Another thing to think about is that a bullet is going to be deflected only a little off its path if the target is right behind the brush, and the brush is teeny little stuff, as opposed to a target that is a longer distance behind the deflected bullet. Deflection means it changes direction, and the farther it travels, the more the bullet gets off its intended path.
I wouldn't hesitate to shoot at an animal standing right behind ferns, say, but I'd hold off if it was a long ways behind the ferns. I also would hold off shooting if the brush had any size at all to it.
So in my case, a 35 Whelen is the best brush-busting cartridge for elk and moose, because that's what I'd be shooting...unless I had my 340 or my 270.
