Originally Posted by
driftrider
Secondly, the bigger .277" bullet will not resist deflection any better than a similarly shaped .243" bullet, or any other bullet for that matter. If it hits a twig, the result bullet will be destabilized and deflected, resulting in a completely unpredictable flight path after the impact. I've had a 410 grain 50 cal bullet deflected more than 10 FEET in 25 yards after hitting a small branch. That bullet is far heavier and more stable than any spitzer rifle bullet. The reality is that the smaller frontal are of the .243 makes it a better "brush bullet" because it's slightly less likely to hit any brush.
Mike
I would like to support the above as being 100% true.
I once had a large buck 90 yards from my blind turned broadside. I was shooting a 300 WM in a rifle capable of under half inch groups. I had so much time to take the shot that I played with the magnification before the shot. The deer was standing in some brush. I picked the clearest path I could find and shot. Completely missed the deer as it stood there after the shot. There wasn't anything between me and the deer except the brush that was right next to it. So if figured it might get deflected but still hit the deer. I was wrong.
Another one. A buddy of mine who is an excellent shot took a shot at a doe at something like 30 yards. He was shooting a 270 Win. He hit a twig around the 15 yard mark and completely missed the deer. He found the path of the bullet by finding a couple of things it hit on it's way. After hitting the first twig it was way off.
No such thing as a good brush gun.
Tom