The Last 5 Lever-Action Cartridges Left Standing
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 10 months ago
Richard Mann writing at F&S.
- 30-30 Winchester
- 357 Magnum
- 44 Magnum
- 45/70 Government
- 360 Buckhammer
[ … ]
The 30-30 Winchester and the 30/06 Springfield are often considered the two most iconic American rifle cartridges. They’ve withstood the test of time. But they’re not the oldest or the most versatile. The 45/70 was introduced in 1873, 21 years before the 30-30 and 33 years before the 30/06. Originally designed for the Trapdoor Springfield, the 45/70 gained its current fame in the lever-action, and it is arguably the most popular lever-action rifle sold today. By modern standards, original 45/70 ballistics are pathetic. Modern 45/70 loads are not. And when all the 45-70 loads are considered, you have what might be the most adaptable big game cartridge of all time.
There are essentially three power levels of 45/70 ammunition, which is a trait no other centerfire rifle cartridge can claim. Power-level-one loads replicate the cartridge’s original ballistics and launch a 405-grain bullet at about 1300 fps. Inside 75 yards they’ll work for many big game animals. Second-power-level loads are generally loaded with a 300-grain bullet and pushed to about 1800 fps. They can generate more than 2000 foot-pounds of muzzle energy and are sufficient out to around 200 yards for non-dangerous critters. And finally, there are the third-power-level 45/70 loads. These can generate more than 3500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy—with recoil to match—and are sufficient for spy balloons or any beast walking Earth.
He also discusses the other cartridges, including one of my favorites, the .44 magnum.
I always enjoy reading Richard’s work, but my goodness it seems way, way premature to include 360 Buckhammer in that list. It’s brand new, and in my opinion will end up being a flash in the pan. Basically it doesn’t really do anything that the 30-30 can’t with the heavier loads (e.g., I have both 150 gr and 170 gr sitting on my desk in front of me now, and ballistically, it’s not really proven that the 170 gr does any better than the 150 gr.). It’s parent case is the 30-30, just with a heavier bullet. It’s also not proven that the .35 Remington does any better than the 30-30. I just don’t think there’s a void to fill with the 360 Buckhammer. Prove me wrong with ballistics analysis.
But let me tell you where I think there is a void. Between the .44 magnum and the 45-70. The perfect cartridge to fill that void is the 454 Casull, and I have written both Henry and Marlin begging them to introduce a rifle chambered in 454 Casull. Apparently, my protestations have been to no avail at this point.
Anyway, I expect 350 Legend to wane in popularity, and I don’t expect wide availability of the 360 Buckhammer. It may be an item of interest at some point (“Wow, I haven’t seen one of those in a long time, it may be a collector’s items at this point”), but it remains to be proven.
The 30-30 will never go out of style or off the market, and there will always be a high demand for either a new release by Marlin or a legacy JM stamped 336 in 30-30.
But I demand that Marlin introduce a Model 336 in .454 Casull. I’ll buy two immediately upon release. And I’d be happy to write about 20 articles on a new 336 in .454 Casull for Marlin if they send me a prototype.
On February 23, 2023 at 3:46 am, Aaron Yetter said:
I would like to see a levergun in 357 maximum
On February 23, 2023 at 4:33 am, Nosmo said:
Noticed that recently the cartridge specs for a “.400 Legend” were submitted to SAAMI. Looking at the numbers, and proposed potential ballistics, it seems more useful than 350 Legend, especially if the ammunition manufacturers offer a couple different power levels. (And people like Magpul develop magazines for it….).
As for bridging the gap between 44 Magnum and .45-70, I’d agree 454 Casull belongs there, and – maybe – so does S&W .500 Magnum, except that 500 Mag ballistics are really close to .45-70 so that might be unnecessary duplication. IIRC, Big Horn Rifles makes one in the 500 but it’s much many $$$.
On February 23, 2023 at 6:23 am, jrg said:
I never heard of that 360 Buckhammer either, but the spiel put out about it sounds very familiar if you remember the .Winchester .307 and .356 cartridges back in early ’80’s. The 07 a rimmed .308 Winchester with round nose bullets, the 56 a rimmed .358 Winchester. Both did not last long.
I’m surprised the Savage 99 .250 and .300 Savages aren’t included on that list. They were somewhat popular back in the day.
On February 23, 2023 at 9:23 am, RCW said:
I like HS’ idea for filling the gap with a Henry or Marlin but why not beef up the works enough to handle (but not necessarily feed) all 5 cartridges in that diameter? e.g. .45Auto Rim/.45Schofield/.45Colt/.454Casull/.460S&W. In so doing, they would give some competition to Big Horn, who just jacked the base price for their model 90 (available in .45Colt, .454Casull & ,460S&W) to over $ 5K, which is in the .50BMG neighborhood.
On February 23, 2023 at 9:49 am, sobiloff said:
Completely agree about the need for a .454 Casull lever action rifle!
On February 23, 2023 at 10:12 am, 41mag said:
Well…I still dig the 35 Remington and 41 Remington Magnum as my “intermediates” but agree with HS, more is better with leverguns.
On February 23, 2023 at 10:37 am, Chris Mallory said:
I own 3 lever actions in 45LC. A Rossi, a Cimarron/Uberti, and a Henry Big Boy X. They still seem to be standing strong. Henry offers 12 versions in 45LC and 11 in 357.
On February 23, 2023 at 12:59 pm, Mike said:
Rossi has offered an R92 in 454 Casull in the past, don’t know if they still do…..
On February 23, 2023 at 1:16 pm, Don W Curton said:
I’m going bet that there are at least 4 or 5 lever guns sold in .22 rimfire for any single gun sold in any of the above calibers. I know I have 2 or 3 of them in my safe right now. And another in .22 mag.
On February 23, 2023 at 1:37 pm, scott s. said:
I guess there’s no love for 32-40 WCF
On February 23, 2023 at 2:46 pm, X said:
In terms of actually killing deer the Buckhammer probably won’t do anything at 100 yards that a .30-30 doesn’t do.
What is does do is political, not terminal. The Buckhammer and the .350 Legend were designed for Midwestern states like Ohio and Indiana that were historically shotgun-only states for deer hunting, but recently began to allow rifles that shot “straight-walled” cartridges. That eliminates the .30-30, but allows you to shoot a .45-70, .44 mag or .444 Marlin, all of which have rainbow trajectories. The Buckhammer and the Legend were intended to allow the hunter to accomplish 200-yard shots with minimal to no hold-over within the “straight wall” rules imposed by the state game officials.
Most guys with a .30-30 in those states would probably just switch to Hornady flex-tip spitzers and call it a day except for the fact that the .30-30 is not considered “straight-walled,” so the have to get a new caliber.
On February 23, 2023 at 5:36 pm, PJ said:
I’d like to see a lever gun in .327 Fed Mag. Maybe there is one already, I haven’t been paying attention.
Another one that would be fun, is a .475 Linebaugh rifle. BTW can lever guns stand up to .454 Casull pressures? (65,000 psi)
On February 23, 2023 at 6:36 pm, George said:
I would have thought the 35 Remington would have had a solid niche.
On February 23, 2023 at 7:09 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@PJ,
Bighorn Armory makes a rifle in 454 Casull, so it’s possible. I’m sure Marlin would make a fine rifle in that caliber.
On February 23, 2023 at 8:33 pm, SamlAdams said:
Got started on the .30-30 with a circa 1911 Savage 1899 takedown. Sweet gun. Didn’t want to put too many rounds through it so bought a Henry. Just plain fun to shoot. Load it down with gas checked cast bullets and it’s a great round for new shooters or plinking. There’s a reason these rounds have stuck around.
On February 23, 2023 at 9:11 pm, Chuck said:
@PJ,
Henry makes 3 or 4 models in 327 Federal. I have the Big Boy Steel carbine – actually my wife stole it from me. Great shooter and really lets me get the most out of heavy-for-caliber rounds (127gr solids at 1700 fps).
On February 24, 2023 at 12:18 am, RHT447 said:
To fill the void between between 44 mag and 45-70, I nominate the venerable 38-55, parent cartridge to the 30-30. Laid next to a 45-70, 38-55 looks like 45-70 lite. I own a Marlin in each caliber and handload for both.
I realize that the 38-55 is long dead and over the counter ammo is unobtainium. However, if they can field a brand new cartridge, they could certainly resurrect an old one.
On February 24, 2023 at 5:29 pm, =TW= said:
Rossi M92, .454 Casull:
https://youtu.be/gmjBkhCPSs0
Seems to have adequate power…
On February 27, 2023 at 9:38 am, Ned said:
“…let me tell you where I think there is a void. Between the .44 magnum and the 45-70. The perfect cartridge to fill that void is the 454 Casull…”
Amen
On March 4, 2023 at 1:25 pm, Matt said:
.454 would also allow you to shoot 45 long. Kinda like 357/38. I thought Tylor made one in .454