Lee Loader

Browsing through this forum has convinced me there is plenty of experience out there for this query.

I am looking for ideas/opinions about suitable caliber/gun combinations for youth deer hunters in straightwall land.

I would like to start each of my children with a different caliber once they reach hunting age. To date the oldest started out 4-5 years ago with a Savage 110 .450 Bushmaster, the second 3 years ago with a Henry Single Shot in 44mag, finally Rachel killed her first deer this year with a Savage 110 in .350 Legend.

I have 2 more daughters coming in the next 5 years or so. What are my options? Preferably low recoil and a gun suitable for smaller shooters.

Nothing wrong with the choices so far .

94' or like in 375 or 38-55 Win would be easy enough to adjust recoil in . A 230-250 gr bullet sounds intimidating but you can back them down to a hot 45 Colts pretty easily.

444 can be backed down to 44 mag and as I understand it shares the .432 44 mag bullets .

I'd find a 454 92' .
In a bolt gun a 45 Raptor is an easy rebarrel using 460 Smith data .

Alexander Arms has a 45-70 rebated rim that is a 284 basic case that in a bolt gun can run the full range of the cartridge from 165 gr squirrel slayer to moose and buffalo whacker .
Get a Savage WSM donor and standard .473 bolt head and ream a 458 barrel for 45-70 .

A 357 Max is really a rimmed 350 L .

Hard to argue about a 444 Marlin. It's got something like 3070 LB Ft of energy in the original factory loading. It also easily exceeds current .45-70 factory ballistics for 300-grain jacketed bullets listed at around 1,850 fps while offering notably better penetration due to its improved sectional density with bullets of the same weight. Using correctly constructed 240- to 270-grain bullets, it can reach 2,400 and 2,300 fps, respectively, which edges out the .348 Winchester that was said to shoot 250-grain bullets at 2,350 fps (but actually reached around 2,200 to 2,250 fps from rifles with a 24-inch barrel). The .444 can also push various 320- to 335-grain cast bullets over 2,000 fps to provide notably greater punch on larger game. The .444 is a truly versatile lever-action hunting cartridge. Courtesy Handloader magazine "Pet Loads".

I had a Marlin 336 30/30 rebored and chambered in 38-55. It makes a handy easy to carry choice in these Ohio deer woods. I shoot either the Lee 375 bullet cast in something that approximates Lyman #2 or the Sierra offering in 375, they're either 200 or 220. Unfortunately they are out in my store room so I can't check, plus I think I bought the the last 6 boxes a few years back when they discontinued it. Last I looked Henry does the side loader in 38-55.

Make smoke,

I use a 357 maximum with a 200 grain soft nose. IT was a 357 mag handi rifle and took 5 minutes to make it a 357 max. It also shoots 357 mag and 38 sp quite well .