wanting a new lever rifle Rossi in 45 colt or marlin in 30-30

[sac]

Like the title says, wanting opinions between the two. I had a Winchester 94 years ago in 30-30 but never cared for the 94's action but liked the cartridge.
The rifle will be used for deer and general shooting.

Thanks Scott

[Harter66]

The twist is a deal breaker in the Rossi Colts ..... Ok that's harsh . I have had 2 a 16 and 20" and both shot very well and killed hogs deader than a door nail . Both shot great groups and both had tumbling bullets that would tumble violently enough to curve up at 78-86 yd unless they were held sub sonic from the rifle . This was with 454424, 452-252 and a 429421 that cast .448 paper patched up to 454. The 452-255 RNFP was a little better but still misbehaved like it's SWC cousins . So if you can step up to a heavy enough bullet to deliver the blow at your maximum range and keep it under 1100 fps or shoot a nominal or custom up toward 1500 fps it will shoot the usual 100 yd .

I'm well pleased with a 30-30 a friend has in a Savage 325 . Not a lever gun but it gets the goods delivered .

[sac]

The twist is a deal breaker in the Rossi Colts ..... Ok that's harsh . I have had 2 a 16 and 20" and both shot very well and killed hogs deader than a door nail . Both shot great groups and both had tumbling bullets that would tumble violently enough to curve up at 78-86 yd unless they were held sub sonic from the rifle . This was with 454424, 452-252 and a 429421 that cast .448 paper patched up to 454. The 452-255 RNFP was a little better but still misbehaved like it's SWC cousins . So if you can step up to a heavy enough bullet to deliver the blow at your maximum range and keep it under 1100 fps or shoot a nominal or custom up toward 1500 fps it will shoot the usual 100 yd .

I'm well pleased with a 30-30 a friend has in a Savage 325 . Not a lever gun but it gets the goods delivered .
Thanks, that's the kind of info I was looking for. I had a older rossi years ago in 44-40 that was a good shooter but sold it also.

[Shawlerbrook]

A good , used Ct.-made JM Marlin hands down.

[Harter66]

I'm currently working a heavy weight with rifle powder for the Colts when that and a 2 nd project gel up I will post that information . If it works like it looks like it wants to it could be a fix for the hunter minded Colts user , and there are a lot of us around .

[huntrick64]

I have both and grab the Rossi in 45 Colt way more often than 30-30. My Rossi chamber is really fat though and leaves my brass bulged down to the webbing, so I use that brass in that gun only and do not full-length size it. Very pleased with accuracy using 282 grain Keith (MP mold) and a healthy dose (12-13 grains, I think) of HS-6. Use loading manual though instead of my spew.

[rfd]

i went and ordered the 24" rossi 92 in .45 colt, due in early next week. it will compliment my .45 colt conversion cylinder uberti 1858 .44 NMA. i have no need for rifle hunting (longbow only, and mostly for hogs) but if need be i could work up a nice load that'd kill pigs pretty quick with no problem. i've gone 101% black powder loads only for all my firearms, and i cast RCBS 255 grain EK .45 colt bullets, too. to me, the rossi appears to be a quite strong, but an easy to strip down lever action (for bp cleaning), and the 1:30 twist is just fine by me. the other plus for me is that my local indoor club range allows black powder cartridges and any pistol cartridge can be shot at the range, no matter if the platform is handgun or rifle. something "gun world" to do when the winter snows pile up whilst awaiting the spring thaw.

harter66 - would love to know yer .45 colt hunting load findings.

[Harter66]

RFD
The current 75 and less loads are basically Ruger only start loads with 255-265 gr bullets .
My deep research suggests that the Rossi 92's with an M serial number are suitable for full tilt 44 mag and are/were the basis for the 454 .
The heavyweight load is using a fast mid speed rifle powder that doesn't reach clean burn but is reaching the desired speeds and the bullets that are on the twist cusp are making round holes so I'm down to load tuning and alloy which I hope are on the bench waiting for the range trip .

[Skinny]

Does Rossi make one that will chamber the .454Casull as well as the .45Long ?

If not...they should.

[rfd]

i heard they did at one time offer the 92 in .454 casull, but no longer - not on their website.

[Harter66]

It is also my understanding that it is discontinued.

[OverMax]

Only difference between a 45 colt & a 30-30. Expect less blood shot meat w/a 45 cal. and less bullet speed and a 1/3 of the energy a 30-30 produces at 100 yards. But if your a recoil shy kind of feller by all means buy the Rossi.

[rfd]

fwiw, paco kelly seems to think a lot differently about the .45 colt and 30-30 @ 100 yds .....

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm

[sac]

i went and ordered the 24" rossi 92 in .45 colt, due in early next week. it will compliment my .45 colt conversion cylinder uberti 1858 .44 NMA. i have no need for rifle hunting (longbow only, and mostly for hogs) but if need be i could work up a nice load that'd kill pigs pretty quick with no problem. i've gone 101% black powder loads only for all my firearms, and i cast RCBS 255 grain EK .45 colt bullets, too. to me, the rossi appears to be a quite strong, but an easy to strip down lever action (for bp cleaning), and the 1:30 twist is just fine by me. the other plus for me is that my local indoor club range allows black powder cartridges and any pistol cartridge can be shot at the range, no matter if the platform is handgun or rifle. something "gun world" to do when the winter snows pile up whilst awaiting the spring thaw.

harter66 - would love to know yer .45 colt hunting load findings.

for BP in pistol cal. rifle I prefer 44-40, love that cartridge. I have a 58 remmy with a kirst 45 cylinder that I shoot 45 schofield out of.

[sac]

RFD
The current 75 and less loads are basically Ruger only start loads with 255-265 gr bullets .
My deep research suggests that the Rossi 92's with an M serial number are suitable for full tilt 44 mag and are/were the basis for the 454 .
The heavyweight load is using a fast mid speed rifle powder that doesn't reach clean burn but is reaching the desired speeds and the bullets that are on the twist cusp are making round holes so I'm down to load tuning and alloy which I hope are on the bench waiting for the range trip .

have you tried the RCBS 45-270saa boolit

[Harter66]

Sac
I tried numerous combinations . It wasn't until I examined all of the failures after a spectacular discovery at a cast shoot .
It is incredibly confusing to shoot a high point 45 ACP carbine with 45-200s better than the hunting tuned 92' . Aerodynamics are the killer .

[runfiverun]

Dang you must have got a Taurossi.
my [3] 45 colt Rossi's handle 165gr rnfps down to 4.5grs of clays well enough to head shoot grouse.
and still shoot 255gr rnfps at 1600 fps on top of 2400.

[Harter66]

An early 82-86' and a 13' . It is exclusively a bullet , velocity ,aerodynamics issue . In my case I'm working on simply going around the problem. Make no mistake , l love the rifles and the cartridge and the cartridge in the rifles . I just hate being forced into shooting outside of a window to get what should be built in.
The 457-340 Lee sized to 452 over a completely inappropriate powder is coming around . Round holes and 6" @ 100 will leave me a happy camper just because I have so many loads that are so good out to that point and if I slow them down just a little they shoot fine beyond also. The point behind the PCC is to extend your range with a shared cartridge . This particular pairing didn't work out yet .

[sac]

Dang you must have got a Taurossi.
my [3] 45 colt Rossi's handle 165gr rnfps down to 4.5grs of clays well enough to head shoot grouse.
and still shoot 255gr rnfps at 1600 fps on top of 2400.

Are there years to watch out for on the Rossi's?