Underlever .38/.357 vs .44

[jonno]

I'm not sure if PidgeonWatch is the correct forum for this question, but at least people have an opinion here! Does anyone have (an informed) opinion about which calibre (.38/.357 vs. .44) is best for an underlever target rifle used at 25 and 50yards? The only 'advantage' I can see for the .44 is that it is more expensive per shot but does get you fractionally nearer the bullseye. I'm sure someone with a .44 will let me know.

 

Thanks.

[daft dog]

I'm not sure if PidgeonWatch is the correct forum for this question, but at least people have an opinion here! Does anyone have (an informed) opinion about which calibre (.38/.357 vs. .44) is best for an underlever target rifle used at 25 and 50yards? The only 'advantage' I can see for the .44 is that it is more expensive per shot but does get you fractionally nearer the bullseye. I'm sure someone with a .44 will let me know.

 

Thanks.

 

Personally, having fired a .38/.357 on numerous occasions (i have a slot for one on ticket) and having had a go on .44 a few times the only real difference i can see is that you get a bigger bang for the 44 and it costs more to load/buy the ammo. I also think the .38/357 is a little more accuate, but that could just be due to the smaller rounds.

 

Hope that helps.

 

ATB

 

DD

[jonno 357]

Owned both in the past. Prefer 357 to the 44

 

Accuracy ? get your loads perfect for 25 yards or 50 yards and both with be very accurate

 

If your buying a rifle buy new! Which rifle do you prefer? Winchester or Marlin

[jonno]

If your buying a rifle buy new! Which rifle do you prefer? Winchester or Marlin

I haven't got that far yet, I thought it was too soon to decide but as you brought it up - which do you prefer?

 

Thanks.

[Imperfection]

I've shot both 38 & 357 and found both are accurate calibres over 25/50yds.Infact i've just recently been granted this calibre (38/357 amongst others) and will likely use 38's because they're cheap as chips.

 

44 magnum is a beast though!

[the running man]

I shoot with the gb gallery rifle captain,and a quarter of the gb and england team,they use 75% .44. Mag with a 240 gn rn fp bullet,and mostly all of them use hodgson titegroup powder,with fedral primers. Do not,I repeat do not buy any other gun than a marlin 1894,the reason being u can slick up the action to virtually no resistance at all when cyling the leaver. Many ill informed plinkers will no doubt try and disuede u but at compitition level at the phoenix saw etc u will not see anything but marlins.I know all this becuase I'm trying to get on the squad myself pm me if uve any questions

[the running man]

Don't take my word for it check out www.galleryrifle.com. And stockade products ltd. There's all the info ude ever want including tips on slicking up the marlin.

[Dekers]

I have used .357 Marlin and .44 Winchester at Gallery distances and 200 yards with iron sights.

 

Both are capable but I preferred the Winchester, probably because it was an original Model 1892 Custom with Hexagonal Barrel and history, made around 1900 I seem to recall!!

 

Lets be honest, these are "fun" tools, enjoy, and probably best to get the .357!

[Rascal]

I have used both .357 & .44. I went with the .357 myself, and agree a Marlin is the way to go. With a little bit of work (or purchased componants) and you can cycle them with your little finger. Side eject helps if you want to fit a scope. I would avoid the micro groove barrelled models if you go for a second hand Marlin 1894 they don't like lead! :look:

Edited May 1, 2010 by Rascal

[Vince Green]

Although used in serious competitions these are essencially fun guns and the bigger bang is more fun. There is a slight tactical advantage with the bigger bullet because it will cut the line where the smaller bullet won't so an identical shot with a .44 may count as in whereas the same shot with a .357 would be out.

[Dekers]

Although used in serious competitions these are essencially fun guns and the bigger bang is more fun. There is a slight tactical advantage with the bigger bullet because it will cut the line where the smaller bullet won't so an identical shot with a .44 may count as in whereas the same shot with a .357 would be out.

 

 

Or Vice Versa if you use outward scoring as you would normally in serious competition!! :look:

[the running man]

g

Edited May 1, 2010 by the running man

[the running man]

yes deckers i agree the hexigon barrell is tops for distance work i shot at long rang carbine last month,hard with open sights i thought! i prefer the marlin cowboy hex barrel though.each to their own.

[Dekers]

yes deckers i agree the hexigon barrell is tops for distance work i shot at long rang carbine last month,hard with open sights i thought! i prefer the marlin cowboy hex barrel though.each to their own.

 

No real idea about the Marlin with a hex barrel, but the Winchester was a joy to use as it was about 110 years old and still looked and felt and worked a treat, the current owner also had it's history all the way back to the original owner.

 

Just made you feel special being privileged to use such a tool!! :look:

[the running man]

yes historic stuff is great.ive got an old .22 long lee enfield trainer.

[the running man]

vince there not fun guns mate,.44 with 4 gns of titegroup has less kick than a .22 rimfire mate,underleaver rifles are what replaced the pistols after the ban,good on them and me for carrying on.shooting these comps takes more skill than i think you mite be giving credit to,why don u enter the bianchi at the phoenix? lets see how u get on with the lead calculator!!

[the running man]

http://www.galleryrifle.com/index.html check this website out it mite tell you a little,in gallery rifle its inward scoring hence the rareity of 357. one of my freinds is on the gb team,wen i take him on the farm he never missis,i wonder whos the the better shot? someone who puts thousans of rounds down in a year in practice? or someone who pops bunnies? i wonder?

[Paddy Galore!]

i wonder whos the the better shot? someone who puts thousans of rounds down in a year in practice? or someone who pops bunnies? i wonder?

depends on the person i think RM, i took a mate of mine on one of my permissions last year, he shoots 22lr @25m & 100m, also a lot of other older military calibres, the thing is, if the bunnies were at those distances he was fine, anything inbetween and he muffed up.

[Dekers]

http://www.galleryrifle.com/index.html check this website out it mite tell you a little,in gallery rifle its inward scoring hence the rareity of 357. one of my freinds is on the gb team,wen i take him on the farm he never missis,i wonder whos the the better shot? someone who puts thousans of rounds down in a year in practice? or someone who pops bunnies? i wonder?

 

 

There you go then, I didn't know that, INWARD scoring, is that really the way it normally is, a bit of a rarity in shooting these days!!

Edited May 2, 2010 by Dekers

[mr smith]

There you go then, I didn't know that, INWARD scoring, is that really the way it normally is, a bit of a rarity in shooting these days!!

 

 

 

Yep inward scoring right enough.As for micro groove marlins they shoot just fine with hard cast bullets at target load speeds.

[the running man]

i dunno about that gram ide have to agree that it depends on the person,but i shoot lots of target sports and the pratice does give you an edge or shall we say keeps you in the groove? i dunno but they do say practice makes perfect! u ever shot the mcqueens on a range? read up on it see wats involved its the comp most stalkers bunnie shooters think that they will do well in,most dont. and with ref to the inward scoring its that way with most the gallery rifle events but in the prone rifle and much if not all the bench rest stuff its outward scoring,dependes on the competition freinds.....oh yeah micro grooveing ? where the hell did that come from,i shot benchrested 3 months ago with my marlin 25m had a 1 1/2 inch group and ive never had any problems or herd of any so i dunno where you got that from?

Edited May 2, 2010 by the running man

[notsosureshot]

I've been doing some gallery rifle lately too. Im tending towards to .44. Simple reason is that if you can control the recoil (hey, its a carbine, its easy...-er), they plant rounds solid at 25yds and 10x that if you're a decent shot.

 

Added bonus with the .44 under lever is that if your mail coach ever gets invaded by indjuns or zombies, you have added knockdown power.

 

Seriously though, the .44 has bigger holes which = higher scores generally.

 

I'd got Marlin every time based on my experience of underlevers. The actions are smooth as silk, even pre adjustment.

[mr smith]

.....oh yeah micro grooveing ? where the hell did that come from,i shot benchrested 3 months ago with my marlin 25m had a 1 1/2 inch group and ive never had any problems or herd of any so i dunno where you got that from?

 

 

I believe it comes from our American friends who tend to shoot things a bit hotter than we do.IIRC the microgroove will shoot jacketed and slow lead okay,it doesn't like fast lead loads.

 

Oh yeah get the .44 cos you know you want to.

Edited May 2, 2010 by mr smith

[the running man]

Americans! Have u ever been on one of their forums? Look I'm sure someone somewhere has had a problem with microgroove,I'm just sayin that all the guys that use marlins (granted theirs prob 2% using other makes)have no problems with them and have never herd of any till I read you're thread,I mentioend it at the range yesterday and the guys laughed their heads off at you're comment,just think about it,who uses them more a gallery rifle shooter putting down 8000 rounds a year or an american using it occasionally for cayote?

[reaper6]

The only gun to have ...........Marlin .38/.357.........simples