Thalinor
Member
Greetings,
I need some advice on a Lever Action rifle. I figured I would first throw out some background info. I decided to go looking for a Lever Action after selling my Remington 700 Police chambered in 7mm Remington Mag. The reason I sold the gun was based on versatility. The 700p was a great gun bench rest or prone, but was not really a standing position gun. Also, it weighed 12lbs with a bipod & scope which was a lot to carry around in the backcountry. For bi-weekly shooting, the cost of ammo was getting to be a lot and the lack of ranges here in CT over 100 yards made the gun boring to shoot after the thrill of owning a tack driver quickly wore off. There is a 300 yard range but it is located over an hour and a half away and with the cost of fuel lately, the closer 30 minute away 100 yard range has become the only real option for regular shooting.
At 100 yards I was consistently shooting one half inch groups and even at 300 yards, it was not uncommon for me to shoot one and one half inch groups. Again, this gets boring after a while and at $1.25 a round, it was not worth keeping the gun if I was not having much fun shooting the thing. If I lived in an area that had 500+ yard ranges, things might have been different.
I found the recoil with the 700p (700 Rem Mag) acceptable for extended range shooting only after adding a limb saver butt pad. BEFORE the addition of this pad, after about the 20th round my arm was quite sore but AFTER the pad was added, shooting 40+ rounds at the range, recoil was manageable.
Before asking for suggestions, I should advise first how I will be using the gun. First off, I will NEVER BE SHOOTING ANYTHING FURTHER THEN 150 YARDS. This is very important to consider when suggesting a caliber. I need a round that will kill ANYTHING up to 150 yards. Beyond this range, I don’t care if the round can punch through paper. I am looking for a round that can take down anything I cross paths with (Dangerous, large, medium and small game). I need a rifle chambered in something that can take down deer w/o destroying the meat and also be effective against grizzlies, elk and bison up to 150 yards MAX.
I keep stressing the range because the biggest question I have is will a 44, 45 or 357 meet the above criteria? I know pistol rounds are not ideal for hunting big & dangerous game at a distance, but at a maximum distance of 150 yards, can these rounds get the job done? If not, the only other option I know about is the 45-70, a round that will most certainly fit the bill, though ends up being quite expensive to shoot at the range.
When it comes to a Lever Action Rifle I need an all weather, reliable design. I plan on taking the thing in the back country of Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska. I hike & camp in the snow, rain, sand, etc. The gun needs to hold up to all kinds of weather. Stainless steel seems to be the way to go but I am open to other suggestions.
Weight is a consideration and I am really looking to keep the rifle seven pounds or less. Also, price of ammo, availability of ammo and availability of different loads of the same caliber (different grain/weight, etc) is a huge consideration. I do not care if I have to spend $1.50 a round for good hunting ammo, as long as my range ammo stays as inexpensive as possible. Lastly, I would like the rifle to hold as many rounds as possible.
After a little research I was considering a Marlin. I like the side ejection port and have heard their guns are built solid. They have several stainless steel models too. The question becomes caliber. They have plenty of 45-70 models but all but only one can hold more than 4 rounds and that one is not stainless, something that worries me being I need an all weather gun. Also, the 45-70 round is expensive and I am not sure how available the round is and if there is any variation in grain/weight. I have never shot this caliber and have no idea how the recoil compares to say, the 7mm rem mag?
Marlin sells several other rifles in 44, 45, and 357. These hold more rounds which are also less expensive and more variety, but I am worried they will not have the stopping power I need, even when shooting at a max of 150 yards.
Anyway, any advice would be helpful.
Thanks!
Jonathan
I need some advice on a Lever Action rifle. I figured I would first throw out some background info. I decided to go looking for a Lever Action after selling my Remington 700 Police chambered in 7mm Remington Mag. The reason I sold the gun was based on versatility. The 700p was a great gun bench rest or prone, but was not really a standing position gun. Also, it weighed 12lbs with a bipod & scope which was a lot to carry around in the backcountry. For bi-weekly shooting, the cost of ammo was getting to be a lot and the lack of ranges here in CT over 100 yards made the gun boring to shoot after the thrill of owning a tack driver quickly wore off. There is a 300 yard range but it is located over an hour and a half away and with the cost of fuel lately, the closer 30 minute away 100 yard range has become the only real option for regular shooting.
At 100 yards I was consistently shooting one half inch groups and even at 300 yards, it was not uncommon for me to shoot one and one half inch groups. Again, this gets boring after a while and at $1.25 a round, it was not worth keeping the gun if I was not having much fun shooting the thing. If I lived in an area that had 500+ yard ranges, things might have been different.
I found the recoil with the 700p (700 Rem Mag) acceptable for extended range shooting only after adding a limb saver butt pad. BEFORE the addition of this pad, after about the 20th round my arm was quite sore but AFTER the pad was added, shooting 40+ rounds at the range, recoil was manageable.
Before asking for suggestions, I should advise first how I will be using the gun. First off, I will NEVER BE SHOOTING ANYTHING FURTHER THEN 150 YARDS. This is very important to consider when suggesting a caliber. I need a round that will kill ANYTHING up to 150 yards. Beyond this range, I don’t care if the round can punch through paper. I am looking for a round that can take down anything I cross paths with (Dangerous, large, medium and small game). I need a rifle chambered in something that can take down deer w/o destroying the meat and also be effective against grizzlies, elk and bison up to 150 yards MAX.
I keep stressing the range because the biggest question I have is will a 44, 45 or 357 meet the above criteria? I know pistol rounds are not ideal for hunting big & dangerous game at a distance, but at a maximum distance of 150 yards, can these rounds get the job done? If not, the only other option I know about is the 45-70, a round that will most certainly fit the bill, though ends up being quite expensive to shoot at the range.
When it comes to a Lever Action Rifle I need an all weather, reliable design. I plan on taking the thing in the back country of Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska. I hike & camp in the snow, rain, sand, etc. The gun needs to hold up to all kinds of weather. Stainless steel seems to be the way to go but I am open to other suggestions.
Weight is a consideration and I am really looking to keep the rifle seven pounds or less. Also, price of ammo, availability of ammo and availability of different loads of the same caliber (different grain/weight, etc) is a huge consideration. I do not care if I have to spend $1.50 a round for good hunting ammo, as long as my range ammo stays as inexpensive as possible. Lastly, I would like the rifle to hold as many rounds as possible.
After a little research I was considering a Marlin. I like the side ejection port and have heard their guns are built solid. They have several stainless steel models too. The question becomes caliber. They have plenty of 45-70 models but all but only one can hold more than 4 rounds and that one is not stainless, something that worries me being I need an all weather gun. Also, the 45-70 round is expensive and I am not sure how available the round is and if there is any variation in grain/weight. I have never shot this caliber and have no idea how the recoil compares to say, the 7mm rem mag?
Marlin sells several other rifles in 44, 45, and 357. These hold more rounds which are also less expensive and more variety, but I am worried they will not have the stopping power I need, even when shooting at a max of 150 yards.
Anyway, any advice would be helpful.
Thanks!
Jonathan
