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

[rintinglen]

My 303 Savage 1899 is one hundred and 12 years old and has gone out with me for the last five years.

[NorthMoccasin]

+1 on the 303 Savage. My 1922 99-A shoots very well with 100-195gr Cast bullets great for anything from tree rats to moose. Accurate 31-190s cast 195gr in my alloy, and clocks 1910 fs over 28.0 3031, close to duplicating the original 190gr factory load. Lyman 311008 over 6-7gr unique makes an accurate small game load. Plus I can use pointed bullets without fear of magazine discharges.

[Savvy Jack]

21 people voted for the 44-40....hmmmmmmmm

[KeithNyst]

300 Savage, a very underrated cartridge.

[Chill Wills]

21 people voted for the 44-40....hmmmmmmmm

Yes. One of the all time greatest work horses. I use my 1892 a lot for walking the woods.

If I lived somewhere other then the Rocky Mountains that round might do it.
Only because of my needs do I choose the much heaver to carry 45-70Gov. for the "ONLY Rifle" question.
It is great to live in the USA and have more than one!

[veeman]

I'd vote for the 44-40 daily if allowed.

[Buckshot]

............Simple, 38-55

..........Buckshot

[white cloud]

.357 for sure.

[Highway41]

My Henry BBS 41 Magnum will do anything I need. Plays nicely with my 41 Redhawk and Blackhawk as well.

[bowfin]

the cartridge that has probably taken the most deer since 1895

I think there has been more deer killed by hunters since the year 2000 than were killed in the 1895-2000 range...simply because there are more deer and more permits allowed. So the king of the deer killing cartridges is probably not the .30-30 Winchester. Maybe the .30-06, .270, or even the 12 gauge, but nobody was shooting many deer in my state when the .30-30 was king.

[bowfin]

Something modern in a Savage 99. After that, it doesn't matter much to me. The .348 Winchester gets honorable mention.

[BrentD]

How can .38-55 not be on the list, nor the .38-40 or 44-40?

[moosemike]

I think there has been more deer killed by hunters since the year 2000 than were killed in the 1895-2000 range...simply because there are more deer and more permits allowed. So the king of the deer killing cartridges is probably not the .30-30 Winchester. Maybe the .30-06, .270, or even the 12 gauge, but nobody was shooting many deer in my state when the .30-30 was king.

I don't.

[Bazoo]

I've really enjoyed this thread and read every post. Very interesting to read everyone's choices and reasons.

Unlike most here, I only have one leveraction rifle, and it's still a winchester 94 in 30-30. It makes up one of only two centerfire rifles I own, again unlike most here. The thing that makes the 30-30 my pick is the combination of all the little reasons, ammo availability, brass availability, long reloading life, good power to weight ratio in the gun, easy to carry and most efficient on game.

[sundog]

32 Winchester Special.

[Oldman11]

Ok I’ll play. .32-20 wcf or .480ruger. I sold my Rossi 92 480 just because somebody else wanted it more than me, it sold for $1700.00 on Gun Broker. I have a Marlin .41 mag lever,aRossi .44 mag,a rossi 92 .45colt,a winchester92 in .32-20,a Winchester 94 .30-30 left. I gave a marlin.45-70 to a grandson and a Rossi 92 .357 mag to the other grandson. I own only one auto that being a ruger mini thirty. The rest of my guns are single shots,one ruger,two trapdoors,two rolling blocks and a 1885 browning

[hockeynick39]

So, I threw my hat in the ring for .44-40 Winchester. This is not a very fair representation of "all" lever action calibers to say the least. My actual favorite is the 45-60. A lot of people that are voting on here are used to the "modern" day chamberings of current lever-gun production. Not trying to be mean or anything, it's just the way it is.

[Pathfinder1cav]

So why no .38-55 choice?? My 336CB shoots lights out & is strong medicine on the rams!

[rking22]

Same thought here, I voted 30-30.Had there been a 38-55 or 375 Winchester I would have gone there.

[Tracy]

I've really enjoyed this thread and read every post. Very interesting to read everyone's choices and reasons.

Unlike most here, I only have one leveraction rifle, and it's still a winchester 94 in 30-30. It makes up one of only two centerfire rifles I own, again unlike most here. The thing that makes the 30-30 my pick is the combination of all the little reasons, ammo availability, brass availability, long reloading life, good power to weight ratio in the gun, easy to carry and most efficient on game.

A lot of truth here.