LEVER LOVERS.....THE COWBOY'S ASSAULT RIFLE

[bart11]

I mentioned in my review of the Rossi Puma in 454 Casull how my girlfriend liked it so much that she uses it for her defense carbine, loaded with 45 Colt defensive rounds.  When we go camping, we can load it up with full 454 loads and with 9 rounds in the 16 inch carbine, we feel we could defend ourselves from just about any 4 legged critter (or a sasquatch...... 2 legs on those).  With 45 Colt and lighter 454 loads, she is confident and not intimidated by recoil.  I have total confidence as well in her ability to cover my back or hold her own in a home invasion-type scenario.

But lever actions are great for a number of reasons and would not hesitate to use one to defend my home. 

Plus they are a LOT of fun!

Bart11

[maxwell]

I've always been amazed that lever action rifles weren't popular with the military. My understanding is that they didn't catch on because you can't use them in the prone position. Do you think their lack of military popularity is one reason they don't spring to mind when people are contemplating a rifle for home defense? I think they're almost perfect for home defense (with a little practice). .44 mag, .45 Long Colt, 45-70, it's a beautiful thing.

[Not2late]

Calibers!  I'm clueless when it comes to rifle calibers (beyond 223 and 308). So I would love to hear a breakdown of calibers available for levers and (I know it could probably be a show in itself) what all the hyphenated calibers mean.  That would probably be too elementary for most of your listeners, but since you asked ....

Bill

Did somebody say calibers? ... this'll make you dizzy:

Rifle cartridges
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2010/01/16/rifle-cartridge-comparison/


Handgun cartridges
http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2010/01/16/handgun-cartridge-comparison/

[Kevin]

I've got the Winchester Model 94 in .38/.357. Beautiful little gun, and it shoots the same ammo as my revolvers. Makes a fun, easy day at the range, as well as a nice combo for a walk in the woods ... although I usually strap on the 1858 Remington for plinking nowadays. Fun pistol, black powder, totally off topic, sorry...
-Kevin

[BilljOR]

As I have a 357 revolver Model 19- 3 in 4" I'm very interested in how 357 compares to rifle cal.in accuracy and distance I really like the idea of a carbine lever to go with my revolver!! must be the Cowboy in me  :)Really looking forward to your episode. your presentation and style make this one of my favorite podcasts. thanks Doc!

[Charlie Foxtrot]

.
We have a Marlin 1894C in 38/.357.  I've only taken it out to 50 yards, but it has exhibited excellent accuracy, more than enough for Cowboy Action Shooting. 

[biggyin]

I have the 1894c in .357, fantastic rifle.  Took my first deer with it this season, always take it into the blind along with my .308.  A nice little deer (100lbs cleaned) came out about 120 yards, using the lever evolution ammo the deer just fell over. Good clean kill.  The .357 really comes out in a 16" carbine.

[Jerome from California]

Any idea on how or where to mount a light? I'd really hate to drill the pretty wood forearm. I was thinking of using a Streamlight TLR. Thoughts?

[Doc Wesson]

Jerome,
what lever do you have... I am going to be talking about "sporterizing a lever" in the podcast.. if I can ever get Joe to do his segment...

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Any idea on how or where to mount a light? I'd really hate to drill the pretty wood forearm. I was thinking of using a Streamlight TLR. Thoughts?

Don't drill!  On another thread there's a discussion about 45-70 Guide Guns.  In a embedded YouTube video there's a Guide Gun with a very neat tri-rail attached to the magazine tube.  If you can't find it, I'll look for it after w#rk. 

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Jerome;

Give these guys a try: 

http://www.wildwestguns.com/accessories.html   The laser light mount is all the way at the bottom of the webpage.  Give 'em a call, I've heard the webpage doesn't have all their light mounts.   

[Devereaux]

Calibers!  I'm clueless when it comes to rifle calibers (beyond 223 and 308). So I would love to hear a breakdown of calibers available for levers and (I know it could probably be a show in itself) what all the hyphenated calibers mean.  That would probably be too elementary for most of your listeners, but since you asked ....



Bill

Since I have gotten into CAS, I have "discovered" levers. At first they seem complicated, but in actuality, most are pretty straight forward. I am sure a podcast would be able to clear up all the various little issues and idiosyncrasies. As a quickie, Winchesters came in Model #, beginning with 1866, then 1873, 1876, 1886, 1892, 1894, and finally 1895. They are generally referred to by the last two digits ('66 or '94). The first 3 share design in common with a Henry, and the last 4 are based on John Browning's design as seen in the '86. The 95 is the first lever to allow for "pointy" bullets because it has a box magazine rather than a tube.

The hyphenated numbers usually refer to calibre and weight of charge (in black). So a .45-70 is a .45 cablire (actually in real life practice it's about .458) with a 70 grain charge of black powder. A .38-55 would be a .38 calibre bullet over a 55 grains of black. And so forth. You will also see .45-70/.45-90/.45-110 referred to in length instead of charge of black.

OLD levers shouldn't be pushed with hot charges since the metal is not up to the standards we have today. Modern levers (reissue Winchesters, Brownings, and Marlins) can generally take a hot load, but one ought to talk to the creator of the load. '66, '73, & '76 have the Henry locking mechanism and it is inherently weak, so hot loads there probably also should be avoided, whereas an '86 and later locks like a bank vault. With modern steel it will take anything including bear loads.

Hope this helps as a quick down and dirty.

[atticus]

I expect to take delivery this week on a Rossi 1892 in .357/.38.  I am sure I would have liked a 44 or 45 LC just fine.  It's just that I needed to limit myself to calibers I already have.  When I look in my ammo cabinet, I am concerned that I have too many different calibers, and I did not want to add a new one just for a lever gun.  I live in the desert southwest, so most hunting would be done over distance (we have to travel all the way to east Texas to get into woodlands).  So, for hunting, I'll probably stick with my 25-06 or 30-06 bolt actions.  The .357 will be for fun, and for some limited protection in the outdoors (we do have a lot of coyotes here).  I'm looking forward to Doc's levergun podcast.  Fact is, I'd settle for a 15 minute podcast.  Hint hint.   

[Heritagefan]

I know it's been a bit, but I'm hoping you're still working on this episode. 

If so, I'd like to hear about the Mossberg 464, The Rossi lever guns, 30-30 vs .357 Magnum, Henry rifles, what is a good price for a used lever action,  Epic tales about "modern" (1960s and up) era lever gun use for law/self defense/survival, hunting,plinking, defensive ammo coices (including frangible),  Ballard vs. microgrooving, what's the best all around barrel legnth, and of course the obligatory "if I could have only one lever action..." thought.

Oh, one more thing,  I heard that Wild West Guns now makes a lever action in 500 Smith & Wesson.  What are your thoughts on that?

[Aaron L]

Heritagefan its funny you should mention the Mossberg 464. I just watched Resident Evil: Extinction last night and apparently it works very well against Zombies.

Claire (Ali Larter) firing her Mossberg Model 464 - .30-30 WCF

[Heritagefan]

Sweet!   Gotta rent that one now.