Saving for next firearm - something a bit different

Hi all,

Generally I save my ducats for one larger annual purchase to feed my hunting and shooting hobby. Recently it has taken the form of range finding binoculars and other such non-firearms related items due to the registry.

However, I feel the itch to start saving for another firearm. I am thinking something a bit novel that I can reload for and use for close cover hunting. The options I have been toying with:

- Lever action or single shot in .454 Casull (I don't own a lever gun or anything that uses a straight wall case. I am left handed so the top eject has an appeal. I also like the idea of a less common cartridge with a big bang to experiment with at the reloading bench)
- Bergara BA13 in 45-70 (Straight wall and a bit rude, a bit of a classic that still performs with modern bullets. I could see myself using such a firearm when stalking in the lower North Island)

Would be keen on hearing peoples thoughts on those options, or any other ideas you may suggest. Again keen to try something a bit different, already have a few good bolt actions.

45 70 with 500gr subs is good fun and cheap

@matto1234, any particular rifle you have enjoyed using it in?

Ive got a single shot bergara but they dont make the 45 in stainless and the blued one i have i got ceracoted which was a failure and now it is a rust heap. Still lots of fun though. If they made one in stainless they would be ideal

If you're wanting to reload your ammo maybe straight walled cases are potentially trickier than bottleneck cases ....?? But, I'm not an expert as I only load bottleneck cartridges. Hopefully somebody experienced can comment .....

Henry make a single break open .45/70. They really appeal to me as look very much like the single barrel Winchester shotguns I used learning to shoot. .45/70 is a LOT of fun and dead easy to reload for...the bottom tier trapdoor loads are pleasant to shoot. Hotter loads,not so much.

If you want something really special do a search on the posts of the rifles @akaroa1 is running these days . . .

I'd rather a 30-30 or 44mag in a lever. The fun wears off quick firing a 45-70.
Just my 2c

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Originally Posted by Tentman

If you want something really special do a search on the posts of the rifles @akaroa1 is running these days . . .

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Have been following avidly. Cool to see some of those old firearms still proving effective. A good challenge.

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Originally Posted by Longrun

I'd rather a 30-30 or 44mag in a lever. The fun wears off quick firing a 45-70.
Just my 2c

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That's why I've stopped running full noise loads for playing around...but yeah a mouse fart load in 44 magnum is fun...must try the really light charge in .45/70 sometime too.

Nothing to see here
Don't know what you are talking about

I have a friend wanting to sell a Marlin 1895 45-70
Nice condition 22" barrel from memory

A 454 Casul is a bit hard to get cases and dies for
Better with a 45-70 lever ( if you must have follow up shots) or single shot is always a good idea
Brass, dies and bullets are readily available

There's a good reason it's still popular 150 years after it was brought out

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

I have a friend wanting to sell a Marlin 1895 45-70
Nice condition 22" barrel from memory

A 454 Casul is a bit hard to get cases and dies for
Better with a 45-70 lever ( if you must have follow up shots) or single shot is always a good idea
Brass, dies and bullets are readily available

There's a good reason it's still popular 150 years after it was brought out

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Amazing how modern projectile offerings and stronger actions can make old cartridges a serious contender again.

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Originally Posted by Floundering Around

Amazing how modern projectile offerings and stronger actions can make old cartridges a serious contender again.

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You don't want any more pressure than the 45-70 was designed for
Go full nitro and it cab be quite a handful

Modern actions aren't really any stronger than the better of the old ones
The original 1885 action was chambered for the 30-06 and can be run at 60k psi

1885s were used to develop modern cartridges like the 308 in Winchesters testing facilities
They were also destruction tested to well over 100k psi and the actions stayed together.

But the objective of buying something different shouldn't be to take an old cartridge in an old style rifle and apply modern bullets and powders.

If you are going nostalgic go all out.
Old rifle, old cartridge, old sights, old bullet styles and black powder.
Use your modern binos and thermal to find your game but experience the thrill of stalking into closer range and taking a good shot

My 2c worth of facts to factor in;

Straight wall cases can be reloaded with carbide dies. You don’t need to use case lube with these dies.

Straight wall cases need to be flared before the projectile is seated, it is easy, just a separate die with an oversized expander, ideally done before powder.

You can fire 45LC in a 454 Casul, same as you can fire 44 Special in a 44 Mag.

I read somewhere that ‘every shooter must own at least one lever action, that is the law’

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Originally Posted by Floundering Around

Hi all,

Generally I save my ducats for one larger annual purchase to feed my hunting and shooting hobby. Recently it has taken the form of range finding binoculars and other such non-firearms related items due to the registry.

However, I feel the itch to start saving for another firearm. I am thinking something a bit novel that I can reload for and use for close cover hunting. The options I have been toying with:

- Lever action or single shot in .454 Casull (I don't own a lever gun or anything that uses a straight wall case. I am left handed so the top eject has an appeal. I also like the idea of a less common cartridge with a big bang to experiment with at the reloading bench)
- Bergara BA13 in 45-70 (Straight wall and a bit rude, a bit of a classic that still performs with modern bullets. I could see myself using such a firearm when stalking in the lower North Island)

Would be keen on hearing peoples thoughts on those options, or any other ideas you may suggest. Again keen to try something a bit different, already have a few good bolt actions.

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Greetings,
The 45-70 certainly would tick all the boxes, either in lever action or single shot. It may even take you down the bullet casting rabbit hole.
GPM.

I’m left handed .. Henry 45.70 … 4 rounds in the tubular mag ,1 in the chamber -…. No issues at all….find someone who has one for a demo…. You won’t be disappointed …

I posted a picture of it on the..” lever-action” thread ….. very tidy ,well built rifle…. Packs a punch!!!

Or get a sharps or 1885 Winchester reproduction in 45/70. "You only need one" with that calibre

Yeah … but with 5 rounds I can get 5

Black powder cartridge silhouette competitions are often shot with the 45-70 in the US. This is shot out to 500 metres using crossed sticks prone at the longer ranges all with iron sights (there is a class for scopes). All shot with cast lead, no gas checks and black powder only.
GPM.

Thanks for all the sage advice team!

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Originally Posted by A330driver

Yeah … but with 5 rounds I can get 5

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Then you have to carry them

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Originally Posted by Tokoroa Cast Projectiles

Then you have to carry them

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lol….baaaaaaaaaahahahahahahwhaaaaaaaaaa!!!!………..fu nny buggar ay!!!!

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Originally Posted by Tokoroa Cast Projectiles

Then you have to carry them

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Just bring four friends. Problem solved.

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Originally Posted by longshot

I read somewhere that ‘every shooter must own at least one lever action, that is the law’

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Does my old man's BSA martini count?

If it has a lever it counts

Some where between the piston cals and a 45-70 you have the modern US developed straight wall loads for woods deer shooting in 350 & 400 legend and 360 buckhammer. Whick kind of have no point in NZ so as it sounds like you are hand loading, want something that can be loaded down with cast or pistol bullets but still can be loaded up to reach out to 200 of 300 mtr how about taking a look at the 35 Rem or 358 Win.

35 rem is in the 30-30 class But is rimless and was available in the marlin 336 + others
358 win is from the 308 family so higher pressure an a little more powder.
Z
Ps seeing your lever comment the 358 was done in Sav 99 and still is in Browning BLR, also Win mod 88
I had an old Sav 99 in 308 re-barrelled for my 358.

Quick Ron Spomer video 308 vs 358
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIn8DChVT_Y

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Originally Posted by ZQLewis

Some where between the piston cals and a 45-70 you have the modern US developed straight wall loads for woods deer shooting in 350 & 400 legend and 360 buckhammer. Whick kind of have no point in NZ so as it sounds like you are hand loading, want something that can be loaded down with cast or pistol bullets but still can be loaded up to reach out to 200 of 300 mtr how about taking a look at the 35 Rem or 358 Win.

35 rem is in the 30-30 class But is rimless and was available in the marlin 336 + others
358 win is from the 308 family so higher pressure an a little more powder.
Z
Ps seeing your lever comment the 358 was done in Sav 99 and still is in Browning BLR, also Win mod 88
I had an old Sav 99 in 308 re-barrelled for my 358.

Quick Ron Spomer video 308 vs 358
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIn8DChVT_Y

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I have cast bullets for the 35 Rem and 358 Win both excellent deer calibres, the 38/55 and 375 Win are interesting and the 375 H&H
the list is endless
win

Marlin 45/70 any day of the week. I bought mine back in the seventies to shoot buffalo in the NT. A great weapon. It’s always had open sights but I have shot many dingoes and pigs with running shots out to 150 metres with 300 grainers and keep the 450s for the bigger animals. Since living in NZ I have bought Lee molds in similar weights and loaded it down with the cast projectiles. So much more fun and perfect for bush hunting. Custom guns down here in the Deep South tried going subsonic with the cartridge. Haven’t heard if they have been successful yet. Go for it mate


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@Floundering Around this might be perfect and not much saving because cheap anyway

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....5-70-a-110062/

That’s pretty neat!

I have a Rossi in 454 Casull. Finding projectiles in NZ, for full loads, are a challenge.
Everything here is either for the 45/70 (.458) or for 45 Colt and 45 ACP (too light for minimum powder load).

If you're going to shoot 45 LC from it, may as well get a .44 Magnum. What's the point having a 454 Casull if you aren't going to use like god intended :p.

It I haven't hunted with it yet, but it gets a lot of attention at the range.