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Lever Action Silhouette Rifle Question

vepr762
I'm hooked on lever action silhouette shooting, but don't have a pistol caliber rifle...yet.

I have two "rifle" caliber lever action rifles, a 45-70 and a 30-30, and a smallbore lever action, but not one for "pistol" caliber. I've decided to trade in the 45-70 because of reloading costs and physical abuse and get one in "pistol" caliber. It's either a 357 or 44 because I already reload those rounds for my revolvers.

Are there any advantages to the .357 verses the .44 in silhouette competition?

Does barrel length make that much of a difference in pistol caliber accuracy or just an improved sight picture?

All my lever actions have been Marlins, but I am willing to hear some input from others.

Thanks.
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • shooter93
    For what it's worth...my opinion....Marlin always made a better lever rifle than Winchester and still does. I'd opt for the 44. It has greater bullet weight if you have to knock over targets, the recoil of either is nothing and the 44 also has the edge for hunting. You get an increase in velocity with the rifle barrel and some of the lever will shoot an accuracy standard that will suprise you.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    just to add what shoote93 said above, if you are going to shoot a lot of cast lead bullets get one of the 'cow boy' type rifles with the cut rifling. I'm not saying you cann't get a micro-grove barrel to shoot cast bullets, i'ts just a lot harder.
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  • vepr762
    Thanks for the responses.

    I tried shooting "pistol" caliber with my Marlin 1897 Texan (22lr) yesterday and it was enough rifle to knock down all the targets expect for the Rams. I could hear them hit, but did nothing except spin a couple to one side.

    I've shot both cast and jacketed through my 45-70 Cowboy with no real accuracy differences even though it has Ballard rifleing. Since I don't have to use cast bullets exclusively, to compete, I'm leaning towards another Marlin Cowboy in .357. Definitely a lot more knockdown power than the 22, but with no real recoil and still fairly inexpensive to reload. Even with cast bullets, the 45-70 isn't cheap if you are going to practice a lot.

    I'd love to have one the Uberti reproduction rifles, but as long as I have kids they are not in the budget.
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  • oldemagics
    hey vepr, what neck of the woods you in and how much might you be asking for that 45-70?
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  • gskyhawk
    you forgot about the 45LC , it would be a good choice also . if you want to go a little less money but still a good rifle, look at the Puma , based on a winchester 1892 action , they come in 357, 44 or 45
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  • vepr762
    Oldemagics,
    I live in Oregon. The rifle has a Williams FP peep sight and has had BOTH the action and trigger worked on. You can cycle the action with one finger. If it goes I will be throwing in all my brass and RCBS dies. If it does go, I will be asking $500. I may sell off my VEPR RPK and 1957 Chinese SKS instead. That idea came to me at the range today. Either way something has to go to make room in the safe.

    Gskyhawk,
    I thought about 45LC, but I already reload .357 and .44 magnums. I know nothing about the Puma's, but would consider them if the feedback was favorable. I'm leaning towards Marlin because I like the side ejection.
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  • gskyhawk
    I have both marlin and the puma , if the money is not a problem then go with the marlin but if you ever get a chance to try the puma they are good guns , just not quite as good as a marlin
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