Suppressed Lever Action

Which caliber would you recommend for Suppressed Lever Action?


  • Total voters
    43
Status
Not open for further replies.

<*(((><

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
2,747
As the title states I'm interested in a suppressed lever action.

ACTION
I'm fond of the Winchester 1894 and 1895 actions but also don't mind the Marlin action as well. I want it short at 16" barrel length, which I know means I will have to have some gunsmithing work to move the front sight and maybe cut down the magazine tube. Is there any recommendations as to what model to pursue this with? Part of me hates doing such drastic work to an older Win and thinks that I should purchase a new Marlin and go with it.

My thread is more about what caliber to pursue but I would also appreciate any thoughts on actions as well. I've thought about it some and came to some conclusions:

CALIBER DECISION
1. .30-30 WIN: Cheap to shoot and reload for, good supersonic performance, would have to find some Trailboss loads for true subsonic performance. Easy to find caliber in a Win94 or Marlin.
2. .35 Remington: Don't know a whole lot about this cartridge, but it seems like it has similar characteristics of the 30-30 but would be marginally easier to get down to subsonic velocities?
3. .45/70: great performance for larger game, good loadings for heavy bullets, unsure of the subsonic loadings?
4. .357/.38: Lighter bullets would prevent good thump with subsonic loads.
5. .44 Mag: Good heavy bullets and lots of loads that would be subsonic.
6. .45LC: Same as characteristics .44 mag, and loads can be loaded hotter than typical with the stronger action of the Win94 and Marlins than what old .45LC were accustomed to.

My main thought is I would like to be able have some good subsonic loads that are hearing safe quiet, but also have some supersonic loads that give me good performance. I would think that the .45/70 may be out of the question if I want hearing safe, but I could be wrong.

USE
I like the idea of .30-30, .35 Rem and .45/70 performance but like the added magazine capacity of the pistol cartridges. The main use of this rifle would be fun at the range and a good walk around brush gun at our family cabin and desert walking. I think it would get used walking the desert for coyotes or other varmints quite a bit.

SUPPRESSOR
SilencerCo Hybrid rated for pistols 9mm to .45ACP and rifles 5.56, 7.62 up to .45/70 and .338 Lapua Magnum on 18" or longer barrels. It is a .46 bore suppressor with changeable endcaps for undersized calibers.

OPTICS
For optics I would see what can be worked on in getting some taller sights to see over the SilencerCo Hybrid, these would be backup mostly as I would be putting a small Aimpoint red dot on it.

I'm open to any and all suggestions, even if you want to call me an "Urban Cowboy" for such sacrilege, I'm fine with that.
 
Last edited:
.30-30 makes the most sense IMHO as any 7.62 rifle can will be fine with it. With the others you may have issues finding a suitable suppressor. You'll have to ask if your 9mm suppressor is OK with .357Mag, or if a particular .45ACP suppressor is OK with .44 Mag unless you are willing to restrict yourself to sub-sonic loads only.
 
.30-30 makes the most sense IMHO as any 7.62 rifle can will be fine with it. With the others you may have issues finding a suitable suppressor. You'll have to ask if your 9mm suppressor is OK with .357Mag, or if a particular .45ACP suppressor is OK with .44 Mag unless you are willing to restrict yourself to sub-sonic loads only.

Sorry didn't have the Suppressor section, added it for future replies. The SilencerCo Hybrid is a .46 caliber can and is rated all the way to .45/70 so I'm ok on which one to use. It has different caliber end caps to help with the overbore of the can on smaller calibers. I keep coming back to 30-30 as a top 3 choice as well.
 
Teddy Roosevelt had one, if I recall. I don't remember the caliber.

I vote 45 Colt. Easy to reload and lots of variable in power.

That would make my decision easier as I have a Win 94 Trapper in .45LC. But need to make sure if it's the right decision.
 
.45LC, for the same reasons as Cpl. Agarn, as well as the versatility in power levels; In a rifle, you can go as hot as .44 Mag, or nice little rounds that go *poof* .;)
 
I feel (without proof) that at subsonic velocities a pistol type bullet would perform better than a rifle bullet. I cast my vote for the fourty five colt. Then, when uploading it, you will have a greater versatility than the fourty four. At the same time, the fourty five seventy can hurl a huge chunk of lead, the bigger, the slower.

In all, a very interesting idea. I hope it works well for you. Update us if or when it happens please.
 
Start with the .45 you already have. The Hybrid is "rated" for many calibers, you could flip flop it around to other guns later.

Note that it weighs over a pound, this will have a major effect on the balance of the gun.
 
My Top 3 that I arrived at before this thread in order of what I feel would be best are:

1. .45 LC
2. .45/70
3. .30-30 WIN

I'm glad to see that others are correlating to my top pick as I have one and feel it would be a great cartridge to load up and down subs and supers. But I'm still open to suggestions.

I'll make sure I keep this updated, I'm talking with my gunsmith about this and I'm doing some legwork on pricing and viability with the WIN 94 .45 LC I have to see what it would entail. But I'm not opposed to buying another firearm as well.
 
Note that it weighs over a pound, this will have a major effect on the balance of the gun.
Most 7.62 rifle rated cans are 1.5+ lbs unless you get into titanium ones which generally cost a good bit more.

Since he's already picked the suppressor, any gun its rated for would be fine, and what he's picked is among the most versatile of cans.
 
A new marlin in 44 mag or 45 colt would make the most sense to me since they would be able to deliver heavy and economical bullets at subsonic velocities. Heavy handgun bullets are widely available for both as well as a wide variety of powders. 35 remington or 45-70 would be my last choices due to the cost of 358 and 458 bullets and having to use big expensive brass with little powder loads for subsonic use.
 
I am a 44 mag guy, but in this list, it isn't in the running for top three. I would look at 45LC for magazine capacity, 45-70 if you plan to hunt with it much, and 357 for a light plinker subsonic. The 357 loaded with heavy bullets brings more to the table than the 30-30 for a subsonic gun, les powder to burn and easier to load for. But there are LOTS of 45LC loads sitting in gun stores that are already subsonic, and like mentioned earlier, it can be loaded up really hot for hunting... My $0.02.
 
A new marlin in 44 mag or 45 colt would make the most sense to me since they would be able to deliver heavy and economical bullets at subsonic velocities. Heavy handgun bullets are widely available for both as well as a wide variety of powders. 35 remington or 45-70 would be my last choices due to the cost of 358 and 458 bullets and having to use big expensive brass with little powder loads for subsonic use.

That's a good point on bullet costs, and really the versitility isn't there on subsonic use for 35 Rem and 45/70. Theres just something about throwing large chunks of lead that appeals, but my practical side starts to win out and I veer towards the pistol cartridges.
 
I am a 44 mag guy, but in this list, it isn't in the running for top three. I would look at 45LC for magazine capacity, 45-70 if you plan to hunt with it much, and 357 for a light plinker subsonic. The 357 loaded with heavy bullets brings more to the table than the 30-30 for a subsonic gun, les powder to burn and easier to load for. But there are LOTS of 45LC loads sitting in gun stores that are already subsonic, and like mentioned earlier, it can be loaded up really hot for hunting... My $0.02.

Just because the 44 wasn't in my initial top 3 doesn't mean I won't consider it. I included it in the poll due to it peaking my interest.

Being a 44 mag guy why choose it over 45 colt? I know that is a huge debate, and they are really similar, and it seems to me with my limited past investigation the 44 will edge out the 45LC in certain situations. But is there something else I'm missing?

It would be a harder sell to me as I already have a 45LC, but I always have an open mind.
 
In a Marlin, you would gain a slight edge in top end whizz-bang knock 'em down rounds, but generally, these aren't what most folks shoot through a silencer. And you can still load it down to light 44 Spl. specs, too. Is it enough to consider a new gun for it? That's up to you.....
 
I just picked up a marlin guide gun in 45-70 today. A couple things I can see as an advantage to using that. There are 405 and 500 grain hard cast bullets widely available though not quite as cheap as 300 grain 44 or 452 cast bullets. The big advantage is the magazine tube on mine is already only 14" long so no need to cut down the mag tube.
 
45-70 would be my last choices due to the cost of 358 and 458 bullets and having to use big expensive brass with little powder loads for subsonic use.

While I won't disputed the bullets and brass can cost a little, it's not expensive. And if you shoot cast it's really not bad. Like from MBC. Add to that the brass will last FOREVER if using small charges of Unique. Recoil is almost nothing with a 405 MBC #1 Buffalo over 14gr of Unique.
 
In a Marlin, you would gain a slight edge in top end whizz-bang knock 'em down rounds, but generally, these aren't what most folks shoot through a silencer. And you can still load it down to light 44 Spl. specs, too. Is it enough to consider a new gun for it? That's up to you.....

Are you speaking of the microgroove adding extra velocity? Or what do you mean by adding a slight edge in top end?
 
.44 or .45Colt. Mostly due to having more rounds in the magazine, but also because there's really VERY little you'd ever hunt with a shorty lever gun that you can't kill super easily with either of those two rounds.

.45-70 would simply be wasted space in the magazine, useless "horsepower" on tap that you won't need to ... or WANT to... use.

And the .30-30 and .35 Rem. rifle rounds seem to be about the same. Lower mag capacity as a trade off for slightly extended range which such a gun doesn't seem well suited to take advantage of.

One thing you'd want to look at is what twist rates are available to make sure your lever rifle will stabilize the long bullets you're likely to want for sub-sonic thumping.
 
I just picked up a marlin guide gun in 45-70 today. A couple things I can see as an advantage to using that. There are 405 and 500 grain hard cast bullets widely available though not quite as cheap as 300 grain 44 or 452 cast bullets. The big advantage is the magazine tube on mine is already only 14" long so no need to cut down the mag tube.

How easily is it to get it subsonic with those heavies?
 
.44 or .45Colt. Mostly due to having more rounds in the magazine, but also because there's really VERY little you'd ever hunt with a shorty lever gun that you can't kill super easily with either of those two rounds.

.45-70 would simply be wasted space in the magazine, useless "horsepower" on tap that you won't need to ... or WANT to... use.

And the .30-30 and .35 Rem. rifle rounds seem to be about the same. Lower mag capacity as a trade off for slightly extended range which such a gun doesn't seem well suited to take advantage of.

One thing you'd want to look at is what twist rates are available to make sure your lever rifle will stabilize the long bullets you're likely to want for sub-sonic thumping.

Sam1911, your thoughts are what have been going through my head, but its nice to see the words useless "horsepower" that puts out my desire for useless "horsepower" haha! I know I probably should stick with pistol caliber rounds because of magazine capacity and they are more efficient with subsonic loads. But I have to flesh everything out before pulling the trigger so to speak.

Something about the 45/70 speaks to me, but logic tends to start creeping back in.
 
Forget 45-70. If you do go with 30-30 there is no reason to avoid most Winchesters. There really isn't much collector interest unless you go back rifles made prior to WW-2. But there is nothing wrong with Marlin either. I'd use either depending on which I could get at the best price.

I see Sam's logic in the pistol calibers. The 30-30's are much more commonly available and priced much cheaper though. Any lever action in the pistol calibers seems to bring a premium. Much more so than older Winchesters.
 
Should you shoot cast bullets through a silencer? Seems like that would add a lot to the fouling on the baffles.

There seems to be several schools of thought on this:

1. Don't shoot anything but plated bullets through a suppressor.
2. Go ahead and shoot lead bullets as long as they aren't max loads that are hot.
3. Shoot any lead bullet loads just gas-check them.

I'm open to be educated on anyone with experience on this subject though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top