Regular readers know that I spent some time several years ago experimenting with handgun cartridges in lever carbines, specifically, in the .357 magnum.
Junior and I did some work in this regard, and if you follow the links, yo can see it here, and some more here. Suffice it to say that both Junior and I regard the .357 magnum as perfectly capable for deer-sized game out to about 100 yards, especially when fired through a lever carbine.
As it turns out, the Lucky Gunner recently revisited the question, with better equipment than either Junior or I had, and came much to the same conclusion. In both cases, the .357 and .44 magnum showed the same energy at 100 yards from a carbine as the same rounds showed at the muzzle when shot from a 4" revolver.
The video below is interesting, if only because it tells me what I've known of years, that a handgun cartridge fired from a lever gun is potent medicine indeed, with the proper ammunition.
It is good to see our early work validated.
3 comments:
I have a marlin 1894 in each caliber. I reload both with a tendency toward hornady bullets. I haven’t even tried beyond 100 yards because that is pretty much as far as I can see into the woods around my house. I filled both of my caribou tags with one shot with the 44 using a 265 gr flat point at about fifty yards. If I’m going somewhere that might offer a longer shot I take my 444 marlin or the 7mm Remington mag.
I have a marlin 1894 in each caliber. I reload both with a tendency toward hornady bullets. I haven’t even tried beyond 100 yards because that is pretty much as far as I can see into the woods around my house. I filled both of my caribou tags with one shot with the 44 using a 265 gr flat point at about fifty yards. If I’m going somewhere that might offer a longer shot I take my 444 marlin or the 7mm Remington mag.
The .357 lever carbine is exceptionally versatile. Low velocity small game and plinking rounds to heavier bulleted high velocity loads for deeper penetration in larger game. All can be reliably fired in a lever carbine. If your territory has thick cover, the lever .357 will work fine.
I normally carry a high power carbine during deer season. One time, I had my Rossi Puma 20" lever gun when a doe presented an opportunity for a clean shot at 45 yards. Not a problem - only ran about 15 yards before collapsing and dying. Much less blood shot meat too.
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