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I'm not sure who claimed the .45/70 in a lever gun is BETTER than 'legal' dangerous game ctgs. as obviously that is a silly statement. Adequate under most circumstances rings more true and certainly better than some, ie: the older 9.3's (62's and 57's) and as effective as some others commonly used for such. Proper bullet choice being the most important aspect of this game.

As to speed of repeated fire - the needs to practise with one - they are faster than any bolt gun - to state otherwise is ridiculous. The only bolt gun that comes close is the Lee Enfield MK3. and it must be used by someone familiar with it in rapid fire.

Lower powered - yes - although there are some high FPE chamberings in the BLR's which handle 63,000PSI rounds. That lever guns are an American Game rifle designed for American Game, they possess all the power necessary for that game. As to accuracy, I've a couple that make 1 1/2MOA out to 200 yards with one possessing sufficient power for moose and elk at that range. The other is a deer irfle, pure and simple. I'd not hesitate to take moose close in, my favourite hunting method. Indeed, my bro, a big game guide, has had to kill outright 3 moose with his .356 M94 that were previously wounded by hunters with bolt guns in 7mm mag and .300 mag persuasions. Power wasn't the problem, but accuracy of the 'more powerful' ctgs. was - and they were bolt guns - obviously the rifles probably had sufficient accuracy, but when the hunter slams his eye's close and yanks the trigger, they are the one lacking in accuracy. I see that more with bolt guns than with lever guns - flinchitis seems to go hand in hand with bolt guns. Two other animals killed by that .356 were black bears that were wounded by hunters with .300 WTBY's at very much les sthan 100 yards. One 250gr. RN each, was all it took to right 'paid' to those black bear's accounts. He uses the same bullet for back-up on moose.

That levers aren't available in all the chamberings bolt guns are is not a detriment - they are certianly available in all ctgs needed for hunting on this continent and some that excell for our dangerous game. There is hardly a better round for back-up on grizzlies and brownbear than a heavily loaded M86, M95 Marlin in .45/70's or '95 Winchester in .375 Scovils(/06IMP), etc. Not flat shooting enough - for whom? Any of these are just fine for out to 300 yards, which is a good 200 yards further than most 'hunters' have any budiness shooting.

Lever guns are 'shooter's' guns - hunting rifles, pure and simple and not for 'everyone'. Top run them down using some wild accusations is rather foolish. They are what they are and they excell where a bolt gun is sometimes an encumberance. Power-wise, there are chamberings and leveraction rifles that will challenge most bolt rifles.

I've seen a considerable number of game shot with 7mm and.300 mags and close to an equal amount with lever guns which were used in the hands of people familiar with their rifles. So far, even though the FPE is vastly in the advantage of the bolt rifle, their poor overall performace by those who normally use them, rates them as second to the levers. It's easy to make rash claims and we all know of gun-rag writers who've made some pretty rash claims when getting paid by the word.

Seeing is believing. If one shoots factory ammo, one is perhaps better off with a bolt gun when going off after dangerous game. If one is a rifleman, a real shooter who relishes in practise, carefully loads his/her own ammo, the lever guns of today have the power and range that will cover about everything we have to offer in game in North America, Europe, and most of Africa as well. One does need to practise - so far as I've seen, starting back in 1976 as a big game guide myself, there are a lot of people who need to shoot more - the bolt rifle is no even close to a gaurantee of a lill. Over the years, I've only observed 2 hunters who didn't flinch when shooting, in camp or on game - one fellow, an English Gentleman shot an '06 Ruger and the other Gentleman form the UK, a .300 WTB. Both of these hunters are shooters, shoot a lot as they practise often. They are a minority group amongst licended hunters - unfortunately.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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