Lever .44mag or .45 Colt quality

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jim in Anchorage said:
The 1886 Winchester in 45-70 [would rather have a .50-110 but those are difficult to find-hard to believe it's on the list] is exactly want I would choose.
Can they take heavy[Ruger #1] loads?
Click to expand...

There's some debate. In modern steel ONLY, a Winchester or Browning 1886 in.45-70 loaded at 48K PSI has the same bolt thrust as a Winchester 71 (same darn gun) in .348 Win loaded to SAAMI max. Bolt flex is how 1886s fail. What you do with this information is your business...

Remember that sticky extraction is the first and only pressure sign before a kaboom in an 1886 action.
 
The modern 1886's are definitely stronger than the Marlins but probably not quite so as the No. 1.

You can order a brand new .50-110 from Turnbull. ;)
 
I love my JM 1895 in 45/70, did my durndest to blood it last year but no luck.

I also have a. 44 Rossi 92 that my son uses. After sending it back to the factory to get a new carrier it works flawlessly. Light and handy to carry.
 
Your question leads to more questions.

Do you shoot only jacketed bullet loads? If so, you might look at a Marlin, but their Microgroove rifling does not lend itself well to lead bullets in regards to accuracy. I believe the current 1895's do have Ballard type rifling however which would definitely work with lead bullets.

Do you want to mount a scope? That will limit your choice to a Marlin or a Winchester.

I own Marlins (375 & 1895), a Winchester ('94), a Rossi ('92) and a Uberti ('73 SRC in .44 Mag). I'd have a difficult time choosing just one but I love the 1873 carbine. The action is just so simple and smooth yet rugged. But with just a little work the '92 is a slick little rascal too and would more readily lend itself to the mounting of a receiver sight.

I haven't mentioned the Henry because to me they resemble an overgrown cap gun and I cannot imagine loading the magazine from the front.

Caliber-wise, take your pick. Most folks seem to believe the .44 Magnum is more powerful than the 45 Colt, and I suppose there's a valid argument there, but a .45 caliber bullet will always be larger than a .43 caliber bullet and therefore will always make a larger hole. If you're a handloader, the 45 Colt would be the logical choice. If not the .44 Magnum.

35W
 
QUOTE: The modern 1886's are definitely stronger than the Marlins...

Hey, CraigC, I happen to agree with you but I'm wondering if you know of any empirical evidence/tests/evaluations to support our view?
 
It seems the people who have Rossi's love them, the people who haven't had one badmouth them.

Funny how they sell to so many satisfied customers to the point of being somewhat difficult to find. They're initially a little rough, but a good cleaning and working the action a number of times smoothed it beautifully. Count me among the satisfied, very happy with my blued 20" .357. Best $415 I've spent in a long time.
 
I know I've read it in print several times but I don't recall where.

Off the top of my head, back in the 1990's when everyone was scrambling to adapt a levergun to the .454Casull, the 1886 was the only one deemed strong enough. Test guns built on the various Marlin actions (1894/336/1895), the Winchester 94 Big Bore all bulged their receivers. Some sooner than others. That info came from Bob Baker. The 1886 was just too big for the cartridge.

It's worthy of note that the Big Horn .460 and .500S&W is an 1892/1886 hybrid, not a Marlin.
 
Back to the OP's question:
...looking for a high-quality lever gun in .44 or .45...
Click to expand...
New Marlins are back to being just fine now. (I have one in both calibers. Also a `1892 Clone/Rossi in 44Mag which has never misbehaved either).

In this case I recommend the `94 Marlin as it's side eject and already pre-drilled for Williams FP aperture sights and/or a scope. Also, modern `94 Marlin barrels are Ballard-rifled/deep-grooved -- perfect for cast if that's a factor.

The `92s (I have two) are wonderful guns, but the Marlin is the more (IMHO) "1-Gun-Practical".
If the OP is a re-loader, get the 45 Colt and load for full potential (Ruger only, etc, etc)
If is the OP is shooting only commercial, get the 44 Mag.
 
Thanks guys. To answer your questions, up until this year I've hunted with slugs, BP Sabots, and field points. I likely will not shoot enough to reload, but like the option. I don't use scopes, but a realistic shot where I hunt is 25-75 yards max. Another option is to go with a <$600 Super Blackhawk.
 
IF you can find a Rossi M92 in .454 Casull buy it without hesitation.
The Rossi guns are better than many may think and the 454 is an excellent medium range deer cartridge.
 
I just thought I'd post an old picture of my Browning, in .44 Mag. As I mentioned above, these are really nice guns but kind of rare to find in shops. If you see one for a reasonable amount of money, they're a great addition to a lever collection.

B92.jpg
 
RainDodger said:
I just thought I'd post an old picture of my Browning, in .44 Mag. As I mentioned above, these are really nice guns but kind of rare to find in shops. If you see one for a reasonable amount of money, they're a great addition to a lever collection. .....
Click to expand...

Heck even if you find one for an UNreasonable amount of $$ they're a great addition to a levergun collection!!!!!!!!! :D
 
Why does everyone complain about the cross-bolt safety ?

Personally I find it an outstanding fool-proof hammer-block;
in no way ungainly or unsightly; and a great comfort when
function-checking shells in the basement. ;)
 
MEHavey said:
Why does everyone complain about the cross-bolt safety ?

Personally I find it an outstanding fool-proof hammer-block;
in no way ungainly or unsightly; and a great comfort when
function-checking shells in the basement. ;)
Click to expand...
It's not that I don't shoot the gun because of it, I just prefer it to have the original style mechanics, that's all.

Crossbolts are really good for dry fire practice and such, but I just have a preference for the half cock.

Not a big deal I am just curious.
 
Unsightly
Unbecoming
Click to expand...
Don't even notice it.
Unnecessary
Click to expand...
You jus wait,`enry`iggins, til you put a bullet through your basement drywall
when cycling a test cartridge and the hammer rides the bolt down. :fire:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corolary: Two kinds of motorcyclists: Those who have crashed, and those who will....
 
Biggest problem with the crossbolts on both Marlin & Winchester is that they tend to activate themselves, costing the shot or the deer.
Same deal among those used for CAS.
Denis
 
MEHavey said:
Don't even notice it.
You jus wait,`enry`iggins, til you put a bullet through your basement drywall
when cycling a test cartridge and the hammer rides the bolt down. :fire:
Click to expand...

If the hammer rides the bolt down you either had your finger on the trigger or your trigger pull is dangerously light. In either case the safety notch would catch the hammer, well unless you had your finger on the trigger....STILL.

To quote my sweet, departed mother: "Don't borrow trouble."

35W
 
If the hammer rides the bolt down you either .....
Click to expand...
All of which (the reasons) I used to believe... until it happened...
and non of the reasons were in evidence on the `92 that had
made the "...what was that !? " noise. And upon disassembly
we saw chunk of the sear ledge had literally chippeditself away.

postscript: On the two "newer"`94s and one `95 that I have, the
cross-bolt has never "self-activated". ;)
 
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