good allround levergun for target/fun shooting and SD

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:18 pm

Hi, i am new on this board and I am from austria. I am intersted in buying an levergun for target fun shooting and in an case of emergency for home defense. Which levergun in what caliber would be the best choice for the above mentioned purposes?

thx for your answers in Advance.

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:21 pm

Howdy, welcome to the Forum.

My first choice would be this, 1894 in .357 mag:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/ ... 1894C.aspx

Fun to shoot and economical. Will easily take care of a deer or a home intruder.

cutter · Post by **cutter** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:22 pm

You may be a candidate for a simple pistol caliber lever rifle. Somewhat lower cost ammo, less recoil, but still enough power to punch out the goblins.

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:18 pm

Ok thx for your answers. Buying an levergun in 357 mag is a great idea. Which load in 357 mag would you recomend for sd and which load for plinking.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:29 pm

agent00,welcome to the forum and don't forget to look at the Rossi 92. It is a copy of the Winchester 1892 levergun.A .357 would be a good choice, you can shoot .38 special and .357 both in it.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:34 pm

I agree with the idea of a Rossi '92 in .357. I just gave my 20 inch to my son and have a 16" stainless on order, can't wait to get it. Both .38 and .357 ammunition is reasonable and will easily handle the needs you mention. Enjoy! Jim

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:50 pm

Cor-Bon 125 grain DPX for sd.

Whatever is cheapest for plinking. Probably 158 grain lead round nose 38 Specials.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:44 pm

Perhaps even a good .22 Rimfire? Not the very best defense, but oh, so cheap to have fun with..... The .357 is a very good choice if the defensive part is important to you

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:54 pm

Welcome, I would pick a short barrel pistol caliber if a lever was my choice. I think the Rem. 870 12 ga short barrel is the best all around self defence gun available.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:59 pm

BlaineG wrote:The .357 is a very good choice if the defensive part is important to you

Says a guy with a BFR .45-70...

canonsix · Post by **canonsix** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:15 pm

One more for the Rossi 92 in 357. Doug

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:10 pm

I gotta vote for the Rossi 92 also.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:21 pm

Welcome to the fire.

I can't believe I'm the first of us to recommend a .45 Colt. Sure, the .357 Mag is great, but guys, he's starting with leverguns now - what better way to get him hooked?!?

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:03 am

He is also from Austria, things are different there.
Should investigate what is available there, before deciding
Welkommen, Mien Herr

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:13 am

FWiedner wrote:
BlaineG wrote:The .357 is a very good choice if the defensive part is important to you
Says a guy with a BFR .45-70...

I keep .45s and .357s around the house.... The BFR is for when a T-Rex comes around

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 3:48 am

I had a Rossi 92 in .357 that sure was a lot of fun, cheap too with .38 specials.

Welcome to the fire.

cavebob · Post by **cavebob** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:33 am

Love my WIN 94s but the two rifles I take to the range most are my ANSCHÃœTZ 54.18 and my MARLIN 1894CBC .38SP.
The Marlin is accurate, slick and so much fun; and I can afford to shoot it lots - reloading with with cast bullets.

Bob

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:33 am

Thx again for your answers. I have done some investigations and would also be possible to get an 45 colt rifle.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:29 am

I have a Puma/Rossi 45 colt - that I would not trade for anything - that would be my vote - Although a 357 would be great to have also - either one, you will surely be happy and possibly hooked for life.

My first levergun was a Winchester 88 in .308

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:16 am

I have the check the ammo pices first, but i think the 357 mag rounds would be cheaper than the 45 colt rounds here an austria and as I want to use my my levergun as a sd gun, the 357 mag model would be the better choice, because there are not much defense loads in 45 colt. of course an round lead nose .45 slug would be a great stopper, but the 357 mag would be the better sd caliber. Am i right with my thoughts?? And in summer i am also intersted to buy an second levergun for deer hunting.. mayby an model in 308 win..

ps I have to rely on factory ammo, I am no reloader.

Tristan · Post by **Tristan** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:01 am

If ammo availability is an issue, go with whichever is the most commonly available in different loads, unless you're willing to handload, in which case makes this point almost moot.

The 357 rifle would be a very good choice for all-around shooting including hunting and SD, as would 45 Colt. Both are great cartridges. Both function very well in a levergun platform. Either will serve you well.

As a practical matter, if you ever plan on reloading, your cost per round will be considerably less with the 357.

Enjoy.

- Tristan

Cherokee · Post by **Cherokee** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:22 am

I want to add my Welcome ! to the comments. Others have given good opinions. I like the 45 Colt in a Marlin, but I reload and ammo choice is not a problem. If you have to buy factory, 44 Mag might be better choice for hunting.

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:47 am

Another vote for the Rossi or Marlin in .357. I had a Marlin and now have the Rossi. Both fun to shoot and the .357 is a great defense round.

I have no experience with a .45 Colt so I can't comment.

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:50 pm

357 lever is pure pleasure. Don't look back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:27 pm

The Rossi 92 .38special/.357 would give you the best of both needs,.38's are cheaper to use for plinking and target work and even .38+P rounds would work for SD and the .357 is a proven deer round. What ever levergun you get will just feel natural in your hands,like an old pair of gloves. There are articles on the home page of .357 levergun hunts in Africa and all over.

jbm1968 · Post by **jbm1968** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:35 pm

Another vote for the .357 Magnum, Great at everything you ask for and will do for Game up to Deer and Boar. I love my Winchester .357!

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:22 am

Thx again for your answers. I will order an rossi 92 in 357 mag today. Which 357 mag load would you recomend for hunting deer, and which 357 mag or 38 special+p would you recomend for sd?

blueroan · Post by **blueroan** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:32 pm

For self defense usage, I'd get 357 COWBOY ammo...lead bullets designed to feed in a lever action; low penetration so you don't take out the neighbors by accident; low recoil; cheap enough to plink/practice with and become proficient without going bankrupt buying ammo.

For hunting, check out the various specialty ammo makers like BUFFFALO ARMS, etc. Do some inquiries for what bullet weight is needed for the animals you plan to hunt.

My personal preferrence is a MARLIN 1894 in 44 Magnum. I'd apply the same criteria, but change the caliber. The same can be said for 45 Colt caliber rifles. The 357 is probably the best choice for the non-reloader.

I don't know what the ammunition situation is in Europe; that would influence my choices a lot.

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:55 pm

blueroan The ammo ist not a big problem, here in austria I can get everything from the major US companies. It would be also no problem to get good 44 mag rounds. But it is very difficult to get 45 colt rounds, that's not a common caliber..

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:06 pm

Now just hold on there a minute

Do you mean to tell me that there is in Europe a country that allows SD with a firearm

??
If so agent00 do you want a lodger

Welcome friend. Half of me is from just over one of your borders with Germany, Augsburg

You can load 30/30 cheaply for fun and it would be good for chamois!

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:26 pm

It is allowed to keep your weapon at home if you have a permission (waffenpass) and in an case of emergency it is not ilegal to use ist, although it ist very unlikly that I have to use my levergun as a sd gun, because the crime rate ist not so high, but in an case of emergency I want to be prepared. And yes , buying an dandy rifle in 30-30 would be a good idea, it's a great classic lever rifle round, but I don't know if it es easy to get 30-30 rounds here in austria, and I am not an balistic expert, but wouldn't be an 30-30 slug to powerfull in an sd situation?

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:48 pm

agent00, if you do not reload then you may struggle. If you do reload just put less powder in it for SD and a lightish bullet. Sellior & Bellot (forgive my spelling) load it and are they just down the road from you

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:13 pm

@Nath Thx for the infos. As I am no reloader, I will buy at first on rossi 92 in 357 mag, and next year an second lever gun in 30-30..

agent00 · Post by **agent00** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:02 am

I have ordered my rossi 92 in 357 mag yesterday. I will report when I have got my rifle.

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:04 pm

agent00 wrote:@Nath Thx for the infos. As I am no reloader, I will buy at first on rossi 92 in 357 mag, and next year an second lever gun in 30-30..

A good way to buy guns, Thats what I try to do myself. If I dont, things can get out of hand with unpaid bills.

good allround levergun for target/fun shooting and SD

good allround levergun for target/fun shooting and SD

AMMO CHOICES