That's crazy talk. This is the interwebs - there is a right answer (mine) and wrong answer (yours) for EVERYTHING!!!

Actually a prime consideration for me is fun - what will be a hoot to shoot and what can I actually afford to shoot a lot. I'm not into collecting or just having stuff sitting around. If I have it, I want to use it. Given where I live, there are limitations on what I can regularly shoot, and of course all of us (excepts Tabs) have to worry about ammo costs. The other influence is aesthetic - I have to like the tool I'm using. There might be "better" ones (eg Nikon rather than Pentax that I shoot), but I have my biases and know what I like once I'm exposed to it.

Rifles (other than .22 and shotgun) are limited to outdoors so that is a consideration. I found lever guns to be really fun and more "interactive" than a traditional semi so the 39A was a natural choice as I can shoot that at my local indoor range. But everyone needs a bigger caliber gun for more *boom.* Then the choice mostly falls down to ammo prices, and .38/.357 is the most reasonable of the bunch except for 30/30. For the aesthetic thing though, the octagonal barrel on the "cowboy" version is quite cool. Plus if I get .38/357 I can get a wheelgun and run the same ammo. So that was my rationale.

That being said, the 45-70 was a cannon, and cannons are fun too. I'm not sure I could afford the ammo to shoot it regularly though...

I'm with you on the Marlin Cowboy guns...my wife and I have at least four in the safe. Also an original Marlin '93 in 38-55 and a couple of Win '86's in 45-70. If you're gonna shoot any of these as often as you like you need to reload....especially the 45-70. Caution on the 45-70 reloading though. It's a large capacity case so pick your powder and charge carefully to avoid serious pressures curve accidents. Use a bulky powder to avoid this.

As for a pistol cal rifle and matching wheel gun...that's the way it was done in the 1880's ;)

You're wrong about that...:p

DrDogface is right about reloading. If you want to get into the big boomers, it's really the only way to go. I have three .45-70's in the house right now. One of the match rifles in this caliber has over 20,000 round through it; there is no way in hell I could afford to do that if I didn't reload and, in this case, cast bullets. Since you are nowhere near crashing down that slippery slope, your choice of .38/.357 makes a lot of sense. It will be a fantastic "fun gun" with noticably more oomph than the .22, but not all that much more expensive to feed.

I do really like the .45-70. It's one of the more versatile cartridges out there, with power levels ranging from mild plinkers through those suitable for very large dangerous game. This versatility used to be the sole province of the reloader, but the commercial loaders are now supplying the full range from "blackpowder" level (mild) loads up to as hot as they can go. Charles mention Garrett Cartridges, and they are one of the best for these heavy loads. Awfully expensive, granted, but most folks don't like to shoot many anyway...

Anyway, have fun with your lever guns. Post pics when they arrive. I'm heading out in search of a 39A this weekend... my wife is going to hate you... (hafta blame someone...)

I have thought about reloading, but for most of what I shoot it doesn't seem to work out from a time/money perspective. For 45-70, it likely would though. Worth it to play with this

http://nostatic.com/photos/deserta6.jpg

For home defense, I'd go with either a 12-gauge (preferably w/ pistol grip and short barrel so easy to handle) or a large-caliber pistol, preferably revolver (simpler). I'm mulling a .50 revolver right now. Sorely tempting.

Something like this? Glock 19 9mm shown for comparison.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1237520699.jpg

Actually I think a 20 gauge might be a better choice, but I haven't practiced enough with the 870 yet. So far the 2nd shot is tough to get right. And in general doesn't a shorter barrel make it harder to control when shooting?

The 10mm 1911 seemed to be pretty potent.

Actually there's a lot of discussion about pistol grip shot guns being a risk; i.e., its easier for someone to take it away from you in a scuffle than a pistol or a shotgun with a stock. Fortunately have never had to use for home defense to find out. That 870 is 12 ga with the deer barrel and a magazine extension. You can get 8 or 9 rounds in 3 in magnum in it. But honestly after the 4 or 5 shot it has hammered you.

As far as second shot accuracy, with 3 in mag in 00 buck, and the short barrell you just need to point in the general direction of your target. Keep pulling and pumping until it stops making noise.:D

That being said it is pretty accurate out to 50-60 yds with slugs.

OK, you guys are BAD, and now I've got "a bug" that I haven't had in a long time :). I think it's time to pick up a Marlin "cowboy gun". I have .357 and .44 mag revolvers (but would probably lean towards a .357 or .45 LC) so point me in the right direction, procedures, etc. for purchasing online. Any and all suggestions are welcome...this "old dog" isn't afraid to learn a new trick. The downside...I may have to start avoiding "gun threads", just like I learned to avoid "gun shops" way back when. It's a sickness, but I know y'all can relate :)

Exactly like that.

Mossberg 500A?

That's (ironically) my exact setup if it is.

A very common missconception. At typical self defense ranges, a shotgun must be aimed just like a rifle, pistol, or revolver. A short barrel does nothing to increase the spread of the shot pattern beyond what a straight "cylinder" choke will do. The spread from any cylinder choked (actually unchoked) shotgun at the seven yard "combat" range is about the size of a tennis ball or baseball. Seven yards, or 21 feet, would be quite "long range" inside one's home. They do need to be aimed.

Another nice hat.

What caliber is the '94 laying on the mat?

Hmmm, I have a Marlin lever in .44 magnum IIRC upstairs in storage that I have no use for. Maybe now would be a good time to unload it. I will have to shoot some pics and figure out what I have as far as model number etc. It is in a case next to my 30-06 both of which have not seen the light of day for a long time. I will keep the 30-06 forever just in case I ever feel the urge to hunt deer, but the Marlin lever does nothing for me. I typically use one of several .22 rifles, my .223 AR15 or my 12 ga. shotgun for most varmint/pest control around our place.

It's a Desmo hat - very 70's. Don't be a hater :p

I think that is the .357 on the deck with me shooting the 45-70 Guide. There also was an Alaskan CoPilot in the mix as well. I lost track...

I've now bought 3 guns from Andy at East County Guns:

www.eastcountyguns.com

The procedure is that you need to find a local dealer with FFL. The online place will ship the gun to them and you fill out necessary paperwork with your local guy, pay whatever fees, and then you're done (depending on your state requirements - eg here in CA you have a 10 day waiting period between filing paperwork and picking up the gun).

You can also look at gunbroker.com - lots of dealers sell there.

You guys looking for Marlin lever guns NEED to be aware of something. Only the 'cowboy rifles' had deep cut (Ballard) rifling as far as I know. For a long time now the standard Marlin 94 lever has it's so called "Micro-groove" which is for jacketed bullets. These really are not that good for cast bullets and certainly not for black powder loads.

They used to make the Cowboy Rifle in 357, 44 Mag and 45LC, but I'm not sure if they still make many in cal. other than 357 these days. Check with the Marlin web site. I have seen both 357 and 45 on Gun Broker.

I have one. GREAT rifle.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/Cowboy/1894_45Colt.asp

From what I understand they can be particular about ammo - you're not supposed to use wadcutters (feeding issues). Mine is a "Cowboy" so I'm assuming I can use either jacketed or cast. WIth the .357 you also have to consider casing length when running .38 - some are too short.

As with just about all Winchester rifles, the ones made before 1964 are much better quality than later ones, and, of course, fetch a higher price.

The reasons I personally prefer Marlin rifles over Winchester are:

Marlin has a much shorter throw lever to chamber a round
Marlin is much easier to dis-assemble for cleaning

One caveat for reloaders though: Marlin lever rifles are VERY sensitive to over all cartridge length. Do not load them too short or they will jam with the lever/action open as the next round in line comes part way onto the carrier. We call it the DML...Dreaded Marlin Lockup ;)