GTR_Done said:
jfruser, how tall is your wife and what is the length of pull on that rossi?
The rossi is thiner and lighter (a little) than a Marlin of same barrel length. The ones I have seen used have a metal butt plate, eject up, and are not tapped for scope mounts.
I seems most are happy with Rossi, but Marlin is somewhat better quality. Hunting is the eventual goal, and the Marlin is more adaptable to that role it seems.
Shooter Size, Stock, Butt Plate
My wife tells people she is 5'. Well, she is taller than 4'11", but 5' is a stretch. She broke 100lbs twice in her life, but soon gave birth and was below the century mark soon thereafter. IOW, she is not a big gal.
My wife is also right-handed, left-eye dominant, and can not fully close her left eye. She, too, shoots lefty with a long gun. Your daughter is not the first gal to face these difficulties.
LOP on the uncut stock is short enough for her to do well, but not perfect, IMO. I'd like to see an inch taken off it.
The metal butt plate is a non-issue for 99% of shooting. Anything up to 1000fps in the 240gr class doesn't produce enough recoil to be worth bothering with a recoil pad. The few times it has been fed barn burners stuffed with 2400 & 240gr LSWC, she has worn one of those PAST recoil shields (the one that slips on to a bra strap). They move in the neighborhood of 1500fps (the 240gr LSWC, not the recoil shield
). Might not be a bad idea for your daughter,when she fires the heavier stuff. Here you go:
http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.c...roduct=Hidden-Comfort-Recoil-Shield-for-Women
Sighting Equpment
A scope on a .44mag carbine or rifle is an unnecessary affectation, kinda like r e a l w i d e t i r e s on a Pinto. The effective range vs big game is just not that far due to the cartridge's trajectory. All that is needed to wring out a .44mag carbine's range is an aperture sight either on the receiver or tang. Makes for a lighter, handier, and faster-on-target weapon that can still deliver a shot through the heart/lung/shoulder area.
This puppy might be a lighter-recoiling option, if you want higher velocity & range performance, but less recoil relative to the heavier pills:
http://www.hornady.com/store/44-Mag-225-gr-FTX-LEVERevolution/
92 & Clones
For pistol-caliber cartridges in a lever gun, the Winchester 92 and its clones are the standard. They are hella-strong, light, handy, and no larger than need be for pistol cartridges. Also, their action is smooth and can be made slicker than owl s***.
If you don't like the Rossi build quality, which is not bad, Browning made some 92 clones in Japan a while back. I'd imagine those would put a Marlin to shame. Heck, for the money you're willing to spend on a used Marlin, I found a Browning 92 on auctionarms.com for less than what you mentioned:
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9606861&oh=216543
Here's a B92 at gunbroker.com for more than what you mentioned:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=161179658
Folks say a lot about Browning, but "poor build quality" usually absent from the conversation.
Versatile? Thy Name is Rossi 92 in .454Casull
For the money you're talking, a you could get a spanking new Rossi 92 in .44mag, .45Colt, or .454Casull in a 16" package, no porting.
If you don't reload, the .454Casull looks tempting. You have more power levels in factory ammo than you can shake a stick at:
- .45 Colt cowboy loads
- .45 Colt standard factory loads
- .45 Colt "+P" from several folks (Buffalo Bore, Cor-bon, others)
- .454 Casull mild/mid-loads (I can't recall who, but somebody produces lighter .454 Casull loads)
- .454 Casull standard factory
- .454 Casull "Dear Lord, Is This a .45-70!?" loads from Buffalo Bore in the 360gr range.
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Good luck getting the right hardware for your daughter.
