Go Back  HuntingNet.com Forums > Firearms Forum > Guns
 454 Casull lever action rifle >

454 Casull lever action rifle

Guns Like firearms themselves, there's a wide variety of opinions on what's the best gun.

454 Casull lever action rifle

Old 04-05-2009, 06:06 PM
  #1  
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 220
Default 454 Casull lever action rifle

I've got the chance to acquire a puma lever action rifle chambered in 454. It's main purpose to me is deer hunting, and I would be reloading for it... What is your all's opinion on the cartridge for a rifle/hunting round?
rynigner is offline  
Old 04-05-2009, 06:54 PM
  #2  
Nontypical Buck
 
driftrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
Default RE: 454 Casull lever action rifle

454 Casull is more than powerful enough to take deer when fired out of a revolver. Out of a carbine rifle where you could reasonably expect to gain 200-300 fps over handgun velocities, it'll be even deadlier. While a carbine length lever gun in 454 Casull would certainly be deadly to deer to at least 200 yards, I'd be a little nervous about touching off a bunch of full throttle 454 Casull loads in a rear locking block style lever action. The 454 Casull is rated to 64Kpsi, the same as many magnum CF rifles, and it needs a STRONG action to hold everything together like a magnum CF rifle. Most rear locking block lever guns are not strong enough to handle these pressures with a reliable safety margin. I'd be thinking with every shot that if the receiver, locking block or bolt fails under that kind of pressure, there would be absolutely nothing stopping the 64,000 psi in the chamber from driving that bolt straight through my face at high velocity. It's a good idea (putting the 454 Casull in a lever gun), but I'd prefer to see it in a stronger action like the Browning BLR or a resurrected Savage Model 99. That'd be something.

Mike
driftrider is offline  
Old 04-06-2009, 04:29 AM
  #3  
Nontypical Buck
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rivesville, WV
Posts: 3,192
Default RE: 454 Casull lever action rifle

ORIGINAL: driftrider

454 Casull is more than powerful enough to take deer when fired out of a revolver. Out of a carbine rifle where you could reasonably expect to gain 200-300 fps over handgun velocities, it'll be even deadlier. While a carbine length lever gun in 454 Casull would certainly be deadly to deer to at least 200 yards, I'd be a little nervous about touching off a bunch of full throttle 454 Casull loads in a rear locking block style lever action. The 454 Casull is rated to 64Kpsi, the same as many magnum CF rifles, and it needs a STRONG action to hold everything together like a magnum CF rifle. Most rear locking block lever guns are not strong enough to handle these pressures with a reliable safety margin. I'd be thinking with every shot that if the receiver, locking block or bolt fails under that kind of pressure, there would be absolutely nothing stopping the 64,000 psi in the chamber from driving that bolt straight through my face at high velocity. It's a good idea (putting the 454 Casull in a lever gun), but I'd prefer to see it in a stronger action like the Browning BLR or a resurrected Savage Model 99. That'd be something.

Mike

That is one of the best thought out responses I think I have ever read on the internet!!

The 454 is a great round. However for practical hunting with a lever action rifle(distances to 200 yards) I can not see a major advantage over the 44 magnum. Yes it would have more energy than a 44 magnum, but for practical reasons they are pretty close(especially in a rifle). However the 44 magnum would be considerably cheaper to shoot, and will definitely do the job. Tom.

However in the stronger 1885 Low Wall it would be a DANDY!! Tom.
HEAD0001 is offline  
Old 04-06-2009, 07:57 AM
  #4  
Fork Horn
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: S. Indiana
Posts: 129
Default RE: 454 Casull lever action rifle

I actually used this exact gun during deer season this year and had relatively good results. I shot a doe with it towards the end of the season and she dropped in her tracks. I use a 250 gr. bullet and it shoots nice. I trust it out to 100 yrds. I don't trust my self with iron sights over that distance. One thing I did have trouble with was the factory sights one it. They were really sensitive and would move after a couple of shots. I changed them and it has been fine ever since.
bdosas is offline  
Old 04-07-2009, 08:47 AM
  #5  
Giant Nontypical
 
eldeguello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
Default RE: 454 Casull lever action rifle

Paco Kelly, the lever-action guy, spoke very highly of the Puma in 454. It will tread close on the heels of the 45/70 if handloaded with 350-grain or so bullets.....

During the development of the 454, it was chambered in some Winchester 92 rifles. The problems they had were with the chamber of barrels expanding, not with action failures. The straight case grips thechamber walls quite well during peak pressure, lowering backthrust on the bolt. BUT specail alloy barrels were required to defeat chamber stretching. No doubt the Puma has the right stuff in the chamber region of the barrel....
eldeguello is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dogslayer
Guns
12
02-23-2007 09:17 PM
mesrg3
Big Game Hunting
12
11-14-2004 07:34 AM
clattin
Guns
53
11-23-2003 11:25 AM
Carpie
Firearm Review Forum
15
02-20-2003 10:38 AM
eldeguello
Guns
3
12-10-2002 01:48 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Quick Reply: 454 Casull lever action rifle


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.