Need a .44 levergun

[Metalmouth]

Alrighty,
So I had an opportunity to pick up a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. I took that opportunity, and it's on the way. Naturally, I need a levergun in .44 to keep it company, amirite? So, I don't necessarily want an all "tactical" levergun, but maybe something a little more than traditional is cool.

So, I'm really looking at the S&W 1854 with the Walnut furniture. I figure that finish-wise, it's clearly the winner being stainless with S&W Armornite (aka Nitride). I also don't see any bad reviews. I also like the threaded barrel in the event I get a .44 can.

Other contenders are....

Rossi. Nothing fancy, inexpensive.

Henry Big Boy X. Was never really on my radar until more recently. The weird tube-loading always made me cringe, but I've seen some on here that are pretty nice.

Chiappa Alaskan. Absolutely gorgeous. Wish they were threaded, but I can live with it. The takedown is cool, although I'd never use it.

Chiappa Trapper with 16" octagonal barrel. Just freakin' gorgeous, but seem to be unobtainium.

The Citadel levtac seems pretty cool, but I've seen some not so good reviews in 'em so I'm a little leary. If I got one, I'd swap out a traditional wood buttstock.

Thoughts?

[Scott Tschirhart]

JM marked Marlins are pretty common.

I have a stainless one that shoots pretty well.

[AJMD429]

.
My favorite 44 levergun is my Ruger 96/44. Faster twist than most (stabilizes heavier bullets) and box mag is flush fitting and holds 300 grainers well. Easily scoped, short lever throw, one piece stock is easy to remove for after bad-weather hunts. Plus....it's a Ruger...!

My Marlin 1894s have been awesome and reliable. Williams FP sights.

Rossi's I like even though they have more small parts, but as Winchester clones they work well. Some load with tube AND side opening, and actually I like the tube as it is faster for unloading vs cycling them all through the action. Marbles Bullseye sights on the short ones and Lyman Globe fronts with Taurus Tang sights on the long ones.

Henry leverguns are nice too; my 32 Mag one is slick and well made so I'm sure the 45 Mags are nice too.

I made a few of my leverguns semi-tactical too...

Here's links to a post linking to three versions...

https://levergunscommunity.org/viewtopi ... 40#p583183

And my latest 357 version using the Marlin 1894cst is similar to this guy's...

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/gun-ma ... lever-gun/

[JBowen]

Welcome aboard Metalmouth! Yeah, that SBH will need some company! I got to look over one of those new S & W 1854s in the Blue and Walnut the other day. Looks really good, but at $1,300 + I will wait and see how they are reviewed for a while.

JBowen

[Steve in MO]

The S&W 1854 is a solid rifle, and makes me wonder why Smith & Wesson ever stopped making leverguns! I did some work with the stainless one and really think that it's one of the best out there right now. It's just 'tactical' enough that you can mount a light and suppressor on it if you want, but still traditional looking enough that it won't cause a commotion if someone sees it in the back of the truck. When (or if) they bring out one in .357, I'll grab it in a heartbeat.

[LeverGunner]

Howdy and welcome.

[t.r.]

In my opinion, there is no better option than the now discont'd RUGER 96:
- smoothest lever action
- accurate 1:20 rifling twist
- short and light
- side ejection

TR

Ruger 96 Hornady.JPG

[AJMD429]

.
Love the 96/44....

Evidently lots of other folks do too...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1061863164
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1070662989

Still, if you can find one, a RUGER 96/44 DOES make the 'perfect' mate for a RUGER Super Blackhawk...

[JRD]

Welcome Metalmouth,
I typically stick to the tried and true models that have long been in production versus a new offering, but in this case I don't think you are wrong considering the S&W 1854. Granted I am a fan of S&W products in general, but I also have some friends who work there and speak very highly of the new lever actions- and even are buying the new S&W levers for themselves.

In the wood version that you mention, you get a decent piece of Italian walnut and the black metal finish is the same Armornite (nitrocarburized QPQ) on stainless steel that goes onto their M&P-15 rifle barrels and pistol slides and barrels. The rifle comes with a scope rail and an XS receiver sight. If you are an irons fan, you can take off that rail and put the XS peep directly on the receiver. Admittedly a low power optic helps shootability if you've got older eyes like many of us. (Just don't put a huge variable power scope in an AR height riser mount like the marketing people do in ads.)

I shot my friends stainless 1854 44 Mag and thought it shot fine. Full power bear defense loads through this rifle weren't unpleasant at all, and 44 Specials felt like a toy.

Good luck in whatever you choose for a new lever.
Jason

[1851Colt]

I would like to suggest one other option: a Browning B-92 . They are well-engineered and beautifully finished in blued steel and walnut. They do not have a tang or cross-bolt safety and are very much like the original Winchesters. While some folks do not care for the shiny (polyurethane?) stock finish, I have always found it to be fairly durable and weather resistant.
They were made from 1978-1987 at the Miroku factory in Japan.
They do occasionally pop up on gunbroker and other similar sites.

[Scrumbag]

Welcome!

Love my Chiappa Alaskan!

[6pt-sika]

Over the years I’ve had two of the Marlin 336-44 rifles with the Micro Groove barrels and amazingly both did just fine out to 100 yards with cast bullets of up to 300 grains . I tried some 325’s I cast from a mold I had cut and they were just starting to yaw at 100 yards . As to feeding in a 336-44 I’ve never had an issue but I don’t try to do the Rifleman TV BS either . Had a pair of Marlin 1894’s in 44 also the short barreled 1894P and a long octagon 1894CB they shpt nicely with my homecast as well . Plunked a deer with the 1894P at about 140 yards with a boom flop result . Now while I liked all four of those I had something else in 44 MAG I liked better , actually three of them but only one left now . That being the Ruger 44R carbine , got the first when I was 14 or 15 . Got the second when I was late 20’s . Both of them were sold or traded over time . The one I have now was my grandfathers which I recieved after his passing . Over the course of time I’ve killed a good number of deer with 44 MAGS . Oh I’ve not used cast in the semi outs Rugers .

[Walt]

It is strongly advised not to shoot cast bullets in the semi auto Ruger carbine because they are gas operated and the gas port(s) will become plugged with lead. Half a dozen years ago I had even filled out the federal form to buy one before it occurred to me that wouldn't be a good choice because normally I only shoot cast bullets. I should have concluded the purchase.

A benefit of the Ruger-made Marlin 1894s in .44 is that the twist is now 1:20" instead of the 1:38 that the original Marlin 94s were cursed with. They were plenty accurate with fast 240+ grain loads but their ability to stabilize 300+ grain bullets was unreliable because the attainable velocity was too low.

I prefer Marlins over Henrys even if the Henrys have a side loading gate. They're a little lighter, a little less rotund.

[6pt-sika]

A benefit of the Ruger-made Marlin 1894s in .44 is that the twist is now 1:20" instead of the 1:38 that the original Marlin 94s were cursed with. They were plenty accurate with fast 240+ grain loads but their ability to stabilize 300+ grain bullets was unreliable because the attainable velocity was too low.

You believe as you wish . But I’ll not agree based on the targets I fired a few years back in both the slow twist and the faster Ballard barrels . As I said before both were adequate with cast up to 300 grains at 100 yards . Never tried the 325’s in the 1894’s but I did in the 336-44’s and as I said they had just started to yaw at 100 yards but with that being said I’d not have been afraid to shoot a deer with the 325’s out to possibly 120 or so yards .

[mickbr]

Long term Rossi owner here. Of 5 guns in 357 and 44, 4 were able to feed specials( as in the shorter 38sp and 44sp respectively) as well as regular length magnums no problem. One 44 didnt like 44specials at all.
1 x 357 needed immediate gunsmithing as a bur in the mag tube entry was scraping bullets, also had the load gate and extractor 'desharpened'at the same from damaging brass/rims/my thumb.
Still a fan of rossis as all shot very well and according to Paco and Steve Jones, the 92 is the strongest action and the Rossi arguably the strongest of the 92's. Lightest and strongest pistol calibre lever, Paco has them approaching 50kpsi. I load hot but not that hot. I also like putting a pic rail on them and mounting a scout scope.