.44 Magnum Competitors?

[BCRider]

Fair enough on the reloading aspect. And I can understand why you were asking about factory since it avoids that whole issue of hot loads and such.

And perhaps just to muddy the waters a little more you DO know that Rossi makes a wood and stainless Model 92 in .454Casull, right? It would obviously handle the .44Mag equivalent "Ruger Only" .45Colt loads as well as full SAMMI spec .454Casull. It might be an option for you.

It's always tough to put ourselves into the shoes of a thread starter when we're not familiar with their situation other than the little peek through the keyhole we get from a forum thread. We can only offer up options for consideration and toss in the occasional fact or option that the thread creator might have missed.

But in the end you'll take all this and make up your own mind about what fits your situation the best. And that is as it should be.

All the best and I hope you really enjoy whatever you end up with.

 

[SwampWolf]

And perhaps just to muddy the waters a little more you DO know that Rossi makes a wood and stainless Model 92 in .454Casull, right? It would obviously handle the .44Mag equivalent "Ruger Only" .45Colt loads as well as full SAMMI spec .454Casull. It might be an option for you.

Good idea except for the fact that, as I mentioned earlier, I'm looking for a rifle that offers a detachable magazine. Heck, I may just end up employing my old Mini-14 and use the money I've saved to buy yet another gun I really don't need.

Thanks for the advice and your interesting inputs.

 

[Gordon]

Plus isn't Ohio a "straight walled cartridge only" deer hunting state? That Ruger .44mag sounds perfect for what you want all around and I have found the nasty factory plastic stocks to hold up very well in beating it around in trucks and jeeps.

 

[SwampWolf]

Yep, Gordon, you're right on both counts. Lots of factors that might not mean much to many have to figure into my decision. But it's been interesting (and informative) reading the various opinions and suggestions. I like to think that I keep an open mind and you can learn something every day if you listen hard enough.

 

[BCRider]

Oops, I'd missed the requirement for a removable magazine. Sorry.

It does limit you a lot then. In fact the only one I know of which uses a removable magazine is the Ruger 77/44.

OK, here's a wild and crazy idea....

A lever Rossi in .44Mag or .45Colt with a butt pad sleeve/cover similar to those used by so many cowboy action shooters. We use these covers to keep the smooth and shiney butt plate from sliding around on our shoulders during rapid fire. The outer side of this sleeve has Velcro or snap fasteners. Your "magazine" is a leather patch with a row of 8 cartridge loops. Or if it works out two stacks of 6 such that the curve of the stock points the head out enough for the lower row to clear the upper.

Or as an alternative or to go along with the patch style holder a cartridge belt or bandolier could be an alternative or secondary additional ammo "magazine". The bandolier option seems slick since it can be hauled out and simply held up by the arm that needs to pass through it and simply dropped down over the arm and head to fall into place quickly while the rifle is in the other hand.

In use to save time the first round or two can be just dropped into the open top and cycled into the chamber and sent on their way. Or after the first one is gone and a fresh reload in place or as time and need permits you shift to loading some or all the rest into the magazine through the loading gate.

With a little practice the top single round loading and side loading can all be done with the rifle up in the ready position at the shoulder.

Like I said, a wild and crazy idea. But for some of us that are very used to loading and shooting lever rifles fast in matches it's not at all out of the question. And with a little practice to perfect this while out plinking for fun I suspect it would become pretty quick even for a casual lever owner.

It might not be the right answer for you but perhaps someone out there will smile at this idea and pick up the torch. If nothing else it's an out of the box idea to give you something to think about and maybe inspire you towards your own best solution.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The problem with a lever action that you'd keep easy to go at a moments notice is not only the loading but (and this isn't an issue for CAS) also UNLOADING.

The ruger 77 just pop out the mag, eject the chambered round and put it back in the mag. Store the rifle.

With a lever you scatter your ammo far and wide, likely in the dark, gather up said ammo, clean the mud and dirt off it, poke it back into whatever storage device you use and THEN store the rifle

 

[BCRider]

RW, you paint a nasty picture Yeah, the unloading isn't clean by any means.

In the end I gotta agree that for everything other than price the Ruger 77/44 has all the right features.