Hi,
I am seriously thinking of getting compact lever action rifle specifically for short range work (mostly feral pigs and possibly some deer) and I would appreciate some comments. I have narrowed my choice to Rossi Puma (the price is right) 44Mag 20”, 38/357Mag 20” or 38/357Mag 16”. Long time ago, when law abiding citizens of Aussieland were trusted with semiautomatic rifles, I had very light semiautomatic 44Mag (it was either Rossi or Uberti) and with factory loads it had a kick more severe than my other now outlawed “toy”, pump action Bentley loaded with solids. I have never bothered to check the weight of that rifle but when I handled the lever action models in the shop recently I thought that they were considerably heavier (or is it just my old age?) and maybe the recoil from 44Mag will be acceptable? (it will be my main plinking gun)
Cheers

I dont know what guns you have available in Aussieland, or the prices. But if you have Ruger available look at the 96-44. Its a compact 44mag lever action. I love mine its a great shooter, easy carring rifle and a good looking rifle. And here they are about the same price as the Rossi, just a little higher. But alot better built in my opinion. That would be my suggestion.

Hi,
I am seriously thinking of getting compact lever action rifle specifically for short range work (mostly feral pigs and possibly some deer) and I would appreciate some comments. I have narrowed my choice to Rossi Puma (the price is right) 44Mag 20”, 38/357Mag 20” or 38/357Mag 16”. Long time ago, when law abiding citizens of Aussieland were trusted with semiautomatic rifles, I used to own very light semiautomatic 44Mag (it was either Rossi or Uberti) and with factory loads it had a kick more severe than my other now outlawed “toy”, pump action Bentley loaded with solids. I have never bothered to check the weight of that rifle but when I handled the lever action models in the shop recently I thought that they were considerably heavier (or is it just my old age?) and maybe the recoil from 44Mag will be acceptable? (it will be my main plinking gun)
Cheers

I VOTE for the 44mag hands down for those little piggies!
It makes a big hole and I like the bullet weight as well.

Hi,
I am seriously thinking of getting compact lever action rifle specifically for short range work (mostly feral pigs and possibly some deer) and I would appreciate some comments. I have narrowed my choice to Rossi Puma (the price is right) 44Mag 20”, 38/357Mag 20” or 38/357Mag 16”. Long time ago, when law abiding citizens of Aussieland were trusted with semiautomatic rifles, I had very light semiautomatic 44Mag (it was either Rossi or Uberti) and with factory loads it had a kick more severe than my other now outlawed “toy”, pump action Bentley loaded with solids. I have never bothered to check the weight of that rifle but when I handled the lever action models in the shop recently I thought that they were considerably heavier (or is it just my old age?) and maybe the recoil from 44Mag will be acceptable? (it will be my main plinking gun)
Cheers

Any of the .44 mags will serve you well. The .357 is a sure killer with the right bullets, but I don't know what you can get or if you reload. The .44 mag with a hard cast or 'solid' bullet with a big flat nose will drop any pig you can get the sights on; 240 grain bullets and up are recommended.

Good luck and let us know how the hunting goes!!!!!

Got to agree...with good handloads, the .357 will do the trick, but the .44 has a multitude of loads that will work just fine. Would have to go to extreams to find a .44 load that WOULDN'T at least work acceptably.

It's just a lot easier to get a bigger caliber to also do the job of a small one than the other way around.

I'll concur with several other respondants. If you can get a wide variety of ammo, either a .357 or .44 Magnum will do the trick. But if choices are limited, you'll probably be best served by the larger cartridge.

I've been popping piggys for over 28 years with my Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. Never felt the need to go bigger than 240 grain soft point handloads. I have a more recent Winchester 94AE in .357 mag but haven't had a chance to try her out on game yet though I have a box of Winchester Partion Gold 180 grainers waiting with a piggy's name on it, will give full report after my mission. I personally wouldn't go any lighter on pigs.

Hi,
I am seriously thinking of getting compact lever action rifle specifically for short range work (mostly feral pigs and possibly some deer) and I would appreciate some comments. I have narrowed my choice to Rossi Puma (the price is right) 44Mag 20”, 38/357Mag 20” or 38/357Mag 16”. (it will be my main plinking gun)
Cheers

IF you can get the Rossi Puma, aim for a 45LC or 454 if your pigs get much size on them. You can load the 45LC from mild to wild, and the 454 can push the levels of a 45-70 with careful loading...

Shoot either cartridge in the Rossi 454 Puma.

GOOD LUCK! ;)

What sort of deer are you looking at hunting? Pigs can be knocked down easy enough with the 44mag but on trophy size deer do you want to risk losing it?
I would use the 44 on fallow, hog deer, and maybe Rusa but only at close ranges. Sambar and red deer are too big for the 44 in my opinion. You cant hunt the hog deer with the 44 due to regulations (or any other deer in Victoria). Fallow are renowned for being open country deer which gives the 44mag a disadvantage. You are left with pigs, fallow and rusa up close (along with feral goats).
Maybe a nice 308 BLR would suit your purposes?
Perfect for pigs at any range, legal and suitable for all of our deer, a very nice rifle but a bit more expensive.
By the way I am an Aussie too, a few of us getting around this forum :)

Hard to beat a .308W for any type of hunting -

Very good advice, Alpine Hunter!

And, we certainly enjoy you "Aussies" joining in the discussions!

What sort of deer are you looking at hunting? Pigs can be knocked down easy enough with the 44mag but on trophy size deer do you want to risk losing it?
I would use the 44 on fallow, hog deer, and maybe Rusa but only at close ranges. Sambar and red deer are too big for the 44 in my opinion. You cant hunt the hog deer with the 44 due to regulations (or any other deer in Victoria). Fallow are renowned for being open country deer which gives the 44mag a disadvantage. You are left with pigs, fallow and rusa up close (along with feral goats).
Maybe a nice 308 BLR would suit your purposes?
Perfect for pigs at any range, legal and suitable for all of our deer, a very nice rifle but a bit more expensive.
By the way I am an Aussie too, a few of us getting around this forum :)
Hi Alpine Hunter,
I already have couple of other rifles (308 and 6.5x55) that would be more suitable for long distance hunting so the lever action will be strictly for short distance and (mainly) for fun. Currently my chances of having a go at anything other than pigs or goats on regular basis are very remote. I am not even sure if I will attempt to use this gun on my annual deer shot (red deer in NSW) and I guess that my main concern is the difference in the noise and recoil between the calibres under consideration.
Cheers

If its just about fun (which is ok) then I figure that either the 357 or 44mag would be great. A bonus of the 357 is that you can use milder 38 special ammo through it as well as the full power 357 stuff.