Heavy Calibre Lever Action for Wild Boar

04 August 2004, 00:41

I am interested to find out if there are any good rifles in 7mm calibre & up with a lever action.
I have seen a .44 Mag lever action but was not sure who made it. I am just interested as I thought it might be a good plan for following-up on wounded wild boar? Any recommendations?

04 August 2004, 01:56

ASS_CLOWN

Winchester Model 1895 in 405 Winchester. Accept no substitutes!

ASS_CLOWN

04 August 2004, 02:18

arkypete

Clown
Me thinks you mean 1895 Winchester.
I agree that this rifle is a real romping stomping beauty. I can't imagine a wild pig being big enough to require a 405. Sort takes the term 'overkill' to a new level.
While I've never done it, hunted wild pigs, I should think one of the Winchester, Marlin, Rossi levers in 45 Colt or 44 mag would be plenty.
Jim

04 August 2004, 02:20

jnc91

Try a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 or 444 Marlin. It can be had with a 22 inch barrell or in the guide gun configuration with an 18 inch barrell. Add XS Ghost ring sights and you've go a fast handling rifle that hits hogs like the hammer of Thor.

04 August 2004, 02:26

ASS_CLOWN

arkypete,

He DID say "heavy caliber". I figured what the heck.

jnc91,

You WILL get FAR more reliable feeding from a M1895 WInchester than any tube fed lever rifle! That is a fact, which may be of some small importance when hunting wild boar.

ASS_CLOWN

04 August 2004, 03:35

Dutch

Browning BLR in 358 Win. Much shorter than the 1895, lots of hole making power. If that's not to your liking, something like a Guide Gun in .444. THUMP! LOL! Dutch.

04 August 2004, 03:39

N. Garrett

Marlin lever action in either 375 Winchester or in 356 caliber.

I've used both on Florida hogs.
Make sure you get as short as barrel as feasable...it helps with quick pointing, and the loss of velocity is negligble at the distances you intend.

Garrett

04 August 2004, 04:31

JefferyDenmark

What about the 450 Marlin

Cheers,

Andrï¿½

05 August 2004, 09:32

mho

Marlin 1895 in .45-70 - the only lever action heavy caliber I would count on surviving, and probably your best bet in Sweden for ammo and components. I would stay away from the ported models (Guide's Gun), though. The .45-70 has better bullet selection than the various .44s.

Other than that a Browning BLR in .308 - I would be sceptical about the .358 surviving and how availability would be in Sweden. In any event, the .308 should do on boar even in a follow-up situation.

- mike

05 August 2004, 09:55

Paul B

Quote:

Other than that a Browning BLR in .308 - I would be sceptical about the .358 surviving and how availability would be in Sweden. In any event, the .308 should do on boar even in a follow-up situation.
- mike

Whether the .358 survives or not, .308 Win. brass is real easy to come by. One pass through the .358 die and you have .358 Win. brass. No big deal. Just size and load away. The only bad thing, if you want to call it that, is usually the first loading (fireforming) might not be quite as accurate as loads in following reloadings.
I just size them, trim to minimum length, more to square off the necks, and load. I don't need to as I found a more than lifetime supply of brass at a gun show, but did do the process to find out what needed to be done, should the supply of .358 ammo disappear. I did the same thing in converting 30-06 brass to .35 Whelen as a "just in case" proposition. You get the same accuray difference with the 06 conversion to the Whelen as well. No big deal. I just use a heavy bullet cast lead load that's just hot enough to properly fireform the cases and forget about it.
JMHO, but the .358 and .35 Whelen are two greatly under appreciated rounds that should get more attention from the shooting public.
Paul B.

05 August 2004, 10:42

mho

Quote:

Whether the .358 survives or not, .308 Win. brass is real easy to come by. One pass through the .358 die and you have .358 Win. brass. No big deal.

So true, Paul. Good point.
- mike

05 August 2004, 10:42

<eldeguello>

Why, yes, there are! Get a Browning BLR in .358 Winchester!! Load it with 250-grain controlled-expansion bullets at 2400+ FPS, and it will devastate any boar that ever rooted up a truffle!!

05 August 2004, 10:55

Kingfisher

Winchester also recently produced the 1895's in 30.06 and 270. However, I'm with AC. I've got a 405 WCF and I love it.

05 August 2004, 13:25

The_Shrink

I, to have a 1895 in .405 and love it. But, if you're recoil sensitive, go with something with other than a steel butt plate!

05 August 2004, 13:31

ASS_CLOWN

The_Shrink,

It will only hurt for a little while.

I never thought the 405 "kicked" all that bad as long as I held it into my shoulder (which has been an issue since it is SSSssoooo much shorter than my usual 14.5" - 14.75" LOP).

Keeping a firm grasp wrist and on the forearm is very important though with those max effort 400 grain loads, though! That little rifle dun come ALIVE when you touch those off.

ASS_CLOWN

05 August 2004, 13:35

Toolmaker

If you want something cheap and off the shelf: Marlin 1895G in .45/70(also available in stainless).
If you want something nostalgic: Winchester 1895 in .405 Winchester.
If you want a real stopper: Browning 71 in .450 Alaskan or .50 Alaskan
If you want something that costs more than your car: Winchester 1886 in .50-110 Express

Toolmaker