Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Need suggestions on a new lever gun

I want a new lever gun, that I can get full potential out of, or more power then my marlin guide gun .45-70.

If someone makes a different more powerful caliber from the factory ill look into it. This gun will be for pure large game hunting to 400 yards, maybe less if more appropriate.

Looking at mounting a low power scope or open sites.

Thank you,

FMP

Browning BLR..............If you like the looks!!!

well..not so much, but I on shoot down a suggestion.

Thank you.

How about the cowboy 1895, can I squeeze more out of it?

Let's see, levergun, more power than a 45/70 - how about a M1895 in .405 WIN?

Appealing.. Where can I get my mit on that?

Won't is what I meant in my last post!

I guess my real question is, and more (might) chime in, is- can I get more power from a longer barrel .45-70?

It isn't that I need it- it's a want thing. And how far is the .45-70 an effective (practical) cartridge?

thank you,
FMP

If'n ya want more power outta that guide gun just shoot them Buffalo Bore loads.....

Marlin 1895XLR in .45-70 or MXLR in .450 Marlin for a big bore, both have 24" barrels. Or get a Cowboy model with a 26" barrel. That extra 6 to 8 inches of barrel over the Guide Gun should get you a bit more velocity, but given the expansion ratio of big bore straight wall cartridges it might not be all that much more. But that's theory, I honestly don't know how much more velocity you might get.

At least you'd get the full potential out of either chambering.

If you want to scope it effectively then other than the Marlin there really is only the BLR or maybe you could find or rebarrel a used Winchester 88 to .358.

The Marlin 336 .338 ME is another option for throwing a decent sized bullet out a ways.

This is all just off the top of my head, others could probably suggest some more esoteric possibilities.

The 405 Winchester is still really just a 200 yard rifle. A very GOOD 200 yard rifle, but still . . . and I have one. You might stretch it to 250 yards. Why do you feel the need to go to 400 yards and with a levergun?

well, I just have a thing for the levers!

I guess ill just have to get closer!

Just put one of these on my 1886 45/90

Red River Ladder Sight

Ya have great discrimination in sights

One lever gun fits these requirements, the 338 Marlin Express. Others may have more punch at short ranges but at 200+ yards the 338ME wins out. At 100 yards, only the Marlin .450 has more punch. At 200 yards, everything else falls behind in both trajectory and energy.
Current lever gun cartridge ballistics

Marlin also changed the way the magazine attaches to the barrel and has set tighter tolerances for the Marlin Express series than any other lever they've EVER made.

They've improved the barrel and receiver mating too. They are DESIGNED to be a 400 yard lever gun.

Hunting reports have been excellent on everything from coyotes to Bison. This includes shots over 300 yards. many shoot MOA or even subMOA right out of the box.

You might want to give the gun a serious look.

If you want links, PM me.

Thank you, everyone

The correct answer would be 1895 Winchester in .30-'06 or .270 for 400 yard game shooting.

A 338 Marlin Express in a XLR rifle seems to be the ticket

I must certainly agree with "Cold Case" the 1895 Winchester in the 30-06 caliber or 270 cal. will get the job done at 400 yards!

I have an 1895 Win in .270win, but it's so pretty I won't even try to scope it. A 400yd shot on game is a long one, especially with a lever.

FWIW, the Sav 99 or Win 88 in .308 or .284 would work. They shoot and scope more like bolts. Good luck.

I reckon he will find out all about 400 yard shooting once he goes to the range and shoots a few rounds out of that lever gun at 200 yards.

The concept of the 45-70 or .405 Winchester shooting big game animals down range at 300 or 400 yards is simply ludicrous with those calibers but on the other hand the 30-06 will surely get the job done if one can shoot like an expert marksman would.

400 yards means bottlenecked cases. Forget the .45-70, .405, .450 Marlin, etc etc etc.

I'm not sure the .338 Marlin has enough muzzle velocity to expand a bullet after its had 400 yards to slow down.

The only one I can think of that might possibly work reliably is the BLR. I shot a borrowed BLR in 7mm mag that gave me a .75 MOA 100 yard group at 100 yards. If that holds up, there's a candidate. I think it's available in .300 win mag and maybe some of the WSMs. Like it or don't like it, I think it's the only game in town.

Get a BLR in .325 WSM. Have it rebarreled and chambered for either the 35-325 WSM or a 375-325WSM. That will do the trick.

Savage 99 in .308. For short range you can load up 200's and knock yourself silly. For 400 yd shots, you can afford a case of fmj ammo to get the trigger time needed for 400 yd shots. Then load a good 165 gr bullet and make your 400 yard shot.

Sycamore

BLR 300 win maag

Love the short action BLR's.......300 WSM or a 270 WSM would be my choice beyond 250 yards.

Didnt the ole timers kill thousands of Bison with 45-70 sharps rifles from several hundred yards out? I personally havent done it, and im sure there are better options now a days, just sayin though that where theres a will, there a way.

Although not traditional the BLR in any of the WSMs (270, 7mm. 300, 325) or std mags (7mm RM, 300WM) or std cartridges (270 Win) would do the job in some cases. Although I'm not sure of the need for a routine 400 yd. hunting rifle, esp. a lever. Seems to defeat the purpose of a lever action. YMMV.

Buy a BLR 7 RM or 300 WM and put a 375 Taylor, 375 Ruger,416 Taylor or 416 Ruger chambered barrel on it, or the 450 M, rechamber to 458 WM and shoot nice big pointy bullets and quit mucking about with the small stuff.

Browning BLR or Savage Mod.99...

I have a Savage 99F (circa 1950) that shoots the 150 gr. bullets at 2800 FPS and 180s at 2670 FPS and 200s at near 2500 FPS. It is super accurate and very capable of a 400 yard shot if your up to it, and conditions are right. It beats the socks off the 45-70 under any conditions IMO. An even better cartridge might be the .284 Win in a Sav. 99 or Browning BLR, but that will set you back some extra bucks over the .308, and it's probably not worth the extra money IMO.

There are some other new lever rounds that work, but none beat the .308 or 284 IMO..The 358 Win. is another option but 400 is a streatch for it..