affordable 45 colt lever gun?

sixgunnin · May 11, 2017, 10:02 AM

Any ideas on what's the best production lever gun for hard use/abuse? I am looking for a straight stock, top eject, 16'' in .45 colt. I am not really looking to pay more than $450

Model12Win · May 11, 2017, 10:07 AM

Not sure about .45 Colt but Marline does make a lever action in .44 magnum.

Hawg · May 11, 2017, 10:41 AM

Rossi 92

**4V50 Gary** · May 11, 2017, 11:11 AM

If Rossi was the only game in town, I'd go with Rossi. Good design.

Jbar4Ranch · May 17, 2017, 12:27 PM

Hard use/abuse and top eject makes a '92 your only choice. Gunbroker has them listed for as little as $463.55, + shipping & transfer fee, of course. Sometimes, better deals come around - I found a new Rossi .44 mag carbine on closeout at Chestnut Ridge Outfitters three years ago for $397, shipped.

Put a spring kit in 'em, get rid of that goofy top mounted safety on the bolt, and they make a very decent rifle. At the very least, the ejector spring needs to be modified or swapped out for something lighter.

TruthTellers · May 18, 2017, 12:24 AM

Rossi 92. New they'll cost around $500, but you might find them for $450 or less used.

Quality and fit/finish aren't going to be top notch, but if you can do some work to take off sharp edges, work the action smooth, etc. it's a good choice. Accuracy you can expect 5 MOA from all the sources I've read that reviewed the Rossi 92 in .45 Colt.

Working up your own loads will improve that, but it's not a 1 or even 2 MOA gun.

Old Stony · May 18, 2017, 02:59 AM

Accuracy out of one can surprise you sometimes. I shot this from 50 yds....the first three shots out of a slightly used Rossi in 45 colt with buckhorn sights. I picked up a bag of ammo that I had loaded for something else quite some time ago and just plunked a few targets at the range.

FishinLuke · May 18, 2017, 07:38 PM

I just snagged a Winchester 94 Trapper 45 Colt for $390 off a local guy. But probs my not going to find those deals often.

Hawg · May 18, 2017, 08:44 PM

I would be leary of the 94 for hard use as it's a long action designed for a rifle cartridge and many of them don't work well with pistol length cartridges.

cpt-t · May 18, 2017, 09:05 PM

sixgunnin: I have several Lever Action Rifles in 45LC, and I enjoy them all. I bought a SS Rossie 20 inch round barreled 92 in 45LC 15+ years ago to Cowboy Shoot with. It is one of my favorite 45LC rifles and I have used it for just about everything Cowboy Action Shooting, Steel Silhouettes, Deer & Pig Hunting, Walking Around Rifle, SD & HD both, I have shot it without dought 1000`s of times. And I have never had any type of problems with it. And it is very accurate for me with 7grs of Win 231 & a Hard Cast LRNFP bullet.
ken

Jbar4Ranch · May 19, 2017, 12:57 PM

As Hawg already posted, the Winchester M94 action is not very well suited to the .45 Colt cartridge. Additionally, I think all .45 Colt M94's are built on the AE action, so it might not fit the OP's top eject specification.

Hawg · May 19, 2017, 01:22 PM

Quote:

I think all .45 Colt M94's are built on the AE action,

They are. I'm not sure when Winchester chambered their first one in .45 Colt but the angle eject came out in 1983 and nobody chambered a rifle in .45 Colt until Uberti did it in 1984 or 1985.

eastbank · May 19, 2017, 02:34 PM

i have a 94 AE legacy winchester rifle (full magizine tube) in .44 mag that has a short lever throw and solid shell lifter(not stamped) that has not been a problem in several thousand rounds. eastbank.

May 11, 2017, 10:02 AM	#1
sixgunnin Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2017 Location: Montana Posts: 182	affordable 45 colt lever gun? Any ideas on what's the best production lever gun for hard use/abuse? I am looking for a straight stock, top eject, 16'' in .45 colt. I am not really looking to pay more than $450

May 11, 2017, 11:11 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	If Rossi was the only game in town, I'd go with Rossi. Good design. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 17, 2017, 12:27 PM	#5
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	Hard use/abuse and top eject makes a '92 your only choice. Gunbroker has them listed for as little as $463.55, + shipping & transfer fee, of course. Sometimes, better deals come around - I found a new Rossi .44 mag carbine on closeout at Chestnut Ridge Outfitters three years ago for $397, shipped. Put a spring kit in 'em, get rid of that goofy top mounted safety on the bolt, and they make a very decent rifle. At the very least, the ejector spring needs to be modified or swapped out for something lighter. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

May 18, 2017, 12:24 AM	#6
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,883	Rossi 92. New they'll cost around $500, but you might find them for $450 or less used. Quality and fit/finish aren't going to be top notch, but if you can do some work to take off sharp edges, work the action smooth, etc. it's a good choice. Accuracy you can expect 5 MOA from all the sources I've read that reviewed the Rossi 92 in .45 Colt. Working up your own loads will improve that, but it's not a 1 or even 2 MOA gun. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

May 18, 2017, 09:05 PM	#10
cpt-t Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2012 Location: South Central Kansas Posts: 125	sixgunnin: I have several Lever Action Rifles in 45LC, and I enjoy them all. I bought a SS Rossie 20 inch round barreled 92 in 45LC 15+ years ago to Cowboy Shoot with. It is one of my favorite 45LC rifles and I have used it for just about everything Cowboy Action Shooting, Steel Silhouettes, Deer & Pig Hunting, Walking Around Rifle, SD & HD both, I have shot it without dought 1000`s of times. And I have never had any type of problems with it. And it is very accurate for me with 7grs of Win 231 & a Hard Cast LRNFP bullet. ken __________________ THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS NOT FREE:

May 11, 2017, 10:07 AM	#2
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Not sure about .45 Colt but Marline does make a lever action in .44 magnum.

May 11, 2017, 10:41 AM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Rossi 92

May 18, 2017, 02:59 AM	#7
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	Accuracy out of one can surprise you sometimes. I shot this from 50 yds....the first three shots out of a slightly used Rossi in 45 colt with buckhorn sights. I picked up a bag of ammo that I had loaded for something else quite some time ago and just plunked a few targets at the range.

May 18, 2017, 07:38 PM	#8
FishinLuke Member Join Date: April 10, 2013 Posts: 31	I just snagged a Winchester 94 Trapper 45 Colt for $390 off a local guy. But probs my not going to find those deals often.

May 18, 2017, 08:44 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I would be leary of the 94 for hard use as it's a long action designed for a rifle cartridge and many of them don't work well with pistol length cartridges.

May 19, 2017, 12:57 PM	#11
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	As Hawg already posted, the Winchester M94 action is not very well suited to the .45 Colt cartridge. Additionally, I think all .45 Colt M94's are built on the AE action, so it might not fit the OP's top eject specification. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

May 19, 2017, 02:34 PM	#13
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	i have a 94 AE legacy winchester rifle (full magizine tube) in .44 mag that has a short lever throw and solid shell lifter(not stamped) that has not been a problem in several thousand rounds. eastbank.