If you had to pick one lever rifle to keep would you keep the .357 Mag or 45 Colt?

[jeffs4wheeler]

I would keep the 357. Ammo easy to get..

[35 Whelen]

I have both calibers, and I shoot 45 Colt handloads by the hundreds, but the 357 is infinitely more versatile. Last year I shot a hog with the 357 and she died just like she was supposed to.

35W

[hightime]

Wow, thanks for starting this thread. Several pages here and I admit I didn’t read all the posts. I searched out and bought a new Winchester ‘92 in 357 mag. I have a 1873 Uberti in 45 colt. I have tried and tried loads to get 3 to 4” groups at 100 yards for the 45 , with no success. I love the gun except for that. Now with the 357 I’m right in there where I want to be. I thought it was the caliber.
Am I wrong, or is it the gun? At any rate , it is fun to search out loads in the off hunting season.
Owen

[arobertsjackie]

357....

[am44mag]

Out of those two choices? 45 Colt. 44 mag is my first choice though.

[cga]

45 Colt.

[avogunner]

Since the OP is only giving two choices, my answer would be my Uberti 1860 Henry .45 Colt. However, if the question is....IF I could only have one lever, which would it be, that's easy - my 1895 Winchester in .30 Govt 06! I can load that round light enough (311359) for any small game and heavy enough (311290) for just about all N. American Game. For me, it's the perfect one gun/caliber combo.
Semper Fi

[Tracy]

.357 Magnum. This tells part of the story: http://www.darkcanyon.net/MyFriend_The357.htm
And this tells the rest: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm

Several people mentioned the .44 Mag. I have a .44 Mag Marlin just because I wanted one and finally got one despite the fact that I had no real need for one. There is nothing I can do with it that I can't do with a .357 carbine.
I really like .45 Colt too, in a revolver. And although I also have .44 Mag revolvers, there is nothing the .44 Mag can do that the .45 Colt version of the same gun can't do better.
But again, .45 Colt in a rifle doesn't give me any real, practical advantage over the same rifle in .357 Mag. Both will do a fine job on anything through black bear. If I were going after anything larger than that I would be carrying a hot loaded .45/70 or a .35 Whelen bolt action, or maybe a .375 or .458 bolt action.

I really like the .30-30, too. But a strong .357 Magnum rifle will drive a 200 grain bullet over 1600 fps. It is possible but not easy to stuff a 200 grain bullet into a .30-30 in a way that will feed and function in a Model 94, but it won't give much if any more velocity than the same weight in a .357 rifle. The only thing .30-30 gives realistically is about 50 yards greater range. If I'm hunting in a way that makes the additional range of the .30-30 an important factor, I'l be packing a .30-06 or 7x57 instead. That gives me an additional 100+ yards of point-blank range over the .30-30.

[engineer401]

357. I’m already set up for it.

[If1Hitu]

.357,I have a 45/70

[dsol]

45 Colt can be loaded to some pretty stout levels, but 357 is so versatile. I have both and shoot my 357 much more. Get more bullets from a given pound of lead, got several different molds, anywhere from 125gr plinkers to 170gr thumpers. I have half a dozen different 357 revolvers to go with my carbine too; 2 inch and 3 inch Rugers (Security Six and SP101), 4 inch and 6 inch S&W and a couple of Ruger single actions. Only one 45 Colt and it is a single action. Double action 45 Colt revolvers are way too pricey.

I have thousands of empty 38 spl cases and almost as many 357's from my dad. He did all the loading of practice ammo for the local Police Dept where he was a firearms instructor as well. So cheap to reload, even high performance loads use less powder than the big 45 Colts.

[sac]

.357 Magnum. This tells part of the story: http://www.darkcanyon.net/MyFriend_The357.htm
And this tells the rest: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm

Several people mentioned the .44 Mag. I have a .44 Mag Marlin just because I wanted one and finally got one despite the fact that I had no real need for one. There is nothing I can do with it that I can't do with a .357 carbine.
I really like .45 Colt too, in a revolver. And although I also have .44 Mag revolvers, there is nothing the .44 Mag can do that the .45 Colt version of the same gun can't do better.
But again, .45 Colt in a rifle doesn't give me any real, practical advantage over the same rifle in .357 Mag. Both will do a fine job on anything through black bear. If I were going after anything larger than that I would be carrying a hot loaded .45/70 or a .35 Whelen bolt action, or maybe a .375 or .458 bolt action.

I really like the .30-30, too. But a strong .357 Magnum rifle will drive a 200 grain bullet over 1600 fps. It is possible but not easy to stuff a 200 grain bullet into a .30-30 in a way that will feed and function in a Model 94, but it won't give much if any more velocity than the same weight in a .357 rifle. The only thing .30-30 gives realistically is about 50 yards greater range. If I'm hunting in a way that makes the additional range of the .30-30 an important factor, I'l be packing a .30-06 or 7x57 instead. That gives me an additional 100+ yards of point-blank range over the .30-30.

Here is a good one for the 45, http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...ltlevergun.htm

[osteodoc08]

I picked 45 colt because I had to choose. The 357 is no slouch however. Either would serve the rifleman well.

[3856imp]

Of course I would keep a 35 Remington

[Chad5005]

30-30 or 32 special, oh never mind,they weren't on there

[St. Hogustine]

.357 because it's what I started on, and because of the variety of off the shelf ammo (including 38 special and others). But both calibers are great!

[powwowell]

I have both. Voted 45 Colt. Me likey.

[Newtire]

Since I already have a .444 Marlin and a .454 Casull, a .357 doesn't sound very appetizing. I'd have to go with the Colt if that's the only choice.

[gundownunder]

I've got the 357 and am happy with it, but if I was again facing the same choice I faced 10 years ago, I'd go 45 Colt.
I could load the 45 down to match the killing power of a 38 spl, but there is no way to build the 357 up to match the killing power of a 45 Colt from a modern rifle with Ruger only loads

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

357 Magnum
I have heard from a large number of people about accuracy problems in 45 Colt lever action rifles. I am one of them. I finally gave up on my 1892 Japchester and sent it out for gender reassignment surgery. It is now an accurate 44WCF Japchester.
I personally cast and load for my Rossi 92 rifle in 357 magnum. This is a very versatile combination. Soft light bullets with a "pinch" of Greendot to 210 grain hard cast monsters with a case full of Lil'gun.