Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

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Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Mon Jul 21, 2025 10:35 am Dave, can you say "Elk tag in Unit 34?"

Bill that is awesome, I only drew a muzzleloader deer tag for 34. There are a several tons of elk up there! Almost as many as back home in E. Oregon!

Dave

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It's a nice 20K PSI load that is accurate to boot! Right around the 950-1000 fps neighborhood from the 5 1/2" Bisley if memory serves.

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Ran a few rounds through the Marlin while getting acquainted with the new Garmin Chronograph. Shot 10 rounds of 285gr SWC from an MP mould, the copy of the RCBS 45-270SAA, over 10.5gr of Longshot.

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Dave

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Pure class!

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I was learning to use my newest chronograph and my all around 454 load was one of the loads I tested. Had some difficulty with the lever guns, so I am switching up the placement.

Dave

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454 Casull 285 12gr Unique.jpg

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I prefer the 475 Ruger moniker to "480", makes more sense to me. At the time they came out I thought I'd like one of the 4 5/8" Bisleys but have never even seen one in real life, and honestly, my 45 Blackhawk will do any heavy lifting I'm likely to need. To me the 480 Ruger is just l...

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Scott, when I was looking at buying my S&W Mountain Gun in 45 Colt, I called and talked to John twice. First time he talked about my the one 45 Colt load I used in everything, which was the 45-270SAA bullet on top of 8.5 grains of Unique. He told me that load would do for just about anything in ...

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Yes I imagine as pistol chambers fouled, having that bit of taper likely ensured you wouldn't be left defenseless in the middle of a heated exchange. I've not paid attention to the Chamber on my Ruger/Marlin 44 Magnum, but being a relatively modern cartridge, I don't imagine it has different dimensi...

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Some interesting findings recently in regards to the chamber. It has a lot more taper than the pistol, which on my Rugers are pretty much .481 according to my pin gauges, the Freedom Arms Model 83 in 454 is .480. The chamber on the Marlin goes from .485 to .482 just behind the rifling. Rifle is more...

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Awesome people in an awesome setting, I keep a membership at the Whittington Center, and donate a couple times a year, but nothing like you folks! That is a cool old Rossi, I thank you for letting me get fingerprints on it! That is sure a magical place.

Dave

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Jim,
Thank you for sharing! Those are memories worthy of foreverdom in cyber space, and for those of us who will get together and say, "hey you remember the time Jim and Bud shot up that 50 BMG ammo can full of 38s?"

Dave

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I dearly love my FA83 in 454, I was torn between the 454 which I had shot for years in the Super Redhawk, and the 475 Linebaugh. I'm thankful that I chose the 454, this was some 13 years ago. When Ruger released the Bisley 480, I grabbed a 6 1/2" version pretty quickly and I load the MP 385gr H...

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I love shooting the 32-20, when I first started loading them, I hated the case's thin necks. I was using my Dillon 550, well I wised up and got to reading about that 4th die in my Lyman Cowboy die set, the "M" die for expanding the case necks, it added a little time, but I haven't lost a c...

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That is a lot of traveling! Glad you're home safe!

Dave

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Safe travels home to you and your Missus.

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Congratulations! Beautiful bear.

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Scott, how long did the Tractor Supply squirrel last? Jim, I would love another opportunity to spend time with you. The amount of shooting knowledge you possess is priceless. Hope to see all of y'all again!

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Sir, it was so nice to finally meet you and Mr. Taylor, I hope you all have the best time, 40th Anniversary is a big deal. This morning when I hit the gift shop on my way back to Alamogordo, they did let me sneak into the museum and walk around the firearms display in the museum, hopefully the whole...

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Sincerest condolences.

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My late 90s Ruger No. 1S has turned a plum color.

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Yes I do! Very pleased with this purchase!

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That is sweet!

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It definitely makes me want to put it on sandbags. May keep this one legal for Wild Bunch if I ever get around to going to a match.

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Happy Birthday!

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Took yesterday off since all of the GIs were participating in "resiliency day" activities. Went to the range to try a new load for my flintlock fowler with a .600" ball. Also brought along my new to me Marlin Cowboy 20" Carbine in 45 Colt. While the fowler and it's lack of a rear...

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Bill, unfortunately I have only used AA9 in the 10mm and 32-20. In both cartridges it burns cleanly and provides good velocities with very good accuracy. I definitely do not get nearly as many split cases with it as opposed to H110.

Dave

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After living in interior Alaska, I would pick a Ruger M77 Guide Gun in 375 Ruger, with QD rings from Alaska LLC, you have long range and up close covered with a round that will hammer anything you could run across. Second choice would be the same setup in 338 Win Mag. I used my Ruger 300 Win Mag on ...

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Must be why it's only in the news once or twice a week instead of every day!

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Looks like a good trip Bill! Despite being 90 minutes away, haven't been there since the 90s, been off limits for USAF personnel for about 2 decades now. Hear it is a lot safer than it was 10 years ago.

Dave

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I sure cast and shoot a lot of the 45-270SAA bullets, have even patched them and used them on hares and ptarmigan when I was in Alaska from my 45/70. For the longest time it was 8.5gr of Unique under the bullet which drops at 280gr from my RCBS mould, 284gr from the MP 4 cavity copy, now it's genera...

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Looks like a very nice range! Looks a lot like where I'm from in Eastern Oregon!
Dave

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Thank you for posting Jim.

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So I will say, who ever put this rifle up for consignment must have run every bit of ammo they had through it and went straight to the pawn shop. I cleaned until patches came out white the night I picked it up, and I did a cursory cleaning after shooting, but today after putting my lovely brides fav...

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Rifle is a keeper! Only ran about 35 rounds through it, but everything fed like butter. Happy the RCBS 45-270SAA fed very well!

Dave

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That is a good looking rifle Levergunner! Did you go back to the semi-buckhorn barrel sight?

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Well AJMD, I now have a lot of bases covered, and 1894CL in 32-20, an 1894 Classic in 44 Magnum, an 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt, and an 1895GS in 45-70. One lone Winchester 94 in 32 Special, my Great Grandfather's 1927 vintage.

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The 24" version is definitely on my radar.

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It's got some bumps and a bruise or 2, saves me from the agony of my first Dave Beeman moment. Seems to feed the 45-270SAA well, at least after a cleaning, it was filthy inside. Bore looks as good as any of my Marlin rifles, hope it shoots as well as they do.

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Ruger is sending a new threaded pin, barrel band, and forearm.

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What is really painful is just how accurate this rifle has been in my hands.

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Over size locking bolts are available,.005 and .010. Might not eliminate it completely, but combined with neck sizing I bet the primer protrusion goes away. I too read that and was surprised.

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Amen Bill! I think reverting to the old style would require a dovetail in the bottom of the barrel for the tenon, need to pull apart one of my other ones.

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Got my 1894 Classic from Ruger finished sighted in today with my 267gr WFNGC cast bullets, only shooting at 25 yards but they were cutting one ragged hole. Down side is that when I decided to burn up the rest of the 240gr MagTech ammo I had, 5 whole rounds, I noticed the forend was loose after the 1...

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Truly the greatest generation.

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Walt it took me several tries as well, seems like there were some server hiccups.

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https://youtu.be/zjbrUGOTOB4?si=UIMnUNfyfnQlpMoS

Brian Pearce created a fine tribute.

Dave

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They monetarily support anti gun groups. We're members of AMAC, it's the conservative version of AARP.

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I would like to add another Winchester to the stable, but it will be a shooter model 94 in 32 Special. My Great Granddad's 1927 model 94 has pitting in the barrel and just a hint of too much headspace. So I will very likely add either another Winchester, or even a Marlin in 32 Special, it is a fun c...

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Thank you Gents. I will for sure post a range report.

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Just when I think I'm finally going to save money for shooting accessories I really need, along comes a lever action I can't seem to live without. Oh well, didn't really need a new spotting scope (yes I do) or a fancy new radar chronograph. Hello Marlin Cowboy Carbine in 45 Colt. I was looking, semi...

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