Looking at lever action rifles in 45C

[Eaglestroker]

One of the top 10 firearms of mine is a Marlin 45 Colt "Cowboy Competition" model. It's a great rifle with a factory action job. Liked it so much I ended up with two for bargain prices. If your impatient and gotta have it now you would be hard pressed to do better than an Uberti in your flavor.

 

[Cyrano]

Colt Mfg. tried the .45LC by developing the Burgess... the allure of using the same cartridge in both rifle and handgun was great. However... you are correct... that small rim stopped Colt... and they stuck with the .44WCF for the limited-run Burgess. Hear-tell shortly after the Burgess... Winchester paid Colt a visit with a couple of prototype handguns... and they ended up with a handshake. Colt stuck to handguns... Winchester stuck to rifles.

Item of note: Colt developed the Frontier Six-Shooter in '79 to accompany the Winchesters.

There is a lot more to it than that... but that's as concise as I can make it.

I understand Borchardt designed one of the Winchester revolvers, and the Winchester designers designed a few other models. I wonder if any are on display in the Winchester factory collection at the Buffalo Bill Cody museum in Cody?

The agreement didn't last too long on Colt's part: they had the Colt Lightning pump rifles in three frame sizes in the 19th century and the Colt Sauer, among others, in the mid 20th.

 

[Alpo]

I've heard of the "Gentleman's Agreement" between Winchester and a pistol maker, but I heard it was Smith, not Colt. And while Smith did market Husqvarna rifles in the latter half of the 20th Century, aside from those early revolving rifles, I don't Smith ever made rifles.

 

[smokindog]

WOW! ALl kinds of good info here. I'm really enjoying this.

I'm going to be taking my time on this purchase and have some fun "window shopping".

I'm still leaning towards this
1866 Yellowboy Rifle | Uberti
or this (more this for me, wife likes above more)
1873 Rifle and Carbine | Uberti

but still open! Looking at short barrel in each.

Questions on reloading. Because of some of the comments herein, I'm wondering if you guys use the same loads for the rifle that you'd make for your revolver??? As mentioned, I've got an Uberti 1873 Cattleman in 45C.

1873 Cattleman El Patrón Revolver | Uberti

 

[Alpo]

I shoot 8.0 of Unique under a cast 255 RNFP bullet. Use it in all my pistols and in my rifle. It's a full-power load (not a "Ruger only" load, but not some wussy cowboy load) and have had no problem with "blowby" in my rifle.

 

[johnnyflake]

US Made Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt for $800/$850

The best Lever Gun you will ever own!

Rossi M92 .45 Colt 20" Barrel in SS for about $600

The best ever for the price!

 

[Hellraiser]

I've heard of the "Gentleman's Agreement" between Winchester and a pistol maker, but I heard it was Smith, not Colt. And while Smith did market Husqvarna rifles in the latter half of the 20th Century, aside from those early revolving rifles, I don't Smith ever made rifles.

The agreement... First and Fourth Paragraphs down...
Burgess Rifle: Greatness Shortlived - American Rifleman

Winchester showed up with some Winchester prototype pistolas... and Colt lost their nerve...

 

[Cal44]

Here is mine.

Marlin 45 colt cowboy.

20" octagonal barrel.

Paid $700

I bought it used and it's one of the older JM versions:

 

[DR505]

One of the top 10 firearms of mine is a Marlin 45 Colt "Cowboy Competition" model. It's a great rifle with a factory action job. Liked it so much I ended up with two for bargain prices. If your impatient and gotta have it now you would be hard pressed to do better than an Uberti in your flavor.

How did you mount the tomahawk on the rifle?

 

[Alpo]

If you hit it REALLY hard, in just the right spot, it will split that cheap Marlin action right down the middle.

 

[chief38]

Might take a bit of looking (discontinued model I believe) but my Marlin (circa 1990) 1894-S Carbine in .45 Colt is hard to beat. I used it for SASS / CAS for many thousands and thousands of rounds and never had a FTF or hitch.

 

[Hellraiser]

How did you mount the tomahawk on the rifle?

(shhhh... that's not a tomahawk... that's his rear sight.)

 

[Biggfoot44]

Here's the other factor :

If you paln to shoot CAS loads up thru full SAAMI leval loads, pick whichever you prefer the looks or balance.

If you want to be capable of "Ruger only" level loads, '94 Marlin or Winchester, or Big Boy.

If you want "Paco level" loads (appproaching .45-70), recent M92 clones.

 

[Eaglestroker]

How did you mount the tomahawk on the rifle?

QD rings and some parachord...how do you do it?