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Favorite 3 Lever Gun Calibers

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June 20, 2025, 01:22 PM
AUTiger89
Favorite 3 Lever Gun Calibers
What are your 3 favorite lever gun calibers?

I've got one in .357/.38, and I'm considering one in .44mag or .45/70, but am open to other calibers. I will probably suppress it, but that's not a requirement.

So what do you folks like?




Phone's ringing, Dude.
June 20, 2025, 01:43 PM
OttoSig
Is it for fun or hunting?





Nine years to retirement! Just waiting!
June 20, 2025, 01:45 PM
AUTiger89
Fun/general purpose. I don't hunt.
quote:
Originally posted by OttoSig:
Is it for fun or hunting?





Phone's ringing, Dude.
June 20, 2025, 01:47 PM
rat2306
I have only two; .30-30, and .35 Remington. I could see the utility of having a .44 Magnum around the place though.
June 20, 2025, 01:49 PM
Gustofer
45 Colt, 44 Mag, 30-30.


________________________________________________________
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June 20, 2025, 02:16 PM
OttoSig
I’d say 357/38 or 44mag/spec. If you have a revolver in either caliber go that route.





Nine years to retirement! Just waiting!
June 20, 2025, 02:21 PM
92fstech
Of the ones I own my favorites are probably the 1894s in .357, .44 Mag, and .45 Colt. The pistol caliber guns are just so shootable yet still pack a punch. And I can pair each of them with at least one revolver.

If we're talking pure practicality and I could only keep 3, I'd pick the 39A Mountie in .22, the 1894 in .357, and the 1895 in .45-70. That gives me the full range from rodents to grizzlies, and of the 1894s the .357 is probably the most versatile, but I'm really torn on that one because I like the handiness of my 16" .44, and the .45 Colt is the most accurate of the three.

I have a .30-30 too, but it hardly ever gets shot because it hurts almost as much as the .45-70, and when I want to beat myself up the big .45 is just more fun, while from a practical perspective the .357 can realistically do anything I need the .30-30 to do.


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June 20, 2025, 02:37 PM
GT-40DOC
22 cal and 30-30 does it for me.
June 20, 2025, 05:11 PM
straightshooter1
I currently have only one, a little short-barrel (16 inch) Cimarron 45 Colt Saddle Ring Carbine which, IMO, shoots like a house afire.

I've had many others, from 30-30s to 45-70s, but the one I regret selling was a copy of the 1895 Winchester in 30-40 Krag.

So, the cartridges that are my favorites are the 45 Colt, 30-40 Krag and the 30-30. I traded a 357/38 I got from a great forum member to get the 45 Colt after trying in vain to get my wife to shoot rifle.

Bob
June 20, 2025, 05:18 PM
m499
Only have .357 - an 1892 TD and 1894.

Love 'em both!

.
June 20, 2025, 10:37 PM
MikeinNC
I have a Rossi M94 in 38/357 (16”), and a Rossi in 44 (20”) if I had another one it would be in22lr.




“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“ in my opinion, anything that we can do to trigger a potential aneurysm in a leftist is a good thing and worth doing” nhtagmember 2025
June 20, 2025, 11:27 PM
flesheatingvirus
As long as you reload, go .45-70. You already have the revolver caliber covered.

HOWEVER, I do really like a lever action in .22LR. Since you don't have one...

I have a Browning BL-22 and love it.


________________________________________

-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
June 20, 2025, 11:58 PM
ARman
I had a. 38 Special/.357 Magnum but sold it years ago, and regret it today. Looking for a replacement.

Have a. 375 Winchester, a long forgotten, but truly a do all Lever-action caliber. I will never depart from this Winchester 94 " Big Bore ". Even though it's hard to find, and very expensive!

Of course, the .30-30 WCF in a Winchester 94 is THE caliber. Don't have one at this point of time, but looking for the right one.

So, for me, it's. 38/.357. 375 Winchester, and .30-30 WCF.

ARman
June 21, 2025, 05:54 AM
usmc-nav
No love for the 32-20? I have one and it is a fun lever gun. Ammo is expensive and what got me into reloading.

For the modern levers I like my 45 Colt and the 38/357. 45 by Winchester and 38/357 by Uberti
June 21, 2025, 09:17 AM
AUTiger89
Very interesting comments so far. Keep 'em coming!




Phone's ringing, Dude.
June 21, 2025, 10:06 AM
cslinger
.357/.38. Versatile
.22 LR Fun
45-70 Mutant ninja zombie grizzlies.


Take Care, Shoot Safe,
Chris
June 21, 2025, 10:11 AM
MagnumU
For win the lottery options, check out Big Horn Armory - 500 S&W Magnum, .454 Casull, etc.

,44 Magnum / Special is a more practical option and .22 LR / Magnum are real fun.
June 21, 2025, 02:20 PM
apprentice
.22 LR, .30-30, .45-70.
June 21, 2025, 11:55 PM
kaschi
25-35, 44-40, 45-70. If I could have a bonus 4th caliber it would be a toss up between 32-20 and 30-30.
June 22, 2025, 07:03 AM
hudr
I have 38/357 and 45-70 stuff.
I want one more lever in 22LR.
For the grandkids, of course.