Lever-Action Cartidge w/ Lots of Load Possibilities

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Airgead

Airgead

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Hey all, I am looking at a "greenfield" rifle purchase in the next few months. I want to get a lever-action (preferably) for use with hog hunting primarily but also be acceptable for deer and maybe black bear. However what I'm most interested in is the caliber of the cartridge to be something that has "interesting" load possibilities. Ideally, I would like to be able to develop both a reduced load for plinking and my daughter to learn rifle shooting eventually as well as something more powerful for taking game. I've looked at a few things such as .338 Marlin Express, .35 Remington, .450 Marlin, .45-70 Govt, and of course the .30-30.

I don't mind something a little esoteric as long as I can reasonably purchase a firearm for the chamber - where reasonable is I can pick one up for < $1000, I can get parts for it assuming it's used, and it doesn't seem to be a "flash in the pan" cartridge.

I really want to like the .338 Marlin Express or the .450 Marlin as I'd like to help support newer innovations in the lever-action market, but both of them being newer there's not a lot of performance data for them yet and especially there really little bullet choices for the .338 Marlin Express. I believe that Marlin doesn't even make new .450 Marlin guns so I'd already be starting from the "used only" position there which is probably a poor choice.

Does anyone have some thoughts on lever-action cartridges that are "interesting" to handloaders?

(I'm posting this here instead of the rifle section because I'm mostly looking at this from the handloading perspective but I apologize in advance if the mods think it really belongs in "Rifle Country")
 
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The 45-70 would probably be my pick.

You can go all the way from mild to wild, as there is tons of bata and components for it out there.

But, the 30-30 can be a kinder gentler gun for a new shooter compared to even the mildest 45-70 loads.

rc
 
Air, i don't know anything about the greenfield rifles..... Nada, but i wish you luck in your quest..... For me, i just use the guide gun by marlin…. 45 70 with the right bullet I am sure it would handle anything in north America at 200 yards or less…
It’s so short and handy for the bush….. it’s my go to when hiking in bear country….. lots of fun cause you can load anything from slow lead to nosler which will just about punch through anything…… and best of all there a well-made lever and very reasonably priced.

good luck, dirt
 
I have loads for my 336 that range from a gas check 115 grainer at 1300 fps, to a 200 grain plain base at 1200, and 165 gc at 1900. Jacketed loads range from 110 grain soft points to a few 190 grain ones intended for the old Savage. Pointed bullets are not a problem IF you only load one in the magazine. I particularly like the 165 Hornady bullets made for the Leverevolution series.
I do have a 444 original but it is not s versatile. The 308 or 338 expresses would be interesting.
 
I bet if you price shop you could get both the 30-30 and 45-70 for less then $1,000.00 brand spanking new.... one for the young'en and one for u.....:D
just a thought... ymmv all the best, dirt
 
30-30 for sure. You can load MBC lead 165gr "whitetail" bullets over 10gr of Unique. That's a super soft shooting load. I load these for a buddy of mine. He used them to teach his little daughter how to shoot "dad's cowboy gun".

I also load the hornady flextip for him at a load just above published max with R15. He uses it to take deer out in the coastal mountain range of Oregon. Very thick brush and understory out there as well as extremely steep and slippery terrain.
 
I agree with dirtman. You can probably pick up a used 336 and a used guide gun together for less than $1k.
 
Love my 1895 45-70. As rc said there is tons of data and it's a joy to both shoot and reload for.
 
Honestly, I'd probably pick a .35 Remington and use .357/.38Spc. pistol bullets for low-velocity plinking and teaching, but you could do something very similar with either the .30-30, .35 Rem., .444 Marlin, or .45-'70.
 
If you can find one, a .375 Winchester would fill the bill. Or, you could do like I did and pick up a new condition Marlin 336 for a good price and have JES Reboring make it into a .375 for you for just over $200, including return shipping.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
2nd on the 35Rem, for the same reason , .357 XTP make great plinking rounds , 200gr Flex tips for most hunting need , and 250gr RN's for heavy brush stuff and there is lots of cast data out there for the 35Rem
 
FWIW, my sister killed her first deer with a 125 gr. Sierra 125 gr. JHP I'd loaded to pistol velocities out of Win94 .30-30. I think she was about 9-10 at the time.
 
For something that can go from mild to wild, and isn't exactly the thing you find in everybody elses gun cabinet, there are 2 cartridges that fit the bill quite nice. The 348 Winchester and the 405 Winchester. I don't have much experience with the 348, but have shot the snot out of my 405. It's accurate, and when loaded with cast bullets can be tamed to very mild levels.
 
Thanks for the thoughts so far everyone. I must admit I'm slightly surprised at the responses about the .30-30. My understanding was there wasn't much in the way of creative loading of that caliber but I need to take a second look at that one, obviously.
 
I don't have much experience with the 348, but have shot the snot out of my 405.
Click to expand...

Don - what do have in a 405? I assume a Winchester 1895? Those seem a bit pricey.
 
Winchester 1895 in .30-40 Krag would be awesome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-40_Krag

I like the Krag round in the original bolt action but I think it would be sweet in a lever gun too. It's like .30-30's big brother.

Also .30-30 is an EXCELLENT cartridge with lots of different load options. You can load 110gr for lighter recoil and go up to 170gr for full power. Can't go wrong with a .30-30 in a Winchester model 94 (I think the 94 is more compact/handy than other lever guns so would be good for new/young shooters)

Another interesting option would be a model 99 Savage, because you can shoot pointy bullets. You can get them in .30-30, .300 Savage, and I think they even made some in .308 Winchester?
 
PapaG said:
I have loads for my 336 that range from a gas check 115 grainer at 1300 fps, to a 200 grain plain base at 1200, and 165 gc at 1900. Jacketed loads range from 110 grain soft points to a few 190 grain ones intended for the old Savage. Pointed bullets are not a problem IF you only load one in the magazine. I particularly like the 165 Hornady bullets made for the Leverevolution series.
I do have a 444 original but it is not s versatile. The 308 or 338 expresses would be interesting.
Click to expand...

What is a 'gas check' load?
 
I would be in the 30-30 camp but for your wanting to hunt Bear with the rifle too. Don't get me wrong, the 30-30 is capable of taking Bear but the 35 Remington will do that better. Just like the 30-30 you can download the 35 Rem for practice and younger shooters too. Like mentioned above, you can load 38/357 bullets for cheaper practice ammo.

Over the years I couldn't decide which leverguns were better so I now have a collection of four. They are in 30-30, 38/357, 45-70 and .22LR... I think I have everything fairly well covered.
 
Hey all, I am looking at a "greenfield" rifle purchase in the next few months. I want to get a lever-action (preferably) for use with hog hunting primarily but also be acceptable for deer and maybe black bear. However what I'm most interested in is the caliber of the cartridge to be something that has "interesting" load possibilities. Ideally, I would like to be able to develop both a reduced load for plinking and my daughter to learn rifle shooting eventually as well as something more powerful for taking game.
Click to expand...

I am thinking my Marlin 44 Magnum would fit a lot of those objectives.
 
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