What lever gun can handle Ruger only loads ?

M

Metal god

New member
Hey , I'm picking up a 4.2" or 5.5" Ruger Redhawk in 44mag and would like to compliment it with a nice SS lever gun . I reload and will likely at times pump up the loads for the Redhawk . I like to load ammo that works in all firearms of the same caliber so the question is , is there a lever gun that handles pretty hot 44mag loads ?
 
I don't know what pretty hot means but per this article the Henry Big Boy handles SAAMI spec ammo fine, I've had no problems thus far with MagTech factory ammo.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/08/chris-dumm/gun-review-henry-big-boy-44-magnum/

The Big Boy’s receiver is machined from a solid lump of a proprietary brass alloy. Henry claims it has the same tensile and yield strength as steel. Despite some speculation in the gun forums (fora?) about the strength and durability of the non-steel receiver, my search for “Big Boy Frame Failure” didn’t turn up a single complaint.

As you can see from the picture below, the Big Boy’s receiver is massively thick. Company president Anthony Imperato states that the Big Boy can handle any loadings within the SAAMI pressure limit (36,000 PSI for the .44 Magnum). If you’re a glutton for shooting expensive ammo, Buffalo Bore makes Big Boy-safe .44 Magnums that deliver nearly 2,000 lb-ft of muzzle energy. That said, their very heaviest .44s are not recommended; the slow-twist barrel may not properly stabilize the heaviest .44 Magnum bullets. But the Big Boy [reportedly] does fine with bullets up to and including 270 grains.
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Remember Buffalo Bore only makes ammo (and money) not offered by the big ammo manufacturers.

In .44 magnum you don't have to go to Buffalo Bore to get plenty of power.
 
The Winchester 92 is the strongest action design and will handle anything a Redhawk will.
The Marlin is strong too, Strong enough for most sane loads anyway.
 
Salmoneye said:
There's no such thing as a 'Ruger Only' load in .44 mag...



'Ruger Only' loads are .45 Colt...
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That was my first thought as well, so I searched for ruger only 44 mag and only found the buffalo bore info. I also have not seen published load data for 44 mag that was "ruger only".
 
Remember Buffalo Bore only makes ammo (and money) not offered by the big ammo manufacturers.

In .44 magnum you don't have to go to Buffalo Bore to get plenty of power.
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Agreed--they say most people want 300 grs and up these days for their 44's which I'm guessing it's mostly BS--I think they are talking about limitations of powerful all-lead cast bullets--and even then with unique applications for hunting. I shoot almost exclusively compressed hot loads out of my rossi and never a problem or indication of over-pressure (though I do wonder a bit about the service life of the brass after 3 or 4 cycles)
 
The Henry Big Boy action is based on the Marlin 336 locking block system, not the original Henry toggle link design. While the brass frame might ultimately have problems, it will probably take a lot of shooting, even of .44 Magnum, to show any significant wear.

Jim
 
I don't know what pretty hot means
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My understanding is there are 44mag loads then there are Ruger only loads that are stronger that should not be used in other guns . That's the reason for the question .

I'm looking for a SS rifle and a quick search has not turned up much really . I might not be looking in the right places . Does Win make a stainless steel 44mag lever gun ? I did not see a SS Marlin either only 357 .

I also want to keep the weight down so It's very unlikely I'd get an octagonal barrel . A buddy has one in 357 and it's a beast .

The idea is to use the rifle for hunting and carry the Redhawk as back up . How ever in the field I'd like both to be able to handle the same ammo rather then carrying separate ammo for each . Yes I know I don't need to bring the hot loads hunting and likely wouldn't . I'm still looking for a SS rifle that can handle the Ruger only loads . haha and yes I do understand Ruger only "MEANS" Ruger only . Just checking if there is a SS lever gun out there that can handle them . ;)
 
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Ruger only means Ruger revolver only. With rifles all bets are off other than buffalo bores guidelines in the afore posted link.
 
Quote:
I don't know what pretty hot means

My understanding is there are 44mag loads then there are Ruger only loads that are stronger that should not be used in other guns . That's the reason for the question .

I'm looking for a SS rifle and a quick search has not turned up much really . I might not be looking in the right places . Does Win make a stainless steel 44mag lever gun ? I did not see a SS Marlin either only 357 .

I also want to keep the weight down so It's very unlikely I'd get an octagonal barrel . A buddy has one in 357 and it's a beast .

The idea is to use the rifle for hunting and carry the Redhawk as back up . How ever in the field I'd like both to be able to handle the same ammo rather then carrying separate ammo for each . Yes I know I don't need to bring the hot loads hunting and likely wouldn't . I'm still looking for a SS rifle that can handle the Ruger only loads . haha and yes I do understand Ruger only "MEANS" Ruger only . Just checking if there is a SS lever gun out there that can handle them .
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Last edited by Metal god; Today at 03:04 PM.
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Well, I know this one does ; ) I generally push 240 gr bullets around 1700 fps +/- so it can arrive at 100 or more yds if necessary to smack down hard. 4.8 lbs of easy-carrying quick-swinging fun.

Plenty accurate too with hot loads
 
Look at what BB is selling--it's called 44 mag +P (for boomer revolvers).

My take is what they are really saying is what firearms they know can be pushed safely beyond SAAMI specs. I don't view this as the same thing as a "hot load" that stays within SAAMI specs.
 
The only "RUGER" only loads I know of in .44Magnum are those which have TOO LONG a bullet to fit S&W cylinders, but will fit in the longer SuperRedhawk cylinder.

IF you are talking about those loads, you really need to examine the rifles, carefully, WITH the ammo inhand. Some lever guns, particularly Marlins are very sensitive to length.

I can see a possibility that a load with a heavy (300gr) bullet could be too long to properly work through the feed system of a lever action.

I KNOW 210gr .38cal bullets can be loaded too long in the .357 to work through the Marlin action, a friend of mine did it, jammed the gun, and brought it to me to fix.

I don't know about other makes of lever gun but I suspect they also have a min and a max length that they will run reliably.
 
The only "RUGER" only loads I know of in .44Magnum are those which have TOO LONG a bullet to fit S&W cylinders, but will fit in the longer SuperRedhawk cylinder.

IF you are talking about those loads, you really need to examine the rifles, carefully, WITH the ammo inhand. Some lever guns, particularly Marlins are very sensitive to length.

I can see a possibility that a load with a heavy (300gr) bullet could be too long to properly work through the feed system of a lever action.

I KNOW 210gr .38cal bullets can be loaded too long in the .357 to work through the Marlin action, a friend of mine did it, jammed the gun, and brought it to me to fix.

I don't know about other makes of lever gun but I suspect they also have a min and a max length that they will run reliably.
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+1 to this--the picture shows a very large FN but the site doesn't even say what the COL is. My guess is these things were optimized for shoving down a forcing cone and out a short barrel--not for getting through efficiently through a rifle barrel.
 
Yea , I was doing a little more research last night and came across the same info . The Ruger cylinder is longer and can handle the longer bullets . It also appears you can still pump those up do to the strength of the Ruger Redhawk .

That info and you guys confirming the longer bullets could have issues in a lever gun is nice to know before I get to deep into this .

Just to be clear , I'm not looking to push any loads to the brink . I just want to be sure if I do in fact have a stout load the lever gun I ultimately get will handle it .
 
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