Limitations of the 45colt in a lever gun?

[DeanWinchester]

I'm looking at getting another lever gun. One to just knock around and work the property with. Toss in the truck when I go places. That sort of thing. I used to keep my AR for that sort of thing but I've just lost the taste for them. They have no heart or soul.
My first serious thought has been a Savage 99 in .30WCF. I had one growing up that was my great grandfathers but the common filth hippies that I have the misfortune to call my blood family made that disappear. Lost family heirloom.
I've always swore to myself to replace it. There's just not much in TN a 30/30 can't handle. And in the 99 I can feed it my cast spitzer type hollow points for some serious work. Or I can use a 32 caliber round ball for little critters, and there's miles of road in between.

I can't keep from thinking about a .45 Colt though. It would complement my Blackhawk so nice. I'm curious about it though as I have never had an opportunity to shoot a rifle chamber in such. I have molds out the wazoo for the caliber. Finding something that shoots well should be a cake walk.
Has anyone ever taken deer past hundred yards with one? Shot placement is always critical so that not considered would I have any trouble firing up a stiff load and taking a deer at say 150 yards? There's no place I would ever have to shoot farther and most shots would be inside 75.

I'm limited on funds so I'm trying to decide which one will prove to be more versatile.

Talk to me people. I value y'all's input greatly.
Thanks!

[starmac]

I Have no experience with the 45 in a rifle, and it seems like you are thinking on the practical side of things, since you are already set up for it.
I did own for a while a 44 carbine and limited myself to 100 yard and closer shots.
It also sounds like you will never be completely satisfied until you get that M99. Practically speaking I don't think you can go wrong with either choice you pick.

[DougGuy]

I had a Trapper in .45 Colt and loved it! It will take all the Ruger/TC loads you want to throw at it. I got mine to shoot 200yds but the boolit drop at that distance was something to behold. At 100yds these group pretty well and some of the wide meplat WFN boolits ought to be accurate. If you can push a 300gr WFN to 1300f/s in a revolver, it ought to work even better in a rifle.

[Sensai]

I really like my Puma in 45 Colt, but I keep things under 100 yards. It's great for deer and hogs, and handy as heck with the 16" barrel and large loop. That said, every man needs a 30-30 and it sounds to me that you have a special need for one. As much as I enjoy the 45 Colt, I don't think you will be really happy until you replace Granpa's gun. Best of wishes.

[Pb2au]

Its a shame about your grandpa's rifle.
I am big proponent of a lever gun in a pistol caliber. I would suggest as Sensai did, a Rossi/puma rifle. They are available at a that won't break the bank, around 350-500$. There is a wealth of knowledge out there on them as well. Go check Ranch Dog's Rossi rifleman forum.
Good luck!

[joec]

I have a Rossi 92 in 45 colt with a 20" barrel and love it. I can load with light loads from 200 gr up to 325 gr WFN gas checked black bear killers. It has handled every thing I shot from it without problem including Ruger loads.

[azrednek]

Can't claim to taking a deer with my 45 Colt Rossi/Puma but I have run the so-called Ruger only loads through it without any signs of over pressure.

[snaketail]

I bought a Rossi .454 and shoot .45 Colt in it. My only complaint is the wood - its a bit soft, looks OK, but could ding up easy if you aren't careful with it. Mine is a lot of fun to shoot. Recoil from the .45 is hardly worth mentioning. Recoil from the .454 is something like a factory .30-30 cartridge. Mine has a 20" barrel - I wanted the longer sight radius, and I mounted a tang sight for Cowboy Silhouette matches.
I regularly shoot steel rams at 200 yards with it, but for deer I'd stay within 150 yards. Anything shot 40 to 100 yards will go down fast and stay down. A fellow I used to work with used .45 Colt for hogs in Texas - he took down a 300 pound sow at about 60 yards with one shot.
The colt is somewhat easy to reload. I'm currently using HP38 and hoping to find some Unique soon. The classic boolit is the 250gr LRNFP and I've had good results from 230gr LRN too.
The new .454s are drilled and tapped for a scout scope - under the semibuckhorn rear sight.
And, don't let your inlaws use it - they might want to keep it.
Here's a 1" group at 25 yards

[bangerjim]

Colt 45......"the bullet that won the west!" Still true today.

I have several 45LC rifles and hand guns and just love the cal to shoot. I reload tons of the stuff. Off-the-shelf prices are way over a buck a round.....if you can even find them. WalFart sells 45LC's because the sell the Circuit Judge rifle (one of which I own and have lots-o-fun with). :D

Rossi makes several versions from the short "Ranch Hand' to the standard long guns. And don't forget the Judge series that shoots both 45 and 410. And the prices are pretty reasonable and the guns out here in the west are readily available.

With my Rossi lever action and only the iron sites, I can get a very good groupings at 50 feet (max range available where I plink).

And 45's work in lots of revolvers too so you have commonality of ammo between platforms.

Henry repeaters are a classic!

bangerjim

[jmort]

You could kill anything on earth with your Blackhawk and the .45 Colt in a rifle is even more gun. For up to 150 yards it will work fine. There is no down side to adding a rifle to compliment your Blackhawk. I've had two .45 Colt Trappers. I think an M92 would be even better as it is a stronger action. The question is not really if, but why not, other than $$$.

[btroj]

I have a Marlin 1804 CB in 45 Colt.
I have shot heavier loads in it in the past. I have decided that my 300 flat nosed GB bullet at 1200 fps is plenty. With a received sight I would shoot a deer to 100 yards. It is my go to rifle for short range deer hunting.

Same load shoots well in my Blackhawk, they go 900 fps in that.

[superior]

72064
This is the exit wound from a Lee 452-300-rf at 60 yards. It removed 3 inches of spine. Rossi m92 20" stainless .

[superior]

72066
And that was all she wrote!

[gon2shoot]

I really enjoy the 45 levers, be carefull about letting any one shoot them, my daughters have claimed 3. ( I think the wife already claimed all the pistols)

[DougGuy]

72064
This is the exit wound from a Lee 452-300-rf at 60 yards. It removed 3 inches of spine. Rossi m92 20" stainless .

This would be a photo of that same boolit:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/20130527_182014a_zpsea9bd06b.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/20130527_182014a_zpsea9bd06b.jpg.html)

[azrednek]

I really enjoy the 45 levers, be carefull about letting any one shoot them, my daughters have claimed 3. ( I think the wife already claimed all the pistols)

Great excuse to buy a few more!!

[DeanWinchester]

I have that Lee mold too. It's a good one. I also have a 340g plain base Accurate that is a real stomper! I can't imagine anything surviving a 340g flat point at about 1100-1200 fps. Not here in TN anywho.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340F-D.png

[jmort]

There are boolits and then there are boolits, and the 340g plain base Accurate is the definition of what a boolit should be.

[birch]

I have one of the rebounding hammer Winchester 92's in 45 colt and it is one gun that will go to the grave with me. It is one of the nicest and most accurate guns I have ever shot. I have a cheap lead sled, and if I shoot well, they will go in one hole at 25 yards. It is also terrific for fast sight acquisition and quick follow up shots. They are pretty expensive, but well worth the money. Reloading is a must if you would like to shoot more than a couple of boxes a year.

[TXGunNut]

I have a Trapper in 45 Colt, another in 30-30...for now. The 45 Colt in a 94 or 92 is a solid performer. Sorry to hear about the 99 but it may be time to create your own heirloom. A good 94 in 30-30 (or 45 Colt) may remind your progeny of you and their adventures with you for generations to come.

[KirkD]

You would have no problem at all with deer at 150 yards. Take a look at this article here http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm I know a fellow who has taken big Mule Deer and Mountain Goat with his Winchester/Miroku Model 92 chambered in 45 Colt. I had one once, and it was a force to be reckoned with, especially with some of Paco Kelly's handloads mentioned in that article I linked to.

[DeanWinchester]

72064
This is the exit wound from a Lee 452-300-rf at 60 yards. It removed 3 inches of spine. Rossi m92 20" stainless .
Yikes! That's awesome....and a right nasty wound.


I have a Trapper in 45 Colt, another in 30-30...for now. The 45 Colt in a 94 or 92 is a solid performer. Sorry to hear about the 99 but it may be time to create your own heirloom. A good 94 in 30-30 (or 45 Colt) may remind your progeny of you and their adventures with you for generations to come.
I have a 94 and I'm just not happy with it.
As far as the progeny goes, well....it don't go. Me and wife have no kids and after 11 years of marriage, we aren't going to. I'm doing the world a favor. I'm the only son of an only son. Time to rid the world of this blood line. LOL!


Thanks everyone. It's a coin toss now. Id be happy with either and after some words on the 45, I feel they are equal for the circumstances of my life so Ill let fate decide. Headed to the gunshow Sunday, lets see what I find and what speaks to me.


Again, thanks everyone!

[btroj]

My Marlin won't chamber the Lee bullet shown. I could make it work if I deep seated it but then I lose too much powder space.

[DeanWinchester]

My Marlin won't chamber the Lee bullet shown. I could make it work if I deep seated it but then I lose too much powder space.

That's good to know. If it won't chamber the Lee, it probably won't chamber the Accurate mold I have either. If it won't chamber those, that's a definite deal breaker.
I'm going to make two dummy cartridges to take with me. If they won't chamber, I ain't buyin' it.

[NVScouter]

My 16" Rossi 45 Colt is exactly what you want. Short, handy, powerful, plenty of shots, etc. I shoot to 150y but 100y is more realistic. The same rifle with 24" octagon is on my wish list and I dont see why 200y would be out with proper sites. The shorty rifle just gets wiggly past 100 need some barrel to steady you up.

[Zymurgy50]

I have a 94 trapper and a Ruger blackhawk both in 45LC, State law here prohibits hunting deer with the trapper, but one time i took two does with one shot out of the blackhawk. 250gn swaged pure lead with a baseguard, moving at about 1200fps. I was concentrating on the front sight and didnt see the second doe move right behind the one i was sighting on. Bullet hit the first deer through the heart and took the second through the lungs, complete pass through on both deer.

[makicjf]

I have two Rossi 92's in 45 colt--tack driving sledge hammers ( the 20 inc bbl version is in my truck as we speak). I can regulary ring the 200 yard ram off hand with both the 24 and 20 inch bbl. The 20 inch is light, handy, can be loaded to stop anything within reasonable range. My standard , non-cowboy shooting load, is a lee 255 rnfp ( weighs 260 from ww) over ten of unique. It also matches both my blackhawks. I have, like the others some of the lee 300 rnfp gc that weigh about 318 checked and lubed-- they get loaded over a linebaugh dose of h110 ( africa lion gun/ poor mans 45/70 ;) ) I removed the over sized dot on the front post and lowered the rear sight until the semi buckhorn worked like a peep sight-- the front sight centers and it hits where ever the top of the post is too 115 yards or so. At one fifty i sight with the post at the top of the buckhorn flush and hold center mass. 200 yards same sight alignment but hold on the top edge/ just over the ram--ding! It also shoots light cowboy loads of 200's and 240's. The 24 inch holds 13 in the tube and the 20 holds 11-- if 12 or 14 rounds of 45 colt won't work --run! I have yet to harvest anything with them other than behaviourly challenged roosters , a rabbit and squirrels, but am confident within 150 yards I could stomp anything in Texas with the 255 or the 300. I have a Marlin 30/30 that is even more accurate, but loading is more work ( case trimming, gas checking) and acheving the same thump burns more powder. I love them all, but my 45 colt rifles are my favorites.
If you can get both!
Jason

[Outpost75]

With a rifle in .45 Colt I would limit shots on game to about 100 yards. It is accurate enough at that distance, but between rainbow trajectory, and most handgun ammo being capable of no better than 4moa, even in a test barrel, you are kidding yourself taking shots at game any further. It is not sportsmanlike to knowingly take shots at game beyond the range where you can have confidence of a humane kill.

[DougGuy]

Well, the gun, load, and shooter will define how far a reliable hunting distance is. Some loads shoot well some don't. If you can put 5 rounds into a 6" paper plate at 150yds, that's acceptable for hunting large game. Personally I would work on the gun and the load until they all went into a 4" circle but that paper saucer is good for deer or elk vital zones.

[DanWalker]

I have had my winchester 94 trapper 45 for 13 years now. I took it to africa last summer. My load was a 250 grain boolit from a LEE mold, loaded over 18.5 grains of 2400. EVERYTHING I shot with this load, died in very short order. I've killed a bunch of deer and hogs and antelope with this gun and load as well. I load the same boolit over 6.5 grains of red dot, for everything else. It is by far, my favorite rifle.

[hightime]

72228
This was taken with a 45 Colt last season.

[helice]

I presently have both the Puma in 45 Colt and the 99 Savage in 30-30. One thing that has not been mentioned is that those 99 Savages have increased in collector interest and thus increased in $$$$$. That said, I doubt that I'll let go of my Puma before I'm too blind to use it. I will restate the already stated: Do Not let your spouse or friends or relatives shoot your 45 lever gun. You will never get the thing back, and if you do it will mysteriously disappear from your gun case at odd times especially near hunting season. That Puma rifle is why Gun locks were invented.
[smilie=1:Good luck on Sunday.

[Rifle 57]

There are boolits and then there are boolits, and the 340g plain base Accurate is the definition of what a boolit should be.

I like this one also - 454360V Accurate mold

[RobS]

Does the above design cycle through a lever action? Looks like a really long nose for a lever action.



I like this one also - 454360V Accurate mold

[Rifle 57]

Does the above design cycle through a lever action? Looks like a really long nose for a lever action.
I don't know yet have not had a lever in 45 colt until today I just won a bid on one on Auction Arms but we will know shortly.

[btroj]

If I need that much lead to get the job done I grab my 45-70 Marlin. It handles the heavy bullets better. it can shoot em faster sitting down than the 45 Colt can running full tilt.

Sometimes I just think a bigger hammer is a better option

[Rifle 57]

I shoot them in my 1885 high wall 45 colt . I just think they are a blast to shoot in it.

[DeanWinchester]

If I need that much lead to get the job done I grab my 45-70 Marlin. It handles the heavy bullets better. it can shoot em faster sitting down than the 45 Colt can running full tilt.

Sometimes I just think a bigger hammer is a better option

What you're saying makes perfect sense BUT, .458 don't interchange with .454/.452 molds and pistols I already have. I mean, sure you can size bigger back, but I'd still have to buy new molds and dies and stuff.

[btroj]

True enough. I view it as an excuse to buy another gun, more moulds, and what not.

It also allows me to keep my 45 Colt from getting beat so much with heavy loads.

Just my personal preference.

[smkummer]

Lots of good advise here. I have a marlin 1894 in 44 mag. because I have owned it for 36 years and I am going to keep it but if buying new it would be the 1894 marlin 45 cowboy. What an absolute joy to shoot and with ruger loads it becomes a "light" 45-70. Of couse it also qualifies as a cowboy gun and a great cast bullet shooter. Shooting bigger game with a 44 or 45 hits them with a audible "whomp" if the distance is long enough to hear both the bang and whomp.
But its no 30-30. Should you need, the 30-30 Marlin is a 200 yard or more gun. I have seen Marlin 30-30s shoot a little over an inch at 100yards if you install a scope. The 30-30 can also be a 32-20 for small game and plinking. No matter how light you load the 45 Colt, its not really a raccoon, turkey or squirrel round.
While the obvious choice is to buy both, since funds are an issue, you have to decide what it is going to be mostly used for. 30-30 ammo and cases may be more available right now.
My grandfather's savage 99 chambered in 30-30 with cartridge counter is at my cousin's right now and I may ask about it, but I have a pre-64 94 Winchester than I developed a cast bullet load for that is wonderful to shoot for now.

[Groo]

Groo here
The one thing not talked about yet is the case...
The case is strong enough and large enough, the thing to watch is the rim.
Be sure you use modern 45 colt brass [ I like starline] that has larger than original rims to help with extraction and a new tight shell holder for your press
as you can pull over the small rims unlike more modern designs.

[richhodg66]

I kind of impulse bought a Rossi about a year ago, it's one that was made before safeties and such became standard on lever guns. Nice looking little rifle and I shot it for the first time today.

All my shooting was offhand at 25 yards, but it shot about as well as I think I can shoot open sights like that. The load was the Saeco 250 grain SWC I've used for years in my Blackhawks in front of 7.8 grains of Unique which has also worked well in my Rugers.

When I was trying to develop a deer load for a Blackhawk, 10 grains of Unique shot well with that same bullet. I think I'm going to try that next and this one may make it into the woods this Fall, I really like this little rifle so far.

[NVScouter]

What you're saying makes perfect sense BUT, .458 don't interchange with .454/.452 molds and pistols I already have. I mean, sure you can size bigger back, but I'd still have to buy new molds and dies and stuff.

I size down .458 boolits to .452 and shoot them in my Rugers and Rossi 45s. I use the LEE 340g .458 sized to .452 in my Redhawk and Blackhawk as a bear load. I will throw them in the Rossi too but I really like the fast 255g in the carbine. The 255 and 340 only have about 200fps difference in pistols but in the 18" barrel the 255 really picks up and doesnt drop like a stone either.

[bigted]

well my 2 Rossi's have gone to the grand babies. a 357 mag and a 45 colt. both in 20 inch barrels...wonderful rifles even tho a bit rougher then the Winchesters or browning.

the 45 ate all loads I fed it with ease...from bp 250 grain's to 405 grain. the 405 grain fed single shot style and only a few as they really come to life and there is no real reason to beat a rifle up like this when there is a very willing 45-70 standing by to do that job with ease.

the 45 is all gun and is and would be a very good companion around any place where a lite rifle is wanted/needed.

im on the fence to replace mine or just be happy ...[as I most certainly am]... with my real marlin GBL version in 45-70. it devours mean to lean with aplomb and just asks for more. bp in it is a treat as always and the shine from paper patch boolits make the shine way easy to clean.

45 cal...either .452,,, .454,,, .458,,, .460,,, cant go wrong with this mighty caliber.

[Ilwil]

J know what it is like to have a bottom feeding oxygen robber in the family. You got good advice about replacing that Savage. Another rifle I would consider is the Henry Golden Boy, which they are making in .30-30. Just a gorgeous rifle, and that heavy brass receiver will eat up felt recoil.