[RWBlue]

What rifle and cartridge (assuming people were not using a muzzle-loader) would someone use to kill deer?

What was around?
What was common?

I am thinking the 44-40 would be the common rifle, but......?

[countrygun]

The '73 Winchester was popular here in 32-30 The older heavy rounds 45-70, 40-70 etc were popular. Marlin had made their lever first lever gun by then. That was a pivotal time and a lot of black powder guns were holding their own against the new fangle smokeless. 38-40 was a popular caliber in a Winchester. Even proto99 Savages were out as the 95 and coincidentally the 95 Winchester in 30-40 was around by then. If I was in the bucks that would have been my choice. with my luck though I'd have probably been shooting an old trapdoor in 45-70 or a Spencer. Winchester Highwalls and Remington Rolling blocks were popular around here in a variety of calibers.

IMO I don't think they were as "Winchester Levercentric" as we think today.

I used to be a museum curator and the guns we had from that era were staggering in variety.

[Jim Watson]

If you were up to date you might be hunting with the newfangled .30-30 (1895).

Henry Stebbins described his father hunting with a .40-50 Sharps; one in the chamber and four extra in the fingers of an old glove to prevent rattling. Standing by patiently as the rest of his club loaded their tube magazines and strapped on cartridge belts as though to go to war. This in a day when deer were actually pretty scarce. To shoot a deer at the turn of the last century was a lifetime accomplishment, not a regular thing.

[muscogee]

The Army had just gone to the Krag-Jørgensen so there were probably a lot of Springfiles in 45/70 around.

[SCmasterblaster]

The .30-30 comes to mind. It was introduced as a smokeless propellant load.

[harleypilot]

I believe the Winchester model 94 came out in 1894 and was chambered in 30-30.
The first number in these calibers with two figures is the bullet diameter in hundredths of an inch and the second is the number of grains of black powder in the case.

30-30 .30 inch diameter bullet and 30 grains black powder

45-70 .45 inch diameter bullet and 70 grains black powder

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by harleypilot

I believe the Winchester model 94 came out in 1894 and was chambered in 30-30.
The first number in these calibers with two figures is the bullet diameter in hundredths of an inch and the second is the number of grains of black powder in the case.

30-30 .30 inch diameter bullet and 30 grains black powder

45-70 .45 inch diameter bullet and 70 grains black powder

If I recall correctly, the .30-30 was introduced with smokeless propellant.

[OctoberRust]

was 12 gauge buckshot out then? If so I'd take some 00 buck and a good pump gun, whatever that may have been back then.

[harleypilot]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

If I recall correctly, the .30-30 was introduced with smokeless propellant.

You're probably right. They just still used the old terminology since smokeless was so new.

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by harleypilot

You're probably right. They just still used the old terminology since smokeless was so new.

That sounds believable.

[Kingarthurhk]

The 45/70 is a good round. However, when I think of lever rifles I want to match them to a handgun I actually own. For instance .454 casull, .44 magnum, .357 magnum.

[Tiro Fijo]

Actually, the '94 Win. was first introduced in 38-55 before 30-30 and yes, lever actions ruled the roost until well after WWII in the civilian world.

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

was 12 gauge buckshot out then? If so I'd take some 00 buck and a good pump gun, whatever that may have been back then.

I like 12 gauge OO buckshot. I keep it in my Mossberg M500!