I sort of view it as a "stalking" gun than brush gun. Close shot, usually less than 20 yds, fast shot, something that you can get through the woods and thick stuff with easily. The two rifles I've done this type of hunting with are an old Marlin 336 30-30 with a Vortex Viper scope and a mixmaster M4 carbine in .223 with an ACOG. For the 30-30 180g soft points and the AR 75g ballistic tips.

Nope, all bullets don’t deflect in brush.

I view it as a carbine type gun capable of fast follow ups in a sufficient caliber for the purpose. A Rem 742 18” Carbine in 30-06 with the 220 grain would probably fit the profile too.

I shot a Rem 742 30/06 with a 16 1/2" bbl, BIG peep sight and 180gr Corelocts, deadly clearcut gun.

While I will agree that for some reason, all bullets don't, but all bullets CAN.

The excellent pic of the beech tree that got hit dead center, then killed a deer, could have been much different if the bullet had hit the side of that tree.

The truth is, ALL bullets CAN deflect, and no human can predict when they will or won't. Therefore, it is highly irresponsible to take a shot through brush.

Agreed. My close range thumper is a CVA 35 Remington.

Gundoc has one in the classifieds...

My intent isn’t to go around shooting into brush. My intent is to mitigate the chance that stray twig I didn’t see in the heat of the moment deflects me off a deer. This year is the first time I’ve shot at a deer in 6 years. I was ground hunting in thick cover with a 243. Deer was at 75 yards and I had a dead steady brace. I know I didn’t pull off the deer, but I never found hair or blood. I looked for about 2 hours but no success. There were a few thin, spaghetti size, vines that I noticed after the fact. I can’t help but wonder if one deflected that little 85gr TSX.

.243Win and brush don’t mix...

I agree. I carried it bc I was hunting the side of the mountain, and it’s the lightest, most compact rifle I had.

I don’t intentionally shoot brush either. The quite many times I pound through some brush or skin a tree, its not at the location of game, rather very close to me where it didn’t show up in the scope.

Yep. It’s also hard to get deer to stop in a perfect opening.

Its becoming prevalent in many areas now to not have a clue about hunting without a box blind over a green field or bait.

Out here when I go off into a bottom or thick stuff and come out with a monster boar or big buck, they look at you real puzzled.

CVA in .444 is my go to for this application

1) do y’all think there is even such thing as a brush gun... as in an actual round that’s capable of push light brush and twigs out of the way without deflection?

LONG long time ago, an in-depth test PROVED that ANY bullet was deflected. Key was, a very light bullet (say 55 gr 223) was deflected a lot more than a big ol' fat (say, cast RN 405 gr 45-70) bullet. Bottom line - don't go trying to shoot deer thru trees. It is pure stupidity, and not ethical!

Having said THAT, for brush, there are a bunch (both OLD and new). Some I have that I consider brush calibers (more because close range game getters, and quick in lever and iron sight setups) are lever guns in 30-30, 32 WS, 35 Rem, 43 Spanish and 45-70. Olders in 38-55, 405, 348 Win, 33 WCF, etc. More gun/cal combo. Same with any of the Savage 99s in heavy calibers or slow rounds, like 30-30, 303, 358. Oh yeah, and BLR in 358 Win!!! A good bolt in 300 H&H/375 H&H/458 Win, with good peep sights (think Africa rifles) would be great too

No. Not every shot will deflect, but every bullet that contacts anything other than air between you and the animal has the potential to deflect.

For close hunting, it's hard to beat a short barrel .308.

Remington 7600 carbine 35 Whelen or Browning BLR 358 Winchester. Love 35 cal for up close and DRT

I think the youtuber Iraqveteran88 ( best I can remember ) did an in depth trial on your standard brush gun calibers verses regular spitzer type calibers and the results were pretty cool. I didn't think there could be a difference but that video make a believer out of me.

Love my 7600 carbine shes mostly a safe queen these days never thought of it as a brush gun .

CMMG Banshee in 10mm or .45 ACP shooting .45 Supers.
I want one of these.

IV8888. Very good Pro 2A channel with lots of good info. Eric and Chad are good dudes. Barry "the old man" in their older videos would have fit in good here. RIP Barry.