General Levergun Question

505stevec · Post by **505stevec** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:07 am

I wondering, why would a person want to get all the off calibers? I mean the 38-55, 32-20's etc... I want more levers but if I did I would look at diferent models 1860, 1866, 1873, 1876 etc... Right now I have (among other types of guns) a Win 94 in 30-30, a Puma 92 in .357 and one in .44 mag, a Savage 99 in 300 Savage and a Win 9422. most of these a got at great prices so couldnt pass up. The only one that seems to be hard to get ammo for is the Savage. Are these other "off" calibers that seem harder to come by better or just diferent? Do many of you that have these older calibers get them for the fun of reloading or is there something else. I dont mean this to sound stupid but we all know what they say about stupid questions

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:58 am

Variety is the spice of life. I still kick myself in the butt for passing up reasonably priced 1886 Winnies (real Winchesters) at gun shows years ago because they were in calibers that were hard to find ammo/reloading components for at that time.
Guess this isn't a good answer to your question, but that's the train of thought your post put me on.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:55 am

Certain caliber's deliver an undescribable satisfaction to their owners - and also exhibit an uncanny quality for occasionally draining one's resources.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:26 am

It has a lot to do with challenges of the mind, personal curiousity, and of course, male ego. The common calibers have never interested me like the "off" ones have. I currently have the capabilities to load over 60 different calibers. (keep in mind I have been doing this since I was 18 and that was 35 years ago!)

#1) challenges of the mind--Its harder and requires more thought to load for obsolete and/or uncommon calibers. Brass many times must be formed from another case-----reloading data is skimpy at best-----dies are usually expensive. Bullets many times must be cast or custom purchased-----------------(this don't make a lot of sense, does it?)

#2)personal curiousity--------When we all shoot a 38 Spl. or 30-30, we know in our minds what its going to be like, (you know, recoil, trajectory, etc.) therefore some peoples minds get bored quickly and some guys, like myself need a constant source of mental stimulation and excitement. In other words, I have adult ADD

Plus, my job as a forklift driver does not do a whole lot to keep me stimulated.

Thats OK though, because I 100% despise giving my mental challenges to a company that just wants to keep the shareholders happy.

#3) male ego-----Come on, we all want something special that the next guy has a hard time getting. Its called "individuality". "Hey Bill, guess what I just got? Its a .45-110-650!!!!" Why do you think the 1886 50-110 Express rifles bring so much money? Marlin and Winchester 219 Zippers bring 5 times what the same rifle brings in 30-30. Try to find a S&W .22 Jet. 25-35 and 38-55 SRC's in 1894's bring two to three times what a 30-30 SRC brings. These are all guns that were made in limited quantity. Its easily compared to paying for a '68 Camaro RS/SS with a big block motor and a M-22 trans with .456's------------Hope this explains it a bit.-----------------Sixgun

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homefront · Post by **homefront** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:27 am

Life would get boring otherwise!
I currently have a couple of .30-30's and a .38-55. I hope to one day have a .25-35, as all three are based on the same brass and would cover the full spectrum of what I might ever hunt. It could be argued, and has been, that the .30-30 could and does do it all, so why own others? For me, it just expands the loading and shooting experience.
I currently also shoot .38, .357, .41 mag and .44 mag handguns. I've wrestled it down in my head to actually needing only 2: the .38 special, and the .41 mag. If I had my Model 10, .41 Blackhawk, 1894FG, .38-55 CB, and a .22 rifle, the bases would probably be covered. But I really like shooting my .44 mag SBH, and I enjoy my .30-30's, and my GP100 gets out once in a while, too. My reasons are my own (don't want to skid off topic), but honestly we all want to try different things to see what works or fits best. This may take years, and our minds will change as experience grows, but that's what it's all about.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:28 am

I can only add to this topic by saying I looked at the ballistic tables and found the 32-20 just about perfect for what I require, a reasonably quiet and effective round for foxes in more populated areas. Plus I like using something nobody else has. Never liked following the crowd!

All I need do now is to find one over here.

brucew44guns · Post by **brucew44guns** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:43 am

The only odd caliber I own, and it's not so odd unless you look at the cost of factory ammo, is the .348. As of now I'm not a reloader, so I've tried to stick with popular calibers, maybe that can change someday. I too passed up older Winchesters at sales due to obsolete calibers.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:00 am

To learn....

I have:
1 - M94 .30 WCF
2 - M336T .30 WCF (just cause I always wanted one)
3 - M1894C .357 Mag
4 - M39 Mountie .22 LR (just cause I always wanted one)
5 - Browning 1886 SRC .45-70
6 - Browning 1895 .30-40
7 - Chaparral 1876 NWMP SRC .45-75 WCF
8 - Rossi/EMF M92 .45 Colt
9 - Savage 99A .308 Winchester

and have had:
1 - Marlin 1893 .38-55
2 - Marlin 1894 .44 Mag
3 - Winchester 1894 .44 Mag
4 - Marlin 336C .30-30

but I have others in
.35 Rem, .25-35, .38-55, .218 Bee, .41 Mag, .44 Mag, etc.

I generally buy guns to both learn about the action and cartridge in one go (well, I try to). For me, that's the attraction, not just blasting ammo down range.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:10 am

I fully understand it.

I can't get into it (I alrerady have too many calibers to mess with), but I understand it.

Depending on how fast things continue to deteriorate, I'd like nothing better than to trade my M4gery & Glock for a Guide Gun and a 99E in .308...

Which would leave me with .22, .357, .308, .410, .45-70, 12ga & .50ML and maybe .30-30 if I get willed the Savage 170.

Plenty enough forme to deal with/reload for.

505stevec · Post by **505stevec** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:42 pm

I guess i understand the desire to play with calibers or learn more about them. I dont have an unlimited supply of money so my thoughts are to have certain "styles" or of rifle 94, 92, 86, 76, 73, 66, and 60 but realistically it will be what the best deal that comes along. And, because I have never reloaded I am somewhat hesitant to get into off calibers for fear of NOT understanding the limitations and possibilities.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:13 pm

Don't over analyze the equation. Probably the simplest answer is: I want it.

I'm a stick in the mud, most of what I want can be had in the Win 94 or Marlin 336/1894 platform. So that's what I usually go for.

Joe

LeverBar · Post by **LeverBar** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:05 pm

Old Winchesters are beautiful. Works of art inside and outside.

They look good, smell good, feel good, go bang, throw a rock really, really straight and far!

My Great-Grandpa had a one, Grandpa had one, Dad had some, I have even more. The wonder of them grows--never wanes.

My youngest son appreciates them--he knows their good Karma.

When my wife finally abandons me, I'll probably be snuggling up to a few of them in bed each night! It's Love, Man.

General Levergun Question

General Levergun Question

odd calibers