Lever gun caliber

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Jan 11, 2016
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Broomfield, CO
I've got 22, 30 WCF 300 Savage, 32 WS, 35 Rem, and 45-70. All are a ton of fun. I don't scope any of them. If I were to just have one for a little do everything it would probably be the 30-30, 32, or 35. I need to pick up a 25-35..
 

Shraggs

WKR
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Jan 24, 2014
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Zeeland, MI
I have pre ww2 Winchester 94 in 32 ws. Love it, it’s sports a Burris fast fire 3 as irons are hard with my prescription
 

Shraggs

WKR
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Jan 24, 2014
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Zeeland, MI
I just posted this on a similar lever thread, thought I’d copy part

there is only one 358 factory load the hornady 200 sp interlock. In my gun it’s shooting legit .5”. At 2475 at the barrel it’s range is 250 yards. A little shy of my goals but solid very affordable white tail/practice load.

just today, I shot 4 more in a ladder test for 220 hammer hunters, a few grains +/-around 50 was a node all going 2525 FPS and under 1” group. That’s 390 yards at 1800 FPS, what hammers have tested to open at to date. Also, some antidotal discussions the mid bore hammers may open reliably below 1800…. My hope was 2600 FPS but magazine length will probably keep me short but 2550 looks promising. I will shoot through water jugs at 1700 and 1600 FPS to see if they do open legitimately before accepting commentary.

hope to finish this in next few weeks. Point is at 2550 with 220 hammers it’s easily a 400 yard for large game. IF, IF this Bullet will open and separate four petals within a few inches of water at a lower speed I will report back. But that certainly would be an extension in range if true.

358 definitely has more recoil than a 308, but I actually feel felt recoil is so much more pleasing with the slow roll vs fast snap I’d say my 7 mag. I’m betting this 358 so loaded is 28 lbs in a 7.75 package, my last 7 mag was a 10 lb ruger #1 probably 20 lbs of recoil. To me I’d rather shoot the blr 358…

Here’s mine, breakdown was on my radar but this grip felt better for me. In any case if ever witnessed 35 rem, 32 win spl terminal performance 200 yards and in with slow cup and core - imagine 220 significantly more speed and weight with this beauty…

C3164FD6-353E-4BE0-85DC-D6E5A5FCCFB8.jpeg
 

kaboku68

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Joined
Jun 14, 2012
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397
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Alaska
1956 Winchester model 71 with a side mount scope in 348-450 Ackley Improved. It shoots the middle cartridge between the 45-70 and the 458 Win Mag. It actually has ballistics a bit better than the 458 Win. I have an archery permit for moose this year but I would love to go moose hunting with this rifle. Oh. It kicks. Even with that rubber pad.
 

jhm2023

WKR
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Jan 2, 2018
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614
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Delta Junction, AK.
To me there is just something about a lever gun in 45-70 that makes me happy and I've never really given a thought to any other cartridge for a lever gun. Regardless of where I live and what I hunt it makes sense to me as I've used it on little Louisiana whitetails up to Alaska moose and was always impressed with the results on both ends of that spectrum. It has me covered from very heavy and hard hitting subsonic loads with a can for thumping things quietly and up close, stout bear/moose loads and down to a case full of trail boss with some cheap cast bullets for range fun. I do think a quality lever in 454 casull could tickle my fancy though should someone make an affordable and reliable one. I've sold a few of my 45-70s to include a nice JM stamped 1895 and regret it but I still have this 1895GBL and it's my go to for hunting in thick stuff. I changed the sights out for a skinner bear buster front and alaskan rear as well as a new trigger, load gate, safety delete and mag follower from ranger point precision and a bear proof ejector from wild west.

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Hootsma

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 16, 2014
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263
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Memphis, Tennessee
I have my grandpa’s 1942 Winchester 94 top eject in 30/30. The first time I took it hunting for hogs up in the Mobile River delta, I pushed through the first set of palmettos after getting off the boat and I heard “ca-ching”. Looked down and realized the palmetto snatched the elevator adjuster off the rear sight. I searched for it for about and hour to no avail. I ended up putting a target up and shot at it at 50 yards… 4” low. Ended up killing some hogs on that trip with a little bit of Kentucky elevation. I’ve since put a ghost ring/FO sight on it.

My hunting partners and I have discussed an Alaska trip sometime in the future in brown bear country. Ever since I’ve been lusting after the Marlin 1895 Dark Series in 45/70 with a Red Dot scope.


44, 357, 30/30, 45/70 can’t go wrong with any of them. It just depends on what your hunting and your anticipated ranges. Regardless of whichever caliber you decide, they’re a ton of fun to shoot and easy to tote and wield.
 

FLS

WKR
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
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I need to hunt with this more. Winchester 64 in 30 WCF. Redfield aperture.
 

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Kobuk

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 8, 2019
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139
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Alaska
I own a Winchester 88 in 308, Win 94 in 30-30 and a Rossi 92 in 454 Casull. They are all fun but my 92 gets the nod for black bear. I think I've taken 10 or so with it. I've tried several different load/bullet combos and they all work pretty great. I mostly shoot hot loaded 335 grain 45 colt loads from it and my pistol. It's kind of like a 7/8ths 454 but with a lot less snap.
 

moxford

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
242
Location
San Jose, California, United States
Winchester 71 .348!
1956 Winchester model 71 with a side mount scope in 348-450 Ackley Improved. It shoots the middle cartridge between the 45-70 and the 458 Win Mag. It actually has ballistics a bit better than the 458 Win. I have an archery permit for moose this year but I would love to go moose hunting with this rifle. Oh. It kicks. Even with that rubber pad.

71s are gorgeous, and I can push mine at 180gr to almost 3k fps, but a 348-450AI? Curious why you'd basically build a 450 Alaskan and then still run .348 instead of then sticking with the more common .458.

Of the previous listings
.444 are cool, but without knowing what the intended use was (beside being a truck gun) I'd have to side with 30-30 even as much as I love 45-70. 30-30 is such an underrated things these days, and being so light and quick shooting with very low recoil, it's still really neat and very very effective.

Probably go 35 Whelen before 45-70 unless you really NEED 45-70's hard hitting rainbow trajectory.
454/45LC is a neat option.

But of course, if you can get a Savage 99F in 300 Savage, you should obviously do that if you're anti-71. Rotary magazine with counter, takes spire-points, lots of style and cachet ... yeah, 99F in 300 Savage is the ticket. ;)

Cheers,
-mox
 
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kaboku68

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2012
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397
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Alaska
The 348-450 Ackley improved is more than 10% over 450 Alaskan. It shoots a .458 caliber round. I bought this used. Probably done up in the early 70s or late 60s. I found dies for it 2 weeks after I purchased it. A Christmas miracle in June.

It has that name because Ackley already had a 450 Ackley improved. It takes the regular 348 Win and blows out the shoulder with a 40 degree ackley improved shape.
 

moxford

Lil-Rokslider
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Sep 5, 2014
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San Jose, California, United States
The 348-450 Ackley improved is more than 10% over 450 Alaskan. It shoots a .458 caliber round. I bought this used. Probably done up in the early 70s or late 60s. I found dies for it 2 weeks after I purchased it. A Christmas miracle in June.

It has that name because Ackley already had a 450 Ackley improved. It takes the regular 348 Win and blows out the shoulder with a 40 degree ackley improved shape.

Okay, got it, so it's a actually a 450AI-348 (parent case comes at the end for wildcats), aka a 450AI Alaskan. (450 Alaskan AI?) http://www.gmdr.com/lever/450alaskantext.htm

Good stuff, and definitely a great find for sure! I thought about snagging one of the Browning/Mirouku replicas and going that route, but this thing's amazing as is and I've not found a needs for something bigger yet. (GS Customs .348 monos, basically hollowpoints, in Starline or Winchster brass. ... they rock.)

Maybe if I get into Browns or something it will give me an excuse .... :)

Cheers,
-mox
 
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