like said...12 gauge slug with ghost rings or an eotech would be bad news for mr, bruin if all your doing is bustin thickets and pushing...

me? i went with a 7600 in 35 whelen. cant use a semi here...i dont like hunting with lever guns for a couple reasons...and wanted a heavy hitter and a fast follow up...

got a 2.5-8x36 VX-III on her...i primarily bust thickets..but i do a little sitting and could be glad i had the scope....i can also swing and shoot with a scope on low power and send lead where i want it...so i'll never wish i didnt have the scope...other than in the rain and snow when its heck trying to keep it clear....

recoil on the whelen isnt horrible which is nice...and a 225gr accubond cruising at 2600fps is putting out almost 3400ft/lbs of energy...i know all the energy is useless when it blows right through and into the dirt...but, its nice to have a pile of energy and a bullet that'll get through anything infront of it...


the barrel on my 7600 is 22"..but could easily be chopped into a carbine...i have half a mind to chop and port mine...just for the ultimate brush buster that packs a major punch but hardly and felt recoil...but even at 22" its not a bad gun..i think weight is still probably 7-8lbs with a scope..maybe a hair more with a scope and loaded...but, i wouldnt wanna shoot the whelen from anything lighter lol...i like the remington pump guns because they handle so fast for me..probably because i do alot of shotgunning and they feel like a shotgun (pretty identical to a 870 20ga) so that was my choice!