Lever action rifles

[Chris]

Check out the R92 Rossi's as well Chris. John Moses Browning's answer to the lever action, and Rossi makes a good one for an affordable price. Did you know that you can shoot .44 Special in a .44 Magnum? Or you can load .44 Magnum to .44 Special levels and save a little powder and recoil. Also, you can load the .45 Colt to approxamatly the same performance levels as the .44 Magnum with less recoil and chamber pressure. You can also push a heavier bullet with the .45 colt for those times you want to nail a Moose or an Elk.

Yup, same-o, same-o on the ammunition. If or when you get to reloading for the rifle and the revolver, there will probably be slight differences in the loads as you tune for each. They will still be interchangable though.

Those R92 Rossi's look great!

I knew that about a .44 Special in place of a .44 Magnum, which is great.

One thing I noticed is that with the Ruger Super Blackhawks (the newest models), they no longer make them in .45 Colt. Do you know why that is? All of the standard Ruger Blackhawk models used to be .45 Colt and .357.

Basically it's coming down to this... I can choose a Ruger Blackhawk in a .45 Colt or a 44 Magnum. The barrel lengths I want only come in those two choices.

So, to a guy who is a newbie when it comes to revolvers, which round do I choose?

@Nashorn101, you're right, it may be better to not worry about the interchangeability of the ammo. However, I guess I was just thinking in a "end of the world" type of survival scenario, it would be nice to have weapons with interchangeable ammo, that way you're not stuck with different rounds for each weapon.

Am I wrong in that thought process?

 

[Chris]

I know nothing about anything other than bolt action rifles, that's why I have all these newbie questions.

All I know is that I want a lever action rifle, and I want a single action revolver.

I won't be hunting with them, I'll just be using them for going out in the woods and shooting at targets (or going to ranges). I'm obviously not going to attempt to conceal carry a revolver like this, but since we go out to Bend (and camping) a lot, I'll take them with me for fun, you know?

 

[Kyle_W]

I know nothing about anything other than bolt action rifles, that's why I have all these newbie questions.

All I know is that I want a lever action rifle, and I want a single action revolver.

I won't be hunting with them, I'll just be using them for going out in the woods and shooting at targets (or going to ranges). I'm obviously not going to attempt to conceal carry a revolver like this, but since we go out to Bend (and camping) a lot, I'll take them with me for fun, you know?

I think that way too, it's a really good way to look at things and that honestly is a good idea! However, you are buying these for fun and just because you want them. I wouldn't worry about it!

I would just go with what exactly what you want and not think about it.


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[Chris]

I think that way too, it's a really good way to look at things and that honestly is a good idea! However, you are buying these for fun and just because you want them. I wouldn't worry about it!

I would just go with what exactly what you want and not think about it.


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That's true, they are just for fun.

These are the two I am looking at:
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBisley/specSheets/0470.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkStandard/specSheets/0814.html

There's two things I like... Stainless steel, and an un-fluted cylinder. The ones with the fluted cylinder just look strange to me.

 

[Kyle_W]

That's true, they are just for fun.

These are the two I am looking at:
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBisley/specSheets/0470.html
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelSuperBlackhawkStandard/specSheets/0814.html

There's two things I like... Stainless steel, and an un-fluted cylinder. The ones with the fluted cylinder just look strange to me.

It looks like the super blackhawk has the spent-casings rammer, and the Bisley looks like it has a different setup. Unless the pictures are just misleading, for that reason alone I think the super blackhawk would be a winner.

 

[StG58]

They probably don't sell enough Super Blackhawk to make it worthwhile to build the .45 right now. Everyone is selling everything they make. I should get you out and let you sheet a Ruger 44 and a Ruger 45, so you can feel the difference. Both will absolutely do what you want, for sure. Other than barrel length, I'd recommend the 357. Not everyone can shoot a 44 mag. It's got a recoil impulse that takes some getting used to. Not an issue if you reload, but something to think about.

My Master Chief used to tell me when I grouse about carrying an M14 "Son, if you survive your first firefight, you can have your pick of what's laying around. ".

It sounds like you know where you're headed Chris. Go forth and fondle several and report back on what feels good to you. You're not looking at bad choices here.

 

[Chris]

That's what I was thinking too, the Super Blackhawk. I don't know why, but the Super Blackhawks only seem to come in 44 magnum, and not 45 colt (which the older Blackhawk models do).

 

[Chris]

I'd like to fire a .357, Ruger 45 and Ruger 44 to see what the difference is.

All the internet research comes down to is really just opinions. I suppose that's right though, since everyone is going to have their own preference.

The .357 from what I gather is cheaper to buy ammo over-the-counter, but if I were to start re-loading my own ammo, I'm not sure the cost would be that different between those three ammo types, would it?

So ultimately what it comes down to is which one is going to be more "fun" I guess. I'm not going to hunt with it, I'm just going to use it for good ol' fun!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I am no gun expert but I'll take my .45 as a home defense round over the .357 I bought my wife 27 years ago. All other things being equal, bullet diameter has the most effect on stopping power in a close-in gunfight.

I have a SA Ruger Bisley .44 Magnum which is a hoot to shoot. What is cool is it shoots the more docile and less expensive .44 Special too. I used to reload it with some pretty hot ass-kicking rounds which would make my hand throb the next day if I shot many of them lol.

So far back to the original lever action question, I jonesed for one for years too until I read where Winchester was discontinuing its venerable Model 94 30-30. As soon as I read that, I ran down to my local Big-5 and bought one that was still on sale from before it was announced they were being discounted and got a hell of a good price on it. I still have it new-in-box unfired. I like that gun, I had borrowed a '94 30-30 many years prior to buying mine to take my first big 400 lb. wild pig with one shot. However, the 30-30 is definitely not a long-range round. I wouldn't care to use it over a hundred yards or so.

And if you want that 300 yard shot, yep a bolt action is the best option for that. I have a Remington 700 30-06 which is the basis for a popular military sniper rifle. A bolt action is hard to beat.

 

[Head Lice]

That's what I was thinking too, the Super Blackhawk. I don't know why, but the Super Blackhawks only seem to come in 44 magnum, and not 45 colt (which the older Blackhawk models do).

Chris .... the Super Blackhawk is a decent single action. They are heavy and easy to shoot. My hand tended to ride up under the hammer with the stock grips. Once the grips were changed out, it was altogether a different pistol.
Had a shoulder holster for in the field carry .....
Mine was 'blue' ....
The '92 Winchesters and their copy rifles are the most pleasing to the eye (just my opinion) ....
Have you considered a Ruger single-shot rifle in a big bore chambering? Possibly something like a 45-70. Buffalo rifle ....

 

[Chris]

The '92 Winchesters and their copy rifles are the most pleasing to the eye (just my opinion) ....
Have you considered a Ruger single-shot rifle in a big bore chambering? Possibly something like a 45-70. Buffalo rifle ....

Oddly enough that is one I hadn't seen until now. What a gorgeous looking rifle! That has to be the best looking lever action rifle I've seen thus far.

I haven't yet looked at a single-shot rifle, but maybe I should. At this point I'm kind of just exploring my options.

Really like that 92' Winchester though!

 

[UpperMI]

I still have the Winchester model 94 30-30 my mom got for my dad for Christmas in 1939. She paid $26.00 for it new.
Not a good long distance gun, but it shot a lot of deer here in the UP.

My family has a model 94 chambered in 32 Winchester special. The gun was purchased by my great grandfather. The serial number dates back to 1916. The gun has a saddle ring attached to the side of it (very cool). Shoots well out to 100 yards. After that you need to plan for bullet drop. Super narrow and light weight. This is a great gun to carry all day for comfort. Although not too good for long shots. Good for the UP though.

 

[Rob5589]

Lever actions are fun especially paired with a single action in the same caliber. I have a Win 1892 and a Ruger Blackhawk both in . 357. Will post up some pics when am on pc.

 

[Chris]

That's what I've been thinking... A lever action and a single action of the same caliber seems like it could be some fun.

 

[WyoDak]

Another fine lever action is the Savage 99. These aren't made any more so they have become collectible and a good investment. I have one in .308 and another in .300 Savage.
A couple of years ago, my wife gave me an anniversary gift of a Model 94 Winchester manufactured in the year of my birth, 1952.

 

[StG58]

Oddly enough that is one I hadn't seen until now. What a gorgeous looking rifle! That has to be the best looking lever action rifle I've seen thus far.

I haven't yet looked at a single-shot rifle, but maybe I should. At this point I'm kind of just exploring my options.

Really like that 92' Winchester though!

Wife's got a Ruger #3 in 45-70 she hunts with. Super nice single shot carbine.

 

[Head Lice]

Another fine lever action is the Savage 99. These aren't made any more so they have become collectible and a good investment. I have one in .308 and another in .300 Savage.
A couple of years ago, my wife gave me an anniversary gift of a Model 94 Winchester manufactured in the year of my birth, 1952.

The '99's are a fine rifle ..... have a .308 manufactured in '58.
Also a .250-3000 ..... manufactured in '54.
Both with 24" barrels.
Model 94 Winchester ..... '56 vintage.

 

[Rob5589]

That's what I've been thinking... A lever action and a single action of the same caliber seems like it could be some fun.

For plinking and up to medium sized game, something in 357 is great because you can also shoot 38 special which is much cheaper and almost no recoil. My 92 does not shoot 38, it supposedly can but I have yet to try.

I also have a Colt SAA in 45 Colt. It is a 1903 build but unfortunately it has a later barrel and cylinder. Probably was a caliber swap at some time. Beauty of a gun, haven't shot that one yet.

 

[RaymondT]

When it comes to lever guns, you really have to first settle on it's intended use. For actual hunting, the model 94 in 308 Winchester is an excellent deer rifle with a scope and hammer extension. It's size is easy to get in and out of a pickup cab in a hurry. Not powerful enough? Then the 1895 in 30-06 steps it up a bit. Then there are the big bore "brush busters" like the Marlin 444. Plinking and having fun? Then the revolver cartridges are the most economical but don't expect precision accuracy. Over a 100 yds and you get into the realm of artillery.

Rural Canada was built on the 30-30 Winchester. Up until the late 60's, only the rich city folks had bigger. Probably put more meat on the table than any other cartridge in our history.

And for the feeling of history in your hands, hard to beat the 3-screw SAA. It fuels the imagination a bit better than a Ruger.

 

[UPJOHN]

My grandfather shot his last buck with a lever action like this one. My brother still has it and it will get passed down to my son.
It's a Winchester model 71, 348.