have seen deer go out of there way to avoid a to big shooting lane. Just try and pick you shots better.
Posts: 19835 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
quote:Originally posted by Oddball: No ridges, 40 acres all flat and heavy woods. I have cut shooting lanes out to 100 yards. Any further would mean clearing massive trees. Problem is that there are many small (1/4" and smaller) saplings and limbs that are not easily cleared. I would like to "mow" the woods but that aint happening. I have spider like lanes to shoot but what about when they won't walk in them? What I am looking for is somthing that won't deflect off these small twigs so easily.
Change to a RN bullet, practice using X'd shooting sticks, buy a brush cutter and use it.
Still hunting involves a lot of waiting for the animal to present the right angle, that's why it's called stalking here and why we tend to use sticks as a shooting aid. I've had the rifle in the aim for 5 minutes waiting for it to poke it's neck into the gap I'm lining up on.
If you use a stand lower it to look under the branches or alternatively invest in a little stool which lets you be more mobile.
Posts: 2258 | Location: Bristol, England | Registered: 24 April 2001
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Well, then we can talk?![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon}
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