Feasibility study, the thought of one gun
jthomson
[subject]
Friday, January 16, 2026, 11:51 (15 days ago)
chat on the forum the past week about go to guns in the case of need, got me to thinking about one lever action rifle chambered large enough to handle all situations. So take a 45-70 chambered marlin for instance, 45-70, 454, 45 colt, 45 Scofield, 45 auto rim.
Now a 45 auto rim shooting a 155 Keith at sub-sonic speeds makes a hand little game round.
what's the odds of the bullet even clearing the chamber much less aligning with the barrel ?
Interesting Jon. I suppose if I were forced to only have one
SPB
[subject]
Friday, January 16, 2026, 15:23 (14 days ago) @ jthomson
it would be an AR-15. Lots of ammunition about would take deer on down and two legged critters, and other things I would politely stay away from! But in this crazy world who knows what will transpire.
To all the MISFITS, stay close to JESUS CHRIST and your Bible and your guns despite what Osama bama had to say. YMMV
If only one, the AR makes sense
Dave H.
[subject]
Friday, January 16, 2026, 21:47 (14 days ago) @ SPB
The most recognized platform since the lever action.
Dave, in a sense you are right, as a defense gun, but
jthomson
[subject]
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 07:22 (14 days ago) @ Dave H.
as a survival gun, it is a bad choice, a 22LR is much more useful, plus a lot more quiet.
Jon, perhaps a better choice would be a Mod 63 Smith and a
SPB
[subject]
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 08:13 (14 days ago) @ jthomson
22 lr conversion kit for an AR-15. Just a thought.
The little .22 LR AR conversion bolts...
WB
[subject]
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:20 (14 days ago) @ SPB
the little blow-back bolt assemblies actually work great. It is the magazine that can create feeding issues. The old Colt 10 shot worked fantastic to me. These long 30-shot can be iffy. They hang down loose and any movement at the feed point can disrupt. But they are fun and useful.
Accuracy is an issue as the .22 LR normally uses like a 1:16" twist rate. The projectile is about as long as it is wide, so a slow twist is best. The AR 1:8" will not shoot to modern accuracy expectations. Maybe 3-4" at 50 yds. The old 1:12" back in the 70's-80's did about 2". We should also mention the bore on a .22 LR is .222 vs the centerfire bore of .224", this factors as well. FWIW
I hate to admit the versatility and viability of the AR platform run from .22 to .500 caliber. Anywhere in the world find one and you can swap parts to change and make it run. With only a couple nails fashioned into punches and a rock or stick you can disassemble it totally and remove the barrel etc. I've put them together totally with only a Swiss pocket knife and little hammer. Although the proper tools are very nice. The location of the gas port is another overlooked option. The "rifle" port location is farthest from the chamber where pressures are a bit more regulated and I find it works best. Followed by the "carbine" (10.5-16" or M4) location and the short "pistol" port on the barrel which I do not really like. Pressures are notably higher and more variable the closer to the chamber. The old 20" guns that are not as popular today, wonderfully reliable if given the slightest care.
The AR is the world universal platform. I think it walks all over the AK. However it's pointless to argue, they are wonderful battle instruments too and can be sporting tuned.
On the 45-70 idea the cartridge's rim would cause you more
Gary Reeder
[subject]
Friday, January 16, 2026, 20:03 (14 days ago) @ jthomson
problems than anything else. The 45 Long Colt, for instance, take a look at 5 or 6 different brands of 45 LC. They are all different. Enough to cause a mal-function? Maybe. Then trying to lever up a 1.5" cartridge where the gun is intended to lever up a 2.1" cartridge. If you could get them to chamber a cartridge then getting the fired round out of the chamber is your next headache.
These problems are part of a lever action in 45 Long Colt. Other cartridges might not pose that problem.