Ive never felt undergunned with the 25-35, I have felt under hunted in that I have had to pass on some shots that would have been a snap with a 30-06 for instance on some big bucks and big bulls, and Im Ok with that......Up to a 150 yards on elk and 250 yards on big Mule deer Im competent with a 25-35 or 30-30 under the right conditions..One has to match his hunting skills to the smaller calibers..I had an uncle that used a 22 Hornet for elk, He got in the black timber and poked around and shot his bull in the ear or rode his horse until a bull or buck stood up, and he got off and brained them..His secret is he lived with the elk and deer year around on his ranch, and time was of no essence..All these things make a big difference.
What I would like to see is a Browning BLR in 250-3000 or the reintro of the 1950s Sav. 99F in such calibers as 250-3000, 308, 284 and 358.
The situations w/ your uncle are different than todays cowboys. They like 400-600 yards w/ a 50 BMG and blaze away. Ive read the 400-600 yards thing many times. I also wonder what most of those 400 or 600 yard shots would range w/ a good range finder??
I know around here a 200 yard shot is stretching it unless it is an occasional powerline or recent timber opening. I have a BIG one of those where Ive hunted for several years now so I have to move, perhaps.
Do not forget the 358 win ...with levers having shorter barrels velocities lost as is potential accuracy with smaller calibers. To 358 although not long-range, certainly for the type of animal you would be shooting deer elk black bear and moose a 250 yard range is not beyond the calibers and guns capability.
Do not forget the 358 win ...with levers having shorter barrels velocities lost as is potential accuracy with smaller calibers. To 358 although not long-range, certainly for the type of animal you would be shooting deer elk black bear and moose a 250 yard range is not beyond the calibers and guns capability.
While many don't like the mediums in a lever rifle, I'm with you on the .358 (and .356). Someone mentioned that the .358 loses to the .308 due to its low velocities, but newer powders have greatly improved the .358's performance with one load with 200gr TSX giving higher velocity than most factory .308/180 loads. That's a pretty darn good load. There's also 225gr at 2550 as well.
If Browning would add the .338 Fed, then we'd have one with factory 200gr ammo costing $22/box providing 2700 FPS (~2600 with 20" barrel) out there as well. Come on Browning! I love my steel receiver BLR in .358, but might just buy one to join it in .338F.
I have only had the 444 for a little over a year been shooting 300 grain xtp and bought some 200 grain xtp haven't found mush data for the 200 except for Thompson center pistol loads
You asked about the best lever action cartridge.
My vote would be the 1895 Winchester chambered in 30-06 or 405 Win.
The best lever action rifle is a whole new can of worms.
Jim
I like the '95 Winchester but would prefer the .35 Winchester. This is about the same as the .358/.356 Winchester. Warren H. Miller was an editor For Field and Stream in the 1920's and his writing on the '95 Winchester and .35 Winchester cartridge leaves little doubt it was a good combination for the time.
The Frontispiece for his book Rifles and Shotguns from 1907 has a picture of Warren Miller holding his '95 Winchester. Miller was a very interesting man who wrote on camping, shooting and other outdoor subjects. He was quite a sailor and wrote some terrific children's adventure stories.
As much as I enjoy shooting the .35 caliber rifles I must say you have to work hard to beat the .307 Winchester and .308 Marlin Express. Most people disagree and both cartridges have a limited following. The early .30-06 drove a 150-grain bullet at an advertised 2,700 fps and the .307 Winchester and .308 Marlin Express nudge this velocity. The Model '95 is perhaps, a more satisfying rifle to hold in your hands but the Model 94 Big Bore Winchester and the Marlin Express 22" rifle both provide high performance in a light rifle.
Interesting. I've never seen it listed on Browning's site, nor ever seen one for sale. Bought my Hawkeye in .338 Fed back in '08 and have been waiting to see one ever since from Browning actually.
Seems I don't remember anyone mentioning the BLR in 325 WSM! and intersting combo.
Then yesterday aa guy brings a shiny BLR in 325 to me for help. New gun, he won in a gun raffle, nice looking and he picked it off the table without knowing anything about the cartridge.
He brought one box of Winchester ammo and went to the range, said it was tearing his shoulder off, toooo much recoil. I told him I could load it down to 8 mauser recoil levels ,and use 150 grain bullets. I've done this with other 325 WSM for guys that couldn't handle the recoil.
He gave me his once fired cases......18 out of 20 in the box had split necks. factory ammo.
Something on a 30-3 capacity case +/- but at higher pressures would be about as much improvement as most people would want. The lever actions are basically popular beause the are light low recoil guns which is what really matters for most people who will never shoot anything bigger or meaner than a whitetail. A new cartridge could be loaded to 50,000 psi like the 7-30 instead of the 42,000 of the old 30-30.
I don't know mush about AR's I don't think they work well with rimmed cartridges. The 300 blackout is pretty close to 30-30. There was a 30 Remington ar I don't think it sold well. The 6.8 spc parent case is the 30 Remington kinda like a rimless 30-30
Interesting whether the 30-30 is popular as a cartridge and that drives lever action gun sales.
Or are lever such a fascinating action that is drives sales of 30-30!
Really a lever 30-30 rifle should be in every shooter/hunters collection.
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