School me on lever action and calibers

C

ColinD

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
101   0   0
Location
Rural Alberta
Looking at getting a lever action. So far I really prefer the side loading gate and straight grip rifles. A 16” or so barrel would make an ideal OA length for what I like.

As for calibers the 45-70 really interests me, I want to hear that round bang my steal gong, but at $2 a shot, it’s an expensive eater.

Then I was looking at 357, price of rounds aren’t too bad, would be a great rifle to take with new shooters.

Ultimately, I want to just shoot the gun for fun, I’m not too familiar with many of the calibers that LA eat.

Looking forward to suggestions
 
.357 is a fun round in a lever action rifle, so is 30-30.
For the .357 I'd look for an 1892 and for the 30-30 I'd pick a pistol gripped Marlin over the 1894 but since you like the straight stock a Trapper 1894 would work.
 
Just picked up a 45-70. You can buy fairly light factory loadings which are quite comfortable to shoot, and then there are the shoulder bruisers. Very versatile round for short range shooting. 30-30 and 44 mag would be my other choices. 357 makes a great plinking round or for smallish game, and is also supremely accurate, esp. 38 Special. Now, if you're lucky enough to find one of those beautiful Italian reproduction model 71 Winchesters, .348 is one hell of an effective cartridge with good range.
 
Last edited:
45-70 is agreat cartridge if you are a reloader. It can be loaded from fairly benign target loads to loads that can down a grizzly, buffalo or moose.
 
Scrumbag said:
Yes, there is a 44 special. Not always so common
Click to expand...

I once owned a Model 94 Trapper I foolishly sold in a cash strapped moment.
It fed shot ejected 44 special equally well as 44 magnum. And at 25 yards those factory round nose lead 44 Spl would easily overlap one another. I am fairly certain the maximum elevation on its issue ramp equalled to 200 yards zero with 44 magnum 240 grain softpoints. But it's been too many years for me to be a absolutely certain.
 
Can-down said:
.357 is a fun round in a lever action rifle, so is 30-30.
For the .357 I'd look for an 1892 and for the 30-30 I'd pick a pistol gripped Marlin over the 1894 but since you like the straight stock a Trapper 1894 would work.
Click to expand...

The Winchester 1894 trapper in 357, 16” barrel looks perfect. No longer in production according to winchesters website
 
If you are looking for a LA to just shoot for fun I would go for the .357/.38, shooting .38 special in a lever rifle is almost no recoil and will be the cheapest to shoot (not counting rimfire). My 9 year old would shoot .38 all day if I let him. It was getting too expensive so I bought a Henry .22 that he can shoot all he wants for a lot less money...lol.
 
freddyfour said:
I wouldn't look for a win 94 in a pistol caliber, the 94 was designed for rifle cartridges. If you want .357 look at the Rossi 92, you can get them in 16", 20" and 24".
Click to expand...

The side benefit of 44 magnum in the Winchester 94 action one can load heavy for calibre hard cast at maximum speed at a length the Model 92 is incapable of feeding them through its action.
310 grain hard cast at max speed is pretty good for hunting big game and additional life insurance in the weeds amongst aggressive bears or wild boar. Only enuf time for a single shot.
 
The shorter the barrel the higher the price. Marlins in 44 mag or 357 Mag work well, maybe 45 colt if you reload. The winchester 73 are great but 2000 bucks is a bunch of money. There still can be Marlins for less then 1000, sometimes.
 
Thanks everyone. Really helping me narrow down what I’m after as I look up all of your suggestions

I found the marlin guide gun in stainless and walnut, it is beautiful but only comes in 45-70
 
Mostly plinking with the odd chance of a deer hunt , 16 inch barrel a priority , go with a Winchester 94 Trapper in 45 long colt !
It’ll handle the heaviest ammo Buffalo bore makes plus you can also shoot low power pea-shooter cowboy loads for fun.
Easy enough to find ammo for and easy to reload if you go that route down the road.
Easy on the shoulder with the cowboy loads and also very manageable with 300 grain jacketed soft point Buffalo Bore boomers !

I have a 45-70 , 30-30 and two 45 colt lever guns.
The 45-70 is great but expensive to shoot , I’d say get that only if you plan on doing more hunting than plinking. 30-30 is great but at $1.50+ per round , once again great for hunting but not so great for just plinking. 45 colt , great for both. Cheap enough to plink with and more than capable with the right loads to hunt with. Pretty much any of the pistol caliber lever guns will suit your purpose best. Pistol cal will give you the best ammo price option to plink with.
 
freddyfour said:
I wouldn't look for a win 94 in a pistol caliber, the 94 was designed for rifle cartridges. If you want .357 look at the Rossi 92, you can get them in 16", 20" and 24".
Click to expand...

I have a win ‘94 in 45 colt , works flawlessly.
Had a Rossi , it was a hunk of $hit. Know two other guys that had Rossi’s , both theirs were hunks of $hit too.
 
An 1886 (or clone) in 45-70 is a fun gun to shoot. .45-70 really shines when you get in to reloading but with a little looking you can find quite a good range of factory loads.
 
Isobar1999 said:
I have a win ‘94 in 45 colt , works flawlessly.
Had a Rossi , it was a hunk of $hit. Know two other guys that had Rossi’s , both theirs were hunks of $hit too.
Click to expand...

The only Win 94 in pistol caliber that I heard was sketchy in feeding possibly jamming was the 357. Never had one so I can't confirm.

And I do believe in the late 1980s Winchester was very first to put out a modern lever gun in 45 Colt.
 
Isobar1999 said:
I have a win ‘94 in 45 colt , works flawlessly.
Had a Rossi , it was a hunk of $hit. Know two other guys that had Rossi’s , both theirs were hunks of $hit too.
Click to expand...

I've had 2 Rossi 92s in 44 mag and both were excellent, other than one shot about a foot high, but a front sight change fixed that quickly. Sold them both because someone always wanted them more than I did, lol. Casually looking for another now.

The Rossi in a pistol caliber will be the most cost effective. Used run well under a grand, and new can be had for about that $1k mark. a 45-70 Marlin is more versatile, but more expensive too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom