I told Matt I would take the Browning in 358 Win. For long range open field shots I would choose a bolt action. The 358 would be ideal for the woods.
There are lots of factors re: brush bucking, including velocity, rate of twist and the hardness of your bullets. When a high velocity bullet strikes a sap filled branch it is like hitting concrete, and the expanded bullet will loose energy rapidly. I have seen 130 gr 270 bullets deflect so wildly (fired 3 shots and they went everywhere but at the deer) I will never use them in a wooded area again. (if the mushroom is not uniform, the deflect like crazy). Even when loaded with premium bullets, they loose energy too fast after striking brush.
Well constructed 30 cal (and larger) bullets seem to fare much better. There is a reason the 270 WSM stayed in the gun cabinet and I used the 06. The 270 WSM harvested a nice 8 point the last time I used it, but it went through brush first and the wound channel in the deer was less than impressive. If the sapling it struck were a bit thicker or further from the deer, I don't think I would have harvested it.
The 270 is a fantastic open field caliber, but IMO, it is not a good woods caliber. I have stubbornly reached this conclusion after several years of hunting with a 270 and a 270 WSM.
.
performance efforts! one sharpening and several tanks of fuel... mostly limbing and cutting firewood size.
