.45lc lever?

[MEGSDAD]

Hi again.
In a previous thread i asked if my first lever should be either .357 or .22.
Some suggestions were to go with .45 lc.
So please enlighten me on the pros and cons of .45lc. Its not going to be used for hunting, just plinking at the range.
Thanks

[SkyHawk]

45LC is very expensive to shoot unless you reload

[200Apples]

You don't say if you're set up to handload .45 Colt. If not, and you have no immediate plans to do so, then I vote for .357

Either way, if you're not stocked with ammo for either, then...

However! (thinking out loud, here)... .45 Colt may be one of the few calibers that remain available for sale during this widespread pandemic and civil unrest-caused guns/ammo-buying panic.

[hermosabeach]

38/357

Velocity goes hand in hand with leading... I hate shooting lead from my level gun as cleaning out the lead is a pita

so I end up shooting Jacketed or semi jacketed ammo, not lead reloads...

For reloading, I've debated starting powdercoating or buying bullets with a polymer coating to help keep cost down


It's a range toy- .22 / .357 or .44 would be my choice

Ammo is hard to find... 45 long colt is even harder... 38 special / 357 mag is almost always available.. same with 44 mag

[jimmykan]

45-70

[MEGSDAD]

Thanks guys. I do load for .357 and 45 acp. I could load for the 45 colt or .44 mag without too much trouble. Could also consider .44 mag, but worry might be too much recoil.

[Calif Hunter]

I load coated bullets in both my .44 and .45 Rossi rifles. I do oload a moderate load with a 200 gr RNFP in the .44 and use 1 250 gr bullet in the .45.

[NapalmCheese]

Just plinking at the range a .22 would serve you well.

But, since you reload, a .38 wouldn't be quite as inexpensive as .22, but would give you some independence from having to buy ammo.

[golfish]

45LC is very expensive to shoot unless you reload

This kept me away for years

[golfish]

I load coated bullets in both my .44 and .45 Rossi rifles. I do oload a moderate load with a 200 gr RNFP in the .44 and use 1 250 gr bullet in the .45.

Calif Hunter, have you ever slugged the barrel on your Rossi .44?

[pennstater]

If you handload, .45 Colt is a lot of fun to shoot. Especially regarding plinking rounds. But, with some components hard to find, primers in particular, things might be dicey. The .357 would probably be the way to go considering you already load for it.

MLC

[shadowofnight]

Thanks guys. I do load for .357 and 45 acp. I could load for the 45 colt or .44 mag without too much trouble. Could also consider .44 mag, but worry might be too much recoil.

You can load both 44 mag and 45-70 low enough that recoil is negligible.

[cannon]

45LC is very expensive to shoot unless you reload

True. On the other hand about %70 of the time I can watch the glowing butt of the bullet trundle downrange into the target. (Shooting cowboy loads.)

You can actually walk it into the 10 ring. So there's that.

Recoil is sweet too.

OP, You can shoot mine if you want. (outdoor range in San Fernando Valley. Have some free passes.)

[splithoof]

If you hunt, you can certainly hot-rod the .45 Colt. Because you already load .45ACP, there are some bullets that can be used for both; something to consider these days.
In .44 Magnum, you have another good round, and can easily download to suit. If the .44 Special will feed in a lever action, there is that also.
Both of the above however are much better suited to reloading when looking at co$t.

[Spyder]

I recently became completely hooked on 45 Colt, and have a couple Marlins chambered for it...and am on the lookout for some wheelguns as well. Even really hot 45 Colt is not much recoil in either my 20 or 24" octagon barrel Marlins. Very shootable.

But, if for just making noise at the range, I'd still say 22 first, 357 second. After that, 44Mag or 45 Colt or 25-20 (no, don't do that, save the ammo for mine) or 30-30 or 32 or 35 or 444 or 45-70 or 12 gauge, or, or...

Anything besides the 22 and 357, if you do any amount of shooting at all, almost necessitates loading your own. I am a fan of cheap plated or coated bullet 30-30 trailboss loads in my old Winchesters and Marlins, myself.