This past weekend my local club held a monthly CLA shoot. I usually shoot the small bore CLA with my 39a, but I don't have a center fire lever action yet, so I shot it with my .44 Redhawk (very poorly). Today I was at the local gun store looking at the older 30-30's on the rack, but everything there was carbine length. The one rifle that stood out was a Navy Arms (Uberti) beautiful 24" octagon, color case hardened 1873 in 45 LC. it was for a very fair price, and I would have bought it right then and there, but I'm unsure of the 45 LC on rams at 200 yards (our range max yardage). Also, searching the internet shows very little insight on loading the 45 LC for any rifle much less this one.

Can any of you experts here give me some guidance on whether this rifle will fit my needs?

Hello Baja_Traveler, where do you shoot? Trying to shoot to 200 meters with a Pistol Cartridge rifle is not the best choice unless that is the only rifle you have and can't afford to buy another.

I would advice you look for a long barreled rifle with no less than 24", if you want to buy new get the Marlin with the laminated stock and SS action and barrel, they are very accurate rifles and I know several people that own at least one. Other wise look for a Winchester commemorative with a 26" octagon barrel in 30-30.

Ditto here. I tried shooting CLA with my PC 357 gun for the first year and it's just not the right way to go. There are a lot of 30-30 octagon barrel guns around for about $600/$650 you just have to look.
ppkny

I agree with the two previcious postings.But i have seen guys use a 45 colt and 44 mag for cla.I was told Saturday at a match that there is a winchester with a 26 inch barrel at gander mt in scranton pa for $600.00 that looks like new.Dont know how close you are to there but they will ship to your ffl.

Thanks for the reply's. I shoot at South Bay Rod & Gun Club in San Diego.

Well - I have a month before the next shoot to find a 30-30 with a longer barrel than the 20 inchers at my local shop.

I did find some info on using the 45 LC for silhouette, and at our clubs yardage it can easily be done without using the sights off of a mortar, which was my concern. I guess the limitations show when the yardages get longer, so if I ever got out to the Tuscon shoot I'd have problems with rams at 500. One of the cool things about the 45 LC though is that I can load the cartridge up the way it was intended - with black powder. Adds another level of fun to the game...

Baja_Taveler, we shoot SB and PC Cowboy matches at Pala the second Saturday and the long range version on the third Sunday of the month, not too far from where you are. Jim Birdsell from your club shoots with us and is very knowledgeable, do you know him? If not introduce yourself to him and he will point you in the right direction. Also if you are not going to Pala already I highly recommend it.

http://www.ncsapala.com/

In Yuma we shoot smallbore and Pistol Caliber every Wednesday and Friday morning, plus CLA and blackpowder cartridge. 4th weekend of the month also. All this from 1 November to 15 April.

If you want a good .30-30 with a 24" barrel, go over to Gunbroker and find a nice Marlin 336A, this would be the model made in the 1940s. Several of us in the Yuma club have them. GOOD triggers, good barrels, very accurate with either cast or jacketed. You'll be happy.

Yea - Jim runs the small bore match at SBRGC. Great guy - showed me the ropes at my first silhouette match.

I may have to pop up to Pala this weekend if the chores will allow and check out the proceedings.

Next November Yuma will also be on my list, as I shoot 3-d archery shoots there twice a year.

Baja_Traveler wrote:
Next November Yuma will also be on my list, as I shoot 3-d archery shoots there twice a year.

PM me for contact info, be glad to see you.

Nothing wrong with a PC for 200 meters. Especially with the rams being set light, per the rules now. If that rifle is calling your name, buy it!!

eskuri wrote:Especially with the rams being set light, per the rules now.

It's not a rule, its a suggestion to clubs only. We ring rams at two of my local ranges all the time with 30-30's using heavy bullets and max loads.

Thanks for the info, LoneRinger. When the rams are set full foot, they are tough to knock down, esp. with a headwind.

If got to disagree with eskrui, Nothing wrong with a PC for 200 meters. Especially with the rams being set light, per the rules now. If that rifle is calling your name, buy it!!

I wasted a lot of time and money trying to shoot CLA with a PC gun, Yes it can be done but why....Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
ppkny

After doing many hours of online study on 45LC loads, and the weakness of the 1873 rifle toggle link and bolt, I decided to abandon the thought of this particular rifle. It's just not the right tool for this game.

So this morning I had a doctors appointment across town, and after I got out stopped by a small gun shop nearby. There on the shelf was a mint Winchester 94 Buffalo Bill commemorative 26", unfired with all the original paperwork for a great price. Not a scratch or blemish anywhere to be found. I bought it immediately. This rifle apparently was a safe queen for over 40 years just waiting for me to come along and pop it's cherry. The way I look at it, it's my reward for having to put up with a prostate check and blood draw...

Only downside is that I don't want to ruin the engraving on the tang putting a tang sight on it, so I'll have to research alternatives.

Baja_Traveler wrote:After doing many hours of online study on 45LC loads, and the weakness of the 1873 rifle toggle link and bolt, I decided to abandon the thought of this particular rifle. It's just not the right tool for this game.

So this morning I had a doctors appointment across town, and after I got out stopped by a small gun shop nearby. There on the shelf was a mint Winchester 94 Buffalo Bill commemorative 26", unfired with all the original paperwork for a great price. Not a scratch or blemish anywhere to be found. I bought it immediately. This rifle apparently was a safe queen for over 40 years just waiting for me to come along and pop it's cherry. The way I look at it, it's my reward for having to put up with a prostate check and blood draw...

Only downside is that I don't want to ruin the engraving on the tang putting a tang sight on it, so I'll have to research alternatives.

Williams FP rear sight (with target knobs) and a Layman 20A front sight will fit you up fine!!!!