Author Topic: Rifles chambered for pistol cartridges (Read 2714 times)

RangerJoe · « **on:** January 18, 2008, 03:33:08 AM »

For some reason lately, I've been thinking about getting my hands on a rifle chambered for pistol ammunition. The particular rifle that got me started on this was the Ruger 96/44, a lever action chambered for .44 magnum. I live in New Jersey, and here pistols are a little harder to get your hands on than long guns. Every time you want to buy a pistol, you have to apply for a permit. However, if you have the basic state firearms card, you can buy a long gun over the counter. So, since most ranges I've been to will let you shoot rifles chambered for pistol ammo, I started looking in that direction.

After reading online about the Ruger 99/44 and 96/44, I see that there is a mix of opinions - some people love them, some people hate them. Ruger seems to generate that type of reviews for most of their products. I saw a lot of praise for the Marlin Mod. 1894 as I was searching too.

Anyone have any experience/opinions in this genre of rifles? I'm interested in people's take on the rifles they've used/owned. I'm fairly budget-conscious, but I'd rather spend the extra $$$ to not own a piece of junk. The ultimate goals for the rifle would be some target shooting and maybe a little deer hunting as well.

Dee · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2008, 03:47:42 AM »

I have had one for several years chambered in 357 mag. It has earned it's way into my GO TO rifle. It is super accurate, and powerful enough to handle any thing in my area. Deer, big feral hogs in the 300 to 400 lb category, and loaded down in 38 special, squirrel and rabbits. I will do it all, and do it well.
Last Sunday I killed a coyote at 145 yards with it, and it was a bang flop kill. It however, is not a Ruger. It was sold by Navy Arms and is a Winchester Model 92 clone, with a 24 inch octagon barrel and walnut stocks. My area is building up and this rifle will do what I need it to do, and not shoot into the next county.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:30:07 AM »

I had a Marlin 1894 in .357 mag which would group the Federal American Eagle or good handloads into 1 1/2 moa. But I've had three Marlin 1894s, two carbines and one cowboy, in .44 mag and none of them would consistently group better than 4-5 moa. I've also had two Winchester m-94s and again the .44 mag shot poorly while the .357 mag was quite decent and would feed handloads with the 180 grain Speer flat point seated out long. I'm now waiting for H&R to fit a .357 mag barrel to my handi-rifle and intend to rechamber that to .357 maximum. Truthfully, I consider the .357 mag carbine to be adequate for any game within 100 yards but under Colorado law it is not a legal rifle caliber for big game, thus the need to rechamber.

tn_junk · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2008, 04:12:32 PM »

I had an NEF chambered in .357 MAX, and now own an Encore 20" Katahdyn in 460 S&W Mag. I liked the .357 MAX (still own an Encore pistol in that caliber) because I could shoot 38 spcl. .357 MAG and .357 MAX. Same with the .460. I can shoot .45 LC, 454 Casull and .460. Have even loaded a few .460 with 50 grains of Pyrodex RS. Using it kinda like a 45/70 Lite. I can shoot the .460 at the local indoor range and, loaded properly, it will kill anything I will ever hunt.

alan

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2008, 07:47:53 AM »

I have a T/C Encore handgun chambered in .454 Casull and can also shoot .45 Long Colt ammo. To complement it, I bought a Rossi Puma 92 lever action rifle in .454 last year. My only complaints about the rifle are that the wood on the stocks is 1 grade above honest-to-God crap and that the rear sight slot was misaligned, causing the rifle to shoot waaaay to the left. I've had a lot of fun using the Rossi rifle once had the sight problem corrected by going to a Marble's tang peep sight.

Regards,

Jake

jro45 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2008, 03:03:04 AM »

I think that rifle cartridges should stay just that. The pistol or revolver cartridges could be made into Rifle cartridges. Some rifle cartridges should not be shot in a handgun at all.

Ranger J · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2008, 04:50:59 AM »

I have an 1894 in both .357 and .44 mag. The .357 is by the far the better of the two. Even it shoots better with heavy loaded bullets. Both of these guns are Marlins. The .44 came out of the box with the infamous 'Marlin jam". It is fixed now but is very picky about what it will shoot accurately. The only thing I have got to shoot well is 180 gr XTLs over a max load of H110. It will shoot ragged hole at 50 yards with those. I have loaded up some 240 and 300 Xtls but have not got out to see if they shoot well also. The trouble with the .44 Marlin is that they are over bored and they have a twist of 1 in 30. I also have a Ruger 99/44 auto that is a great gun. It will shoot any bullet I put in it as long as it has enough power to cycle the gun. Unfortunately this again calls for a heavlly loaded jacketed bullet. Directions day not to shoot cast bullets in it. Right before I ordered the Marlin 1894 I really thought about ordering the Ruger lever gun instead as it seems to have the same barrel as my Ruger auto. I couldn't get by its looks though. I have several .44 guns that I can hunt deer out to say 100 yards or so but what I don't have is one that will fire light loaded cast bullets. I am still looking.

RJ

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2008, 07:21:37 AM »

I have one of the Ruger 99/44 rifles. I have mixed feelings about it. First it's an auto and I wish I had purchased one of the 44/77 bolt rifles when they made those instead. The only down side to the rifle is that it is a rattle box.
Other than that it's a short handy rifle that goes bang every time.
Personally I would look at the Marlin 94 in 357 only because 44 ammo is expensive in comparison.
If you really want the ruger you are going to have problems if you want to shoot 44 specials. The rotary mag does not like short shells.

Castaway · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2008, 06:41:30 AM »

I have a Trapper in 45 Colt that gets more time in the field than anything else. It's light, handy and deadly. I have a self imposed 100 yard limit which isn't a problem as most of my hunting is in deep cover and 50 yards is more typical. It's just as lethal as a 30-06, given the same hit location and it doesn't tear up the meat.

Lone Star · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2008, 12:55:45 PM »

Quote

I think that rifle cartridges should stay just that....Some rifle cartridges should not be shot in a handgun at all.

Wow, tell us what you really think!

Fortunately lots of others have differing opinions. As to the OP's quesiton, like Castaway I have a Winchester Trapper in .45LC that I really like in the field. Loads can vary from mild Cowboy stuff to Ruger-level (which are a shoulderfull with the light Trapper). I fitted a Pachmayr slip on recoil pad on mine over a set of synthetic stocks to increase the length of pull and take a bit of sting out of the Ruger loads. However, if I was going to do it again I'd get a Marlin M94 instead. They have made Trapper-sized .45LCs in the past and the quality is generally a bit better than the Winchester - which was purchased ~14 years ago.

.

Castaway · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2008, 01:15:23 PM »

Forgot to add, my Trapper has a Marble's tang sight which keeps it light and handy. I can shoot an aperture fine, even with my over 50 eyes.

warf73 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2008, 01:15:04 AM »

We have 2 Winchester model 94's in 45Colt there great fun(we shoot cast boolits in them only).
My son took his out this year deer hunting only deer he seen was over 200 yards away so he didn't shoot, maybe next year.

The only down fall to the Winchester's is the price, since they closed there doors the 94's have all but doubled in price(in 45 Colt).

Warf

jro45 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2008, 03:44:30 AM »

I've seen them before but never fired one.

Guy Pike · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2008, 11:36:49 PM »

My H&R in 7.62 Tokarev is indeed "Handi"!

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2008, 12:46:58 AM »

Guy - where on earth did you find a H&R in 7.62x25mm? Mikey.

efremtags · « **Reply #15 on:** May 01, 2008, 06:32:47 AM »

I had a Ruger Deerslayer in 44mag. If you have a pistol, its nice to be able to handload once for 2 guns.

Depending on where you hunt, pistol calibers are terrific in rifles becasue of the extra velocity of the longer tube. It terms snoozers into real killers, but be careful on bullet selection as some hollowpoints are down right frangible at these velocities.

I sold the deerslayer as I did not like the constant jambing and the fact is was not suited to lead bullets becasue of the gas tube.

I am thinking of a lever action however, not sure who's yet.

teddy12b · « **Reply #16 on:** May 01, 2008, 08:10:31 AM »

In my state they recently allowed rifles in pistol calibers for deer hunting. I thought long and hard about what rifle to buy and finally took a chance on a Puma 44mag. I have a marlin 336, and a 1895 that function great, but I sure read a LOT of people complaining about they 1895 marlins so I bought the Puma. The Puma looks more traditional anyway asides from being stainless steel.

I can’t say enough good stuff about my puma 44mag. It’s one of my favorites for sure! Mine has a 20” round barrel and inside 100 yards the bullets hit where I aim and at 150 yards I need to use a little Kentucky windage. I like this gun a lot because it doesn’t weight anything, carries so well and a rifle that holds 10 rounds of 44mag is just plane sweet. I’ve fired everything from factory ammo to handloads to some grizzley ammunition 320gr cast ammo through it and I’ve never had a problem with feeding or reliability.

Buy a Puma, you’ll thank yourself later.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 01, 2008, 08:24:02 AM »

I've had a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag., a Ruger Deerstalker in .44 Mag., a Navy Arms copy of the Remington #4 Rolling Block in .357. All were good guns.

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2008, 09:14:42 AM »

I have a little NEF Handi Rifle in .357 Mag., and it has become my best buddy. It rings my 300 yard gong with .357s and drops pigeons and squirrels with .38s. I put a scout mount pistol scope on it and it's a joy to carry. Its partner is my .357 Blackhawk.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2008, 04:19:09 PM »

Lets see, 5-357's; 2-44's; 2-45colts and 454 casull in rifles. I guess I like 'em OK.

Cheap and easy to load with carbide dies, no lube to mess with. Me and the kids always grin while shooting them, and it keeps all of us out of trouble!

Have put several deer in the freezer with each down thru the years and hope to do plenty more in years to come. They are a blast! Sorry no pun intended. DP.

40inarow · « **Reply #20 on:** May 17, 2008, 03:38:59 PM »

I got a .357 Model 94 Legacy with a 24" barrel for Cowboy silhouette shooting. Talk about fun to shoot! I would take my son's high school buddies shooting and the two guns they couldn't put down were the 94 and the AR-15. Bring lots of ammo! I shot one deer with the Hornady XTP 180 gr at 65 yards, dropped him. I would not have guessed it when I bought it, but now it's one of my favorites.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #21 on:** May 18, 2008, 10:35:48 AM »

I just traded for a Savage 24 in .357 mag./20 ga. I haven't shot it yet since I am waiting for a scope base. I hope to report soon.

BBF · « **Reply #22 on:** May 19, 2008, 10:48:48 AM »

Had two Marlins in 44 Mag. One of the shot well the other was gawdawful.
I now have the Ruger. What I like is the weight an balance, the finish and it groups well with several handload and factory stuff. Loading and unloading in particular is fast and safe instead of cranking all the bullets out of a Marlin, you just pop the Mag out and clear the chamber. The Marlin can be cleaned from the chamber side. It has a straight stock

What I don't likeabout the Ruger was the goofy looking butt. That hard piece of plastic hurts !! I am a big dude with padding, but that little sucker put a bruising on me. You can get an after market recoil pad that conforms to the crescent shape of the stuck and is butt ugly to look at. I got tired of that and had the stock cut back far enough to install a regular recoil pad which brought the Pull lenght back to standard. Unless you got a Pull-thru cleaning kit you got to clean it from the muzzle. The carbine has a pistol grip stock.