7 Best Brush Gun Calibers for 2026

7 Best Brush Gun Calibers for 2026 — The Oldest One Wins video from FirePower.

Summary:

What are the 7 best brush gun calibers for 2026? Is the legendary .30-30 Winchester still the king of thick woods hunting, or have modern cartridges like the .350 Legend and .308 Winchester finally taken its crown?

When you're hunting whitetail deer in dense timber, more velocity and more power don't always mean better results. The wrong rifle setup can cost you the opportunity you've waited all season for.

In this FirePower breakdown, we rank seven legendary hunting cartridges and examine what really matters in thick woods: recoil, bullet performance, rifle handling, ammunition availability, and practical hunting versatility.

From the powerful .45-70 Government to the forgotten .300 Savage and .35 Remington, every cartridge has strengths, weaknesses, and a story worth telling.

*THE 7 BRUSH GUN CARTRIDGES RANKED:*

#7 — .30-06 Springfield: Incredible power, but is it more than most timber hunters need?

#6 — .300 Savage: A forgotten lever-action classic with a frustrating ammunition problem.

#5 — .308 Winchester: The all-around hunting legend facing a surprising challenge.

#4 — .45-70 Government: Massive close-range capability with serious recoil trade-offs.

#3 — .35 Remington: The old-school deer woods favorite that deserves more attention.

#2 — .350 Legend: Modern engineering, mild recoil, and a genuine challenge to the classics.

#1 — .30-30 Winchester: Why this 130-year-old cartridge still earns our top spot.

We also discuss common brush gun myths, bullet construction, traditional lever-action rifles, and how Michigan's 2026 hunting regulation changes affect the straight-wall cartridge debate.

Whether you hunt whitetail deer in Pennsylvania hardwoods, feral hogs in Southern swamps, or black bear in Northern forests, choosing the right cartridge means understanding your hunting conditions, not just chasing impressive ballistic numbers.

The Indian and the Buffalo

I just had to share this:

**An Indian walks into a café with a shotgun in one hand and pulling a male buffalo with the other. He says to the waiter:**

**"Want coffee."**

**The waiter says, "Sure, Chief. Coming right up."**

**He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee . . .**

**The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere and then just walks out.**

**The next morning the Indian returns.**

**He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other.**

**He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter:**

**"Want coffee."**

**The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto!**

**We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"**

**The Indian smiles and proudly says,**

**"Training for a position in United States Congress . . . Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."**

Jeep Drive

Since nice sunny days have been a rarity in the Four Corners region, I had the opportunity yesterday afternoon to take a Jeep drive. I saw other community residents out with their ATVs and side-by-sides during the day.

I headed on Six Mile Canyon Road to the entrance to Six Mile Canyon marked with a corral and national forest signage.

One culvert along Six Mile Canyon Road was full of mud, but other vehicles made a good pathway through the muck so I was able to proceed through.

One of the signs at the entrance to Six Mile Canyon (just beyond the corral) provided a notice that the canyon will be closed to vehicles starting December 15 to March 31. So we have a month and a half to be able to drive in Six Mile Canyon. 

When I stopped at the signs, I took a couple of photos:

Above, the Jeep in front of the national forest signs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the sign (at bottom far right) states when vehicles are verboten in the canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I had a much enjoyable drive than the people stuck in stopped traffic (at the same time) westbound on Interstate 40 . Apparently, construction caused the tie-up at the road to Red Rock Park near Gallup. 

Passages

Three entertainment greats have passed away this week. Here's my take on each.

Walter Koenig. Best known as Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original cast of Star Trek, both the television series of the 1960s and the movies of Star Trek. I used to see him at a bank in Sherman Oaks where I worked in the 1990s. He was 90.

Susan Staint James. She was a favorite actress in the NBC Mystery Movie revolving movie, McMillan & Wife with Rock Hudson. Her personality really made that show a joy to watch. She was 80.

Donnie Iris. Whenever I hear his son, "Ah, Leah", it brings me back to 1980. He performed almost right up to his death. His last concert was September 28 and he had to sing sitting in a chair due to the pain he endured from bladder cancer. He was 83. 

Each will be fondly remembered by fans. 

Wright Leather Works Overstock Sale

A few years ago, I bought a Predator holster for my Ruger P95 from Wright Leather Works. It is a high-quality product and I heartily recommend them.

I just received an email from them and they are having a sale on overstock and blems. If you are in need of a holster for your hogleg, you may want to check this out. 

Here's the email:

 

SHOP GUN LEATHER ABOUT CONTACT October 2026 OVERSTOCK replenished and ready to ship! Armand,   Great Leather. Great Savings.​  Find your next holster for less in our Overstock & Blems selection. Some have a minor cosmetic blemish. Others were simply made for the wrong hand. Each one is fully functional, safe, and built with the quality you expect from Wright Leather Works. These holsters are sold “as is,” giving you a chance to save without sacrificing function. Browse the selection and find the right fit for your carry. ​ Need a holster sooner?​  Overstock may be your answer. These orders normally ship within a week, so you can get quality gun leather without the usual wait. Overstock & Blems Shop now EDC Holster Kit - Predator Pancake™ $275.00 Shop now Predator™ Pancake Holster $135.00 Shop now Marshal™ OWB Holster $135.00 Shop now Cruiser® IWB Clip Holster $135.00 Shop now Banshee™ IWB Holster $145.00 Shop now Old World Gun Belt $85.00 Shop now SHOP ALL GUN LEATHER

Offers and discounts in this email are not valid to be combined or used with any other offer. Any in stock items ordered with not stock items, will be shipped when the not stock items are fulfilled. .