.45LC Lever-Action Recommendation?

[bpshooter13]

I have been having so much fun shooting my Winchester 94/22 lately. I hadn't shot it in years. It was my first firearm. My dad bought it for me back in the early 70's when I was just a pup and it recent range trips reminded me just how much fun a lever action rifle is to shoot. Anyway I want to get a .45LC lever gun to step up the fun if not just the caliber as my .22 just won't reliably drop the steel plates at my gun club.

I want to go with .45LC to compliment a single action revolver in the same caliber.

Primary usage would be for plinking, but hog hunting or long range Silhouette shooting might be in it's future. I plan on purchasing dies and handloading for it. I'm looking forward to the versatility this cartridge will offer.

My budget is $500 to $800 either new or used. I have been looking at the Henry Big Boy and also the Marlin 1894 but some on THR have questioned the Marlin's quality control as of late. Also, if I wanted to work up a load with a stouter charge and heavier bullet would there be any downside to the brass receiver on the Henry similar to caution needed on Black Powder brass frame pistols? How about a Winchester or Uberti instead?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[JShirley]

You could go with Puma. Those are plenty strong, and in your price range.

(edit- looks like you may have to look around to find one at all right now.)

John

 

[Onmilo]

If you can find one of the Winchester/Miroku 1892 rifles they are excellent but pricey.
The Marlins can still be very good, just check one out thoroughly before you plunks your money down.

 

[kludge]

The last few Rossis I've laid hands on were slick as snot... I've been very tempted by a 16" .45 Colt "trapper" length carbine. They felt much better than the Puma 92's I was looking at a few years back. I'm not attracted to the looks of the Marlin or the shiny brass receiver of the Henry. And I can't afford a Winchester.

 

[whetrock]

I've got a Rossi R92 20" in 45LC, that's a rough, but serviceable rifle IMHO. They initially seem sorta rugged, but slick up considerably with use. They're utilitarian rifle AFAIC, and not really a wall hanger. I really enjoy mine, and added a Marbles Bullseye rear sight, and find it advantages for informal plinking, and useful to the confines of the cartridge. I'd like to add a 16", but the 20" is fine for the time being, and I appreciate the added capacity. The 92 is a solid action, and quite venerable. The safety on the rifle is easily ignored, but not for the nostalgic, at heart.

 

[joecil]

I also have a Rossi 20" octagon barrel model that I love and it will shoot anything a rugger can fire and perhaps then some. Mine is a Brazilian made model I bought new in the box pushing 3 years ago. I've since applied the Steve Gunz tune and parts his safety plug and cleaned up the wood with several layer of TruOil. It has been an excellent gun since I bought it and is now a better gun. I might add NIB was a 2/3 to a 1/2 cheaper than the others listed by the way and every bit as good.

 

[Furncliff]

Marlin 1894 used.

 

[OleReb]

I have a Rossi 92 with a 16" barrel in 45lc and love it,i did a few mods at first to slick it up some but it wasn't even bad from the get go.

 

[BCRider]

If you go with a Rossi I'd suggest a 20 inch barrel so it'll hold a full 10 rounds. That way if you should ever get a taste for cowboy action shooting your rifle will be good to go right off the bat.

Winchester also has some 94's chambered in .45LC floating around used. A buddy of mine is using one for his cowboy action shooting.

 

[osteodoc08]

Marlin, Browning, Winchester

 

[Bowhunter57]

bpshooter13,
You won't regret getting a Henry. They're smooth and deadly accurate. However, they also carry a hefty price tag and in some cases a waiting list of a few months. I waited almost 3 months for a .357 Mag. Henry Big Boy, but it was well worth it. It shot very well with 158gr. JHP reloads at 1800 f.p.s. It would be a good deer hunting rifle IF Ohio would get off their butts and allow them...like all the other states around us.
However, due to the brass receiver they're open sights only...a possible down side. I prefer the traditional look and feel of an unscoped lever-action rifle.

That being said... You can't go wrong with a Rossi/Puma. If I were to purchase another lever-action, it would most likely be a Rossi/Puma.

Good luck with your choices!
Bowhunter57

 

[greyling22]

45lc spits back at you pretty bad if it's not loaded hot. Particularly in a marlin. low pressure rounds don't seal the chamber very tight (45lc chambers are often oversized, exasperating the problem) and you get blowback in your face. I was very glad I borrowed a 45lc gun before I bought one. I decided against and have never missed it.

 

[Onmilo]

greyling22 you base your opinion on shooting one rifle in .45 Colt?
I have owned at least 1/2 dozen .45 Colt rifles over the years and own 2 rifles now, an 1860 steel frame Henry replica and an 1873 Winchester carbine replica, both by Uberti.
Not one of the rifles I have owned has exhibited any issue with blowback and I shoot fairly mild loads in the replica rifles.
I have not had the opportunity to own an 1894 Marlin yet but have owned 2 1892 rifles, one converted original and one Winchester/Miroku.
Both of these rifles could handle much hotter handloads and did perform better accuracy wise with the hotter handloads.
Still kick myself for selling the Winchester/Miroku rifle. It was by far the BEST .45 Colt rifle I have ever owned.

 

[greyling22]

I'm basing it on firsthand experience with 2 marlins with cowboy loads, and then talking to several other people who have them (marlins) at the cowboy shoots, and some online posts, including a couple members here.

I remember asking specifically about the rossi here about a year ago, because I wanted a 45lc lever gun and by that time knew the marlin had a reputation to spit, and being very surprised when I was told that the winchester design blows back as well, because I can't see how it could with locking lugs that went all the way through the bolt.

The key to preventing blowback may be keeping pressures up. And after reading my post I agree, it was poorly written. I should have specified that marlin's have a tendency to spit at low pressures. And I don't know the exact threshold. My definition of light and yours might be radically different. And as with most anything, YMMV.

 

[Coyote3855]

45lc spits back at you pretty bad if it's not loaded hot. Particularly in a marlin. low pressure rounds don't seal the chamber very tight (45lc chambers are often oversized, exasperating the problem) and you get blowback in your face. I was very glad I borrowed a 45lc gun before I bought one. I decided against and have never missed it.

I participated in Cowboy Action Shooting for over 10 years. Main match rifles were a Marlin in .45 Colt and a Uberti 1866 replica. At least 1,000 to 1,500 rounds a year through the two rifles. I never had a problem with "spit back" in either gun. I was not shooting powder puff loads, but standard .45 handloads. True that in most firearms, very light loads may not expand the brass enough to seal the chamber.

 

[mdauben]

the Marlin 1894 but some on THR have questioned the Marlin's quality control as of late.

I think its pretty well established that Marlin quality took a steep nose dive when production was taken over by Remington. Too many first hand accounts of bad guns to ignore. On the other hand it has been several years since the take over and some people do claim the QA on Marlins has dramatically improved. I think it you can handle a new Marlin and check it for function before buying, you could do all right with one. Or you can just search out a pre-Remington used one!

would there be any downside to the brass receiver on the Henry

A Henry owner may want to chime in to confirm or deny this, but I don't think their guns actually have brass recievers. I believe its just a brass cover on a normal steel reciever?

The last few Rossis I've laid hands on were slick as snot...

I think a lot of people who were looking for an alternative to the problematic Marlins of a few years ago turned to Rossi and liked what they found. They seem to be very good guns for the money and if not quite as smooth as a classic Marlin or Winchester, they seem to be easy enough to improve without needing a gunsmith.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I also own a Uberti model 1873 19" Carbine in .45LC. I mostly use Cowboy loads. 4.6gr of Trailboss and a 250gr LRNFP and I can hit a 8" bullseye at 100yds everytime within a 3" to 4" shot group. Thats with the light load.

It will handle the max load of 5.8gr TB easy and 250gr lead bullet will surely knock something down with that load.

Dependng on the Bullet weight and powder selection you can easily get 1000fps with out exceeding CUP/PSI maximums. Look at the Hodgden online reloading site to get an idea of whats capable with these loads.

Many options available, depends on what you want to do.

 

[jack44]

I would skip the 45 and get a 44mag. used 1894 in good shape late 90's early 2000.

 

[Orange90]

I have a Rossi 1894 and it is a fantastic weapon! The action needed a little TLC but it was a good opportunity to completely disassemble the rifle and oil it properly. Other than that, it is a blast to shoot. Plus it can handle those defense loads which makes it a rather deadly home defense alternative to a HD shotty. Just food for thought

 

[Eaglestroker]

I've seen some used '73 Uberti clones in the $8-900 range used. If it were me I'd save a little more and go with it because I like the rifle.

Around here the 45LC is the easiest pistol cal lever to find and their usually reasonably priced. I bought a Marlin Cowboy last year for $600. Lots of good reviews coming out of the Rossi's but I've never handled one myself. I don't buy new guns and you don't often see them for sale used which is usually a good sign.

 

[bpshooter13]

Thanks to all you folks that chimed in, there are some really great suggestions here. I had never heard of the Rossi but there seem to be a lot of them available in my price range even new in box. I think maybe a Stainless in 20" would be a good fit here in muggy Florida. By the way, just so I can't change my mind I ordered the .45LC dies and shell holders last night from Midway and at the risk of taking my own post off topic... I use WW 231 ball powder in my .45ACP loads, do any of you use that same powder in .45LC? I think I'll pick up some 250gr hard cast round nose flat point just to start out with something typical and it would be nice to use a powder I already have on hand.

 

[kludge]

W231 will work OK in .45 Colt.

At the velocities you will be getting from W231 and a 250gr at standard .45 Colt pressures, there's no reason to get a "hard cast" bullet. The "Cowboy #1" (Brinell 12) from www.missouribullet.com will be just fine. I use their 200gr RNFP for my plinker loads. You can't beat the prices or the customer service. If you want to shoot "Ruger Only" loads then you will probably be served better by a harder bullet (Brinell 18)

 

[ghitch75]

i have a 92 Rossi in 45C.....i changed the front sight and did a spring job on it.....great rifle for the money...

 

[LeftyTSGC]

Just be careful when using W231 in a .45LC case, there is a lot of room for too much powder, yes that is an issue with such a big case, that is why i use trailboss it is a flake powder that fills volume so no chance of double loading. No problem with W231, just be careful.

 

[Orange90]

Rossi is a subcompany whose funding come from and parent company is Taurus. That is why many of their products come to consumers at low prices. They are quality firearms at a decent price and I have yet to have an issue (ftf, fte, etc). Extraction is clean and sometimes you can catch the brass in your hat if you shoot with a cowboy hat on! I have an octagon barrel on mine with the blued finish. Its heavy but man is it fun throwing that heft around when trying a little trick shooting. Also it makes a heck of a weapon when empty or jammed!