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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?





10 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.


________________________________________________________
"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
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.





10 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.
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.



"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein

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

“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker
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.