Nature Boy
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I was also one. First it was a 12ga shotgun and I did everything but fish with it. Then I got the aforementioned BLR and deer hunted with it for over 30 years as my only rifle.
Quite doable
Do it all levergun
- Thread starter Wolfman Zack
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I was also one. First it was a 12ga shotgun and I did everything but fish with it. Then I got the aforementioned BLR and deer hunted with it for over 30 years as my only rifle.
Quite doable
Blkhrt13
Member
Let me get some brass built up for my Marlin 375 and that’s that. I’d like to get a 336. But I jumped on that 375 for 200 dollars. Only problem is ammo is hard to find and expensive.
35 Whelen
Member
I like how these sorts of threads always degrade to gun fighting.
The answer is none. Et tu Brute?
How many gunfights with, and also without, a lever gun have you been in? I like reading the arm chair stuff as well.
And I wasn’t disappointed…
Ha! The ever popular “multiple Perps with ARs”! I love it!
Hard to argue with someone that occupies both sides of the fence.
But how’s that AR on @bearcreek ‘s moose? We’re doing everything remember.
How about hunting in straight wall states?
(Yeah, I know, 450 Bushmaster, I have one.)
Quote me directly, a common courtesy, I don’t like when humans ask me questions behind my back, seems underhanded.
You are quite correct. Someone could post "What's your favorite single shot handgun?" and in no time those among us who share their beds with and kiss their AR's good morning (I know, no one mentioned an AR) are here to wax long and eloquently on the vast superiority of their favorite weapon. Further, they assure us that given enough 30 round "mags" they can easily defend entire subdivisions, hold off small armies and dispatch rogue bull elephants with Mr. Stoner's creation.
But back to the subject at hand, I initially chose the .357 because part of its versatility is owed to the fact that one can use .38 Special ammunition in the lever .357. With the ability to use handloads I could probably be swayed to choose the .44 Magnum. I often use a SA revolver in .44 Special for hunting and a few years had the opportunity to pop a blue quail with one whose first chamber to be indexed was stoked with one of my small game handloads. The load worked as intended and I actually had to part the feathers to find the bullet hole(s). I see no reason this couldn't have been done just as well with a lever .44 Magnum and a similar load. Thus, with the ability to use handloads, the .44 Magnum would probably be as versatile as a .357 although perhaps more power than needed for self defense and game not to exceed 250 lbs. or so, WITH proper bullets and loads, of course. The same could be said for other lever calibers that have been mentioned here such as the 30-30, .358 Winchester, et al., but small game loads in calibers such as these usually have a dramatically different POI, even at close range, than the big game hunting loads.
Regarding lever rifles themselves, they have more virtues than many realize. For those of us who use horses to get us up and down the mountain when hunting, they lend themselves very well to saddle scabbards (try that with an AR), and other tight places where one might need a long gun. When I'm puttering about the pasture in my old beater Nissan feeding cattle, checking fences, etc., my Rossi '92 rides on the dash which makes it very quick and easy to get into action. The slender profile of many levers, especially the '92 and '94 Winchesters make them easy to carry in one hand, leaving the other hand free.
I personally am averse to carrying magazines when I'm in the field. Levers with tubular magazines eliminate this need and have the advantage of allowing the adding of ammunition to the magazine as it's used or "on the fly", so to speak.
Finally, for those of who sometimes like to carry a handgun with their rifles, the ability to interchange ammunition between the two, in the case of the .38/.357, .44 Special/Magnum, 45 Colt and other such calibers is quite appealing.
35W
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Griffen
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It’s interesting what you learn from your experiences as you go along through time. I originally started with .45 Colt in single action revolvers and , of course, one HAS to have a rifle in the same cartridge. I found the .45 Colt to be outstanding and versatile overall. I reload and there are huge options in lead and jacketed bullets for this round.
I decided to obtain a double action revolver and it wound up being a .357 magnum and, of course, I must have a rifle in that caliber, so a Rossi 92 enters the fold. That is an impressive round and fun to shoot in both rifle and revolver. Reloading options are as plentiful as the .45 Colt.
The ‘92 action is very strong and can handle most any heavy loads in .45 or .357. I also recently discovered that Rossi uses the same action for .45 Colt and 454 Casull, they just lengthen the chamber to fit the 454 Casull round. So, if you can find a Rossi ‘92 in .454 Casull, you can use .45 Colt for plinking or defense and if you want a very powerful short range hunting round, the 454 Casull is a candidate. They also make 454 Casull in revolvers if one is into wrist monsters.
I decided to obtain a double action revolver and it wound up being a .357 magnum and, of course, I must have a rifle in that caliber, so a Rossi 92 enters the fold. That is an impressive round and fun to shoot in both rifle and revolver. Reloading options are as plentiful as the .45 Colt.
The ‘92 action is very strong and can handle most any heavy loads in .45 or .357. I also recently discovered that Rossi uses the same action for .45 Colt and 454 Casull, they just lengthen the chamber to fit the 454 Casull round. So, if you can find a Rossi ‘92 in .454 Casull, you can use .45 Colt for plinking or defense and if you want a very powerful short range hunting round, the 454 Casull is a candidate. They also make 454 Casull in revolvers if one is into wrist monsters.
I have been told by people I trust, but have no direct knowledge, that the Rossi if fed a steady diet of .454 that the action loosens up. I think it was also dropped from the model line up? I would like to have one and shoot mostly .45 Colt.
jag1954
Member
My Henry in .357
It's still shown on the Rossi website:
https://rossiusa.com/firearms/lever...0-9-rounds-stainless-steel-brazilian-hardwood
And there's a new one on gunbroker today.
BigBlue 94
Member
Winner winner! The Ruger 96 series is the fastest lever ive shot due to the short stroke. Another vote as well for the IQM 10 round mag. Though having a couple spares can be quite a financial endeavor lol!
Plus it will run 44 specials unlike the semi auto 99/44. And it weighs in at about 5 pounds unloaded. Its also shorter than most lever actions, making it super handy.
Lever at full stroke
Blkhrt13
Member
I wish these were widely available!Winner winner! The Ruger 96 series is the fastest lever ive shot due to the short stroke. Another vote as well for the IQM 10 round mag. Though having a couple spares can be quite a financial endeavor lol!
Plus it will run 44 specials unlike the semi auto 99/44. And it weighs in at about 5 pounds unloaded. Its also shorter than most lever actions, making it super handy.
Lever at full stroke
DukeConnor
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- Oct 30, 2016
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Winner winner! The Ruger 96 series is the fastest lever ive shot due to the short stroke. Another vote as well for the IQM 10 round mag. Though having a couple spares can be quite a financial endeavor lol!
Plus it will run 44 specials unlike the semi auto 99/44. And it weighs in at about 5 pounds unloaded. Its also shorter than most lever actions, making it super handy.
Lever at full stroke
I had no idea that existed. Very interesting.
adcoch1
Member
I had one of those for a week once, and like an idiot I sold it for a paltry $100 profit. Still kicking myself about that and it was over 20 years ago...Winner winner! The Ruger 96 series is the fastest lever ive shot due to the short stroke. Another vote as well for the IQM 10 round mag. Though having a couple spares can be quite a financial endeavor lol!
Plus it will run 44 specials unlike the semi auto 99/44. And it weighs in at about 5 pounds unloaded. Its also shorter than most lever actions, making it super handy.
Lever at full stroke
The quandary to just have one is do I live with the limited hunting range of my '92 trapper in 44 Mag or live wilt the limited capacity of Legendary Lawmen 30-30.
I'd much prefer having one for SD and a different one to hunt with in that case I'd take my 1894C Marlin 357 and my Browning 1895 30/40 Krag.
If we can play fantasy gun I want a Browning BLR action set up for AR15 length cartridges and using AR mags. You'd have to put the Maxwell far enough in front of the lever to clear the lever and then chamber mine for 350 Legend.
I'd much prefer having one for SD and a different one to hunt with in that case I'd take my 1894C Marlin 357 and my Browning 1895 30/40 Krag.
If we can play fantasy gun I want a Browning BLR action set up for AR15 length cartridges and using AR mags. You'd have to put the Maxwell far enough in front of the lever to clear the lever and then chamber mine for 350 Legend.
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
I was about to suggest I could do everything with a Marlin 39A, when I remembered this phrase.
When I said it, I meant hunting. And I could do everything in my world with a .22, but we have Cartridge Restrictions here that make deer hunting with a rimfire illegal. No matter how effective it is.
So, I could never have just one. I must have a rimfire. That is no debate. But I must have another for hunting, so that’s two.
Make my second a Big Horn Armory model 89 500S&W!
Yes, an $800 fancy walnut stock is a necessity.
Braces?! My kids don’t need braces, I NEED a seven thousand dollar, fifty caliber lever action rifle! Need it like oxygen I tell you! How I’ve made it this long I don’t know, but I’ll surely perish without one!
Then I’ll need a Freedom Arms revolver to match ammunition with.
Yes, an $800 fancy walnut stock is a necessity.
Braces?! My kids don’t need braces, I NEED a seven thousand dollar, fifty caliber lever action rifle! Need it like oxygen I tell you! How I’ve made it this long I don’t know, but I’ll surely perish without one!
selling the kids is the obvious solution.
Lays and Levers can't stop at one.
Hokkmike
Member
Given the extremes of hunting, I would think no "world wide" useful lever caliber exits, unless I am not familiar with it. That is probably the case. For Pennsylvania, where I live the .44 mag is probably tops. But since I have a .45(LC) in Marlin 1894 CL I'll go with that. I readily admit that I feel under gunned for big game with it.
BigBlue 94
Member
The gun or the mag?
The mag is from IQ Munitions. They designed and made it in-house, in Montana i believe. It would survive getting run over by a semi truck after falling from an airplane. It can be used in the 96/44, M77/44, and 99/44 Deerfield carbine.
The Ruger 96 series came in 22LR, 22Mag, 17 HMR, and 44 mag. The 17 cal is a fun one for plinking. They come from the factory with a 10/22 rotary magazine. The 44 mag came with a similar rotary 4 round mag.
adcoch1
Member
My do-all lever gun is the only one I presently own, and it's a 24" 357 Rossi. A bit light for big game, but I'm good at sneaking in close, a great plinker with 38 special, and it pairs with a handful of revolvers around here. I'm in the market for a few more levers though, a 45-70 and a 30-30 would do it. And of course a 22lr. I've had all of them, and will again!
.45Coltguy
Member
Well, I’ve tried, but I can’t get it to just one. All these will do well, though the 45-70 is a bit heavy handed for plinking cans
View attachment 1106567
What is the 2nd from the top? Damn, that is really nice.
DukeConnor
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- Oct 30, 2016
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The rifle.
- Status
