carbine/revolver combo

Which would you prefer

  • .454

    Votes: 16 12.7%

  • .50 s&w

    Votes: 5 4.0%

  • .480 Ruger

    Votes: 2 1.6%

  • .44 magnum

    Votes: 57 45.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 46 36.5%
  • Total voters
    126
  • Poll closed .
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R

RandyB

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Joined
May 1, 2003
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462
Location
indiana
Would like to see a hunting/hiking/self-defense combo in a Marlin lever (18-20 inch barrel) and a Ruger/S&W (4-5 inch barrel & double action). The question if caliber, my preference in order would be:

.454 (with the advantage of shooting .45 colt)
.50 S&W (would love to see the ballistics in a nice carbine, but the shorter revolver to shoot.........)
.480 I know Winchester has a .480 but I really prefer the Marlin after a .357 Winchester 94 was a lemon)
And lastly the .44 is out there, but I'd like to opt for something a wee bit more powerful.

What pistol/carbine choices would other folks like to see come out.
 
I never thought much of same caliber handgun/rifle combos. Carrying two types of ammo is not a burden for me, and frankly, I like a little more 'oomph' out of a rifle cartridge, than a pistol cartridge brings. If I am using my 1894 Marlin in .44 Mag, I don't need a pistol in the same chambering, so I take a .22 S&W Kit Gun.
 
I think you're going to have trouble getting a levergun in .50 or .480 Ruger. Unless you go the custom route...

OTOH, Wild West Guns will have a .50S&W levergun available shortly. I'm sure WildAlaska has details.

I chose .454 because I like the option to shoot milder .45 colt loads for plinking/practics. Neither .480 Ruger nor .50 S&W provide that option.

Not sure how easy it will be to find a levergun in .454 Casull, either. You can find all kinds in .44 Mag, of course.
 
the 44 mag with Garrett's 310 gr. hard cast hammerheads at 1325fps is good enough for just about anything on this continent and most others including Africa...my favorite besides the 44 is the T/C Contenders in pistol and rifle in 375JDJ which has taken over as my hunting duo................
 
I voted 44mag, but I'm also very fond of my 357mag combo - a Winchester '92 and a Ruger gp100.
Bob
 
I voted other and I have the combo I use a S&W 13 or 586 and Marlin 1984 in 357
357's-1894sw13sw586.jpg

The 13 is a 3" fixed sight and has only had the hammer spur shortened about 1/8" and the Marlin has a Marble's tang sight and a 39A brass bead front sight. The 586 has been moonclipped, half lugged, semi-round butted, and a brass insert in the front sight, and the grips have been shortened and smoothed, it handles like a 19 on steroids.
 
I have to vote for the .357 combo because I already own a Marlin 1894C in .357 several .357 S&W wheelguns and a Ruger GP100. So exactly what's wrong with the .357 combo? :confused:
 
One thing I've noticed about handloading and shooting pistol cartridges- when you fire a .44 or .357 either one from a 16-18" barrel it'll gain 300fps over the 1200 or so fps it generates from a 4-6" barrel. And a .357mag can be loaded to run 1800fps with a 158gr HP/XTP over H110. If you hunt with that kind of load, you just have to keep it within reasonable distances.

That said, I'd recommend either .357 or .44mag in either Marlin or Winchester's '94 with 16" barrel accompanied by S&W's Model 19 (.357) or 29 (.44) with 4" barrel because it packs easier.
 
I voted other because my combo wasn't listed. I have a Marlin 1894 FG .41 Magnum carbine that I pair with one of my Smith .41 Magnum revolvers. It works well with the nickel Smith M58, the M57, or the long-barreled M657.
 
other. :)

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seriously... I think in your place I'd go with .45 Colt, but then I'll admit to putting nostalgia over practicality from time to time. :)
 

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A folding stock M1 carbine and a Ruger Black hawk in 30 Carbine would just about make me giggle. Hey I think I will open the safe..... Giggle... :D
 
Another .45 Colt lever and Blackhawk fan. Used the Blackhawk Saturday morning to kill a 7 point buck. First deer I've killed with a pistol. It was very effective on whitetail.
 
I've got two such combos, with .357 being covered with a S&W 686 and a Puma 92, and .45 ACP covered with a Thompson and a S&W 625.

Ok, ok, the Thompson isn't quite what you had in mind, but it fts the category. :D
 
Of your list I like the .454, if it has .45 capability ( I didn't think they all did especially the rifles)
Gives you more versatility and should handle anything that may come up provided it's loaded correctly at the time.
 
They're all good. I'm gonna go with the 357 route because here in Missouri it will be enough to handle anything that comes up here. If I had more money(or if I reloaded) I might go with the 44 Mag. The 454 and the 500S&W scare me. :D
 
I voted .44Rem Mag, like I have voted for years. Besides being one of my transition cartridges between handgun and long guns (the others are .22LR, .22-250Rem, and .308Win), the .44Mag allows pistols to do pistol things (rapid employment with mutiple controlled shots) and rifles to do rifle things (reach out accurately beyond 100 yards). I am still waiting to see anyone do accurate hammers with a .454 or a .480. By loading 90% 240 gr. hardcast Keith-type and 10% 200gr to 300gr JHP/JSP/solids, I can get practice to maintain proficiency and match the bullet to the target and the range. The current .44Mag rifles are a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun and a Wichester 1894 Trapper, both fitted with Williams receiver sights. The pistols are a 14" Thompson Center Contender (old model) and three S&W 629s; 4" Mountain Gun, 6" Classic Hunter (unfluted), and 8 3/8". BTW, when I got the Mountain Gun used and removed the stock Hogues to replace them with Decelerators, there was blood under the Hogues and on the frame. I don't think the previous owner shot the little beast much. :D
 
another vote for the .357.....

Got the marlin 1894c to match this little beauty. Out of a carbine factory loadings can actually supercede the 30-30 up to and just slightly beyond
100yds (Buffalo bore 158gr). Even with magtech sjsp 158's I can get
1950fps across my chrony. Enough for whitetail and hog. With 38's makes a
great small game gun. I live in occupied territory, but if I didnt .357
revolvers make great ccw's. Sure there are things that they can't do, but
.357 is the most versatile for my needs.
 
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