rampantandroid
Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2011
- Messages
- 16
Hi all,
Looking to pick a lever action caliber. Most of the threads I see focus on hunting, though that's NOT my main goal. My main goal is range time/fun time.
I was originally thinking of a .41 magnum lever action as I have a S&W Model 58 and will be reloading soon (and have a TON of max SAAMI spec ammo a friend made me...the stuff is painful to shoot and I see no reason to put my 58 OR my right hand through that nonsense. Crimps are VERY tight and a kinetic hammer takes a ton of solid blows to pop the bullet out) but the only lever action I can find is the Henry...and while I've never shot a lever action, but I don't like the tube magazine loading of the Henry. I'd prefer a side gate.
This leaves me with .44 magnum (I have a model 29 and will also be reloading this someday) or another option I've considered - 45-70. I have nothing in 45-70 now, but wouldn't mind a Springfield Trapdoor or a Sharps one day...and again, I can reload this as well on my 550B.
The merits I see for the .44 mag is that it'd be cheaper to shoot. 45-70 looks more expensive to reload if for cost of brass alone. On the flip side, 45-70 seems like it'd be a ton of fun to shoot. I mostly shoot older guns (I don't think I own a gun designed anywhere past the 50's). I do have access to outdoor ranges - for now I think the max I can shoot at is ~130 yards, though that should improve one a logging operation moves on.
Anyone have thoughts on the matter?
Thanks!
Looking to pick a lever action caliber. Most of the threads I see focus on hunting, though that's NOT my main goal. My main goal is range time/fun time.
I was originally thinking of a .41 magnum lever action as I have a S&W Model 58 and will be reloading soon (and have a TON of max SAAMI spec ammo a friend made me...the stuff is painful to shoot and I see no reason to put my 58 OR my right hand through that nonsense. Crimps are VERY tight and a kinetic hammer takes a ton of solid blows to pop the bullet out) but the only lever action I can find is the Henry...and while I've never shot a lever action, but I don't like the tube magazine loading of the Henry. I'd prefer a side gate.
This leaves me with .44 magnum (I have a model 29 and will also be reloading this someday) or another option I've considered - 45-70. I have nothing in 45-70 now, but wouldn't mind a Springfield Trapdoor or a Sharps one day...and again, I can reload this as well on my 550B.
The merits I see for the .44 mag is that it'd be cheaper to shoot. 45-70 looks more expensive to reload if for cost of brass alone. On the flip side, 45-70 seems like it'd be a ton of fun to shoot. I mostly shoot older guns (I don't think I own a gun designed anywhere past the 50's). I do have access to outdoor ranges - for now I think the max I can shoot at is ~130 yards, though that should improve one a logging operation moves on.
Anyone have thoughts on the matter?
Thanks!