Big Lever Actions
- Thread starter BlackSky
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james_bond
Member
More or less yes there is also the .444 Marlin, .405 Win, 450 Marlin, 460 Win, 408 Ruger, 45-60 Win, .454 Casull and others I am sure. As far as what is "the most powerful"? You will have to Google all the loads and see.
One example: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/444.asp
One example: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/444.asp
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The .45-70 is a very popular choice but it's far from the only one. There's a little bit of everything from mild to wild. You have rifles in that chambering from Marlin as well as their .444 and .450 proprietary chamberings. There's the new .470Turnbull for the big Marlins. There are also late model Winchester 1886's in .45-70 and .45-90. Those guns, along with the Browning `86's also get converted to .475Turnbull, .450Alaskan, .50-110 and .50Alaskan quite often. There's also a new Puma 1886 in .45-70 looming on the horizon. In the late model Winchester 1895 there is the .405WCF, one of my favorites. Plus custom 1895's in .375 and .411Hawk cartridges. In the Winchester 1876 replicas there's the .40-60, .45-60, .45-75 and .50-95. Not to even mention all the pistol cartridge leverguns chambered in everything from .357Mag to .500S&W.
Power is a very subjective thing and I don't worship muzzle energy.
Power is a very subjective thing and I don't worship muzzle energy.
Spec ops Grunt
Member
What I would give for a nice .45-70
Lloyd Smale
Member
if you can afford to go the custom route theres the 50ak. It can be loaded for anything from whitetail to elephant. Loaded up with 68 grains of benchmark and a 500 grain bullet mine will about put tears in your eyes!!
HorseSoldier
Member
Wild West Guns up here in AK do a couple hotter calibers than 45-70, the previously mentioned 50 Alaskan and a 457 cal. Details are on their website last I looked.
dogsoldier0513
Member
Browning or Winchester...made a limited run of 1895s in .405 Winchester fairly recently, IIRC.
dogsoldier0513
Member
Prior to my divorce I had a Marlin 1895GG and a sweet Winchester 1886 LtWt. I preferred the Marlin since it had a shorter lever 'throw' than the 1886.
XxWINxX94
Member
The 450 Marlin is probably the most powerful factory load, depending on how you define "factory load". There are more powerful handloads and wildcats. Probably the most powerful of them would be the 50 Alaskan, which is a 348 Winchester necked up to 50 caliber.
Wow, sounds like a lot of good suggestions here. Thanks.
How do you know the "power" of a round without going off of the velocity and energy?
My current rifle, Browning 30-06 bolt, is pretty long and slow to reload. Basically I'm looking for a large caliber weapon that I can fire somewhat rapidly. Something to take in the field for Bear and pig hunts that will be at close ranges and in heavy cover. Something that's going to do a serious amount of damage to a 300+ pound animal with one well placed shot.
How do you know the "power" of a round without going off of the velocity and energy?
My current rifle, Browning 30-06 bolt, is pretty long and slow to reload. Basically I'm looking for a large caliber weapon that I can fire somewhat rapidly. Something to take in the field for Bear and pig hunts that will be at close ranges and in heavy cover. Something that's going to do a serious amount of damage to a 300+ pound animal with one well placed shot.
CaliCoastie
Member
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look at the 45-70 garett hammerhead loads, heard nothing but good things(other than the recoil)a 540gn hardcast running at 1550fps @2880fr/lbs. they make a bigger round but they specify that for big african game. this one is listed for stoping charging grizzlys.
Big horn armory make a lever in 500sw but that runs to the tune of 1900. good luck and hope this helps.
Big horn armory make a lever in 500sw but that runs to the tune of 1900. good luck and hope this helps.
Ridgerunner665
Member
The Browning BLR comes in some pretty powerful calibers (depending on how you define "power")...300 Win Mag for one, I'm not sure if its offered in anything bigger or not...can't remember.
Maverick223
Member
Something like this (Browning copy of the Win. M-95 chambered for .30-06Spd.)?
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I would love to see the new 1895 repro's in .35Whelen, .375 and .416Ruger!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
A 45-70 Marlin 1895G Guide Gun is your best bet.
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/1895G.asp
It will knock the snot out of a 300 pound hog with any factory load.
You don't need $3 bucks a shot Garret Hammerheads.
Folks killed 1,500 pound buffalo with 45-70's a long time ago using 405 grain lead bullets & black powder.
You can also find 45-70 ammo at reasonable prices almost everywhere.
Something that cannot be said about .450 Marlin, and all the exotics & wildcats.
rc
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/1895G.asp
It will knock the snot out of a 300 pound hog with any factory load.
You don't need $3 bucks a shot Garret Hammerheads.
Folks killed 1,500 pound buffalo with 45-70's a long time ago using 405 grain lead bullets & black powder.
You can also find 45-70 ammo at reasonable prices almost everywhere.
Something that cannot be said about .450 Marlin, and all the exotics & wildcats.
rc
Maverick223
Member
No interest in the others, but I would love to see a .35Whelen...so much so that I plan to do just that. Great for plinking (light loads with 9mm pistol bullets), and great for anything else using heavy bullets and moderate-heavy loads. Furthermore, trajectory isn't much of an issue because you are limited to irons anyway.
Badlander
Member
You can load the 45-70 hotter than most guys want to shoot it.
kaferhaus
Member
Yep those "wimpy" factory loads kick all I want.....
330d
Member
Yeah, I shot a .450 Marlin over the weekend, with regular Hornady run of the mill loads and it was more than I wanted or expected. Kicked like a mule (or two)
bluetopper
Member
I would gladly get a 444 Marlin if it also shot 44 Mag.
BADUNAME13
Member
Look at the 1895 and Savage 99 Along with the Browning BLR.
Jahmby68
Member
For power alone; I think the .50 Alaskan from Wild West Guns in Anchorage is the way to go. It shoots a 450gr bullet @ 2050ft/sec = 4200ft/lbs. This gun will drop anything on the planet like a toilet seat.
If you still want the versatility if shooting 45-70 in a big gun; go with the .457 WWMag it shoots a 350gr bullet at 2200ft/sec = 3760ft/lbs -AND- shoots standard 45-70 ammo all.. day... long.
If you still want the versatility if shooting 45-70 in a big gun; go with the .457 WWMag it shoots a 350gr bullet at 2200ft/sec = 3760ft/lbs -AND- shoots standard 45-70 ammo all.. day... long.
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