Lever action in 45LC

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atlanticfire

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Looking for a nice lever action in 46LC. Don't see much around. I would like some advice as I have never owned anything like this before. A 16" to 20" Barrel would be good, and I'm trying to keep it under $600 if possible.
Thanks
 
Under $600 -new- is going to be tight. Marlin, Henry, Rosi/Puma all make/made 45 Colt lever actions. Taurus made one in a pump. 45 Colt just isn't all -that- popular, so there isn't much out there. (I've been poking around for the same thing)
 
I believe Winchester made 16" or 18" carbines in 45 Colt under the "Trapper" moniker IIRC. With a little luck you could find one used.
 
Marlin makes an 1894 with a smooth hardwood stock, sold through Big 5 Sporting Goods.

It used to be under $400, but at this point it's available for around 480 bucks. Probably the best deal on a .45LC carbine IMO. I'd trust it with really heavy loads, more than anything else out there for a reasonable price.
 
I just looked for a Marlin 1894 and can get one new for $625. Is that a good price? Its the 1894 COWBOY 45LC model. What with the deep cut rifling?
 
Deep cut rifling lets you use lead bullets with accuracy. Works fine with jacketed ones, too.

For .45LC, I think that good performance with lead bullets would be mandatory. No reason to buy the gun any other way.

The Cowboy model has a tapered octagon barrel, which makes it about the best-looking and best-handling gun around. I have a rare .22 they made years ago in the same configuration, and I never want to give it up if I can help it.

$625 is a very good price for a new 1894CB.
 
Atlanticfire, I have an 1894 Cowboy Limited in .45 Colt, and $625 is a pretty decent price for a new one. I like it quite a lot, it's quite the death ray with +P loads. I bought it over the .44 magnum because of its better rate of twist so I can shoot heavier weight bullets (not that the 44 can't, but they won't be very stable). The so-called "deep cut rifling" as far as I can tell is just plain old regular rifling. I'm told Marlin used to use microgroove rifling, but that isn't as optimal for lead which is what most people want to shoot out of their lever actions, so they switched to "old-school" rifling. Don't worry though, it will still work just fine with jacketed bullets. My only word of warning is that it can be costly to shoot if you don't reload.

EDIT: Looks like ArmedBear beat me to it
 
My only word of warning is that it can be costly to shoot if you don't reload.
Click to expand...

I'd put it even more strongly. I wouldn't even buy it, or anything else in .45LC, unless I planned to reload for it.:)

But it looks like atlanticfire has that covered.

Current decent price around here for a new one is $750. They've gone up a bit. If I saw one for $625 and I had the cash, I'd snap it up. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the round barrel carbine version a year or two ago when I could have bought it for $359 at Big 5. You won't see any more new Cowboys for $625 if you don't buy this one, IMO.
 
Well I have to be honest. I work for a web based firearms retailer. But we don't carry anything of this nature but we do have distributors that carry these items. So I have 8 available for that price. Most other models are all sold out. So I think I have my items. I just have to make sure it ok with the boss before I order it up.
 
Yeah, but even wholesale prices seem to be going up.

Marlin is part of Remingtrash now. I'd get the gun before Big Green Pil of Horsecrap turns it into a POS, and raises the price at the same time.
 
Marlin is part of Remingtrash now. I'd get the gun before Big Green Pil of Horsecrap turns it into a POS, and raises the price at the same time.
Click to expand...

Yikes, I didn't know that. I'm glad I bought mine when I did if that's the case.
 
I had Marlin rebarrel my M1894 44 Mag with a Ballard barrel. I would not say that their Ballard rifling is deep cut. I looks to be as shallow as the Microgroove. The only real difference that I tell between a Ballard barrel and a microgroove is half the number of grooves.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/Cowboy/1894_45Colt.asp

“Tapered octagon with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling (6 grooves).”
 
I have a Win 94 trapper and a 1873 rifle and both are so much fun to shoot. I really wish I would have bought a Win 92 when they were still around. I feel perfectly safe with that little trapper as home defense.
 
Davidsons just recently sold out of the last of the USRA 1892 delux take down limited edition. $1875.00 I wanted a shooter not a wall hanger. I think they stopped making the "standard" version in 2007 I think, someone could correct me on that.
 
I have two Italian Uberti made .45 Colt lever action rifles.
One is an 1860 steel frame Henry copy and the other is a copy of the 1873 Winchester carbine.

Feed and function is excellent and they are more accurate than I thought they would be.

I use them in our clubs informal cowboy action shoots and also admit you won't win a speed match with these older style rifles, I just use them because I like to experience what the original users were up against.

If you are going to shoot matches with an eye on winning everytime then get a Marlin or one of the 1892 versions, I would opt for the Marlin myself.
 
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