RD

I have not gone through nearly as many different ones as you have but the Lever actions are sure fun to hunt with.

22S/L/LR
22Mag
25-20
30-30
357
375
38-55
44Mag
45-70

With that list I could cover anything in North America. I hunt with bolt actions and single shots more than I do with the lever actions but they still make it out for a hunt sometimes and sure are fun to shoot and hunt with. My Dad also wondered why I want so many and I still hunt with his Winchester 94 in 44 Mag sometimes just remembering him.

You're right about that!

I could have also added the 22 Rimfire, 218 Bee, 219 Zipper, 25-20 Win, and 32-20 Win!

I recently sold my 22RF as I'm out of ammo and there has been none available at my WalMart for years. I refuse to drive any further or bring it in. In that I cast, the 218 Bee and the -20 Win cartridges are a much better fit for life here on the ranch. I've taken care of business by having enough components in storage to last me until I'm 85 but then I need to slow down. I've also started to shoot round balls from my 357 Mag, 44 Mag, and 45 Colt. They are making great little critter getters!

A fellow just had to have my 219 Zipper and I was downright tired of forming brass for it so it hit the road. It was a very unique Marlin and I always enjoyed the strange sound of it going off, sending a cast bullet on the way to a coyote, kind of a swooshing sound. The cartridge was just a long time finished.

I went rooting around a LGS for some .357 ammo for my new carbine and came across a great deal on a nice little SP101. I couldn't pass and now the carbine has a same-caliber companion.

There are a lot of very cool lever guns to choose from. I currently have four. Marlin 'JM ", Winchester (old and new) and Uberti/Cimarron are going to be your best bet in over all quality. I would be very cautious in buying a Rossi ( I had one). I shoot Cowboy Action and Rossi's seem to present a lot of feeding issues with those that have tried to bring them to CAS. Most guys will stay away from them. The price point is low but you get what you pay for. Resale will not be that of the guns fore mentioned. Casual shooting may suit the Rossi well but exposure to frequent use and repeatitive shooting will most likely have you finding a gunsmith. A note on the newly made Winchesters, (Miroku in Japan) they are getting great reviews for fit and finish as well as cycling ammo.

Be different and hunt with a .348 Win

Not sure about Texas, but in Oklahoma a 357 mag has to be a minimum length for deer hunting. Some shells can be to short. Just FYI.

In Texas it is good to go as is any centerfire cartridge.