Most powerful lever action cartridge

[J E Custom]

I've witnessed the .444 and the .450 in action...my son in law and his buddy use them for whitetails and black bear. And they use standard bullets and level everything they hit with them. Most shots are under 100 on whitetails and the black bears are usually are driven bears at fairly close range in Laurel thickets... I can only imagine with great hard bullets in the 300 grain + range they'd handle anything you'd care to whack with one, within reasonable ranges... That .444 loaded with 240 grain bullets just floors big whitetails like a sledge hammer...

+1

For a long period of time I hunted with specialty pistols and the 444 was the most powerful I used for deer and hogs. I never had anything take a step after being hit with the 444.

I liked the 265 grain bullets, but the recoil was near my limits in a 4.5 pound pistol. the 240 grain bullets were more manageable but they also destroyed a lot of meat.

The 444 would literally, cut a coyote in half. the long barreled marlin rifle could get almost 100 ft/sec velocity and was better for 3 or 400 yard shots.

For many years, it was the king of big bore lever guns.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Waynzee]

I had one of these a few years ago and I killed a couple black bears and a grizz with the first few Buffalo Bore 405s I fired through it. I never noticed the recoil when shooting the first few at bears, but when I went to the range and fired a few off for fun, I found out they aren't really all that much fun. That little rifle comes back with a surprisingly quick hard snap.

How did them 405's do on putting the bears down ?

 

[brentc]

How did them 405's do on putting the bears down ?

All were DRT.

 

[Extremist458]

Would you all mind if I renew this older thread?

Have not posted in years (once since 2012). Came across this and thought it would be time. I have very, very extensive and exhaustive experience here.

 

[Extremist458]

I posted pictures last night, still waiting on moderators approval.

 

[Extremist458]

Anyone see the pics yet?

 

[cohunt]

no pics, yes its an old thread but did anyone mention the win 1886 repeater chambered in 50-110, about 6000ft lbs of energy

 

[Extremist458]

Posted pics days ago, not approved by the moderators yet. And I was going to bring that one up. Issue is not available ammunition or currently manufactured rifles.

 

[cohunt]

Posted pics days ago, not approved by the moderators yet. And I was going to bring that one up. Issue is not available ammunition or currently manufactured rifles.

ammo is available https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/72809
https://www.buffaloarms.com/50-110-...mmunition-300-grain-fn-box-of-20-amo50110winb
grizzly just discontinued this a short while ago also https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...mance-lead-wide-flat-nose-gas-check-box-of-20

rifles are few and far between, sen them go from $3000- $15000 --you can pick this one up for just 15 big ones https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...--caliber-50-110-express.cfm?gun_id=100797652

 

[Extremist458]

True, you can get ammunition, but not the rifles. Black powder does limit the cartridge, at least by pressure, to less then the 45-70 performance (both energy and penetration). That being said, the 50 Alaskan takes the lead. With handloading, the 45-70 still wins. If you custom build your rifle, it's a toss up between the 45-90/457WWM and the 510KE by Mic McPherson.

 

[rokstockrangtang]

How hard would it be to do a model 88 in 460 s and w off the 284? The brass diameter is pretty cloe,the gun is made for 284,308 and 243 pressure.

 

[cohunt]

True, you can get ammunition, but not the rifles. Black powder does limit the cartridge, at least by pressure, to less then the 45-70 performance (both energy and penetration). That being said, the 50 Alaskan takes the lead. With handloading, the 45-70 still wins. If you custom build your rifle, it's a toss up between the 45-90/457WWM and the 510KE by Mic McPherson.

If you really want a modern 50-110 that you can hot rod, Turnbull will custom build one for you, they have done it before--- iirc it sold for about 17000, all ot takes is $, someone will build one when it comes to firearms[/QUOTE]

 

[Mike 338]

"The most" of anything usually comes with something impractical. A 45-70 is plenty of medicine with a good bullet and can be found in a fast handling package that won't get left at the cabin when it should be in your hand. A 444 is very good with hard cast lead bullets but the reality is, it can't do anything a 45-70 can do.

 

[Extremist458]

Amen.

Vince Lupo took the Dangerous 6 with one shot from a Marlin 45-70 guide (I believe) with lead cast bullets. Randy Garrett factory 540 Hammer heads at 1550fps.