I'm looking at a lever gun carbine and i'm sort of tied between 2 makers and 2 calibers and i'd like a push in one direction or another if possible. I'm thinking of a 100 yard whitetail capable gun that i can pair with a single action at some point (i've been caught up by a re-accuring CAS disease that beat out the varmint rifle). I'm looking at either a Rossi or a Marlin in .45 Colt or .44-40. Now i'm not too huge on the giant safety on the Marlin and I'm not too happy with their not offering .44-40 either but it's not a deal breaker especially if the .45 Colt is the preferred caliber and Marlin the preferred brand by you guys and gals. Thoughts please.
I'm looking at a lever gun carbine and i'm sort of tied between 2 makers and 2 calibers and i'd like a push in one direction or another if possible. I'm thinking of a 100 yard whitetail capable gun that i can pair with a single action at some point (i've been caught up by a re-accuring CAS disease that beat out the varmint rifle). I'm looking at either a Rossi or a Marlin in .45 Colt or .44-40. Now i'm not too huge on the giant safety on the Marlin and I'm not too happy with their not offering .44-40 either but it's not a deal breaker especially if the .45 Colt is the preferred caliber and Marlin the preferred brand by you guys and gals. Thoughts please.
I covered this a bit on another thread. The Marlin is an 1894 action and the Rossi is an 1892 action.
The 1894 is easier to lever, easier to slick up, and easier to disassemble/clean, because it has less moving parts, and a more "in line" direction of parts action.
Other than that, I have owned and shot both, and they are both very fine rifles. Both are sturdy, rugged, accurate, and fun to shoot.
Between the two calibers you listed, I would go with the .45 Colt. But, that's just my preference.
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have to agree with ten man on the caliber. The 45 is the easier of the two to reload, and find on the store shelves. Have only shot the puma so I can't say which brand is better. Though I have had the puma for around 15+yrs and never had any trouble with it and have put thousands of rounds though it. started with the 357 and have all but the 44-40 now. Always wanted to get on in a mod 73. Oh to be albe to dream..........
I have a Rossi 92 in 44-40. It is more difficult to learn to load for but once you get everything worked out it's not bad at all. The main problem is original 44-40's are .427 and most modern 44-40's are .429 and most sizing dies still size to .427. Trying to stuff a .429 bullet into a case sized to .427 will usually crumple the thin walled 44-40 cases. RCBS makes cowboy dies that size to .429 or you could use a 44 mag expander plug. I just use a tapered hole punch to open up the case mouth a tad. The 44-40 is also historically correct for a lever gun while the 45 Colt is not.
already having a marlin .30-30 i'm not too worried about pistol caliber limitations, i was just looking for something fun to plink with and more or less acceptable in a shorter range hunting situation
I have a Marlin 1894 in .357 mag. I would think someone out there has a SA revolver chambered for that round. If not, there are lots of DAs. I have a Dan Wesson, which I got first, then came across the Marlin at a good price. The SA seems somehow a better partner gun, however. A .357 with 6" barrel or longer is the minimum handgun deer caliber here in Ohio.
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If you're not going to reload the .357 is the cheapest route followed by the .44 mag. Both of these are offered by Marlin and Rossi. Keep in mind tho if you use .38 or 44 spcl's you may have feed problems with the shorter rounds. Some are finicky, some aren't. If you reload the 44-40 can be loaded up to .44 mag pressures in a strong action like the Rossi 92 but the cases won't last long. Don't try it in a Uberti 73 or 66, the toggle link actions can't handle it. The .45 Colt can be loaded to .44 mag pressures and then some.
Just a side note, The .45 Colt was never offered in a lever gun until recently
For hunting I would go with a 44 Magnum. Most factory 240 gr JHP ammo will feed OK. I have a Winchester carbine and an EAA Bounty Hunter as a companion piece.
For pistol caliber lever guns I have the rossi in 357mag and in 44mag . I am still trying to figure out wich one is my favorite.If you reload you can taylor both of these rounds to suit your needs .Most places that sell ammo almost always have 38/357 ,44mag and 45 lc .I'm not so sure about 44/40 but if you reload that doesn't realy matter as much.
Teach
