What caliber do you prefer in a replica lever action rifle?

[Rockrivr1]

I'm thinking of getting a replica lever action rifle like something from Henry or Deluxe Border etc' and I'm trying to figure out what the best caliber would be.

I'm seeing 357 Mag, 45LC, 44-40 and 45-70. I don't reload as of yet, so I'm thinking that the 44-40 and 45-70 might be to expensive for me to shoot.

So if you were getting one of these replica guns, what would you choose and why?

 

[MCgunner]

I love shooting light .38 handloads, 105 grain SWC at about 900 fps, in my .357 Rossi 92. It's like two guns in one, a deer getter with hot .357s and a .22 with the light .38s. I've killed one deer at about 80 yards with this gun. I don't shoot it too much with .357s, mostly .38s anymore. I got better hunting rifles, just wanted to shoot a deer with it one year after I'd gotten it and got it set up the way I wanted it.

A .44 mag or .45 colt makes a better big game gun, and of course .45/70, but I COULD hunt everything from squirrel to deer with that .357. I wouldn't mind having a .45 colt, though, to go with my Blackhawk in that caliber. I also have a Blackhawk in .357.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

It boils down to whether you want to be as authentic as possible and pick a period caliber, or save money and have easier access to ammo by picking something modern.

For me, I like 32-20, 44-40, and 45-70.

 

[ArmedBear]

As authentic as possible means black powder.

Too messy and corrosive for plinking, IMO. Bad enough with a muzzleloader, which is much simpler to clean. My cap-and-ball revolvers sit in a safe covered in oil, because I seldom get up the initiative to go shoot them, since I'll have to clean them right afterward and it's a PITA.

So, if you're not shooting BP, you're not "authentic." Therefore, might as well get a caliber that you can get in bulk for cheap.

Everything mentioned except .38/.357 is pretty expensive to buy off the shelf. So that would be my choice if I didn't have any particular plans for the gun (e.g. hunting big game).

On the other hand, those guns aren't cheap. Reloaders are a lot less than the price of one of them.

So my choice might be to budget a reloading setup in with the purchase, and just plan on reloading.

Then I'd choose an original round; anything but .45-70, especially since those guns have metal buttplates, and they all make fun volume-shooters. BTW I'd toss .45LC in with the others as a vintage round. It's readily available, but it's not cheap, so it's still a round I'd want to reload if I were going to shoot it much.

Something to note: some of those guns may not stand up to modern super-hot hunting loads (like the high-end .45LC that's hotter than.44 Magnum), since they're black powder designs, though they do have better, modern metal. So choose carefully if you plan to use the gun for big game, or get the .45-70.

 

[dfariswheel]

The best choice economically is the 38/357. This ammo is plentiful and that makes it cheaper.
You also get a wider choice in loads and bullets.
An added advantage of the .38 Special is, light loads are so quiet out of a carbine that you almost don't need ear protection in open areas.

The only "watch-out" with the .38/357 is that rifles like the Henry and 1873 cannot shoot BOTH.
Due to the cartridge elevator design of these rifles, it must be built for one or the other.
If for instance you have a .357 version, shorter .38 Special ammo will cause the elevator to jam.

If you buy an 1892 version, these will usually feed both.

 

[Rev. DeadCorpse]

.45-70 just because I love shooting my Father-in-laws Marlin. Yeah, it's pricey to shoot with "off the shelf" ammo, but a whole bunch cheaper rolling your own. I've got a couple of different loads worked up with my Winchester 94 in .30-30 flavor. From a 150gr FMJ (load these one at a time as the tube mag and lever throw cause other issues) up to a 220gr SP.

 

[hqmhqm]

I got the 1894C Marlin in 357 because it is inexpensive to shoot. When ordering 1000 rounds, it really makes a whopping difference. And what is the fun if you have to feel financial distress with every shot?

BTW, I only shoot 357 magnum now, the 38 specials were just a little too boring out of this carbine. There is no recoil to speak of with the 357 factory loads that I get. And 38's sound and feel like a .22 LR from this rifle.

Anything besides 357 or 38 and reloading would look very attractive.

 

[roscoe]

What will you be using the rifle for?

 

[Rockrivr1]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Yeah, ammo is definitely going to be a factor. Until I start reloading. I keep saying I'm going to start, then I blow the money I save up on another firearm. At this rate, I'll never reload. I'd use this for mostly plinking and maybe later on if I ever want to get into some type of cowboy shooting. Not sure about the cowboy shooting part, but it's something that has been in the back of my mind. Just haven't tried it yet.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The .45-70 would be my choice, but the premier levergun for that cartridge is the Marlin 1895, which isn't a replica. It just is.

 

[MacPelto]

Out of curiousity, why do you call these rifles "replicas"? A marlin made today is just as much a marlin as an earlier one. Winchester might be arguable, as well as rossi, etc, but to me a replica doesn't fire.

Mac

 

[bearmgc]

I just love my Marlin 45-70. Just switched from a scout mounted scope to Williams receiver sight, and love to shoot it. It rivals my 444. Just more history to the 45-70 caliber, and with a decelerater recoil pad I can shoot all day.

 

[ArmedBear]

Out of curiousity, why do you call these rifles "replicas"? A marlin made today is just as much a marlin as an earlier one. Winchester might be arguable, as well as rossi, etc, but to me a replica doesn't fire.

Marlins are the only "still made" old lever guns.

The nicest "Winchesters" are Ubertis, and have been for a while now.
http://www.uberti.com/firearms/1860Henry.tpl
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/lever_action_rifles.htm

They're technically replicas.

And so are Pumas, which are nice, and not so expensive, 1892 replicas.

 

[dfariswheel]

Most people don't use the correct terminology, but technically there are two types of modern copies of guns.

A "reproduction" is an item made by the same company that originally made it.
A "replica" is a near or exact copy made by a company that didn't originally make it.

A good example: A WWII 1911-A1 .45 Automatic pistol is a reproduction, since Colt originally made the same basic gun during the war, and Colt is producing it again.

A Springfield Inc. WWII model is a replica since Springfield Inc didn't exist then and never made a US government issue 1911 pistol.

Since Uberti, Rossi, and other modern makers of copies of the various Henry and Winchester rifles never made these rifles in the 1800's, and in fact the companies didn't exist then, these qualify as "replicas".

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Although all of mine are in either .45 Long Colt or .44 Magnum, I have come to believe that the best bet is .44-40, so long as you have a matching caliber Single Action Army replica or original. I've had rare feeding difficulties in the replica lever guns using straight cased ammo. This would seem less likely with the taperred .44-40. It is also more authentic. Why bother getting a replica lever gun from the past, and going with an inauthentic chambering?

 

[ArmedBear]

BTW the modern Henry isn't a replica of anything. It's a modern rifle with the overall look and feel of an 1860s classic. So I don't know what you call 'em, but people who have 'em, sure love 'em!

 

[Onmilo]

Speaking of Henry rifle replicas and preferences,,
I would prefer to see a Henry Replica and an 1866 Replica in .44 Russian caliber for Cowboy Action Shooting.
Low recoil, sixteen cartridges in the tube, and a reloadable ballistic twin of the original rimfire caliber with more than enough power to tumble the targets.
Anybody see my line of thinking and agree?
That and the fact I use two 1872 Open Tops in .44 Colt which will also shoot .44 Russian in a pinch inclines me to this choice.

Right now I switch between a Uberti Henry in .45 Colt and an 1873 Uberti carbine in the same caliber when I attend shoots that don't allow Henry replicas.

 

[kennedy]

are there any replicas made in 32-20?

 

[MCgunner]

BTW, I only shoot 357 magnum now, the 38 specials were just a little too boring out of this carbine. There is no recoil to speak of with the 357 factory loads that I get. And 38's sound and feel like a .22 LR from this rifle.

Anything besides 357 or 38 and reloading would look very attractive.

That's WHY I like the .38s. I love .22s, also. I do reload this caliber, one of my main calibers what with all the .38 and .357 revolvers I own. My bullets are free (cast from range scrap), a little bullseye and a primer and I'm good to go for .38 and its miserly with lead if you have to buy it.

I have to gas check my .357 bullets, a little more pain, but they shoot well and that's what I killed the deer with, 158 grain Lee hard casted SWC.

 

[dtalley]

I have a Puma in .45lc and love it. I us it for cowboy action shooting and hog hunting. I shoot about 300 round a month min. Through it with out one hickup.

On the other hand I have a friend that has a $700 Henery Big Boy .45lc and has as of Monday sent it back to the factory three times within a year with ejector problems. Boy is he po'ed.

My openion for what it is worth get a Puma. Best replica '92 for the money.

 

[dfariswheel]

kennedy
Yes, I "THINK" I've seen some 1873 replica limited runs in 32-20 .

 

[ArmedBear]

dtalley-

How hot is the .45LC you use for hunting?

Do the Pumas stand up to really hot loads?

Do you know if the .454 will feed .45LC?

Thanks!

I've been eyeing Pumas since I first handled them, but have not bought any lever guns yet.