Will a 117gr bullet with an MV of ~2200fps "reliably" knock over the rams? Have an opportunity to pick up a nice, old 1894 in 25-35WCF and don't really want to use up my $$ if it isn't going to work.
How about the 45LC. Will it 'do the job' on full-size rams at 200m? If you can't tell, I'm new to the CLA 200m game.
Thanks.

I can't speak to the 25-35, but I can say that I've lost a Ram with a 170r load in my 30-30. I've hear of people having success with that cartridge, but haven't personally seen it in action.

The .45 Colt - if you can live with rainbow trajectory at 200 meters - then you can take them down. I has fair success with 255gr LRNFP over 20r of 4227. A hit anywhere on the ram would take it. I used the same load for Pistol Cartridge matches and moved into AA with that load...only to replace it with a 25-20. In all fairness there are better choices for either.

Michael

SSshooter, the short answer to your 25-35 question is no. I shot one for a year including the Nationals and I lost a lot of Rams.
The other problem right now is Hornady quit making the jacketed 117 bullet and doesn't plan on making them ever again. This info comes from a well known shooter who talked to Steve Hornady personally.

Al Foust

Thanks. Was a little leary on the 25cal. Looks like the 30-30, 32WS or 38-55 is the 'easy way out' (smart choice) on the cartridge.

I'm the USA Shooting Sports "reporter" that covered the Lever Action Silhouette Nationals in Raton this summer. The majority of shooters were using 30-30, #2 was 38-55. There was a few .357s and at least one .45 Colt shooting the long line. The top winner was shooting a 30-30.

If I were starting over - and believe me, this is well thought out (read that as well pair-for) - I'd get a good Marlin 39a first. I'd use it for Small Bore and Pistol Cartridge until I got good enough to need a "bigger" cartridge for Pistol Cartridge. If you drop all the chickens, pigs and turkeys and ring all the rams you'll still shoot a AAA score!

Then I'd look for a .22 magnum, .25-20, .32-20 or .357 for pistol cartridge

When I got ready for a CLA rifle I'd stay with Marlin - most silhouette shooters like those with 24" barrels and without a barrel bands.

But, for a new shooter I do suggest getting a nice 39a and use it until you start out-shooting it - mine is one of my favorite rifles.

Michael

While the Marlin 39A is a nice rifle, I'll just have to suffer along with my pair of old Marlin Model 1897s. ;)

Think I'm interested in shooting BP rather than smokeless (I'm a BPCR & BPTR shooter), so will likely go for the 38cal as the larger bore is easier to clean. Was thnking that 32WinSpl might be a good round, but starting over with another bottle-neck cartridge in BP is not what I want.