Lever Action or Double Rifle?

[Grumpy]

A .405 Win is a .405 Win - doesn`t matter what type of rifle it`s in, the cartridge is the same.
A lever action Winchester would have had to have been used an awful lot for wear to be an issue ..... which is highly unlikely in India. Rust is more likely and would effect both styles of rifle badly.
Neither style of rifle is ideal for home defence so `you pays yer money and takes yer choice` as the saying goes.
If it`s a case of having to buy either of these or nothing then go for whatever is in the best condition.

[miroflex]

A .405 Win is a .405 Win - doesn`t matter what type of rifle it`s in, the cartridge is the same.
A lever action Winchester would have had to have been used an awful lot for wear to be an issue ..... which is highly unlikely in India. Rust is more likely and would effect both styles of rifle badly.
Neither style of rifle is ideal for home defence so `you pays yer money and takes yer choice` as the saying goes.
If it`s a case of having to buy either of these or nothing then go for whatever is in the best condition.

You are right, Grumpy, in that the debate was originally about types of action in .405 WCF. The discussion then veered to choice of calibres with many members being of the view that .405 was an unnecessarily heavy calibre and unsuitable for home defence.

I would have opted for a 7x57 mm bolt action if the rifles had not been so expensive. Less expensive light bore rifles in India include the .22 Hornet and the .22 Hi Power Savage for both of which cartridges are easily available, the .250-3000 Savage for which they are not and the 6.5x57 mm for which they are. In medium bores there is the .300 Savage, available for reasonable prices but again with cartridges almost unobtainable. I already have an Ishapore made .315 bolt action and am not very keen on the IOF .30-06.

I agree that the condition of the rifle will be a major factor in deciding what to buy.

Regards.

[Grumpy]

A strange list of calibres you list there .....the only ones that are easily available in the UK are the .22 Hornet - which is definitely NOT suitable for defence purposes as it`s a pipsqueak - and the 7x57 which is one of the all-time great hunting calibres. As it happens, a rifle is not a good defensive weapon anyway .... not unless it`s a very short, AR15/M16 type carbine.

[miroflex]

A strange list of calibres you list there .....the only ones that are easily available in the UK are the .22 Hornet - which is definitely NOT suitable for defence purposes as it`s a pipsqueak - and the 7x57 which is one of the all-time great hunting calibres. As it happens, a rifle is not a good defensive weapon anyway .... not unless it`s a very short, AR15/M16 type carbine.

I have listed some of the lighter calibres of rifles that are commonly available with dealers in India. They may not be as readily available in Britain. Some medium calibres that were of Commonwealth origin like the .280 Ross, the .318 Westley Richards, the .333 Jeffery etc. and very popular in India and Africa have almost entirely vanished from the scene in this country. Surprisingly, the so-called rook rifles, which are low powered and for which cartridges are now unobtainable, surface occasionally.

I have been looking for a light rifle for my wife and a heavier one for myself.

A rifle may not be the best weapon in an urban environment but is useful in repelling boarders on an isolated farm house in India.

Regards.

[Grumpy]

The .280 Ross isn`t exactly common anywhere and there is no commercial ammunition manufactured as far as I know. The .318 W-R and .333 Jeffery are two superb but comparitively rare calibres. The first is enjoying a minor resurgence in the US and the second ought to be vastly more popular. There is no rook rifle calibre ammunition being loaded commercially but cases are available for most of the rook rifle calibres from Bertram in Australia. Definitely not suitable for defence - the most powerful rook rifle calibre ( the .300 Sherwood ) has more than double the ME of any other rook rifle calibre but that`s still less energy than the feeble little .22 Hornet produces.
In your situation a rifle is definitely the best option. I`d forget any of the .22s as they don`t have enough `knock down` power- in the versions that will be available to you anyway . I happen to think that the .223/5.56 NATO was a disastrous choice of calibre for a main combat weapon .... and that has been proved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hence the development of the 6.8mm. The 7x57 would be ideal as it could easily be managed by your wife .... the 6.5x55 would be even better for her. The 6.5x57 is rare in the UK/North America by the way but would do the job.

[miroflex]

The .280 Ross isn`t exactly common anywhere and there is no commercial ammunition manufactured as far as I know. The .318 W-R and .333 Jeffery are two superb but comparitively rare calibres. The first is enjoying a minor resurgence in the US and the second ought to be vastly more popular. There is no rook rifle calibre ammunition being loaded commercially but cases are available for most of the rook rifle calibres from Bertram in Australia. Definitely not suitable for defence - the most powerful rook rifle calibre ( the .300 Sherwood ) has more than double the ME of any other rook rifle calibre but that`s still less energy than the feeble little .22 Hornet produces.
In your situation a rifle is definitely the best option. I`d forget any of the .22s as they don`t have enough `knock down` power- in the versions that will be available to you anyway . I happen to think that the .223/5.56 NATO was a disastrous choice of calibre for a main combat weapon .... and that has been proved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hence the development of the 6.8mm. The 7x57 would be ideal as it could easily be managed by your wife .... the 6.5x55 would be even better for her. The 6.5x57 is rare in the UK/North America by the way but would do the job.

I have recently seen two rifles made by Steyr, both in 6.5x57 mm calibre. One of them bears the imprimatur of Holland and Holland and is three times as expensive as the other, plain Steyr. Cartridges for these rifles are easily available in India.

The 6.5x55 is almost dead in India. I lately saw a beautiful double barrel hammerless ejector rifle made for the Army and Navy Stores in 6.5x53R. Cartridges for this calibre are unobtainable. The owner is asking Rs. 3,00, 000 for it.

If they were available for reasonable prices, I would buy a .275 Rigby and a .404 Jeffery.

Cheerio.

[Grumpy]

The 6.5x55 is enjoying a revival in both the UK ( particularly ) and the USA whilst the 6x57 is virtually unknown.
The .275 Rigby is actually the 7x57 Mauser under a different name but is exactly the same calibre.
I`m ambivalent about the .404 Jeffery ( actual calibre is .423" ) because the .416 Rigby is SO superior.

[miroflex]

The 6.5x55 is enjoying a revival in both the UK ( particularly ) and the USA whilst the 6x57 is virtually unknown.
The .275 Rigby is actually the 7x57 Mauser under a different name but is exactly the same calibre.

I know. I used the nomenclature only because of its association with Jim Corbett and the Champawat man eater.

I`m ambivalent about the .404 Jeffery ( actual calibre is .423" ) because the .416 Rigby is SO superior.

The .404 Jeffery is relatively more easily available in India. Most of the .416 Rigbys have been exported out of India.

Regards.

[Skyman]

Sir, i think you should stick with the .315 if it is not giving you any problems.

[Vikram]

Sir, i think you should stick with the .315 if it is not giving you any problems.

I was also of the same mind until he explained his decision.He has repeatedly stated that he wants now a nicer and more interesting calibre and rifle combination,in fact two, to own. It is just that he wants to combine both interest/passion with practicality than mere practicality alone. Unlike many of us, he actually has the choice, and why not!

Best-
Vikram

[miroflex]

Sir, i think you should stick with the .315 if it is not giving you any problems.

I was also of the same mind until he explained his decision.He has repeatedly stated that he wants now a nicer and more interesting calibre and rifle combination,in fact two, to own. It is just that he wants to combine both interest/passion with practicality than mere practicality alone. Unlike many of us, he actually has the choice, and why not!

Best-
Vikram

Thanks for your understanding and encouragement, Vikram. I am glad to find a kindred soul.

Regards.

[miroflex]

Sir, i think you should stick with the .315 if it is not giving you any problems.

I am not letting go of the .315 although it is giving me problems with cartridge feeding. It is also not very accurate. The noise and recoil are slightly difficult to manage for my wife. I am therefore looking for a much lighter calibre rifle for her. Hence my interest in the .22 Hornet and Hi Power Savage.

I am looking for a European or an American rifle or two because of their better build quality. When cycling the bolt of the .315, I miss the butter smoothness of the Ross straight pull design, despite the danger of the bolt flying out if inserted incorrectly. In fact I find most bolt actions by European and American makers much nicer than that of the .315, even though they (the former) have been used and abused for generations.

Do let me know if you come to hear of any good rifle for sale.

Wishing you an early and complete recovery.

[Skyman]

To be frank, no one will throw an guns my way any time soon! WRT .315, i think a good 30.06 is your best option.The .404, correct me if i am wrong, should have even more recoil than the .315 even though the .404 has been described as mild mannered compared to other big game cartridges?

As for your wife, what about the 30-30? Quite manageable i think.

[miroflex]

To be frank, no one will throw an guns my way any time soon!

I believe in keeping my ears very close to the ground where good rifles are concerned. One never knows what may turn up where.

WRT .315, i think a good 30.06 is your best option.The .404, correct me if i am wrong, should have even more recoil than the .315 even though the .404 has been described as mild mannered compared to other big game cartridges?

As for your wife, what about the 30-30? Quite manageable i think.

Skyman,

The .404 is intended to be carried by me, not my wife.

I am sticking to my .315 for now and not deserting it for a .30-06.

The .30-30 is also an option I am exploring.

All the best.

[Skyman]

I believe you mentioned carts are easily available for the 30-30? Wrt 30.06, why not switch? It seems to me the most sensible round.