Author Topic: Which Rifle and Caliber Would You Use To Hunt...? (Read 5368 times)

RIFLE MAN · « **on:** August 06, 2003, 06:10:09 AM »

Inasmuch as we are all lever action rifle fans, and knowing that there are some wonderful bullets that are available in our day for cartridges suitable for lever guns, I would like to pose the following question: which lever action rifle and calibers would you use to hunt the following animals? Think in terms of ONE caliber per game animal listed unless you have a certain caliber that you believe will take all of them. Also, is there a particular bullet weight and construction that you would prefer? (1) Whitetail? (2) Elk in the timber? (3) Moose and (4) Brown Bear? Let's say the question implies that the distances for each of the aforementioned game animals is no more than 125 yards.

Thanks for your time and replies,
Rifle Man

Rick Teal · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2003, 07:20:11 AM »

(1) Whitetail? BLR in .358 Winchester shooting 200 grain Teal standard core bullets
(2) Elk in the timber? BLR in .358 Winchester shooting 220 grain Teal standard core bullets
(3) Moose BLR in .358 Winchester shooting 220 grain Teal bonded core bullets
(4) Brown Bear BLR in .358 Winchester shooting 245 grain Teal bonded core bullets

Ron T. · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2003, 09:12:48 AM »

Whitetail A Model 99 Savage (a late EG model) in .300 Savage shooting a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Bullet.

Elk A Model 99 Savage (late EG) in .358 Winchester shooting a 250 grain Nosler Partition Bullet.

Moose A Model 99 Savage (late EG) in .358 Winchester shooting a 250 grain Nosler Partition Bullet.

Brown (Grizzly) Bear A short barreled version of the Marlin 336 in .45/70 caliber shooting a 300 grain Nosler Protected Point Bullet.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2003, 10:20:10 AM »

RIFLE MAN: for any of the animals you identified at the distance you provided, my choice would be any of my Winchester Big Bores in 444. Thank you. Mikey.

onesonek · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2003, 02:18:15 PM »

I have yet to own a lever. I just about bought one,from a tip aquired here, but got to it late. So I'm still looking!! But my choice for your criteria would be,,, Whitetail; 99-300sav.-165NP, Elk; 99-358win.-250NP, Moose; 99-358win.-250X, Big Bears; BLR-450mar.-400X(?) Well, thats my dream lever battery, if I could afford them. The reality of it is, it will most likely be a BLR rebarreled to a 338-06(maybe AI'd), shooting all X's 185, 210, 225, & 250grs. respectively to animals listed. But then again, I just might win the lottery tonite :eek: or my rich aunt might leave me alittle :roll: Nah, blew that 30 yrs ago :cry: onesonek

Dutch4122 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2003, 02:37:14 PM »

1) Winchester M-94 .307 Win loaded with the Speer 170 grn .308 F/P.

2) Winchester M-71 .348 Win loaded with the Barnes 220 grn .348 Original

3) Winchester M-94 Black Shadow .444 Marlin loaded with the BTB 290 grn WFNGC.

4) Marlin 1895GS .45-70 loaded with either the Hornady 350 grn F/P or a similar weight hardcast F/N, again preferably from Beartooth Bullets.

Also, could I suggest a 5th catagory: PIGS!
Then I could use my .375 Winchester Big Bore XTR with the Hornady 220 grn F/N.

Enforcer · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2003, 03:18:25 PM »

Whitetail,Win M88 284Win,160gr Sierra SPBt 2885fps-2955fpe

Elk ,M71 348win,220gr Barnes XFN 2475fps-2910fpe

Moose,Savage M99RS 358Win,250gr Barnes XFB,2425fps-3255fpe

Brown Bear,Savage M99R 416/284 McPherson,350gr Barnes Solid 2400fps
-4475fpe

Cape Buffalo,Win M1886 510Kodiak Express,453gr ABW FNSP 2325fps-5423fpe

I threw cape buffalo in there has in Feb.my brother and i are going to Africa.Yeryanga Safari Burkina,Faso.The 510KE,416/284Mc,405Win and another lever yet not decided will make the trip also.

mountain man · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2003, 03:43:05 PM »

I have a BLR 270
I would use my 270 with 130 gr ballistic tip or 140 gr accubonds for deer, and 150 gr partition/partitioin gold for elk/moose

A Win 88, Savage 99 or BLR in 358 would be nice for moose and elk with a 225 gr partition.

For Big Bears it would be a BLR rebarreled to 338-06 with 250 gr partitions

Sean · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2003, 05:38:06 PM »

My savage 99 in .358 Win would do for all as far as I am concerned. If I had to choose just one load to carry it would use the 250 gr Speer. Now that is not saying that I might prefer my Guide Gun for Brownies if things got a little closer. Sean

tominboise · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2003, 06:19:47 PM »

Winchester 1886 EL in .45-70. Load 300 gr hp for whitetail, 350 gr cast or 405 gr Sp for everything else. Mine is mounted with a williams FP sight, sling and recoil pad. Lets go! :grin:

1GLOCK · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2003, 10:11:37 AM »

1 1895GG 45-70 300gr. partition gold hand load 2100fps

2 1895GG 45-70 405gr. FP hand load 1800fps

3&4 1895GG 45-70 540gr. Garrett HardCast Hammerhead and would try to get within 75yds or less, not sure of the speed on this one but it really will drop anything on the planet at a reasonable distance

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2003, 11:49:30 AM »

35rem
.444
.444
4570

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2003, 06:47:10 PM »

Savage 99 in .250-3000 for whitetail with whatever 100 grain spitzer I have on hand. Elk (total population = 3) are legally whitetail in Virginia.

I don't have to worry about that other stuff. We don't have them.

JOE MACK · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2003, 08:19:41 PM »

For whitetail, I'd use my Marlin 1894CCL in .41Magnum with 210gr. JHP loaded to about 1600fps until I can test some Winchester 240gr. P-Ts.

For elk, it'd be a Browning M71 in .348Winchester with Buffalo Bore's 250gr. heavy load for it.

For moose, either the Browning or see below.

For brown bear, I'd use a Marlin 1895 converted to shoot the .50Alaskan or an 1895 Winchester shooting either the .375Scovill or .411Hawk.

and that's about it.RKBA! :wink:

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2003, 06:19:23 AM »

I'd use my 1895 Winchester in 411 Hawk for everything, if I had to use a levergun.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2003, 02:03:20 PM »

First let me say my answer will be prejudiced by my interest in very old guns. I realise there are newer guns that hit harder, or chamber better cartridges, but I'm just stuck on the oldies!
The gun I have used for deer is my 1881 Marlin in .38-55, and the gun I used on elk is my Ballard #4 Perfection in .45-70. If I ever got the chance to hunt either bear or moose, I would use the Ballard, or one of my other 1881's in .45-70 for these also.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2003, 02:11:00 PM »

Hey this site ate my post!
Ooops! Now it's there!

Buckeye · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2003, 10:27:46 AM »

Marlin GG loaded with Rem. 405gr.s backed by 53gr.s of IMR 3031,for all critters listed.

Sure-Shot · « **Reply #18 on:** August 09, 2003, 05:37:20 PM »

jaccurate@mweb.co.za. 600 grain copper plated hardcast 458 bullets for the Brownie. 45-70 405 grainer handloads for the rest.

Smokey · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2003, 10:41:25 AM »

Whitetail = My Model 94 AE Big Bore in .356 Winchester, 180 gr. Speer FP

Elk = My Model 94 AE Big Bore in .356 Winchester, 220 gr. Speer FP

Moose & Brown Bears = If I had a lever adequate for Moose and bigbrown bears, it would be a Marlin in .45-70 shooting at least a 400 gr. bullet of solid construction. I've been told that casting bullets with a soft nose and a hard cast lower end provides great early expansion followed by deep penetration as the lower end of the bullet drives through the nose and continues on w/out expanding.

coug2wolfs · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2003, 01:43:28 PM »

Marlin Darlin, 45-70, 350 grain Hornady over 48 grains of IMR 4198 with a Fed 215 fuse.

The deer will run like Hell, for 40 to 50 yards as that bullet is a bit slow to open. But for the rest, it will tear em up and do a number on em.

IMO, the 400 bullets are a bit slow, the 300's a bit on the light side for penetration, cept the Nosler Partition.

That's my 2 cents :wink:

Brazos Bear · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2003, 05:54:15 AM »

I've got a Win 94 in 30/30 on the small end, and a Marlin 1895GG on the large end.

I think those two would cover just about anything the lower 48 has to offer.

Cap'n Percussion · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2003, 05:04:00 AM »

I got a 50 cal Hawken that's taken all them critters. Thought lever guns were jest fer playing "Cowboys". :lol:

454Puma · « **Reply #23 on:** August 28, 2003, 07:10:09 PM »

Well my chioce up to Brown would be Rossi 454 300 gr XTP-Mag or 300 WFN Cast. for the brown bear I'd probaly go to 370 hard cast at around 1800 fps and a ton + of energy.

Old Griz · « **Reply #24 on:** August 31, 2003, 08:21:48 PM »

If I had only one:
1. 1895/.45-70. (They've dropped the SS now.)
2. 1895/.45-70.
3. 1895/.45-70.
4. 1895/.45-70.

(Now this is gonna make my .30-30 mad!)

Plainsman · « **Reply #25 on:** September 01, 2003, 01:35:14 PM »

Either in .444 Marlin or .45/70. Make mine a .444 though!

NM Brushpopper · « **Reply #26 on:** September 01, 2003, 04:29:11 PM »

Old Griz is right!

I heard said that my beloved .30-30 has and will do them all, but my vote will go to the .45/70 for all four. I think my pre-64 just frowned at me :evil: .

Rick Crabtree · « **Reply #27 on:** September 10, 2003, 03:18:14 PM »

Navy Arms 1873 Winchester clone in 44 WCF. 38 gr swiss 3f 215 gr home cast bullet.

K_Conrad · « **Reply #28 on:** September 11, 2003, 08:46:17 AM »

That this season will be my first lever-hunt! Y@Y
I will be using a 94AE BB in 356 Win... chasing Elk in the dense Uintah mountains of Utah! and I must admit Im excited!

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #29 on:** September 11, 2003, 02:37:59 PM »

If I were dreaming I'd take the old Winchester 95 in .30-06 for all. Since I'm not, I'd take my Winchester 88 in .308 for the first three and leave the big bears alone. They never did me any harm anyway, and I'm not partial to their meat. What I have been using is my NEF single shot in .30-06 while looking for suicidal bucks here on POW Island.

-Kees-