Strongest action 45LC in a levergun

[wiiawiwb]

I'm looking to get a .45 Colt levergun and want to shoot hot loads from it the same way I do from my Ruger SRH 454 Casull/45LC. Who makes the strongest action levergun for a 45LC?

Winchester, Rossi, Henry, Uberrti, Browning, other?

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Got to be the LSI / Rossi Puma 92, I'd imagine, since them make them in .454 Casull. Lightweight and a very good rifle too - that's what I'd do.

 

[Chuck Dye]

Falling block .

 

[The Big D]

The Big Horn Armory model 90A has to be up there.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Those Big Horns are absolute bee-yoots, for those with stacks of cash.

Ahh yes, the lever action falling block - bulletproof! He didn't say repeater, did he?

 

[Big Shrek]

Used to be Marlin, but since 2005, you might get a good one, you might get a clusterflop...
so if you go that road, find a pre-2005 one...

 

[wiiawiwb]

The Big Horns look amazing but too expensive for my taste. How does Rossi make a stronger action compared to a Winchester which costs twice the price?

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Winchester made lever action rifles for a long time. Some of those are "reproduced" today and they are NOT all the same.

The 1866 and 1873 rifles (which were never made in .45 Colt back in the day but are available as repros) have a relatively weak lockup. I would not choose one of those.

JMB designed the rifle that became the 1892 Winchester. They were also not chambered in .45 Colt back in the day for whatever that is worth. The "Winchester" branded '92 repros are made by Miroku in Japan (most have a rebounding hammer that was not part of Browning's design). The Rossi is a close copy. That is a stronger action.

You might also find a Winchester 1894 in pistol calibers, I think including .45 Colt. Similar lockup to the '92.

I think someone makes a '92 clone in .454 Casull; perhaps that would be the ticket.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

How does Rossi make a stronger action compared to a Winchester which costs twice the price?

Easy - you're not paying a huge name brand premium so Olin (Winchester) can get their brand name check. Same reason Academy brand is just as good as Scent-Lok or Under Armour.

Rossi is a new-made rifle with modern steel. Again, they have been succesfully making them for years in .454 Casull, without problems - that's a 60K psi round, fercripessake, along a longer length of that pressure! Same design (copy) of the Win 92, plus equal or better steel = same strength or stronger gun, at a lower price. They lock up like a bank vault! Viva la JMB.

 

[Radny97]

I have a Rossi 92 in 454 Casull. Very strong action. I've shot a few hundred rounds through it both 45 colt and 454 Casull without any problems. It's plenty strong to handle the cartridge long term. And the rifle weighs about 6 pounds. It comes with the traditional buckhorn sights. But can also be mounted with a peepsight and comes drilled and tapped underneath the buckhorn sights to accept a $14 rail made by Rossi. It allows you to mount a long eye relief scout scope. Expect a 15-25% increase in velocity from the longer barrel compared to a super Redhawk or other handgun. I'm happy with it.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Cool, but I would warn you strongly against shooting .45 Colts in that gun. This can ring the cylinder, causing pressure to spike when you go back to .454 Casull and the bullets don't release quickly - a very bad thing in an already-60K psi round. This is one area I wouldn't mess around with, unless you clean the chamber with strong solvents every time you shoot .45 colts in it.

If you want to shoot .45 colt, handload .45 colt level loads in .454 casull brass.

 

[Radny97]

Yes I'm aware of the issues associated with shooting 45 colt from the 454 Casull Rossi. I only shoot FMJ 45 colt out of it to reduce any residue. No LRN. And it gets a very thorough cleaning after every 50 rounds of 45 colt. It is important to point this issue out so nice catch.
I believe Rossi makes a 45 colt 92 as well as the 454 casull

 

[wiiawiwb]

All things considered, it makes sense to forget the 454 and go with a dedicated .45 Colt levergun.

 

[Radny97]

If you're looking to mostly shoot 45 colt, get a gun made for it. If you're looking like me to mostly hunt with it (and occasional practice and plinking in 45 colt) then get the 454 Casull.

 

[bamaranger]

strength

Seems I read that the M94 action was a bit stronger than the M92.

And I suspect the Marlin 1894 is about at the same level as the M92, but have no real proof. All the lever family down that path are not particularly strong actions relatively speaking, but I suspect in terms of regular commercial production, the M94 might be the winner, Big Horn excluded.

I'd search for a Win 94 in .45 Colt, and avoid hot rodding it.

 

[wiiawiwb]

Today, I took a spin to all of the gun stores (6) within reasonable driving distance. Nobody had a Winchester 1892 which I went looking for. One place had a Rossi 45LC Big Loop.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=181&category=8&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=

Another store had a Henry in 45LC and the action felt great but the rifle was very heavy compared to the others. That is a feature I can't live with.

How would that Rossi be? I can't imagine the Rossi quality can be in the same league as the Winchester 1892 and be less than 1/2 the cost.

 

[Tony Z]

I have a Henry .45LC Goldenboy and it is a bit heavier than the Rossi M92. The Rossi was the .45 I was after, till I got to the gun shop and handled the Henry, and it came home with me!

 

[Hawg]

Seems I read that the M94 action was a bit stronger than the M92.

The 92 has two locking lugs, the 94 just one. The 92 is supposed to be the stronger but I suspect the difference wouldn't be enough to brag about.

 

[Tidewater_Kid]

I have the Taurus/Rossi M92 in .45 Colt. It has been an excellent rifle after a bit of break in.

This was the first one I owned and traded it away. Missed it and got the second. The second is color cased and stays with me.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Radny, glad you are aware - just making sure - carry on.