New hunter here in South Florida. This is what I am thinking.

I will be hunting deer and hogs in the swamp and in heavy brush.
I'm pretty sure that distance will be 50-75 yards max
.30-30 lever maybe? .30-06 bolt-action? Savage? Remington?
Scope or no scope?
Price range is $600-ish

Can ya'll help a Florida Boy out?

Dave

Been there - done that. The lever actions are nice and handy. I preferred a bigger bore than the 30-30. Much rather a 35 Rem in a Marlin 336. Or even better, and my favorite is the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Its short, easy to carry and the 45-70 thumps them pretty good.

personally i would have the 30-06 bolt action i would say savage for less than 600 or a remington sps i would put a 3-9 power scope in cse the need for a longer shot ever did present it self

I have family in down there and figured if I ever moved back down there I would get a Savage bolt action 308 with a 3x9 40mm scope. Plenty of power for those little FL deer and won't hesitate on hog either, the scope would stay low in the swamp but still be able to turn it up for different terrain.

A fast handling gun like a lever or even a pump would be my choice. I'd also go heavier than a 30/30, like a 308, 35 Rem, 356 or 375 Win., 444 Marlin or 45/70. A 12 Ga pump shotgun with short rifled barrelwould work just fine too.

If your style of hunting results in quickly fired shots through brush at moving critters I may go open sights, like a peep. If you shoot precisely fired shots through small holes in brush at standing or walking critters, then I'd scope it with a low power wide angle scope.

I'd go with a short, light bolt action like the Remington Model 7 and top it with a 3x9 Leupold VX-II in either their compact model or the regular size...Caliber would be either the 7mm-08 or a .308...

Do yourself a favor , check out ,and compare the price of ammo for the cartridges, your are considering, then go to walmart and see if they stock that ammo. Ammo is to a gun what gas is to a truck. Even if your rich, ammo availability is important too. Do you want to travel all over to find obsolete or uncommon ammo at 30$ a box ,or do you want to go anywhere that sells ammo and pick up a box for 15$?
IMO a 30-30 or 243 is more than enough out 150 yds, for what you want to hunt. In fact I think a 170 gr 30 30 will penetrate the shoulders of the average hog and deer standing side by side. I dont think people quite understand how powerful even the most moderate "deer" cartridges really are.

Then again, if all that doesnt matter to you, then by all means, get a 300mag or 45-70 and pound away

i would go lever action in a .35 whelen. If your shots are 50 yards open sights should work. Nothing worse for me than carrying my 30.06 with a 24" barrel thru the brush. My 30-30 works great for that. Keep in mind that if you are in the brush, and you need to make a quick shot, you need a good handling gun and a short lever action is just the ticket IMO. i would even go so far as to say that a 30-30 would be fine too. I can get boxes of ammo for $11 and it's available everywhere and certainly take down what you are hunting. You can always use the new lever ammo by hornady if you want 30-30 ammo to fly further and flatter should you need to make shots at 125 yrds plus....

A 30-30 fornorthernWTD with regular ammo is good to 200 yards (use 170gr for those long shots). I can't say for hogs as I have never hunted them.

A good 30-30 or a 44 magnum in a lever action rifle would be a great choice. Stay with one of these two for one simple reason. Ammo is CHEAPER. Nothing wrong with the other cartridge recommendations if you reload, but if not then you will shoot the 30-30 or 44 magnum for less money, it is that simple.

If you want a scope then buy a Marlin. IF you want open sights then go with a Winchester. $600 is a bit high, you could buy an open sighted rifle and a lot of ammo for that price. Tom.