[g2072]

I know some of you have or have shot a rifle in the .357 or .45 calibers. I've been wanting to add one to my collection and wanted some feedback before purchasing. It would mainly be used for a plinking or varmit gun. What kind of performance and range could I expect.

 

[captain-03]

The question has not easy answer ... depends! Caliber - type rifle (semi, bolt, single) - length of barrel - ballistics of round used - etc ...

You see a lot of levers in 44 Mag and a few in 357 Mag. Many use them for deer and hog hunting ... maybe a little too big for varmits ..... I do not own one, but did own a ruger 44 Mag carbine once. It was good for about 75yrds and in.

 

[g2072]

I'm mainly looking at the .45 or .357 calibers. I'd like to stay away from the .44 because I already have ammo for the others. Also probably looking at a lever or pump gun in a carbine style(short barrel).

 

[Rw]

I havent shot a rifle in 357 or 45, but i do have a keltec sub2000 in .40 and its a blast. If your local your welcome to shoot it, but a warning... most who shoot it immediately place an order for one of their own.

 

[miker84]

Tag for replies. I'm thinking about picking up a lever 44 mag ,which would cause me to buy a 44 mag pistol. :thinking:

Or just build a 9mm, 40SW or 45ACP upper on that AR stripped lower sitting in my safe since I have those calibers already.

 

[chestnut]

Look at the Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy in 45 long colt. I've got one in the 44mag and like it. Well built lever action sweet shooter.

 

[Rw]

Also Highpoint is making a 45 carbine now, i dont care for their stuff but others do

 

[Doug Bowser]

I have an older Rossi 1892 Puma carbine in .44 magnum. It does not have that silly little safety on the top of the bolt. I doubt if I would have bought it if it had.

I have slicked up the action and installed a Wolff spring set in it.

I never shoot anything but Black Powder hand cast loads in it. I have the 240 gr Lyman Cowboy mould with flat point. 26 gr FFFG Goex with the bullet lubed with SPG lube. It really roars and throws sparks. Lots of smoke. It shoots 4" at 100 yards from the bags with open iron sights.

Doug

 

[miker84]

I never shoot anything but Black Powder hand cast loads in it. I have the 240 gr Lyman Cowboy mould with flat point. 26 gr FFFG Goex with the bullet lubed with SPG lube. It really roars and throws sparks. Lots of smoke. It shoots 4" at 100 yards from the bags with open iron sights.

That's what I'm talkin 'bout!

 

[22lrfan]

Another option would be the Taurus replica of the Colt Lightning pump. It's made in .45 Colt. I looked at one in a shop a while back and it seemed really nice.

 

[jakeg823]

Another option would be the Taurus replica of the Colt Lightning pump. It's made in .45 Colt. I looked at one in a shop a while back and it seemed really nice.

No longer in production but you might be able to locate one who knows

 

[GunOneDown]

I have the Rossi as well in 45LC and it's sweet with an action job.
BTW, I know somebody that has the Taurus Pump in 45LC that is for sell. NIB. PM if u interested.

 

[Doug Bowser]

The secret in loading BP .44 mag and .45 Colt ammo is to heavily inside neck ream the cases. This seals the front of the ctg to the chamber and does not allow much BP soot to enter the action. I can shoot this rifle with BP loads as many as 60 times without BP soot becoming a problem and gumming up the action.

Doug

 

[Joe S.]

I LOVE my marlin in 44 mag. It is my go to gun when walking the place. Offhand shooting with a peep sight gets me easy 4" groups at 50 yards. The bead in front is the reason for the group size. It covers a 4" circle at 50 yards. Lol at least that's my story!

I will be buying a marlin cowboy in 357 soon. It has a 20" octogon barrel and is just cool. But the 44 is my sweetheart!

 

[Doug Bowser]

Oh, I forgot. If you get a Winchester 1892 repro, don't take it apart unless you know how to reassemble it.

Doug

 

[rgwarren]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt, 44 and 357.. They are fun to shoot.
I am on the look out for a Marlin in 41.... I have a Henry in 22 Mag and a Winchester in 22 LR that I really love to shoot...

Love the lever guns

 

[Leopardcurdog]

I have a couple Henry's, one in 44 mag and one in 357 mag. I chrono-ed a few different loads. I loaded up some hot 140gr for my rifle only, stayed in the safe zone, and got 1902fps on one particular load. A couple more examples of a normal load is,

140gr XTP out of a 4" runs 1172 and out of the rifle runs 1429
125gr G.D. out of a 4" runs 1124 and out of the rifle runs 1582
158gr JSP 4" runs 1062 and from the rifle runs 1361

8 different loads show pretty much the same results.

44 mag percentages were around that as well.

 

[Joe S.]

Love the lever guns

what he said! :tophat:

 

[22lrfan]

rgwarren wrote:

Love the lever guns

Amen to that. The pistol caliber ones are especially fun. I had a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag but got rid of it. I like them old.. I've still got a '73 Winchester and a Marlin 1894 in .38-40 and a 1892 Short Rifle in .44-40. Recoil like a .22 but a whole lot bigger hole, what's not to like.

 

[rsm688]

I just bought a .357 mag/.38 special H&R Handi Rifle, it is getting threaded at the moment for my suppressor to make a nice quiet varmint hunting gun :thumbup: . Recoil is nothing, the gun was only $250 brand new, it's fun and cheap to shoot too