What do consider to be a good “brush gun”

Like almost everyone else I always considered a brush gun to be slow and heavy, like a 30/30 or a slug gun.

I personally have never liked the 30/30 for deer hunting. (I know its probably killed more deer than any other gun) But I’ve seen some poor results from a couple that were used in my group.
This fall while hunting the very thick edge of a swamp, I shot a deer that was moving thru and acted like he was going to bolt before he made a clearing.
As I had the crosshairs on him I told myself there is a good chance of hitting a branch, but the shot couldn’t wait if I wanted that deer. Well the deer dropped in his tracks and never moved, when I went to check him out I noticed the there was a much larger entrance wound than normal, but still a full pass thru.
Looking back towards my stand I found I also put a killing shot on a small tree, now thats what I call brush gun performance. My gun, a 7mm Rem mag with a 150 grain Fusion bullet, not exactly slow and heavy.
Behind and to the right of the first picture you can see where he dropped.

That is cool! I think I would cut down the tree and hang it in the man cave with the picture next to it. Good conversation piece.

I would think the low weight of a 7mm round is not considered a “brush gun”… more like an odd-6 or 30-30 like you said. The 7mm is a super fast round though! I shoot one as well.

Did you still get full pass-through on the deer?

I really enjoy carrying my springfield 30-30. It is a carbine and in bolt action. Has a clip. I shot three deer with it this fall and two fell in their tracks the other went 20 yds. A true brush gun for me requires open sites, and needs to be light wt. All three deer this season were shot at a combined total of 65 yds. Just my $.02.

I remember reading a study a few years back that showed that faster, lighter bullets were actually in most cases deflected less by brush than slow, heavy ones. I will see if I can find it.

Not that it mattered in this case.

I am forced to shoot slugs because I hunt in MN, obviously range becomes a problem sometimes but I love how well they shoot through brush. Have had problems with brush and .270 while hunting wisconsin. I have killed many deer with a slug shooting through moderate to heavy brush. Over the years I attempt far fewer shots in the thick stuff, but when the range is close I trust a 300 to 440 grain slug to dozer through and get the job done.

Attached a picture of my buddy’s second shot at a doe on a drive, the slug continued through and dropped the doe.

That’s some serious carnage!