Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: wraithen on January 08, 2012, 01:01:33 AM

Title: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: wraithen on January 08, 2012, 01:01:33 AM: Anyone use it? Is it worth the price and hype? Got a 94 and now I can't stop thinking about it.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: FC on January 08, 2012, 01:04:39 AM: You should buy a box and try it! If you don't you will always be curious! I haven't used it myself but have seen tons of reports of much better accuracy than other ammo as well as increased range for the lever guns.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: wraithen on January 08, 2012, 01:08:39 AM: Yeah a pointy bullet is a scary concept when you fire a gun with the capability of the word chain-fire. I was/am kind of curious why they haven't gotten an OTM type bullet to work safely. Don't even see many hollow points. I may buy a box after I get the receiver to not look like a pitted rusting block of metal. Gotta get the last guys copper out of it still too. I just hate the thought of paying more than 3 bucks a bullet :yike:
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 08, 2012, 01:19:06 AM: Lots of reports that they aren't as accurate in the winchester rifling, but some good reports too. Many more reports over the years that these bullets perform best through the Marlin micro groove rifling. I have witnessed some excellent accuracy with improved velocity since thier introduction. If you're a hand loader, the bullets are available now too.

-Steve
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: wraithen on January 08, 2012, 01:27:04 AM: That's a shame as I have a 1975 model 94. I really need to get into reloading. Between my .223 and .40 and now this, it might make sense now.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 08, 2012, 01:40:22 AM: If you're not buying LeverEvolution ammo, then it is almost cost prohibitive to reload for 30-30 if you watch for ammo sales.

-Steve
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 08, 2012, 02:25:44 AM: I have shot the 45lc threw my 454. The stuff shot o.k in it but not great.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: birdwacker on January 08, 2012, 08:20:39 AM: Very accurate out of my marlin 35rem haven't tried it on game yet.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: yorketransport on January 08, 2012, 08:55:23 AM: I've tried them in 30-30, 357mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt, 35 Rem, 45-70, and 450 Marlin. They were all out of handguns and I had excellent results with all of them. The load were very accurate, in most cases the most accurate factory ammo I tried.

The bullets are a little on the soft side. They're like a big bore ballistic tip. :chuckle: They wouldn't be my first choice for elk, but I don't doubt that they'd work.

You can get the stuff for under $25 a box from Cabelas. That seems pretty reasonable for quality factory ammo.

Andrew
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: C-Money on January 08, 2012, 09:07:35 AM: They seem to group the best for me from the Marlin 30-30. Seem to be consistant. They are worth a try!
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: jrebel on January 08, 2012, 09:10:59 AM: I absolutely love it in my Marling 45-70 (I can consistantly clover leaf 3 shots at 100 yards off a steady rest). You can buy the all the components and reload leverevolution too. The powder is on the market now and the bullets have been for a while.

Cheers :tup:
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: netcoyote on January 08, 2012, 10:08:18 AM: Quote
You can buy the all the components and reload leverevolution too. The powder is on the market now and the bullets have been for a while.
I tried reloading the LeverRevolution bullets for my 44 mag. I found that the seating die tends to deform the gummy tip. I called Hornady and found that they make a seating stem to seat on the ogive instead of the tip. I don't have one yet but plan to try it. You have to call them and ask about ordering the stem as they don't list them for sale (last I checked).
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on January 08, 2012, 10:32:07 AM: heres a leverevolution 45-70 at 300yds through a 1/2" sheet of plywood and through one side of a tire and stuck out the other side...i shoot them through my single shot and they work great
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi799.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy275%2Fdeerhunter_98520%2FIMAG0173.jpg&hash=fc58d1a1468272e814d80fa821307491e3d12e60)
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: jrebel on January 08, 2012, 10:39:04 AM: I have shot two deer with the leverevolus. Fist was 250 yards....deer crumped. Second was about 70 yards in the neck and needless to say it didn't move. Fantastic bullet and load.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: Hunterman on January 08, 2012, 10:49:35 AM: My daughter uses them out of her 30/30 savage, and knocks the socks out of the X ring on the targets.. I think she has killed a deer or two with them, but can't be certain, hell she either hunts with the 30/30 or her 308 :dunno: Anyway,, she really like them.. I wonder if I can load them for my .30-06 :dunno:
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: sirmissalot on January 08, 2012, 10:29:47 PM: I watched a buddy of mine shoot a buffalo at about 50 yards with a 450 marlin using them, hit it 3 times and finally was able to get one to penetrate far enough to hit the heart. All 3 bullets fragmented bad and didn't have much penetration. I wasn't impressed
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: wraithen on January 09, 2012, 07:17:52 AM: Quote from: sirmissalot on January 08, 2012, 10:29:47 PM
I watched a buddy of mine shoot a buffalo at about 50 yards with a 450 marlin using them, hit it 3 times and finally was able to get one to penetrate far enough to hit the heart. All 3 bullets fragmented bad and didn't have much penetration. I wasn't impressed

You HAVE to use the right bullet type for what you are shooting at. I would never shoot a fragmenting round at that type of animal... wait... They shouldn't have done that! He probably would have been better off using the regular rounds at that distance though.

Looks like I will pick up a box and try them but it sounds like I don't have a barrel that compliments the round. I can't wait until saturday to take her out and see what she can do.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: Fl0und3rz on January 09, 2012, 07:39:29 AM: Latest issue of Handloader magazine has a nice review of them, if you want to pick it up at a newsstand.

Conclusion:
Flatter shooting as should be obvious from higher BC. As designed. Makes for good/better 200 yard shooter.
When coupled with the newer LR powders, there is an increase in velocity over traditional powders. As designed, without necessarily an increase in pressure (not tested).
Terminal ballistics (penetration and bullet performance) not tested as I recall.
Grouping improvement vary (30/30, 45/70, and .338 Marlin Express tested; mix of Win and Marlin rifles).

LRs are more expensive than the typical JHP bullets, and mostly for that reason, I just use the 300 gr. JHP in 45/70 at ca. 2000 fps for a good 200 yard brush gun.
Title: Re: Hornady LeverEvolution
Post by: grundy53 on January 09, 2012, 07:53:56 AM: I shoot them in my .338 marlin express and my .450 bushmaster. I love them.