Which caliber for a new lever action.

[meatballs]

Thanks for all the input. I already own two 30 30 rifles, so I've got plenty of "thump" for hunting deer in Minnesota brush. I'm more or less looking for something fun. I'm interested in a .357 rifle for the economics of shooting it a lot. Will a .357 May rifle shoot as flat as the .44mag , or .45?

 

[CraigC]

Most mine are big bores, except the .32-20 but if I were looking for one that wasn't' explicitly for hunting, it'd be a 20-24" .357 Rossi 92. Much as I love the .40+ cartridges, the .357 92 would probably be the best fit for your purposes.

You do need to know that the full power 44 magnum and +P 45 colt loads are not particularly comfortable to shoot from a "carbine".

It always baffles me to hear folks say that. I bought my first .44Mag carbine 20yrs ago and the thing that struck me the first time I shot it was how mild the recoil and blast were.

 

[35 Whelen]

Since you asked for the time, and not how construct a wrist watch, I'll keep this simple.

A .357. It's capable of roughly the same velocities as the .44 Magnum and therefore will shoot about as flat. Obviously either is capable of poking holes in paper or ringing steel out to 200 yds, but the .357 will be significantly cheaper to load or shoot.

35W

 

[shiftyer1]

Meatballs, I have a marlin in 357. I've used it on squirrels with some light 38's to Central Texas whitetail with 357. It's a lot of fun!

 

[entropy]

For your stated purposes, the .357 will be fine, unless the 200 yd. shooting is at silhouettes, then .44 or .45LC would be better. It would do fine for brush hunting in Minnesota, also, if you want to give the .30-30's a break. (I grew up hunting most of north central MN, from Garrison up to Brainerd.)

 

[Goosey]

Will a .357 May rifle shoot as flat as the .44mag , or .45?

Based on Winchester figures...

357 MAGNUM 158 GR. SUPER-X
RIFLE BALLISTICS (20" BARREL)

DISTANCE.......VELOCITY........TRAJ.
Muzzle...............1830...................
50.....................1617...............0.0
100...................1427...............-2.4
150...................1265...............-9.1
200...................1138................-21

44 REMINGTON MAG. 240 GR. SUPER-X
RIFLE BALLISTICS (20" BARREL)

DISTANCE.......VELOCITY........TRAJ.
Muzzle...............1760...................
50.....................1549...............0.0
100...................1362...............-2.7
150...................1209...............-10.2
200...................1094................-23.5

 

[meatballs]

I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all the useful information. .357 magnum it is. That will go well with my .357 mag revolvers as well. Take care all, and best regards.