Lever gun caliber

[CA Raider]

well let me throw this out - and see what folks think.

there's a pretty good argument for a levergun in a pistol caliber ... like 357 or 44 magnum. the reason being that it's actually a short distance engagement gun ... maybe 25-75 yards. and a lot of the shooting would be more like Cowboy Action Shooting for a self-defense scenario. It does not require high accuracy - just quick change of direction.

But why get a levergun in 30-30 or 308? you can hunt - esp. with the first shot. but after that first shot, doesn't the leveraction throw off your aim - and by the time you are on target again - you might be better off with an accurate bolt gun.

thoughts?

 

[Don McDowell]

No when you learn how to properly run a levergun you don't loose the sight picture, and you can cycle in and fire aimed rounds much quicker than with a bolt gun, if you don't make the first shot count.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

One thing you may be overlooking, though, regarding CAS. If you mount the rifle "crescent stock style," you're gong to have your arm way up in the air. If you then try to move your arm to throw the lever, it takes the shoulder with it, and the sights dance all over the place.

That's why most of the go fast types cut the crescents off straight, and replace them with a shotgun style. That permits the gun to be mounted closer in, the elbow to be carried low, and the shoulder to remain still while levering.

I disagree. My sights do not dance all over the place. Once you learn how to work the lever smoothly, there is no bouncing at all. The reason the really fast guys mount the gun the way they do is because they want to face straight on to the target, not be standing at an angle as I do. Watch the really fast shooters sometime. They stand square to the target, they mount the butt to the meaty part of the shoulder, and they hunch over to bring their faces down to the stock.