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View Poll Results: If you had to pick one Lever Action Rifle, what caliber who you choose?

Voters
1115. You may not vote on this poll
  • .357 Mag / 38 Special

    188 16.86%
  • .44 Mag / 44 Special

    133 11.93%
  • 45 Colt

    76 6.82%
  • .454 Casull

    29 2.60%
  • 444 Marlin

    39 3.50%
  • 45-70

    274 24.57%
  • 44-40

    41 3.68%
  • 450 Marlin

    2 0.18%
  • 30-30

    276 24.75%
  • 35 Remington

    84 7.53%
Multiple Choice Poll.
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Results 301 to 320 of 496

Thread: If you had to pick one Lever Action Rifle, what caliber who you choose?

  1. #301
    Boolit Buddy 59sharps's Avatar
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    to be far think all options need to be listed and what they will be used for. Well mine are win 94 in 32 special, blr in 358, 1860 henry in 44-40, next will be a henry long ranger in 6.5 cred.
    14th VA. CAV.
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  2. #302
    Boolit Master jlchucker's Avatar
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    My go-to levergun is one of my 30-30's, Winchester or Marlin. However, I have two Marlins in 35 Remington caliber and I wouldn't part with either one of them except to hand them down to the next generation of my family. Even then, they will have to have the undertaker pry them out of my hands before they lower me away.

  3. #303
    Boolit Buddy Cast_outlaw's Avatar
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    I’m going to have to say 44-40 in a model 92 action although I really do like my 1895 winchester as it can shoot pointed bullitt and there sexy

  4. #304
    Boolit Master


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    For just plain plinking - hunting, 357 mag, hunting bigger game 30-30 - 45-70. I own 32 wcf, 357, 45 Colt and 45-70. 32 and 357 get most of the range time for cheap shooting, 45 Colt and 45-70 woods walking rifle. 45 Colt in a 92 action is no sloutch, nipping at the heals of a 45-70.

  5. #305
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mnewcomb59 View Post
    Many guys I see with 30-30s are using 30 grains of powder to send a 150 or 170 grain bullet 1800 fps. Many guys with 30-30 and softer alloys for hunting are shooting at 1700-1900 fps and that's all they get before accuracy goes south.

    That ain't a 30-30 and you're kidding yourself if you think so. In fact, that is a lighter load than a 357 rifle load.

    I am using 18.5 grains of powder to send a 160 grain bullet 2000 fps with 10 shot 3 MOA groups. Or using 17.5 grains of powder to send a 140 grain bullet 2100 fps, 2 MOA. If you aren't going to/can't exceed these velocities with accuracy, why are you wasting all that powder in the dutty thutty? Your powder savings will pay for the 357 over time and the gun is easier on the ears at the same velocity because half the powder is burning. All-out loads still get 300-420 loads per pound.

    Now lets sit down and crank out 200 plinking and small game rounds that still shoot in an inch at 50 yards. 125 grain at 1000 fps. I'm done in 40 minutes. How long does it take you to pick dacron fluff and scoop cornmeal and lube cases, etc.? And when its all said and done, 38s will still have a better SD and ES
    Since my #77 post, I have acquired a marlin 357 1894C micro groove. Wow, it does it all. It can be loaded close to 30-30, it can be a reduced 35 Remington with a 200 grain bullet, it can be small game with a 105 grain bullet and 3 grains bullseye, cowboy action with 38 special and everything in between using so much less powder. Shooting steel 100 yards and beyond I have found Lyman’s 358430 195 grain so pleasing at about 1100 FPS in a 38 special case. The heavier bullet moves the steel plate with more “ting”.
    30-30 does it all too but with more labored (slower) reloading and using more powder.

  6. #306
    Quote Originally Posted by smkummer View Post
    Since my #77 post, I have acquired a marlin 357 1894C micro groove. Wow, it does it all. It can be loaded close to 30-30, it can be a reduced 35 Remington with a 200 grain bullet, it can be small game with a 105 grain bullet and 3 grains bullseye, cowboy action with 38 special and everything in between using so much less powder. Shooting steel 100 yards and beyond I have found Lyman’s 358430 195 grain so pleasing at about 1100 FPS in a 38 special case. The heavier bullet moves the steel plate with more “ting”.
    30-30 does it all too but with more labored (slower) reloading and using more powder.
    Great news!!! I love my Marlin 1894C 357!!!

    What kind of accuracy are you getting at 200 yards?

  7. #307
    Boolit Buddy
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    i believe one of the best looking , strongest, and powerful winchester's lever is the model 71 in 348 win. i'll also vote for the marlin 45/70 cowboy

  8. #308
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by a danl View Post
    i believe one of the best looking , strongest, and powerful winchester's lever is the model 71 in 348 win. i'll also vote for the marlin 45/70 cowboy
    True, I was loading for a friend. Full power 200 grain kind of kicks the **** out of you though. But even lead bullet reduced, this gun is still a big game rifle. That Win 71 action was sure a smooth levergun.
    Last edited by Mr_Sheesh; 01-25-2020 at 04:46 AM. Reason: Filter bypass

  9. #309
    Boolit Master smkummer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Savvy Jack View Post
    Great news!!! I love my Marlin 1894C 357!!!

    What kind of accuracy are you getting at 200 yards?

    No accuracy testing yet at 200, I don’t know yet if I tried 200 yards yet. In fact, I yet to put it on paper at 100 but I simply can’t miss the 12-16” metal plate standing. The front brass bead fits inside the orange metal steel. At 1100 FPS, enough pause between the “bang” and “ting” to be so satisfying.

  10. #310
    Boolit Master 444ttd's Avatar
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    i had a win m94 in 30-30, but instead of a 30-30, JES gots me a win m94 in 35/30!!! i installed a williams' fp peep sight and loaded up some 200gr rcbs fn with 20gr of 2400/dacron that goes 1726fps. it is my round for deer/black bear. while i have only shot one doe, 30+/- yards and behind the shoulder and she ran(trotted) about 20+/- yards before she died.
    Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.

    To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.

    MOLON LABE

  11. #311
    Never was I one for trying to figure out which I would really have if I ever really had to choose. As biased as I am towards the 44-40, so for other than survival, I would like one or two of each caliber.

    With that said, for survival......

    1. I would have to choose the 30-30 for over all survival. Good enough for up close and personal to 200 yards with a flatter trajectory than some others to provide enough food and security.
    2. The 35 Remington is right behind the 30-30 for the same reason.
    3. The 44-40 was replaced by the 30-30 so I make it third on my list. If lack of availability of hand-loading components exists, it would not be wanted due to the piss poor factory loads.
    4. The 45-70 would be second but would need two rifles thus not efficient for my needs as a choice survival caliber. One guide gun for lighter weight and up close personal protection and one rifle (heavy) for distance shooting big game. Not on my list, the 444 replaced the 45-70 so I would also place the 454 and 450 in the same group as the 444.
    5. The 44Mag/Special, probably good enough for 150 yards for game but better served as protection in close somewhat like the 45-70 guide gun.
    6. 45 Colt much the same as the 44 Mag in strong action rifles, load it for 100/150 yards and up close and personal...lack of handloading supplies would remove it from the list at all like the 44-40.
    7. 357 for food and could be enough for up close but would certainly rather have no less that hot 45's or 44 mags for protection. Even bottom end 44Mag performance from the 44-40 can be achieved in strong action rifles.
    8. 38's only for the 357 rifles....no use for them in this category.

  12. #312
    Boolit Man
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    I have a 32 WS 94 and I inherited a BLR in 22-250 that I have never shot, but I have been craving a 44. I do think that will be one of my next purchases.

  13. #313
    Boolit Buddy
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    My Rossi 92 in 357 gets used more than the one in 44. But, if I could only have one, it would be the 44. Of course, I would never live somewhere where I could only have one.

  14. #314
    Boolit Buddy
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    I second KC's post! In keeping with the theme of which "one" caliber, because I reload, it would be the .44 Mag in a 92 or 94.

  15. #315
    Boolit Master



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    38-55 Winchester and Ballard.
    Gun control is not about guns.

  16. #316
    Boolit Buddy
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    I am torn between 357 mag and 35 Rem. I choose 357 mag. Wallacem

  17. #317
    Boolit Buddy If1Hitu's Avatar
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    Now i'd like a Marlin 450,my second choice.
    A blessing is everyday I wake up,after all i've been through in this lifetime!

    Oorah,Semper Fi.

  18. #318
    Boolit Man
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    My Dads hand me down 30-30

  19. #319
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    Dad gave me his 1954 Winchester 94 30-30 a few years back. I hunted with it a few times successfully - then I fell in with this bunch at CB, and soon it went to Jes and was reborn as a 38-55. So, for what I use a lever action for- the one I’d have if limited to one- is THIS ONE.
    As it turns out, it IS the only one I have anyway- for now.

  20. #320
    Boolit Buddy Gunners Mate's Avatar
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    Here are my two go to lever lever guns both 45/70 Click image for larger version. 

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check