New Calibers for Lever Action Rifles

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HoosierQ

HoosierQ

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So...

we've got the classics: 30-30, 45-70, 35 Remington.
we've got the pistol cartridges: .357, .44, .45 etc
we've got updated classics: the Lever-Revolution Spitzers
we've got I think exactly 1 actually new lever cartridge: the .308 Marlin Express

Given the popularity of Lever rifles, I would think (and I would want) some new cartridges that would be good in lever action rifles but which would bridge the gap between the "full power" of classics like the 30-30 or the .308 Marlin Express and the much slower pistol cartridges.

The kind of thing I am think of would be sort of a rimed .223, or a rimmed .243 "short", a rimmed .260 "short". Maybe something like 5.56x45R or 6.5x45R or 7x45R (or the above three x40R). See what I mean?

They could be either spitzer or roundnose and would provide mid-range rifle power in a lever carbine package...sort of what the .30 carbine or other PDW cartridges are to full power battle rifles...this mid range lever caliber would be to 30-30s.

I know there are knowledgable riflemen/reloaders out there who might be able to comment on the feasibility of this. It just seems to me that a nice lever action rifle in something along the lines of a 6.5x40R would have a place. Is my imagination running away with me?
 
Ugh, you can look at the Browning BLR's, it has the modern cartridges (.308,.30-06, etc.) That's the closest thing I can think of.
 
Did you overlook the .218 Bee, 25-20 WCF, and 32-20 WCF?
And the 256 Winchester Magnum that Marlin made a nice lever-gun for at one time.

They are just what you are suggesting, and are still available on the used gun market.

What would be nice if if Marlin would bring them back again.
But not enough people bought them the last time they did it several years ago.

rc
 
Big E

Thanks. What I am talking about are brand new cartridges that would be designed work in existing platforms...some thinking outside of the lever action box if you will.

I do really like the BLR by the way and I am always looking at those but one does not seem them very often. I think they make a .223 and a .243 and a host of other calibers all the way up to 300 win mag I think.

The obvious correlary to my OP would be expanding the selection of bottom-fed levers.
 
RC

Well I did not overlook...I was in fact ignorant of how those fit into my little scenario. I wonder if today those things would find a market? A world of higher cost of ammo presumably because of demand as well as materials, fewer rifle ranges. I'll have to look at those calibers.

I am going to have to learn more about reloading.
 
Wow

You hit the nail on the head RC! That .256 Winchester Magnum looks exactly like the sort of thing I am thinking (dreaming) about!!! Whew...it's not just me then. I did a Search and despite the fact that the thing never caught on, people seemed to think it was a great little cartridge.

Wonder why it never caught on? I assume people pretty much associate lever action rifles with deer...with good reason. My though process is around a lever rifle instead of a Mini-14...quick, handy, low recoil, light weight...the "M1 Carbine of the Lever Action World"....more for coyotes and such.

Very intersting caliber.

QB
 
The 1895 Winchester was made in US Cal. 30 (30-40), .405 Win., 30-06, .303 Brit, 270 Win. & 7.62x54R..... and a few other calibers as well. I think Browning still sells them.
 
It wouldn't have to be rimmed or new for me. I'd like a 336 in 6.8spc with leverevolution ammo. If not that I'd like a pump action carbine for that cartridge.

PS _ There is also the .25-35 for which the model 94 was chambered recently in a limited edition, but they are too pricey.
 
.454 Casull. I know that Puma makes one but I'd like to see it in a Henry. I like their Big Boy Yellow Receiver.
 
Don't forget the .444 Marlin, though I don't know what that does and the .45-70 can't.

And I would sort of consider .30-30 to be an "intermediate" cartridge between something like .44 magnum and .45-70.
 
Is 7.62x54R new enough? :D

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If they made a new production 1895 in that caliber, just like the old Russian contract rifles, that would be sweet.
 
Most definitely not a new rifle or new cartridges, but the Savage Model 99 was chambered in .308,.243,.250-3000,.300 Savage, and a few others, I think. Ballistically, some of these seem to cover the spectrum the OP was interested in.

Russ
 
rg

I have wanted a model 99 since I was a kid. They are rather collectible these days and thus not cheap. Still want one though.

Love that Model 95 Russian too.
 
Don't forget the new.450 marlin

idk if the is really a place for new lever cartridges they have worked fine for a hundred years why change them now
 
Find a 7-30 winchester. A 30-30 necked down to 7mm. They made a few in the 80's
 
Never heard of it. What's the bullet weight?
The good old thirty thirty really is a decent round but man I bet it would be great with a lighter bullet
 
The 7-30 used a 120 grain bullet I believe. Seems like Winchester offered them in a 94 with a 24" barrel. They were only made a couple of years. They would be a great idea with the new Leverution ammo
 
I think most of the responders have missed the OP's question. He is asking about something that falls between .308 (or even .30-30) and the pistol cartridges. Presumably something in 6-7mm, short and low recoil. Again I say 6.8 would be sweet and .25-35 is already around.
 
What I wish someone would make is a scaled-down 1895-style action carbine that would shoot 8 rounds or so of .223 or even 6.5Grendel or 6.8SPC.

I know that there are a lot of wildcats off the .30-30 brass for Thompson contenders, I wish you could get a 94-style lever with a .30-30 round necked down to a flat-point .243/.257/.264 caliber bullet. Would be a good gun, might even get better than expected trajectory from the flat-nose 6.5 bullet.
 
Always remember that generally speaking, if you are thinking of different rounds based on current or even obsolete cases, it has already been thought of by others before you. Many prolific inventors have preceded us who necked down and up and have blown out cases to form different rounds. Most of these proved, for one reason or another, not to be economically viable.
You can always wildcat a cartridge for your own use, but gun manufacturer's know what sells.
Reamer producer's will be happy to grind a reamer to your specs, it's up to you if it's a workable round for the firearm that you will be using.

NCsmitty
 
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