LEVER ACTION - Best caliber for Deer and Black Bear
- Thread starter fljp2002
- Start date
Bubba Yugga
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Midwestern Ontario
I have a 45-70 with a Skinner peep sight. At over 60 years old, I'm easily off-handing minute of deer lung at 100 yards.
The peep near the eye acts like a camera aperture enhancing depth of field so both front sight and target come into focus.
In dense bush, unscrew the fine aperture and use it as a ghost ring.
Also, there's no glass to break or fog up.
As a 20 year old kid qual'ing on the FN-C1, I loved the peep sight.
If not for some politicians, I'd be hunting with a FAL now...
The peep near the eye acts like a camera aperture enhancing depth of field so both front sight and target come into focus.
In dense bush, unscrew the fine aperture and use it as a ghost ring.
Also, there's no glass to break or fog up.
As a 20 year old kid qual'ing on the FN-C1, I loved the peep sight.
If not for some politicians, I'd be hunting with a FAL now...
Browning BLR in 308 Win is a Winner ! RJ
I know I'm late to the party, but to commemorate 35 years, how about something in 35 Remington? Marlin chambers (or chambered) guns for that round. The 35 packs a little more punch than a 30-30 so it should be good medicine for bears There's a 356 Winchester which is 35 caliber, but it has that extra number on the end that kinda spoils the significance of the 35.
If you decide you can't wait and have to get one now in your 32nd year, get a 32 special!
desert spider
Member
I love lever rifles and i too wanted something special. I also didn't want to break the bank. I have been playing with them for over 50 years and wanted one I would like to keep for the balance of my life.
Just over a year ago, I researched and found the Henry wildlife steel editions. They are incredible beautiful and well built with a strong and modern action. Available in 30-30 and 45-70, they are both engraved and have the 24K gold relief on the highlights of the engravings. They are drilled and tapped for scope mount should you want to add a smail 1-4 power scope. I added a small ZEISS Conquest V4 1-4x24 and couldn't be happier.
I am getting 2" groups at 100 yards standing while using a Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 Tripod Shooting Stick and a lot of practice.
As I am the opposite side of the country, I picked up the 45-70 and use it for deer with thick brush on the coastal islands. Big bullet travelling slow with little deflection from small branches and a clean kill. As the 45-70 has been around longer than any of us have been alive, there are rounds to suite anything in North America. For the tiny coastal black tails, typically taken at close range I shoot Remington 45-70 Gov 405GR Core-Lokt Soft Point which has a Muzzle Energy of about 1550 ft lbs and only Muzzle Velocity of 1330 fps. this is a trapdoor velocity safe round. Very little meat damage but with guaranteed passage through the ungulate, there is a clean kill and deer rarely get more than 20 yards before they tip. Also with the light slow load, the kick is more of a long push on the shoulder and not sharp like modern day loads.
When I am going into G-bear country while hunting moose/elk, it is my camp gun and I load it up with +P Ammo in case I have an unwelcome visitor. Here in BC, there is always a chance one can become the hunted as we are not the only apex predator out here and it seems to be getting worse every year. I then load with Buffalo Boar 45-70 Magnum 500 gr. FMJ-FN @ 1,625 fps/M.E.2,931 ft lbs. This changes the mild demeanor and turns the 45-70 into a kicking beast that will punch a hole through any heavily boned animal in North America. Buffalo Boar says it will penetrate 5-6' deep on a frontal shot and I believe them. I don't practice much with this because it is very expensive but I am completely blown away from how it changes the feeling of the rifle. It will kick like a hot load in a 300 win-mag. In telephone conversations with Henry, they approve this modern action for all +P loads. (Yes, they actually answer the phone and give stunning customer service.) I think they are all hunters too. I see no visible wear from the hot loads so I am comfortable with the actions durability.
My point is don't overlook the 45-70, it an incredibly versatile round. Henry also makes a really flashy brass version with an octagon barrel, but they were just too flashy for me as this is a hunting rifle and stealth is important to me as I want to be close when I shoot at something. I went guide gun as i also appreciate the short length as we have super thick growth on this coast and the short barrel is well suited to our environment and doesn't get caught up as much in the thick bush.
Check out this series, the 30-30 has beautiful wood and I think it is more attractive than the 45-70, I think it may be my next "keep forever" lever action too!
Good luck with your search and I hope you find this information helpful!
Here is the link in case you want the check them out:
h t t p s://www.henryusa.com/rifles/henry-steel-wildlife-editions/
Just over a year ago, I researched and found the Henry wildlife steel editions. They are incredible beautiful and well built with a strong and modern action. Available in 30-30 and 45-70, they are both engraved and have the 24K gold relief on the highlights of the engravings. They are drilled and tapped for scope mount should you want to add a smail 1-4 power scope. I added a small ZEISS Conquest V4 1-4x24 and couldn't be happier.
I am getting 2" groups at 100 yards standing while using a Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 Tripod Shooting Stick and a lot of practice.
As I am the opposite side of the country, I picked up the 45-70 and use it for deer with thick brush on the coastal islands. Big bullet travelling slow with little deflection from small branches and a clean kill. As the 45-70 has been around longer than any of us have been alive, there are rounds to suite anything in North America. For the tiny coastal black tails, typically taken at close range I shoot Remington 45-70 Gov 405GR Core-Lokt Soft Point which has a Muzzle Energy of about 1550 ft lbs and only Muzzle Velocity of 1330 fps. this is a trapdoor velocity safe round. Very little meat damage but with guaranteed passage through the ungulate, there is a clean kill and deer rarely get more than 20 yards before they tip. Also with the light slow load, the kick is more of a long push on the shoulder and not sharp like modern day loads.
When I am going into G-bear country while hunting moose/elk, it is my camp gun and I load it up with +P Ammo in case I have an unwelcome visitor. Here in BC, there is always a chance one can become the hunted as we are not the only apex predator out here and it seems to be getting worse every year. I then load with Buffalo Boar 45-70 Magnum 500 gr. FMJ-FN @ 1,625 fps/M.E.2,931 ft lbs. This changes the mild demeanor and turns the 45-70 into a kicking beast that will punch a hole through any heavily boned animal in North America. Buffalo Boar says it will penetrate 5-6' deep on a frontal shot and I believe them. I don't practice much with this because it is very expensive but I am completely blown away from how it changes the feeling of the rifle. It will kick like a hot load in a 300 win-mag. In telephone conversations with Henry, they approve this modern action for all +P loads. (Yes, they actually answer the phone and give stunning customer service.) I think they are all hunters too. I see no visible wear from the hot loads so I am comfortable with the actions durability.
My point is don't overlook the 45-70, it an incredibly versatile round. Henry also makes a really flashy brass version with an octagon barrel, but they were just too flashy for me as this is a hunting rifle and stealth is important to me as I want to be close when I shoot at something. I went guide gun as i also appreciate the short length as we have super thick growth on this coast and the short barrel is well suited to our environment and doesn't get caught up as much in the thick bush.
Check out this series, the 30-30 has beautiful wood and I think it is more attractive than the 45-70, I think it may be my next "keep forever" lever action too!
Good luck with your search and I hope you find this information helpful!
Here is the link in case you want the check them out:
h t t p s://www.henryusa.com/rifles/henry-steel-wildlife-editions/
Last edited:
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
35 Rem
Thank you for your service.
My vote goes to the BLR lever action. I like the idea of a mag fed lever rifle - easy to load and unload - available in common good calibers like the 308 and can be mounted with a nice light weight variable power scope. For added benefit this rifle can be had in a take down version which is easily stored in the truck, camper, boat etc.
My vote goes to the BLR lever action. I like the idea of a mag fed lever rifle - easy to load and unload - available in common good calibers like the 308 and can be mounted with a nice light weight variable power scope. For added benefit this rifle can be had in a take down version which is easily stored in the truck, camper, boat etc.
I’m out west, in the foothills of the Rockies. As you’d guess, we have plenty of big critters out here; Moose, Elk, cougar & bears in both flavors. I’ve owned lever guns for a good long time, and my two, all time favorites that are my “go-to” guns for walking around in the bush, deer hunting...even a black bear once...is .357mag. I know TONS of people will shout “too small!” Opinions are like belly buttons; everyone has one, none are the same, and all are equal.
I’ve owned pretty much every caliber at one point or another, and don’t anymore for various reasons. the ones that I still have, I have because they are so versatile. they’re also the cheapest to shoot a lot of rounds through, after a .22LR. I’ve never felt undergunned with one, and still enjoy the heck out of shooting them
I’ve owned pretty much every caliber at one point or another, and don’t anymore for various reasons. the ones that I still have, I have because they are so versatile. they’re also the cheapest to shoot a lot of rounds through, after a .22LR. I’ve never felt undergunned with one, and still enjoy the heck out of shooting them
