Lever Gun Most Versatile Caliber?

Take your basic 45-70.
You can load it with round ball, at very low speed, and take grouse, or rabbit.
You can load it with a medium load, for bear, deer, or moose.
Use full power loads for anything on this continent, and most anything in the rest of the world as well.
You can shoot cast bullets at full power.
You can shoot black powder, with lead, or jacketed bullets.
You can load a shot cartridge.
It is capable at 200 yards with the right load.
It has hit a target at two miles, with black powder. (Big target)
Can a 308 do all that?
 
For those that dont reload, it'd be hard to do all that with a 45/70, however I agree with you otherwise. In my case, the only lever I own is a post 64 win 94 in 30-30, and geez, it's accurate as heck, light, hard hitting, and light on recoil. With such a light recoil follow up shots are easy too.
 
Take your basic 30-30.
You can load it with round ball, at very low speed, and take grouse, or rabbit.
(32 Cal round ball works well)
You can load it with a full power load, for bear, deer, or moose.

You can shoot cast bullets at full power, and hunt with cast bullets.
You can shoot black powder, with lead, or jacketed bullets (I've never done it, but it can be done)
It is capable at 200 yards with the right load.

Can a 308 do all that?(almost)
 
45/70 - load it with pistol powder like unique or 2400 and a ruger old army cast bullet or .457 round ball for small game. Load full power loads and the right jacketed bullets and shoot any larger game in the world including elephants. Load it with 500 grain cast boolets and bp to shoot zombies out past 1000 yards
 
The question takes on a whole different meaning if you are talking those that handload and those that do not. factory bought ammo i would go with a .308 as far as factory bought versatility goes. If you are a reloader, the .45-70 can be loaded for mice size fodder up to elephant size. Just my opinion.
 
Looks like no more firearms purchases for me for quite some time. I need to begin reloading to get the most from my Guide Gun. I do so want a Marlin 30-30 with the semi-pistol grip stock, (preferably in stainless).
I borrowed a friend's Win 94 in 30-30 for about six months. I shot factory loads from it but I couldn't get used to the sights. It didn't seem so accurate. Wondering if a Marlin would be more accurate.

But, reloading must come first I think.
 
The nice thing about a 45-70 or a 38-55 is that they were originally black powder rounds. If they ever stop selling powder and a fellow is left to make his own, black powder is easy to make (as many a teenage boy back in the 60's and 70's can testify). It will work just fine in the 45-70 or the 38-55 but it would be pretty pathetic in the modern quantum-hyper mags.
 
'06

BLR in 30-06 would make a nice compliment to your 45/70(although, so would a 30-30). I think reloading equip. as your next purchase would be a good long term descision you will never regret. My wife's 30-30 using W748, H170grRN costs only either .17 or .27/shot, can't remember which. Beats a buck a shot, anyway.
 
Although I would love to have a 45/70 in a lever I currently have a Marlin 30-30 as well as a Savage 99c 308 so looking at other lever cals is basically shopping. Getting a 308 in a lever is pretty much as good as it gets for me and the Savage is a very nice deer gun no question. I would have to go with MadDog on that one, and they are particularly fine rifles. Although most of the cals being discussed here are in the Marlin/Winnie configs, I like the curved pistol grips and available long range shot if I need it. As well I reload 30cal so whatever I want I can run in my Marlin, Savage or Ruger 77mkII depending on how much I have and how bored I am. Versatility is a requirement of mine no matter how much I would love to have a 38-55 or 45/70. Maybe one day but for now I am happy and I have several levers to play with(just scored a lovely 9422 recently too). Ya I know 308 is boring but I got over that a long time ago...:)
 
Another vote for the 30/30. :)

And it is lighter then the others mentioned...so one can carry more ammo.

Which may be an issue on long trips where resupply may become an issue, which is why I also consider a cartridge versatile if I can buy it at practically every place that sells ammo...from Can Tire and Wal Mart on up the ammo supply chain.
 
If you're not limiting the choice to oldtimers like the .444, .358, .30-30 and so on, this one's easy. You have a .45-70. If it's another lever you want, go modern - get a BLR in either .300, .270 or .325WSM, any one of them.
 
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Pity the poor soul who is restricted to using factory ammo. Handloading is what makes a rifle versatile. It allows us to take small game for the pot with our deer (moose, bear, buffalo, or elephant) rifles or allows us to reach out a smack a critter on that distant hill. While a small bore can never match a large bore, all the cartridges ever chambered in lever guns are more versatile in the hands of the talented handloader. The guy who buys factory ammo might have a big game rifle or a small game rifle, but he will never have a big game rifle that can put small game in the pot, well the soup pot maybe, or a small game rifle that take humanely take big game.
 
Boomer said:
Pity the poor soul who is restricted to using factory ammo. Handloading is what makes a rifle versatile. It allows us to take small game for the pot with our deer (moose, bear, buffalo, or elephant) rifles or allows us to reach out a smack a critter on that distant hill. While a small bore can never match a large bore, all the cartridges ever chambered in lever guns are more versatile in the hands of the talented handloader. The guy who buys factory ammo might have a big game rifle or a small game rifle, but he will never have a big game rifle that can put small game in the pot, well the soup pot maybe, or a small game rifle that take humanely take big game.
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Couldn't say it better than that.
 
Marlin 357mag rechambered to 357max. If you have to stick with store bought. 38spcl 125grain for small game. 357mag 158grain for med. sized and not too far away. 357max 180 or 200grain little more reach and alot more power. Just my .02
 
kanook said:
Marlin 357mag rechambered to 357max. If you have to stick with store bought. 38spcl 125grain for small game. 357mag 158grain for med. sized and not too far away. 357max 180 or 200grain little more reach and alot more power. Just my .02
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sounds good in theory:D
 
Yeah, long as you get close. Out here that can be just luck or if you are very good-stalking. Hard to stalk in a clearcut though and they can be noisy no matter how careful you are. Im staying with the 308 just so's I don't miss an opportunity. Might be nice to have for brush country but then the 308 will do that nicely too. Still it would be cool to have all those choices and another excuse for a purchase too:)
 
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