Rossi Rifleman

I have to say I don't really NEED a .454. I wouldn't mind having one in a lever action but really don't have a lot of reason for one in a revolver. As I recall there has been a couple gunrag writers who had to have fusion surgery on their wrists because repeated extra heavy revolver recoil turned their wrist bones to gravel.

That said, factory ammo for just about ANY round other than the standard 3 or 4 pistol rounds and 5.56/.233, 7.62x39 Rooshian and .308 Win for rifles STILL seems to be in rather low supply around here.

One thing that I figured out after reading this post. I have levers in all calibers for the most part. After reading I was wanting a .454, but now I think I will stick with the 45 Colt. Most of you guy's are correct. Not really needed.

OP might I suggest you get the 45 Colt. Easy to reload (brass is easy to find). And not at all punishing to shoot stout loads. Plinking loads you can shoot all day long, no problem.
If you need, really need a step up in horsepower, then possibly a Rio Grande in 45-70.

Gunny268 wrote:OP might I suggest you get the 45 Colt. Easy to reload (brass is easy to find). And not at all punishing to shoot stout loads. Plinking loads you can shoot all day long, no problem.
If you need, really need a step up in horsepower, then possibly a Rio Grande in 45-70.

I really like the .45-70. I think any of the Rossi Rio guns in the caliber are going to be used or at best new old stock. I didn't do an exhaustive search but the first one I pulled up was asking about $750.

The Marlin by Ruger seems to have doubled the price of the Marlin by Remington. Prices I've seen are in the $1150-1400 range and availability seems spotty.
The Winchester 1886s are listing at about $1450 to not quite $2000. The Miroku guns have always been in limited supply.

If i need 454, i will go to 45-70.
I dont own a 45 colt rifle.
Came real close on a rossi 92 45 colt for Christmas, but backed off when I came across a sagebrush longshot video on u-tube of Steve shooting his Uberti 1873 45 colt with 30" barrel.
Thinking about saving up a few hundred more for the 1873.

Mad Trapper wrote:If i need 454, i will go to 45-70.
I dont own a 45 colt rifle.
Came real close on a rossi 92 45 colt for Christmas, but backed off when I came across a sagebrush longshot video on u-tube of Steve shooting his Uberti 1873 45 colt with 30" barrel.
Thinking about saving up a few hundred more for the 1873.

I enjoy those Sagebrush guys ! What a relaxed atmosphere and enjoyment of going long to hit those "dingers".

After a few decades of being fairly dismissive of the 1873's, mostly due to its reputation of being a fairly fragile action, I had an opportunity to embrace a Cimarron Arms 1873 in .45 Colt. Now I am a fanboy and have fun with my own dingers out to 250 & 300 yds. I'm all in !

This one has a Marbles "bullseye rear sight - for aging eyes.

Uberti makes a 73 in 44 mag.
The actions are a bit stronger then people give them credit for.
Besides the 45 colt can do what the 44 mag does, but at a lower pressure.
If the 73 will take 45 colt at sammi specs, that is all a person would need.

Might go so far to say the '73 in .45 Colt is my favorite lever these days. Fun and nearly effortless to shoot well. I'd rather shoot standard loaded .45 Colt than .44 mag. I still retain a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt, but the smoothness and accuracy of the 73 is addictive.

I read the book Six Years With the Texas Rangers: 1875-1881 by James B. Gillett .
He wrote about his Winchester 73 in 44 WCF.
He said he killed everything from jack rabbit to an old Buffalo.
He said it was his most prized possession.
He said they were issued 50-70 trapdoors, but after a few rounds the barrels got real hot and they were inaccurate shooters.
He said he had to purchase his own 73 and supply his own ammo, but it was worth it.
The 73 did everything that needed doing,

but, can the '73 toggler action handle a steady diet of magnum rounds?



jd