Best lever gun caliber for a 16in barrel
- Thread starter Gulfcowboy
- Start date
Pathfinder45
New member
It must be for a special application, like inside a confined space... Otherwise, I just don't see the practically of such a short barrel. What could be handier than a 20" barrelled levergun, unless it's a holstered revolver?
I have a 44 mag Chiappa Alaskan with a 20" barrel. It's a takedown which I like. Issues with the 1892 rifle clones of course is they are top eject and so for optics you need a scout scope of red dot mounted forward of the receiver.
Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope
Skinner carry case:
Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds.
And when you unpack it:
And out on the range:
Hoping to develop a plinking load (240gr cast lead RNFP and Unique) and a hunting load
(Thinking 240 gr Nosler JSP or Swift A-Frame. Maybe the 265gr Hornady over H110 or N110)
I know Skinner is selling a kit they call the Bush Pilot with a 16” version in this case.
Best wishes,
Scrummy
Currently with a Leupold 2.5x28 Scout Scope
Skinner carry case:
Reckon should be good for a cleaning kit / rod and an MTM box of 50 rds.
And when you unpack it:
And out on the range:
Hoping to develop a plinking load (240gr cast lead RNFP and Unique) and a hunting load
(Thinking 240 gr Nosler JSP or Swift A-Frame. Maybe the 265gr Hornady over H110 or N110)
I know Skinner is selling a kit they call the Bush Pilot with a 16” version in this case.
Best wishes,
Scrummy
Any thoughts anyone has on a hunting bullet would be welcome here:
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=610772
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=610772
You may enjoy reading this article. And the whole site is devoted to lever actions and revolvers. https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/trapper2.htm
That being said I don't know that in the real world you really gain anything from 4" less barrel. Brian Pearce wrote an article on the 30-30 and said you lose about 17fps from each inch of barrel cut off. JMR's post was spot on.
I have two SKS rifles. The one with 20" barrel and the other the Paratrooper Carbine with 16" barrel. The 16" gun is cuter and has a cool look to it but I prefer to use and shoot the 20" gun. I like the longer sight radius and I like the blast a little further from my face.
But if you just have to have a 16" gun I would get either the 357 (first choice for me) or the 44 mag. And the final choice would be based on what you want to do with it. My Marlin 357 with 18.5" barrel is my favorite gun all I own. Thats a good barrel length too.
That being said I don't know that in the real world you really gain anything from 4" less barrel. Brian Pearce wrote an article on the 30-30 and said you lose about 17fps from each inch of barrel cut off. JMR's post was spot on.
I have two SKS rifles. The one with 20" barrel and the other the Paratrooper Carbine with 16" barrel. The 16" gun is cuter and has a cool look to it but I prefer to use and shoot the 20" gun. I like the longer sight radius and I like the blast a little further from my face.
But if you just have to have a 16" gun I would get either the 357 (first choice for me) or the 44 mag. And the final choice would be based on what you want to do with it. My Marlin 357 with 18.5" barrel is my favorite gun all I own. Thats a good barrel length too.
Guessing that is with a shorter than 16" barrel at the time?