Looking at lever action rifles in 45C

[Alpo]

I agree with him on that. Even though I don't shoot black, I've got one 45 rifle - a 16" Rossi with the John Wayne big loop. But I've got three 44/40s. Just a better rifle caliber all around. Only thing wrong with it is that little bottleneck means you can't use carbide dies.

 

[willy]

Rossi 92 is a great little rifle that can be used with any factory load ,,, and loaded safely up to the hottest loads that would split a Ruger .

 

[33jayman]

If I were a black powder shooter I would be a big .44-40 fan. I would have to believe that the shoulder in the .44-40 case would make a better seal. I can tell you from experience that sub sonic .45 lc loads do soot up pretty good and you definately wouldn't want to discharge rounds without safety eye wear.

Jay

 

[33jayman]

This whole topic is fascinating to me. Alpo... I think I remember when you and Driftwood Johnson would post stuff like this all the time over on the SASS Wire. Also, remember when Driftwood would state that the 44-40 was a much better black powder cartridge than the .45LC... cause the case above the shoulder would expand and was more inclined to decrease powder "blow-back" into the rifle receiver.

Hey 33 Jay Man... I still have a '73 Short Rifle in .38/357... the top one (both were spankin' new in this pic). Sold the bottom rifle to a fella who immediately replaced the finish...

I have a Beretta 1873 like those in your picture but with a blued reciever, checkered wood and a shotgun style butt plate. It is all SASS'ed up and has been shot in 50 or so matches. Mine runs like a top but others have had head space problems with the factory installed short stroke kit.

Jay

 

[jakenov3]

I like the Winchester 94 in .45 Colt , works great and is a nice companion for the 25-5

 

[Cyrano]

In the 19th Century they didn't go for the 45 Colt in rifles. The small rim, combined with the effect of black powder fouling, made for chancy extraction. And back then, these weren't toys, but rifles on which your life may have depended. Better safe than sorry, so they didn't make them in 45 Colt.

 

[Hellraiser]

In the 19th Century they didn't go for the 45 Colt in rifles. The small rim, combined with the effect of black powder fouling, made for chancy extraction. And back then, these weren't toys, but rifles on which your life may have depended. Better safe than sorry, so they didn't make them in 45 Colt.

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.

 

[smokey04]

All of my lever guns are Marlins from .22 to .45-70 oh, and uh .410 lever gun.Never been sorry with any one of them . Nick

 

[Hellraiser]

All of my lever guns are Marlins from .22 to .45-70 oh, and uh .410 lever gun.Never been sorry with any one of them . Nick

Marlin makes some great guns. Got a friend who has a Marlin lever .444... and along with the 45-70... it is one of the greatest deep-brush rounds I have ever seen. Up close and personal... if I was in grizzly territory and wanted a lever... either of those would be my choice.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a Taraus "Lightning" in 45 Colt. The powder blasting around the bolt (light cowboy loads) would "sand blast" your eyes, the first time you shot without safety glasses! I have had several 92's (over the years I've had 14 or 15 in various calibers) and Marlins (over the years I've had 18 in various calibers),2 being Cowboy Specials (one in 44-40 the other in 45 Colt). Marlins are much easier to detail clean! The problem I see most with the operation of any 92 is that people are too gentle with them. They run best when you slap that lever with authority. I have worked on the actions of several and made them smooth as glass, but they will jamb or catch without positive lever use. Marlin went to a two piece firing pin a long time ago. When the bolt is full of powder fouling they jam more frequently. I have guns with after market one piece firing pins and some with factory two piece; when clean there isn't a noticeable difference. If you want to lighten the trigger spring on a Marlin, it is better to buy a replacement spring. I had cut springs catch on things.

The only problem I have found with the Henry/66/73/76 action design is Cartridge Overall Length! In must never be too long, and if too short you lock up with a second round stuck halfway in the tube. My Italian 73 (44 Special) is a smooth dream if the ammo is right.Ivan

 

[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?