Inexpensive Handgun/High-Power Rifle

[The Outlaw Josey Wales]

Hi,

I'm sortof putting two threads in one, but I have two questions for people with some knowledge of lever-action rifles, gunsmithing, and/or blackpowder revolvers.

question 1:

I would like to get an inexpensive handgun, preferably a revolver in the .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum or .45 Colt/LongColt caliber. I was looking in the Cabelas magazine and they had working replica of a '51 or '61 blackpowder Navy revolver for $119.99! I have never fired a blackpowder gun, but I have shot small .22 revolvers, a bursa .380 semioutomatic handgun and a few shotguns. I know that the kick from the .44 Magnum would be much more than the mild .380 and that the blackpowder guns would be just as bad(read "loud, and would have just as much recoil"), but I would still like to try one. I went to a Civil War reenactment and watched someone loading a black powder revolver, which was very time consuming. I remember hearing one of the reenactors say that the black powder revolvers just didn't have the cylinder bored all the way through, and a company named Kirst is manufacturing cartidge converters, but at over $200.00 it would be cheaper to just buy the replica of the .45 calliber single action cartidge revolver priced at around $280.00. I was wondering if anyone here would be able to tell me if I could just do the conversion myself by borring through the holes in the cylinder with my drill press (not the greatest idea in the world I admit, but it's the best plan I've got), or mabey a gunsmith could it for not that much (like mabey $50-$80, but that's wishfull thinking!). If anyone could point me in the right direction I would be gratefull!

And Question #2:

I would also like to get a fairly high-power rifle, preferably a lever-action gun with a tube magazine. I was thinking the .44 Magnum is a good cartridge, but I would like to be able to have a little more firepower without sacrificing magazine capacity. I was hoping someone could let me know if i could safely fire .44 magnum rounds out of a gun chambered for .444 Marlin, or the other way around. If so, then you would be able to load the magazine with the .44 Magnum rounds and put a .444 Marlin round in the chamber for more power on the first shot. I probably can't, but some input would be nice. if anyone has any ideas for other cartidges I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks

heres the link for the cabelas revolver: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006189210079a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=No=20&noImage=0&Ntt=black+powder+revolver&Ntk=Products&QueryText=black+powder+revolver&Ntx=matchall&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=4887&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.22&returnPage=search-results1.jsp

and heres the link for the Kirst Cartridge Converter; http://www.riverjunction.com/kirst/konverter3.html

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Welcome aboard THR!

In answer:

1) There is a great Blackpowder forum here that can probably cover your basic BP questions. I'd go over there and start a thread devoted to that question.

The Cartridge conversions are intended for folks that want to imitate the historic cartridge conversions, not so much as an inexpensive way to get a single-action revolver. If you shop around, you can find a Ruger single-action revolver used for around $300 or so, which will probably be of far better quality than an import Peacemaker.

2) .44 Mag will not chamber in .444 Marlin. Out of curiousity, what kind of game are you hunting where .44 Mag from a carbine would be insufficient? A .44 Mag carbine is far cheaper to buy ammo for than a .444 or 45-70, and should be good for just about anything short of elk or bear.

Good luck,

-MV

 

[TallPine]

I'd suggest that you buy a Ruger Blackhawk in .44mag and a Marlin 1894 in the same caliber. That way they can use the same ammo.

But that pair is probably going to cost $800-900 new. I dunno if you consider that "cheap" ... it is cheap if you consider that some pistols cost way more than that by themselves.

44 magnum isn't the cheapest ammo to buy, either - though it is cheap compared to most rifle ammo because it usually comes 50 to a box instead of only 20.

From what I hear, you will spend more time cleaning a cap and ball revolver than you will shooting it

I'm back on the range once more,
totin' my old forty-four ...

 

[Selfdfenz]

Go back to the Cabela's catalogue and look up this product:
Uberti Millenium Centerfire Revolver

It's accurate and enjoyable to shoot with cowboy loads

Something like this:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=45861914

or this:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=45904333

will make a good companion outfit. You can shoot 45 colt in both but the pistol will not shoot the 454 Casual rounds

Get into reloading

S-

 

[The Outlaw Josey Wales]

Thanks alot guys.

someone asked what kind of game I have in my area that would be to big for a .44 Magnum. I don't have much of what you could consider big game, but I plan on moving to Alaska or North West Canada someday and I would like to have a gun that would be more than enough for a grizzly, moose or any other huge animal that I would run into and be forced to shoot in self defence. I am going to try to get a pilots licence, if I can aford it, so that doesn't leave too much cash in my checkbook for a firearm, which is actual reguired to have for flying in certain parts of Canada and Alaska. Thanks for the advice and I'll start a new thread in a diferent section

 

[cliffstanc]

I would like to have a gun that would be more than enough for a grizzly, moose or any other huge animal that I would run into and be forced to shoot in self defence. I am going to try to get a pilots licence, if I can aford it, so that doesn't leave too much cash in my checkbook for a firearm, which is actual reguired to have for flying in certain parts of Canada and Alaska.

Lemme do the math:
self-defense + dangerous game + inexpensive = good used 12 gauge pump shotgun (*coughcoughRemington870cough*) loaded with Brenneke slugs.

Somebody want to doublecheck my work?

- Cliff

 

[Legionnaire]

Double check!

I've been reading up on the .300 Win Mag in preparation for beginning to reload for that cartridge. Each of the manuals that describes that cartridge describes it as "a little light" for the big bears. You're looking .338 or bigger for a bear cartridge in a long gun. The big lever guns might do the trick at close range (i.e., self defense), witness the Co-Pilot. But then you're not going to be able to have a handgun and rifle in the same cartridge ... and you're NOT talking "inexpensive!" (http://www.wildwestguns.com/CoPilot_And_Guide_Rifles/copilot_and_guide_rifles.html)

I really am with Cliff on this one. Sounds like you'd be served with a good Ruger GP-100 in .357 mag or a Redhawk in .44 mag ... and a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Grizzly bears in Alaska or North West Canada puts an entirely different spin on thing......454 Casull in some flavor of Ruger 6 gun and a lever rifle in the same caliber if you want a combo but.....a bear is gonna eat you if you go up there.

D Sorry I'm serious about caliber)

Hope it all works out well for you.
S-

 

[Dave R]

Do the pistol and the rifle HAVE to shoot the same cartridge? If so, you're probably limited to .44mag or .454 Casull.

If you want a high-power lever-action, what you want is a .45-70. Big enough for any game. A wide variety ammo available from cowboy action light recoil to mega-thumpers.

 

[mnrivrat]

Just a couple of quick notes here :

1.) NO - you can't just bore the cylinder of the black powder wheel gun and make it into a cartridge gun. The conversion takes more than that.

2.) 444 Marlin & 44 mag are NOT interchangable in either direction.

3.) (OK - I know - that's one more than a couple) If you prefer a lever gun that has some bear protection capability you will have to look at the calibers like 45-70 , 444 Marlin, etc. Marlin makes a pretty good lever gun for these and has a line of guide guns just for this nitch. I'm not saying that is what you absolutely should get - just something you should look at. They are not cheap however and depending on your $$ situation , the 12 ga. pump shotgun with slugs is widely considered a pretty decent tool for self defense on bear. As well as being versatile for other usage.

 

[rangerruck]

dont know that much about the handgusn, but a 30.30 firng the new leverevolution rounds still have massive hitting power and far greater range, than the handgun cal levers.