Lever action Rifle .44 mag or 45-70?

Just the question, ".44 mag or .45-70 in lever action." As far as calibers, the 2 really have no comparison to each other. Each is extremely different in what in is good for. Yeah, they both share a lever action. But not much else. If just wall hangers get what suits your fancy.
So, tell us all what do you want to do with the rifle you buy and I can answer which to buy.

MHtractorguy said:

I know the choices are 44 mag and 45-70.
I am also looking for a big boomer lever gun, and the 454 keeps poking its head into the mix.
It seems to cover everything I would ever do with a lever gun. I do reload, and I am also in the market for a Blackhawk, so the 45 colt option is very attractive.

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My first lever action in 40+ years was my Rossi .454 Casull. It handles .45 Colt just fine AND I fire the same loads in my Blackhawks and Vaqueros. That being said, if you're not interested in .45/.454 go for the .44!

Ride1949 said:

Nice looking rifles. That's some interesting grain on the butt stock on the .357.

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Thanks, the fluorescent lights in the basement gives it an odd shine to it. Here are a few pictures I just took out on the deck this morning.





When I got it about 20 years or so ago. It had the original finish that had been beat up with a lot of scratches and nicks in it. Nothing really to look at, you couldn't see the grain you see today. After some work on getting the old finish off and taking the nicks and dents out of it. It has several hand rubbed coats of oil on it. It really surprised me what was hiding under that old finish.

My vote is for the 44 magnum. I do have both but I seldom shoot the 45/70. I load my marlin 44 with 44 specials and have killed a bunch of pigs with it! Just a fun rifle.

As a side note. My favorite hunting rifle is a single shot 44 magnum.

Hankus said:

My first lever action in 40+ years was my Rossi .454 Casull. It handles .45 Colt just fine AND I fire the same loads in my Blackhawks and Vaqueros. That being said, if you're not interested in .45/.454 go for the .44!

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This is a great answer. You're giving up almost nothing with this pick, although I guess .454Ca doesn't offer quite the range of large bullets found in the .45-70, even if you reload? Maybe that would be an advantage of the .45-70 if you're hunting large bears? Practically, .454Ca should be awesome though, and if i'm not mistaken, ammo and reloading components are both cheaper and more common than those for .45-70.

Rossi catches a lot of flak, but the only 92 I've experienced works great. I think it was made 15 or 20 years ago.

BuckRimfire said:

Has anyone reloaded .45-70 with a Lee hand press? If someone is not yet into reloading, that's a good option to keep things cheap and most of all compact.

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The Lee hand press works just fine for loading 45-70.

Excellent. Thanks! I doubt I'll ever use that information, but I hope someone might.

Wyandot Jim said:

I have Marlins, Uberties both single and levers in 45 Colt. 44-40, 357, 44 Mag, 30-30 and 45-70s.
All are great. If you reload and only can get one rifle I would go for the 45-70.
The reason is you can download the 45-70 to 44 mag but you can not upload the 44 mag to 45-70. The 45-70 downloaded to 10 Grs. of Unique and a 300Gr. LRNFP is very accurate to100+ yards and a blast to shoot.

Levers
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I like your Style right up my alley!

41Dude said:

I am really looking at a lever action. I can sure use some input. I am used to .44 mag but the 45-70 is also calling me. I cannot purchase both.
Any if you have an opinion?

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If I see a seductive 44 Mag levergun I guess it will come home with me...I'm blaming 41 for this.

I will gladly take the blame. I am leaning to the .44 also.

41Dude
If you would state what you plan on using the rifle for and if you reload I might be able to help more.
For all of the 45-70 haters that think it is a shoulder thumper WRONG. It can be a great plinker. You can also have fun without loading to the max.
I have shot as many 50 of my light rounds at a SASS match without pain. It is also a lot of fun shooting 35-40 grs. of 3F Triple 7 along with filler and a 300 Gr. LRNFP. About the same as shooting a 45 Colt.
Mine are also slicked up a weeeee bit so they can be shot pretty fast.
Yes you can load really hard shooting rounds that will leave you with a black and blue shoulder. Think 500 gr LRNFP or a 405 JFP and a lot of powder, but that is what the Sharps is for

My choice would be a USED Marlin 45-70 Cowboy as an all-around shooter.
This one is on Gunbroker along with others. IMHO the Henrys just don't look right.

41Dude said:

I am really looking at a lever action. I can sure use some input. I am used to .44 mag but the 45-70 is also calling me. I cannot purchase both.
Any if you have an opinion?

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If you are going after big, and I mean big game get the 45-70. In a modern rifle it can be loaded to near but not quite 458 Win. Mag. power levels and will certainly take any North American Game and most African game as well with the right bullet and loads.
Get a 45-70 for the historical value and nostalgia but don't get it for frequent shooting unless you are a masochistic person and enjoy pain.
A friend and I each bought a couple H&R Single Shot break-open rifles that only weighed approx. 6 lbs. Those rifles just beat the hell out of us, but were so much fun to shoot, but we were only in our early 20s and could take it. At 76 yrs. now.....no thanks! Good luck friend!

41Dude said:

I will gladly take the blame. I am leaning to the .44 also.

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Can you let us know WHY and what use you want for that rifle, since only buying one. I guess my vote is don't buy one. Save your money and get one of each.

I like both but reach for the .38-55 over either. It is good to about 500 yards after that wind starts moving it around. It has less recoil which is good as you age. You do need to reload for it though. The .44 mag gets shot much more than the .45-70 as I have hit 78 years going to 79 this year. Old bones do not like recoil. A new lever gun can shot a lot hotter round in a 94 action if you push the envelop.

Chief 101 said:

If I see a seductive 44 Mag levergun I guess it will come home with me...I'm blaming 41 for this.

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By the way, I will have to beat him to it!

41Dude said:

I am really looking at a lever action. I can sure use some input. I am used to .44 mag but the 45-70 is also calling me. I cannot purchase both.
Any if you have an opinion?

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IMO 44 mag is way more versatile and easier on your shoulder! JMHO

My stainless Rossi 44 Mag, a lot of gun to have fun with.