Lever question. Stressed out

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I load 45-70 for my trapdoor and .38-.357. I reload 45-70 for a bit less than .40 cents a shot with black powder. And those are full bore loads with almost 70 gr of powder.
The 38 is about 20 cents .

They're only expensive to shoot if you are impatient.
 
I recently got a JM stamped .357/.38 Marlin 1894CS (built in 1996) after a looking for about a year. I highly recommend them. They can definitely be found but be prepared to pay a premium.
 
The Rossi 357 I owned was pretty awful. It would only cycle Hornady 140 grain lever evolution rounds smoothly. Everything else took a Herculean effort and often times multiple tries.

I currently have a Henry Steel 357 and it cycles very smoothly. Never tried 38s in it so I can't speak to that. The fit and finish on a Henry is top notch and they also have excellent customer service.

My friend bought a Henry 30-30 a few years back and had to send it in. He wrote a letter to the company as well and the president responded and they sent him a free 22 for his troubles! I've sent in many guns to many manufactures for warranty service over the years and the best I've gotten was some wood inserts and a holster for a sp101 and a free sweat shirt and moon clips from Smith and Wesson.
 
#1, I'm glad I live where I'm not limited to such cartridges. #2, it is a real shame there are so few quality options in such a lever gun. I have a 1970's era Marlin in 44 mag that I felt I overpaid at $200 used 20 years ago. Now I wish I'd bought 2. The shop had 2 used rifles on the shelf side by side at the time.

The Rossi, Henry and all the other knock-off's leave me cold. I just couldn't bring myself to buy something other than a Marlin or Winchester. I'd pay the ransom or do without. But that is just me.

I'm not really a fan of 45-70. I've had 2-3 over the last 40 years and think they are over rated, kick too much for the performance, and cost more than they are worth. But by default one may well be the best option for someone needing a straight walled lever action. If Marlin can make a 45-70 and sell it at those prices there is no reason for a 44 or 357 mag to cost so much.

If I lived where I needed such a rifle I'd buy this before I'd pay $1000 for a 357 or 44 mag lever gun. Street price is under $400.

http://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/16950.html
 
OwenC said:
I can only use straight walled cartridges to hunt deer
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Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.

.41 Long Colt???

"In other rule changes, any straight-walled cartridge rifle with a minimum caliber of .357 to a maximum caliber of .50 is now allowed for hunting deer in Ohio."

So, if you want a fun lever action in a non-punishing cartridge for deer it sounds like to me you will have to fork up quite a bit.

OR, you can load the .45-70 down to say 300 grain bullet at 1200 fps (won't kick bad at all.)

So maybe reloading your own ammo is the solution.

Deaf
 
jmr40 said:
#1, I'm glad I live where I'm not limited to such cartridges.
Click to expand...

Actually, we Buckeyes are a happier whitetail hunting fraternity now, having straight-walled, rifle cartridge ammunition choices for deer hunting, than we were before, with the shotgun only limitation. Hopefully, some bottle-neck cartridges, like the .35 Remington, .30-30 Winchester and the .348 Winchester will be added to the roster in the not too distant future.
Although pricier and harder to find, I'd recommend the op consider getting a Winchester (Miroku repo) Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight" rifle, chambered in .45-70, for hunting deer in Ohio. This is a superbly finished, nice handling rifle well worth the money.
 
I finally just got my Marlin 39a (1988).
I own an 1895 GBL 45-70 Woo Hoo!!!
I own an 1894 .357/.38 Spec and a .44 Spec/Rem . Mag.

The gun I like the least is the .357. Factory ammo .357 shoots fine, not so much the .38 Spec. I've heard most people say that is an outlier...ok. I'd opt for the .22 after the .45-70. Otherwise I'd go with the .44 because it is a whole lotta awesome. New gun guys love it, and I can do anything with it. The pleasant recoil is superb. And I have had some hot rounds through it just because...love it.

It seems I've collected .308s lately...never my plan, but I kinda wanted a Browning in .308. Now perhaps in a 7mm-08 or a .358 Win...But that's dreaming talking.

Enjoy whatever you get in your 19th Century AR.

Greg
 
You'll typically only get one shot at a deer no matter where you're hunting. CVA builds accurate muzzle-loader rifles for a fair price. Their 50 caliber Wolf model sells for less than $200. and has a very good reputation. Adding a scope sight is easy. Check Midway Shooting Supplies. I bought their Optima model many years ago and have been astounded by the amazing accuracy shooting Powerbelt bullets or shooting Harvester sabot cups with Speer 270 grain (.429) bullets. Recoil is about the same as my 30-30 carbine.

If concerned about costs, I suggest you take a strong look at CVA muzzle-loaders for your deer hunting needs within Ohio.

TR
 
I'm sorry but the 45-70 isn't to expensive to shoot unless you are shooting factory ammo. If you roll your own, it's cheaper than most factory ammo in other rifle calibers.
 
BigBore44 said:
I'm sorry but the 45-70 isn't to expensive to shoot unless you are shooting factory ammo. If you roll your own, it's cheaper than most factory ammo in other rifle calibers.
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Cuz that's fair.......if you can load the .45-70 cheaper than Factory other, I can load most others cheaper than you can load .45-70, price is relative to size 9/10x when talking about either ammunition or components. .458 costs more than .338 costs more than .308 costs more than .284 etc etc etc
 
SwampWolf said:
Actually, we Buckeyes are a happier whitetail hunting fraternity now, having straight-walled, rifle cartridge ammunition choices for deer hunting, than we were before, with the shotgun only limitation. Hopefully, some bottle-neck cartridges, like the .35 Remington, .30-30 Winchester and the .348 Winchester will be added to the roster in the not too distant future.
Although pricier and harder to find, I'd recommend the op consider getting a Winchester (Miroku repo) Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight" rifle, chambered in .45-70, for hunting deer in Ohio. This is a superbly finished, nice handling rifle well worth the money.
Click to expand...
Don't forget .338 federal ;)
 
If normal shooting range was 50-100 yards I think I would get a 44 magnum lever. If possible shooting range pushed to 100-150 I would get a 45-70 marlin or a single shot such as a handi rifle, the upcoming henry, CVA, or a Thompson center encore or contender. The Thompson Center has the added benefit of being able to be a 45-70 or 44 magnum in November, and a 357 magnum, or a 223, or a 22lr, or a 17hmr or whatever for the rest of the year.
 
OwenC said:
This is my first post. I finishing a job soon and will have some extra cash. I'm going to pick up a couple of lever rifles but can't figure out what to get. I know I want a 45-70 1895 so that part is easy. Great for ohio hunting but expensive to shoot and hard on the shoulder. I also want a 357/38 for leisure/ smaller game. used marlin 1894 for $1000? 1873 $1000 ( miroku or uberti)? henry $700 but I don't like them? 1892? Don't want a Rossi. Help... I'm going nuts
Click to expand...

My 1894c in .357 takes down Ohio deer just as well as my 12 ga used to. 45-70 is overkill for whitetail.

I'd focus on getting just a single lever action and expand your budget some. Either .357 or .44 mag is perfect for deer IMO, and if you go .44mag you can get a current production Marlin.
 
horsey300 said:
Cuz that's fair.......if you can load the .45-70 cheaper than Factory other, I can load most others cheaper than you can load .45-70, price is relative to size 9/10x when talking about either ammunition or components. .458 costs more than .338 costs more than .308 costs more than .284 etc etc etc
Click to expand...

True. And Im not arguing that. I said it's not to expensive to shoot it. But how about I word it this way....You can reload PREMIUM level 45-70 cheaper than you can buy factory ammo in other rifle calibers. And as far as straight walled cartridges, considering component prices and subsequent performance, the 45-70 is undeniably tough to beat. But we are talking about deer. And the 45-70 in its light bullet configuration, is BIG medicine for even the largest northern deer.

I believe the OP had already decided he wants a 45-70 and was instead inquiring about other leverguns in .357/38 or 44mag for leisure shooting. And all have pros and cons. From price, fit and finish, reliability, and materials. So my suggestion would be to spend find a good/decent deal on a JM 1894 in .357. It's very unlikely, should he lose interest, that he will lose money.
 
RPRNY said:
I believe by "hot 45 Colt" one is referring to the "Ruger/TC/Freedom Arms Only" loads found in many loading manuals. These offer 300 grs at 1200 fps from 7" test barrels and would deliver roughly 1400 fps from a 16.5" barreled carbine - PROVIDED that the rifle is proofed to at least 30,000 CUP. The 454 Casull is a whole different kettle of fish: 300 grs at 2,000 fps from a 20" rifle, but at @ 55,000 CUP. The Rossi/PUMA '92 that was chambered in 454 Casull had problems with mag tube separation, used specially heat treated steels, and was still viewed as iffy.
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The only 16.5" lever gun I could recommend with those loads aint made no more. Winchester m94 "Trapper" still out there but not as affordable as before.
Oneshooter
 
SwampWolf said:
Actually, we Buckeyes are a happier whitetail hunting fraternity now, having straight-walled, rifle cartridge ammunition choices for deer hunting, than we were before, with the shotgun only limitation.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Used to use an 870 with 3" Remington Copper Solids. Killed on both ends.

In Indiana We got approved for any .244/6mm and any .30 caliber this past year, plus the goofy caliber restrictions we had in the past. I can use my .358. WSSM or my .243. Either beats the heck out of a 12 gauge.
 
You can put a recoil reducer in the stock of the 45-70 to tame it down. I put one in my 375 H&H and they DO WORK.
And I would forget about a 357. If it were me, I'd be looking for a Marlin 1894CB in 45LC or 44Mag... and the older one with the 24" barrel if you can find one..

And I agree with you about Rossi's...... Gar-Bage'

And another good straight walled lever gun cartridge if you can find one is the 38-55
 
Problems like this sort of make you wish that they still made lever guns in 38-55. That said, with the right bullets, the ballistics of the 44 mag are close to those of the 30-30 from a rifle (look at the Hornady 225 gr. FTX load closely).
 
I use a 44 R92 16" SS carbine with a red dot and sling for hunting here in Ohio.

It puts them in the dirt just fine.

If you shoot ALOT, I'd get a 357 92. If you hunt ALOT, I'd get it in 44. If you want a thumper, the 44 is your ticket. Unless you're hunting soy bean fields, the shots available in Ohio are within the 44's range plus it's cheaper than 45-70 ammo.

Ammo selection for deer is very critical in 357. Just about most 240gr 44 loads are sufficient for deer.
 
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