Need your opinion

CO Cowboy

I have a 45 LC lever action rifle, my average shot in this country is around 275 yds give or take. Should I trade it in for an AR with a red dot or keep it an try to stretch out my range past 100 yds?

gunjunkie

I don't know what you're hunting, but I would want to keep the lever action, and get a decent bolt action for the longer distance.

303Lithgow

Is that 275 yards or feet? The reason I ask is because you go on to say you want to stretch it to 100 yards. Or do you mean to stretch it another 100 yards to 375 yards? I wouldn't think a .223 would have much power at 375 yards and would look to a bigger caliber.

gunjunkie

I think he was saying he wants to get out past 100 yards.

303Lithgow

If that is the case then the AR would work.

Rocklock

Ruger No 1 or a bolt gun on .30-06 or .338 Win Mag

north country gal

Not sure about the feet or yards thing or what you're trying to shoot, but I do know that you're pushing things to expect much out of the 45 Colt past 100 yards. I know from experience shooting my Marlin 44 mag carbine, it's going to take some stout loads to get you a useable trajectory or the energy levels needed for a clean kill when you try to reach out past 100 yards. Just as important, as much as I love my little Marlin 44 mag carbine, it's no accuracy champ. Just not a gun designed to be used at such ranges. Wrong gun for that kind of work. Keep the lever gun, though - it is a great short range gun. If you want a lever gun for 100 + yards, even a 30-30 is a MUCH more practical choice.

As far as 100 yards plus work with an AR, sure, it is a suitable platform IF you take the time to tune it, IF you mod and upgrade as needed to make it an accurate platform and IF work up good loads. Just don't expect bolt gun accuracy out of the box. From what I've seen at our local range, though, most guys with an ARs are more interested in just burring up ammo. A match grade AR platform out of the box is going to cost you some BIG bucks.

As far as a red dot past 100 yards, no way. Red dots are at their best under 100 yards. Past 100 yards, they start to cover up too much of the target for accuracy work. I use red dots on some guns out to 100 yards in a pinch, but past 50 yards, I can always squeeze more accuracy out of any gun with a scope.

Bottom line - you'll get a LOT more accuracy for your dollar with one of the affordable bolt guns on the market - Ruger American, Savage Axis and so on. Another option is to try a single shot Rossi, etc like the one our moakes has been posting about.

tx gun runner

If your looking for a super long range gun the 45 Colt cartridge is the wrong cal . I have this Encore in 308 Winc for sale is good for over 1000 yds. The barrel and scope brand new and have not been shot or sighted in yet . They are super accurate ask NCG she has a few of them and with a little practice they are fast to reload then a bolt gun .

north country gal

Amen to the above. With that rig the only limiting factor would be your shooting ability.

CO Cowboy

Thanks guys I appreciate it. Another question what load for the 45 LC would be suitable for hunting black bear? Or would I be better off to try the 270 in the brush?

Dennis H

Go big co....buffalo bore or a compareable. You don't wanna play around with a bear

Dennis H

If the gun u own can handle the pressures of these types of ammo

Dennis H

And as with any big game animal shot placement is key...double lung em!

Dennis H

With that cartridge shots under 100yds preferably 50 or less. But if yer gonna b in that oak brush you'll b lucky to see 50

Dennis H

Those buffalo bore rounds are loaded hot and push the 454 Casull numbers

tx gun runner

This is my opinion ............I don't think any pistol cal gun is not a good pick to hunt bear . 30-30 is min but a big bore like 45-70 or 444 be be a better choice in a lever gun with a peep sight and not a scope at any power in the brush . 270 , 308 and 30-06 are not brush cal guns in my opinion . I'm not a bear hunter but I know guns .

303Lithgow

How about a nice No 5 Jungle Carbine in 303 British?

north country gal

I've talked to hunters around here who have shot black bears and they report that black bears are not that hard to kill IF you take them over bait (the way most black bears are shot, here) and they are not aware of what hit them.

Now, that is a MUCH different situation than trying to defend yourself against a charging black bear with its dander up and that is a very real possibility if you make a poor shot or choose the wrong cartridge and are faced with a tracking job in the bush to finish the job. We have had cases here in Wisconsin where other hunters in the area were attacked by wounded black bears because some hunter made a poor shot on a bear and it got away. I'm with TGR on this one. Yes, you can load up the 45 LC to equal or exceed 44 mag power levels, but so what? You're still not even in the 30-30 rifle class, especially if you use some of the Buffalo Bore heavy 30-30 loads. If you're going to shoot a black bear, you owe to yourself and others to make sure it doesn't get away, wounded.

Dennis H

325 grain 45lc buffalo bores travel 1325 fps generating nearly 1300ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. More than enough energy to kill the biggest black bear on the planet under 100yds. Large caliber is not a safety net for poor marksmanship. Gut shot game react the same way no matter the caliber. Whatever u decide young man, become proficient and take respectable shots on the game we all cherish. We owe them and the sport our very best as I'm sure u know. Good luck and send us pics in the fall. We're big on pics!

Dennis H

those ballistics of the Buffalo Bore 45 Long Colt are quite comparable to a 20 gauge slug. Just a couple hundred feet per second slower