Lever action rifles

[ramrat]

Bought my first lever action a while back. Bought a marlin 45-70. Looking to buy anther one looking for a 30-30. What would you buy?

 

[exSW]

Marlin 336 JM stamp

 

[Tim N]

Definitely jm stamp Marlin. 94 Winchester good also but expensive

 

[p61 western]

Bought my first lever action a while back. Bought a marlin 45-70. Looking to buy anther one looking for a 30-30. What would you buy?

Pre 64 Winchester gets my vote. I have a flat band from about 1947. Great guns imo.

 

[Deets066]

Another vote for Winchester, I happen to have one. My dad learned to hunt with it, then my brother, then me. Couldn’t imagine how many deer it’s claimed

 

[srb08]

I have both in 30-30 and like both.
The Marlin is stronger and better for mounting a scope.
The Winchester is lighter and the receiver fits better in your hand. Mine also has a 16" barrel which makes it really handy.
I also have full size 94's in 44M and 45C.
If you get a Winchester, consider an aperture sight.

My BIL has a Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 45-70. I love that gun.

 

[Deets066]

I am a Winchester fan, but that stainless marlin calls to me now and then. I’ll get one sometime.

 

[P.M.P.]

I have both in 30-30 and like both.
The Marlin is stronger and better for mounting a scope.
The Winchester is lighter and the receiver fits better in your hand. Mine also has a 16" barrel which really makes it really handy.
I also have full size 94's in 44M and 45C.
If you get a Winchester, consider an aperture sight.

My BIL has a Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 45-70. I love that gun.

I have the cowboy in 357 fun little lever
Got a 336 35rem nice rifle for in the woods

 

[Stump Shot]

Pre 64 Winchester gets my vote. I have a flat band from about 1947. Great guns imo.

Not from about, from 1947, was the only year they had that. I got that straight from a guy that wrote a book on Winchesters.

Hard not to go with an old Winchester, the gold standard of firearms, something truly worth handing down.

To play the devil's advocate though, the Marlin is the rig for today's hunting, fully modernized with optics, safety features and updated ammo to boot, let alone more durable materials. It can shoot farther and faster than the guns of old.

 

[p61 western]

Not from about, from 1947, was the only year they had that. I got that straight from a guy that wrote a book on Winchesters.

Hard not to go with an old Winchester, the gold standard of firearms, something truly worth handing down.

To play the devil's advocate though, the Marlin is the rig for today's hunting, fully modernized with optics, safety features and updated ammo to boot, let alone more durable materials. It can shoot farther and faster than the guns of old.

Lol didn't figure many would catch that Steve.

 

[P.M.P.]

Pre 64 Winchester gets my vote. I have a flat band from about 1947. Great guns imo.

I had a flat band 94 in 25-35 had to sell it years back got good money on GunBroker.
Should have hung onto but selling it got me through some hard times.
I traded a 400 Chevyblock for it. Someone had drilled and tapped had a side mount for a scope on it.

 

[p61 western]

I had a flat band 94 in 25-35 had to sell it years back got good money on GunBroker.
Should have hung onto but selling it got me through some hard times.
I traded a 400 Chevyblock for it. Someone had drilled and tapped had a side mount for a scope on it.

Sucks you had to sell it Gunner.

 

[Deets066]

Sesquicentennial edition, she’s well used.

 

[ramrat]

Shooting the 45-70 is not cheap. I might need to start reloading. I found a winchester 30-30 around 1945 and he wants $450 for it wanting on pics of it.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I'm partial to Marlins also. I don't particularly like the remlin models of today but I have a 336 in 30-30 that's killed many deer and an 1894 44 mag that's a beautiful old gun. No harm in a good Winchester at all. Srb08 hit the nail on the head.

 

[alleyyooper]

While the Marlins and the Winchester 94 hold a lot of romance nostalga there are other lever guns I feel are much better.

The savage 99 a nice lever gun made for years and chambered for some healthy calibers.
A few of the most popular calibers were the .243 Winchester .250-3000 Savage, .30-30 Winchester, .300 Savage, .303 Savage and .308 Winchester.

My father in law had one a 1907 build in 303 Savage the rotery mag rounded the bottom of the reciver so it fit nicly in your hand for carrying. Had a tang mounter Lyman #2 peep sight.

My sister had a 1972 model in 308 Winchester, was drilled and taped at the factory for mounting a scope.

My dad bought a Winchester 88 in 1969 in 284. they were also chambered for the 243, 308 and 358.

I am here to tell you the bolt locks up as well as any bolt action rifle but you do not want to shoot factory 284 ammo with it. It will rattle your teeth and if you have a scope dot your eye.
My dad was a skiny little fellow weighed about 115 pounds at the time. we started hand loading it useing IMR 4350 charge toped with a 120gr HPBT Serria bullet. worked great on deer and recoiled a WHOLE lot less than the factory ammo.

A neighbour at my deer camp has a 308 model and is about like shooting a model 70.

Al

 

[srb08]

Browning makes some nice lever guns as well but $$$.
The high gloss finish on the stock does not fare well in the woods.

 

[Deets066]

Can’t believe nobody mentioned Henry. My son has a golden boy .22. Awesome rifle.

 

[Larry B]

I have an older Browning BLR in .22lr. Beautiful gun but a bit small for me. Last week picked up a Henry X in 44mag. Now i can be tacticool with a lever action.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I currently have 5 .30-30's: two JM Marlins, two post 64 Winchesters, and a Mossberg 464. If buying new, I would go with a Henry. Quality is as good as anything Winchester and Marlin ever made and their customer service is legendary. Henry now offers the traditional side loading gate and a .38-55 clambering as well. The current Miroku Winchester 94's are excellent but very spendy, over a grand for the most basic example.

The Remlin 336C's I have seen look really nice, like they put alot of care into them compared to the cheaper version. The Mossberg 464 is a nice low cost rifle, and takes a scope better than the 94 did with bridges fore and aft over the bolt. Mine seems to be as accurate as any other one Ive tried.