Lever Guns

[landon410]

Anyone here into lever guns?
what do you shoot? done any work to it?

I still don't understand why they've fallen out of favor with the average hunter, what can a bolt action 308 or 3006 do that a good shot from a 3030 35 rem 4570 etc do on an average hunt in nebraska missouri etc?
inside 100 yards with quicker follow shot, I just like my lever gun.

I shoot a Marlin 338MX, 200 grain round going over 2500 FPS it really smacks whatever it hits, have been at that 1.5 MOA area with it, running a redfield revolution scope on it, I know I know, scope on a levergun....
I have taken a deer at 180 yards with this setup in solider creek outside Chadron

attach picture is a doe from this past season, northwest missouri, 50 ish yard shot, DRT

What lever guns do you shoot? What type of game have you taken with it?

[Husker_Fan]

I grew up with bolt actions and have just stuck with them. I have a hankering for a .357 1894c. I think that would be a lot of fun.

[shooter]

I got a marlin guide gun stainless ported in 45-70, and just picked up a marlin 30-30 at the fremont gun show, its a micro groove barrel and not sure how good its gonna shoot cast bullets,

  I am looking for lever guns in .357, 44 mag, and 45 colt,  something for the grandkids to shoot,

[NE Bull]

Marlin 336T .30-30 Williams peeps. 

[bkoenig]

I have an old 60's era Marlin 336 Saddle Ring Carbine that has been rebored from 30-30 to 38-55.  It has a lot of external wear and the finish is turning to patina but the action and trigger are slick as snot from years of use.  It's not a tack diver by any means (few lever guns really are) but with a Williams peep sight it's more accurate than I can hold shooting offhand.  Lever guns are meant to be shot standing on your hind legs like a man, not from the bench. 

It's also extremely short and light.  The 38-55 isn't a real long range round but it packs enough of a wallop that I think it could take down anything in North America short of Grizzly.  If I had to hump any of my rifles over mountains and I didn't need anything beyond 200 yards effective range I would pick this one.  I've only had it about a year but I took a medium size buck with it last fall.

I would really like a 45-70 lever action some day to complement my Sharps.  I'm partial to Marlins, but anything built after Remington bought them out is suspect in the quality department.  Pre-Remington models go for a premium these days.  I have heard the newest ones have gotten a lot better, though.

[Ronvandyn]

I love a lever action, being an ambidextrous shooter as I am (Left eye dominant).  I gave away my Marlin 336 in 30-30 years ago to a very good friend, and I have regretted it ever since.  Today the only lever action I have is a Ruger #1 in .223.  I have occasionally looked for Marlins or Winchesters in 44-40, 30-30, or 44mag, but they seem pretty hard to come by.  I have a bud (who is also a member here) who has what his father calls a "Golden Boy" chambered to 44-40 and I love shooting that, and if he ever turns his back....  Anyway, I love the things, they are great for us right handed folks who have eye issues.

Ron

[NE Bull]

I love a lever action, being an ambidextrous shooter as I am (Left eye dominant).  I gave away my Marlin 336 in 30-30 years ago to a very good friend, and I have regretted it ever since.  Today the only lever action I have is a Ruger #1 in .223.  I have occasionally looked for Marlins or Winchesters in 44-40, 30-30, or 44mag, but they seem pretty hard to come by.  I have a bud (who is also a member here) who has what his father calls a "Golden Boy" chambered to 44-40 and I love shooting that, and if he ever turns his back....  Anyway, I love the things, they are great for us right handed folks who have eye issues.

Ron

Some options- Henry has a new .30-30 out that is danged sexy and comes factory with XS Ghost Rings sights.  http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-3030.cfm  Love the Golden Boy, but WOW them brass receivers are heavy! but PURTY!
And don't over look Rossi for a lever gun. Folks are using these in SASS and holding up just fine.  ( and if there is to be a group that abuses lever guns- it would be them weekend cowboys!)
Cruise sites like SASS Wire and Marlinowners.net (org?) great resources and lots of buy/sale/trade goings on.
Also check out Skinner Sights. http://www.skinnersights.com/ for your lever gun peeps.  (Sorry, but for me, lever guns and peep sights/tang sights go together like peas and carrots)

[Wildgoose]

Hi landon410,
I have three levers and reload for all of them. Winchester 95' in 405WCF,Marlins in 45-70 and 35Rem. The 35Rem is an older rifle with Ballard rifling. I shoot both cast and jacketed in all three depending on what I am up to. I have taken several deer with the 405 and the 45-70. I shoot the 35Rem in cowboy lever action silhouette. The 45-70 is a Guide Gun stainless and its scoped. The 35Rem is a 336 and has Williams receiver peep sights. The 95' 405 has been fitted with a Lyman tang peep set up. All three will group under 3 moa off the bench. Oh yea, don't worry that micro-groove will handle cast bullets just fine.

 

[landon410]

that stainless guide gun is really pretty, I like that it doesnt have some odd color laminate stock on it, I didn't like those grey stocks marlin used.

I also agree with what was said about quality of marlin after remington took over production, i found my 338mx in Norfolk NE and bought it, they had a couple more 92XXX serial guns with correct barrel roll and stamp to prove its a marlin and not a marlington, I posted that on the marlin owners forum and guys called up and starting trying to have them shipped. That gun shop jacked the prices on them though, kind of shady......

I really like the lever action, and wish I was a reloader, I would like to try cast rounds in it.
The problem with my gun is ammo selection, Hornady makes a 1 option for it, remington used to make a 225 or 250 gr round for it ( i dont remember which), and thats it.

Its a great hunting round though

and to the comment about lugging it over a mountian, when I went hunting in western nebraska with a buddy, we hiked a lot with large packs and when we got deer we quartered and carried it, I have my marlin and he had a older model 70, holy crap that model 70 was heavy!

[MHicks]

I've got a few.  A Henry in .22, Marlin 336 in 30-30 and an 1895G in 45-70.  The 336 is pre-Remington and the 45-70 is post-Remington.

There are a lot of apprehensions about getting a "Remlin".  I think,  as with any firearm, if you know what you are looking for you will be fine.  Get touchy feely with it before you take it home and you will be happy.

I cast and load for the 336 and 1895.  The 336 has the micro-groove barrel and handles cast just fine.  The 1895 is certainly versatile.  Going from mild to wild.  Right now I only have a 405 grain mold for it but have been looking for a 300-350 grain mold to try with it.

[shooter]

 another lever action I always want to try, the 9410, a nice Winchester in .410 shotgun, Ii have no idea why I want one, but its just a cute fast 410, my other .410,s are either bolt action or break open,   I don't know, maybe just having something different than everyone else

[RobertH]

the only lever action i show was an old, old Daisy bb gun.

[altheman2]

The only lever gun I have is my savage 99. Gun holds a special place in my heart but sadly the old girl has headspace issues. Hope to get her fixed some day but a really good gunsmith is hard to find.

[DRech]

I love the Marlins.  killed a good number of deer with 30-30's and a 35.  They are surprisingly accurate.,  as good as most of my bolt guns.   Also very much like my Winchester 94 in .356.   Its a real deer hammer. Most deer will drop as soon as I pull the trigger. But my all time favorite are Savage  99's. I have several.   I get a lot of enjoyment just looking at them and picking them up.  My biggest buck I took with a 99F in 243, although I consider a 243 light.  The vast majority of my shots are less than 100 yards.  Haven't taken a deer yet that I could not have cleanly killed with a good Marlin 30-30.  Really an under rated round.