Best lever gun hunting cartridge in strait wall
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Steve Milbocker
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I had a desire to take a buck with a 100 year old rifle a while back but living in SW Michigan at the time I couldn’t find a legal caliber in an original rifle. That led me to purchase a couple of reproductions, an 1873 Winchester in 45 Colt and an 1885 Low Wall in 44 mag. Both have been excellent. Now I live in Northern Michigan and hope to accomplish my goal with a 1893 Marlin produced in 1900.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I would say the best overall straight wall cartridge in a lever action would be the 45-70
This is based on available rifles, usable energy and trajectory.
There are many capable cartridges available in lever actions for medium size game.
357 rm, 41 rm, 44 rm, 45 colt all great revolver cartridges in levers.
I wish that the 375 win would have become more popular as it has a great balance of recoil to power. Does anyone make a 375 win currently?
This is based on available rifles, usable energy and trajectory.
There are many capable cartridges available in lever actions for medium size game.
357 rm, 41 rm, 44 rm, 45 colt all great revolver cartridges in levers.
I wish that the 375 win would have become more popular as it has a great balance of recoil to power. Does anyone make a 375 win currently?
ApacheCoTodd
member
I'd have to vote-in .45-70.
Good hitter. Good brush gun round.
All trajectory, energy and other maths are long established.
Wide range of firearms and distinctive forms of guns chambered in it.
Wide range of factory loads for it.
Generally available most anywhere when times aren't goofy - and to a degree, even when they are.
Todd.
Good hitter. Good brush gun round.
All trajectory, energy and other maths are long established.
Wide range of firearms and distinctive forms of guns chambered in it.
Wide range of factory loads for it.
Generally available most anywhere when times aren't goofy - and to a degree, even when they are.
Todd.
Risky buisness
Member
Having a .44 and .45colt in marlin rifles I can attest to the viability of either one. But the 45 70 offers quite a step up in range and performance.
Depending on the terrain your hunting in any one of those calibers would be more than adequate for deer/pigs.
Depending on the terrain your hunting in any one of those calibers would be more than adequate for deer/pigs.
Speedo66
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AJC1
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Which lever gun runs it
Speedo66
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OP
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AJC1
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I'm going worst case here because I figure lever guns will be low on the list for any restrictions. And I like them
Varminterror
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.45-70 if I’m feeling sensible, .44mag if I’m not, and .375win on a whimsical hair...
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AJC1
Member
The 375 seems like it gets a lot of attention for something I've never seen. Is brass available in not ridiculous times
mcb
Member
For me a lever gun for deer hunting is best as a rough terrain brush gun. In that application I want it as compact as I can get so a Winchester 92 with a 16 inch barrel would be my choice. I have a Rossi Clone in 44 Mag and its been a great little gun. One of these days I am even going to use it to kill a deer but I have one or two cartridges ahead of it.
If I was going to step it up though I think I would take a serious look at a Winchester 1895 in 405 Winchester. I think that would be a nice deer rifle.
If I was going to step it up though I think I would take a serious look at a Winchester 1895 in 405 Winchester. I think that would be a nice deer rifle.
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someguy2800
Member
I am a big fan of 444 marlin and have used it to good affect. I have had my eye on a 375 winchester for some time. I have never owned one, but I suspect I would be very fond of it and it would probably be the sweet spot for a deer rifle.
Weflyfast
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The "Best" is the one you own and shoot well!
.... generally speaking leverguns are just plain fun....
I would lean towards the larger ones for deer and have taken white tails with 44 mag 45 colt 38-55 and the 45-70 and all did a fine job with good shot placement.
.... generally speaking leverguns are just plain fun....
I would lean towards the larger ones for deer and have taken white tails with 44 mag 45 colt 38-55 and the 45-70 and all did a fine job with good shot placement.
.455_Hunter
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.50-110 WCF
Frulk
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In the OP’s “or something else” category (since it hadn’t been brought up yet)
.454 Casull in a Rossi... although I hear they’re made sporadically and folks that have them don’t like to part with em.
In the woods with consistent shots below 100 yards on deer I’d be comfortable with a light lever in .45 Colt or .44Mag. But the 45/70 would be fine for that as well and provide additional versatility if you were to head west for larger game.
.454 Casull in a Rossi... although I hear they’re made sporadically and folks that have them don’t like to part with em.
In the woods with consistent shots below 100 yards on deer I’d be comfortable with a light lever in .45 Colt or .44Mag. But the 45/70 would be fine for that as well and provide additional versatility if you were to head west for larger game.
Totally agree. I'm a huge 357 fan in a lever gun.
I like 180 WFN over h110. I get 1980 fps and can make hits on milk jugs at 200 yards. Not that I would shoot something that far with it.
It definitely hammers pigs.
Risky buisness
Member
Not real sure, but perhaps a person could use the .32-40 ? Its clearly not a bottleneck cartridge but the taper may well shoot that one down. Could be interesting at least.
sage5907
Member
I have never been a fan of lever action rifles, that was until I shot a Marlin Model Model 375 chambered for the 375 Winchester several years ago. It was a great rifle, it had a really good trigger and was really accurate at 100 yards. I was impressed and it changed my opinion of the rifles and how easy they are to use. The Model 375 is a half magazine rifle that really looks good and there is one for sale on GunBroker today. A note says they were manufactured from 1980 to 1983 and there were 16,315 rifles made. I always look back on the experience with a smile and the rifle I was shooting did not have a scope.
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DocRock
member
It depends on whether there is a case length restriction as well. If the only rule is "non-bottleneck", then 444 Marlin. You aren't hunting buffalo in a straight wall only state, so the 444 will do everything you need indeed. If there is a case length restriction, 450 BM or 454 Casull - 250 grs at 2250 fps will do for anything you are hunting in a straight wall state.
Elkins45
Member
Starline is making it now so that’s a real plus. When I bought mine (94 Win with bad finish but great bore) it was in the middle of the last banic and there was no brass to be had. I made my own by blowing out 30-30 and also by buying some 38-55 I found at a gun show. Neither can be loaded up to full 375 potential, but as I was mostly interested in shooting cast bullets at moderate velocities it really didn’t matter. I have a full box of Starline 375 brass but I’ve never even opened it. If I want full power there are other rifles that are a lot more pleasant to shoot than a straight stocked lever gun with a hard rubber buttplate.
I wasn’t really looking to add another cartridge to my mix but the gun was pretty cheap and I already had the bullet molds.
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