For decades, hunters have tossed around the term “brush buster” to describe certain big, slow-moving bullets said to push through thick woods and still hit the animal cleanly on the other side. The idea is simple: if a deer is hidden behind a tangle of twigs or branches, some cartridges, like the .45-70 or .450 Bushmaster, are supposedly powerful and solid enough to crash right through the brush and stay on target. But is that true, or just a tale passed around the campfire?
The Classic Cartridges That Built the Myth
If you ask hunters to name a brush-busting round, the .45-70 Government usually comes up first. Others include the .444 Marlin, .450 Bushmaster, and even old-school rounds like the .405 Winchester and .32 Winchester Special. These are large-caliber, lower-velocity bullets, often round-nosed, designed to transfer a lot of energy. They were especially common in lever-action rifles that were compact and easy to carry through dense woods. But does their size really help them push through obstacles?
Why This Idea Is So Popular
The appeal of brush-buster bullets likely comes from real experiences. Hunters using these rounds may have taken shots in thick cover, hit something like a twig, and still dropped the animal. Over time, these moments turned into a legend: big bullets don’t care about brush. But hunting isn’t done in a lab, and success could just be luck rather than proof of bullet resistance. Still, the legend stuck – especially when dads passed it down to their kids in deer camp.
The Physics Say Otherwise
Here’s where things get interesting. Physics doesn’t really support the brush-busting idea. When a bullet, no matter how heavy, hits an object like a branch or twig, it can easily deflect. Even a small deflection can cause a miss at 30 or 50 yards. And while it’s true that larger bullets have more mass and energy, that doesn’t mean they’ll stay on course if they hit something first. They may veer off just the same – or worse, tumble.
A Real-Life Brush Bust Gone Wrong
One story shared by an experienced hunter illustrates this clearly. His younger brother shot a deer using a .308 Winchester. The shot was aimed perfectly behind the shoulder, but when they dressed the deer, they found the bullet had entered the neck at a strange angle. What caused this? A twig, no thicker than a pencil, had been clipped before impact. The bullet deflected enough to change its path completely, despite being a 165-grain projectile from a high-powered rifle.
Velocity and Deflection: A Tricky Trade-Off
Some believe slower bullets might deflect less because they move through brush more “gently,” but that’s not how it works. A fast-moving bullet that hits something is more likely to deform or tumble due to the energy involved. But even slow bullets aren’t immune. Any contact with brush can cause changes in direction, jacket separation, or bullet yaw. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a .45-70 or a .30-30 – if it hits something before the target, expect surprises.
Bullet Types Matter, Too
Another big factor is the construction of the bullet itself. Jacketed bullets may peel or split when hitting something hard. Soft lead rounds might flatten. Solid copper bullets may hold up better, but even they can veer off course. It’s not just about mass or speed – materials, design, and how the bullet reacts to resistance all play a part. And none of them are immune to the chaos that comes with smacking a branch mid-flight.
Range Makes It Worse
The farther your target is from the obstruction, the more that deflection matters. If a bullet changes direction even slightly, and your deer is 30 or 50 yards beyond the brush, that tiny angle becomes a big problem. You could miss completely, or worse, wound the animal. Hunters sometimes forget that even a small nudge early in a bullet’s flight can lead to big consequences downrange.
The “Shrub Test” Might Be the Only Way to Know
To settle the debate, some folks have joked about setting up a “shrub test” – lining up targets behind real brush and shooting different calibers through it. You’d compare groups and see what cartridges actually stay on target after hitting twigs and leaves. This kind of test would take time, planning, and very careful measuring. But it would be the closest thing to science the myth has ever gotten.
Why the Myth Still Lingers
The myth survives because sometimes, it does work. If your bullet clips a twig and still hits the deer in the neck, and the animal drops, it’s easy to credit the bullet. You’re not thinking about the deflection – it still got the job done. Over time, those rare lucky hits grow into gospel truths. But luck isn’t the same as reliability, and that’s where brush busting falls short.
Modern Hunters Have Changed Tactics
Today, many hunters don’t even try to shoot through brush. They wait for clear shots, even if it means passing on a deer. The idea of shooting through obstructions is risky, both ethically and practically. Modern optics, rangefinders, and better rifles have made long-range accuracy easier, and that might explain why brush-buster cartridges aren’t as popular as they once were.
Cool Story, But I’m Not Buying It
Here’s the thing – I love the old-school idea of a .45-70 steamrolling through a thicket like a runaway train. It sounds rugged and fearless. But when you break it down, it just doesn’t hold up. Bullets don’t have minds of their own. They can’t choose to ignore brush. The laws of physics are stronger than any cartridge myth. So while I get the nostalgia, I wouldn’t bet my deer tag on it.
The Romance of the Brush Gun
That said, there’s still something charming about carrying a lever gun through the woods. Those short, handy rifles chambered in big, slow rounds feel like they’re made for close-up work in tight timber. Even if they aren’t magical brush-busters, they do shine in short-range hunting. They’re light, fast, and carry well through dense cover. Just don’t expect them to punch through trees like a chainsaw.
Accuracy Over Folklore
At the end of the day, accuracy matters more than legend. Whether you’re hunting with a 6.5 Creedmoor, a .30-30, or a .444 Marlin, the key is to wait for a clear shot and respect the game. Brush-busting might make for a fun story, but it’s not a strategy you can rely on. Let the bullets fly clean – and let the myths stay at deer camp where they belong.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.