Best hunting lever action calibre

Hmmmm, that's a tough one
22 lr, 30-30, 348 wcf, 38-55 wcf, 375 wcf, 405 wcf, 44-40 wcf, 44 mag, 454 casull, 45-70, I've got most of the bases covered. Can't pick just one though, as they all fill a purpose (to me, anyway)
 
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Jkelowna said:
Looking at getting a lever action, what larger caliber do most reccomend? Was looking at 44 magnum but willing to hear opinions about other calibers!
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Your question doesn't contain enough information to narrow it down. Is it a 'do everything' rifle, range only rifle, deer rifle, moose rifle etc etc etc...

Do everything, it's hard to beat the Browning BLR in the appropriate caliber...
Range only, it's hard to beat a 357Mag lever for cheap fun as you can load 38 as well...
Deer rifle, it's hard to beat a 30-30 for it's light & handy aspects...
Moose rifle, it's hard to beat something like a Winchester Model 71 (or Browning 'copy') in 348Win...
^All personal opinion of course & there are plenty of calibers to choose from... My fav lever for deer is a Marlin 336 in 35Rem...

What are you looking for???
 
brybenn said:
I tried 410 in my double rifle 4570. 5 yards didn't touch a clay target and needed a rod to get the cases out. Bumping them back over the extractor was not fun
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When I originally saw this 410/45-70 idea, I thought it was perfect.
After some research on the net, it appears to be a bad idea…..:(
Maybe Geologist can chime in on his experience with doing this.
 
Jkelowna said:
Looking at getting a lever action, what larger caliber do most reccomend? Was looking at 44 magnum but willing to hear opinions about other calibers!
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I have many levers in 44Mag. It is awesome. Hammers everything including deer, moose and blackbear. It's almost as powerful as 45-70 but cheaper and easier to find, and the rifle holds much more in 44Mag than in a 45-70. I sold my 45-70 after using my 44mag. Love it.
 
Mr.Rigpig said:
Hmmmm, that's a tough one
22 lr, 30-30, 348 wcf, 375 wcf, 405 wcf, 44-40 wcf, 44 mag, 454 casull, 45-70, I've got most of the bases covered. Can't pick just one though, as they all fill a purpose (to me, anyway)
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Good point on the .22lr Mr. Rigpig!

OP sounds new to rifles and hunting,,,,, a .22lr and a .44mag pair would be a great way to learn to shoot and hunt.
 
brybenn said:
The lever gun and cartridge that really peaked my interest was the marlin 95 XLR I believe it was. Grey laminate and stainless chambered in 338 marlin. Apparently I was the only one who thought it was a sweet combo as it died out rather quickly. I never did get one but always wanted it.
I'm a fan of the 4570 but I believe the new 360bhmr offers superior ballistics for an all around lever gun. Still has punch up close yet shoots flat enough for most big game hunting. Using traditional cup and cor bullets of 358 diameter it's hard to argue against when it's a step up from the famed 35 rem

I love the 44 mag but it falls short of the hitting power the larger cases provide
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I too would have liked a XLR in 338 Marlin...have never even seen one in person. I did own the wood/blued version with the shorter barrel. Unfortunately, it did not want to shoot the factory ammo as accurately as I would have liked, and I didn't get the chance to handload for it, before selling it along with some other rare Marlins to fund my father/daughter archery hunt in Colorado last fall.

Since I have a Winchester Model 88 rebarreled to 338 Federal, I have very similar performance in a lever action that works well!
 
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