What lever gun cal would you choose?

[Para P-12]

Marlin 1895 in 45/70.

 

[Vasa]

The 50-110WCF in a nice Browning 71 or 1886 (or the original Whinchester made from 1901 on). Just having one built. Will do anything a belted magnum will do on big game in western Canada. Will also shoot your 50Alaskan loads. Use a 450-550gr. bullet.

Vasa

 

[Noel]

The 50-110WCF in a nice Browning 71 or 1886 (or the original Whinchester made from 1901 on). Just having one built. Will do anything a belted magnum will do on big game in western Canada. Will also shoot your 50Alaskan loads. Use a 450-550gr. bullet.

Vasa

Cool!

I'd be with Vasa in an 1886.

Close second would be Teddy's African rig, an 1895 in 405 Win.

 

[cariboo_kid]

I hope you mean what caliber to buy FIRST!

444 goes without saying. A blast to shoot and very versatile. Anywhere from 200 grains at 2850fps from a 22" barrel, to 405 grains at more moderate speeds. What won't that cover?

35 Rem would also suit your needs well.

44 mag would be a lot of fun, I'd like to pick one up some day.

 

[catnthehatt]

I hunt with several lever guns, the difference being that my levers drop a breach block down and i load a single round!
Cat

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I hunt with several lever guns, the difference being that my levers drop a breach block down and i load a single round!
Cat

Your handicapped, but I'm the one with the crutch.
My 44-40 holds 13 rounds.

 

[HSM_miner]

It only takes one! Sheesh 13 rounds.....I debate which one of you are handicapped.

 

[303carbine]

45-70 is my pick for sure....420 grain cast bullets at 1650 fps is lots of bear medicine.

 

[triton]

Why not just choose the 30/30 Win.? Just wondering why You said, "other than the 30/30 Win." ?

Not because I don't like the 30/30 I have one myself. I just figured the majority of lever gun owners already have one.

Dave.

 

[joe.l]

which lever caliber ?

I've had a Marlin 336cs in .35 remington , use 200 gr.round nose , soft tip bullets , for 34 years now , and the only one I'd change it for would be Marlin 444 , around great cartridge , deer , bear , moose in the woods . Keep a low powered scope on it ( 1.5 to 4.5 ) and you're in business. good luck Joe

 

[whitbyman]

What do you guys think of the 308 Marlin Express?

 

[Win/64]

Not because I don't like the 30/30 I have one myself. I just figured the majority of lever gun owners already have one.

Dave.

Why not get a blr in one of the short mags.?

 

[iceman2]

win model 94 in 356 win. Light handy can load light pistol bullets up to 250 gr round nose.

 

[cariboo_kid]

win model 94 in 356 win. Light handy can load light pistol bullets up to 250 gr round nose.

Get a 444 and 250gr IS a light pistol bullet.

 

[ben hunchak]

45/70 or .444(I put that in there for 444shooter), actually i like the 45/70 for its versatility and the fact that it works better with cast than jacketed(condom bullets).

 

[BCWILL]

I've heard the .35 denigrated for having a muzzle velocity of "only 2100 fps" and lots of bullet drop/drift at 300-400 yards. Usually, this criticism comes from some bright-eyed over-zealous newbie, citing chapter and verse from the latest ballistic tables, showcasing whatever golly-gee-whizbang magnum came out that week (eventually these kids usually learn that its more fun to learn how to hunt than it is to sit around a recite ballistics tables). The gunshop graybeards, you know, the ones whose hunting knives are worn down from years of gutting and re-sharpening, tend not to worry over such stuff. Experience taught them long ago that most hunting opportunities come inside of 150 yards and that success often depends on being able to respond quickly, accurately and forcefully. At 75-100 yards, wind drift and bullet drop can pretty much be ignored. What matters is marksmanship, shot selection, and bullet construction (mass, diameter and expansion behavior). These are things that don't tend to be found in ballistics tables. While the tabulated numbers tend to get overshadowed by the latest magnum du jour, the .35 Remington gives the hunter exactly the tools needed for the job. The rest is up to the hands holding the gun.

35 Remington

 

[MHUNT]

First choice would be a 94 big bore in 356. Second, a 336 in 356. I have a 94 and had been led to believe that marlin's 336 was a better made rifle, but when my hunting partner bought one and asked me to work up a load for it I came away with a slight preferrance for my 94 big bore. Great cartridge.

 

[agilent_one]

Hard to argue (literally) with a 45-70 pushing 350gr Hornady RN's to 2100fps, or 500gr hard casts to 1650.

 

[Preacher]

Winchester 95 in 405 Winchester. 300 grain factory loads at chronied 2280 fps. Or get a #1H Ruger, like I did.

 

[Duffy]

Quite some years ago a firearms manufacturer was thinking the same thing as you. "what would be a leveraction cartridge with somewhat better perfomance than a 30/30 that a hunter could use for deer, bear and moose?

So Savage brought out the modle 99 in a new round, the .300 savage.

Thats what I use for the type of hunting you describe. (one in .308 or .284 or 358 win. would also be a good choice).

Robin in Rocky