Best levergun for 45 colt...?

[Raygun]

Considering quality, strength, rate of twist (16-32) , Ballard or microgroove rifling, barrel length, bore diameter,..... make, model?

Some talk about the Navy (Rossi) Model 92, as being strong and 1 in 32 twist it a better choice than some leverguns with 1 in 16 twist.

What about the new Winchesters?

Lots of things to consider and I don't know much about 45 colt in leverguns. I was thinking...... Marlin 94 .

[joec]

I have a Rossi 92 with 20" Octagon barrel and love it. I'm considering getting the round barrel version of it also in the future if I don't eventually find a 454 also by Rossi. I've had great luck with the Rossi rifles including my Rio Grande in 45-70. Really highly under rated on most of these boards but good fit and finish on all I've seen as well as strong shooters.

[Calamity Jake]

I have 3 rossi 45C and a Marlin 24" CB all shoot good. If the Uberti 66 or 73 copys wasn't so pricie I would have one in a 20"

[ReloaderFred]

The only .45 Colt lever action rifle I have is a Marlin 1894CB. It's very accurate and reliable, and feeds everything I've tried in it. If I found a deal on another one, I'd jump on it in a hot second!

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Raygun]

I am thinking 45 Colt in 1894 CB with 1 in 38 twist would be awesome. I am not sure but I think Marlin changed from 1 in 16 twist to 1 in 38 in 2009. May be a Remington not JB gun. I really don't know which if any marlins have 1 in 38 rifling twist rate. Seems like 1 in 16 is to fast for "cast boollets" in 45 Colt carbine / rifle. I've never loaded for one so I don't know from experience.

[helice]

I got a Rossi LSI for Christmas in '04. Its stainless and bright, too bright to leave bare when huntng. I have had no problems other than that feeble back sight. It got replaced quickly with one of Steve's Gunz 'peep' sights. It's a comfortable carry with a bunch of power. Not as smooth as the Brownings or the Winchester but worth what I paid and then some.

[azrednek]

I have three Rossi Pumas. The 38/357 and 44 both have had issues and parts are not readily available. My 45 Colt however has been trouble free and seems to digest everything I feed it. I inquired with a local gunsmith about the cost of action jobs. He responded saying shoot each one a thousand times then come talk to me. Just from use, a thousand plus in each one has left the actions buttery smooth and an action job would simply be a waste of money. The best of the bunch in shot to shot accuracy is the 44.

[Grapeshot]

I own an 1873 Navy Arms carbine that strated out in life as a .44/40 WCF. I had a gunsmith rebarrel that carbine in .45 Colt with a 1:16 twist. The rifle is extremely accurate with the Lee .452-255 cast RNFP as well as with the Lyman Cowbow 250 gr .45 caliber LRNFP.

It also shoots the Hornady and Speer .45 JHP's with exceptional accuracy. Nothing wrong with the 1:16 inch twist out of this little carbine.

[Raygun]

I own an 1873 Navy Arms carbine that strated out in life as a .44/40 WCF. I had a gunsmith rebarrel that carbine in .45 Colt with a 1:16 twist. The rifle is extremely accurate with the Lee .452-255 cast RNFP as well as with the Lyman Cowbow 250 gr .45 caliber LRNFP.

It also shoots the Hornady and Speer .45 JHP's with exceptional accuracy. Nothing wrong with the 1:16 inch twist out of this little carbine.

It is one thing to speculate but that's much different than on hands experience.
I have no experience whatsoever with 45 Colt in a carbine, so I appreciate hearing from someone who does.

Thanks

[tomingreeneco]

Do not forget to check out the Henry's. Very smooth shooting guns. Made in USA too!

[Whiterabbit]

in a carbine I wouldn't mind 1 in 16, but only if the chamber were LONG, and the gun were beyond ruger strong. Sounds like a perfect gun to sling 395 grain bullets. I'd think 1 in 20 would be a little more versatile. I'm not sure I'd want one any slower than that.

[blackhawk44]

Check with both EMF and Navy Arms for their Rossi imports. They both specify a better finish on both metal and wood than the standard Braztech imports.

[TXGunNut]

I have a sweet 94 Trapper for eye candy and occasional use. For a shooter or regular use rifle I'd probably choose an imported 92 replica.

[superior]

For me, strength is the primary concern followed by light weight and ease of carry. Thus my choice of the Rossi M92 20" round stainless. The deer that fell from it's shot must not have seen the bright stainless at 50 yards. It's the only action I trust with some of my hotter loads.

[felix]

For strength, any action with locking lugs right behind the cartridge is the best choice. What we want is a bolt action without the side cocking handle. Do not the later Browning lever cowboy guns have this front locking design? ... felix

[superior]

For strength, any action with locking lugs right behind the cartridge is the best choice. What we want is a bolt action without the side cocking handle. Do not the later Browning lever cowboy guns have this front locking design? ... felix

If the strongest action were my only concern, the Browning would get the nod from me. The combination of strength and many other qualities make my for my choice of the 92. At five pounds in weight with the ability to withstand 50 psi loads, it makes for an appealing pkg. ( at least for me) I've got my eyes open for a .454 next. I also like the 10+1 capacity of the 45Colt 20".

[herbert buckland]

In my experiance every pistol caliber rifle(44,44-40,45 Colt) I have tryed with whith a fast twist of 1 in 16,1 in 18 ,and a 56-50 with a 1 in 20,acuracy was very bad,this may have been my bad luck but the maths agree with this result.I personly would never buy a rifle in one of these calibers unless the twist was at least 1 in 28,1 in 36 in the 44-40 with the 200gr bullet has been a prooven prefomer since 1873 ,if you get away from this match you need to change the bullet lenth or velocity if you want the best acuracy wich is not always posible in a leaver action pistol caliber rifle.around 1 in 36 twist is a very safe bet in all these pistol caliber rifles

[Raygun]

In my experiance every pistol caliber rifle(44,44-40,45 Colt) I have tryed with whith a fast twist of 1 in 16,1 in 18 ,and a 56-50 with a 1 in 20,acuracy was very bad,this may have been my bad luck but the maths agree with this result.I personly would never buy a rifle in one of these calibers unless the twist was at least 1 in 28,1 in 36 in the 44-40 with the 200gr bullet has been a prooven prefomer since 1873 ,if you get away from this match you need to change the bullet lenth or velocity if you want the best acuracy wich is not always posible in a leaver action pistol caliber rifle.around 1 in 36 twist is a very safe bet in all these pistol caliber rifles

I am not sure but if I remember right the older Marlin 444 has a 1-38 twist rate.
As I understand it, they were very versitle for trick/survival loads like ball and multiball rounds.

[herbert buckland]

I am not sure but if I remember right the older Marlin 444 has a 1-38 twist rate.
As I understand it, they were very versitle for trick/survival loads like ball and multiball rounds.You realy can not compare the .444 to pistol caliber loads as the .444 uses a longer bullet at higher velocitys so it will need a faster twist.It is the short bullets that need the slower twist the longer the bullet the faster the twist needed to stabilise it,you can have slitly longer or shorter bullets than were meant for a certain twist rate but then you have to play with velocitys,it is much easyer to pick the rifle with the right twist rate for a given bullet lenth and velocity than to buy a rifle and expect to be able to taylor a load for it which in some cases can be unachivable

[Clinebo]

Do not forget to check out the Henry's. Very smooth shooting guns. Made in USA too!

One of my friends has the Henry in .45 Colt. Its a good rifle...but the action isn't as smooth as my Rossi '92. I told him to shoot it more and after cleaning to cycle the action while he watches TV.

[Raygun]

I have an original 1873 Winchester 20" octagon, relined & chambered to 45 Colt. I killed a big black bear with it using 225 gr SWC 8 gr Unique. 2 shots.

Awesome!

[Grapeshot]

In my 1873 Uberti Carbine, I have fired rounds with 17.5 Grains of Alliant 2400 as well as 9 grains of Unique behind my usual 255 gr. RNFP Lyman Cowboy and the Lee 255 gr RNFP. Accuracy is very good and I don't hesitate using those loads for deer.:castmine:

[Buzzard II]

I still use a Winchester 94 Trails End model in .45LC that I bought when they first came out years ago. Round barrel, saddle ring. It's always done it's job when I do mine. I've only shot W231 in it and I'm happy with it. Bone stock, never slicked up. It's a keeper. I've been shooting a 44-40 1860 Henry and recently acquired a Winchester 94 Commemorative in 44-40. Both are being fed a diet of the Holy Black. Gotta love it!
Bob

[birch]

I recently traded a 1951 colt .38 super that needed a reblue for one of those Winchester 92's that came out in 1997. It is a spectacular gun and the most fun I have ever had with a lever gun. I can't say enough about Miruko gunsmithing. Oh, it is accurate as I'll get out!

[Ragnarok]

I own a Marlin 'Cowboy Competition' 20" barreled .45 Colt carbine/short-rifle.

Is it the best .45 Colt rifle?....I don't know about that..however it is a very good .45 Colt rifle..and the only .45 Colt rifle I own. I like it.

[shotstring]

My Winchester 94 trapper will shoot minute of angle at 100 yards. I could hardly believe how well this rifle shot. It is a 90's Winchester. My Uberti 1873 in 45 colt not so good with the same loads, but I haven't spent any time working out a load for it. Next project. Doubt it will ever come close to the Winchester though.