first lever action

moses25

i want to add a lever action rifle to my collection...i dont know alot about these rifles and i would like any opinions on what would be a good first lever action to buy. i'm looking for accuracy, reliability, but something that wont hurt my wallet too much to target shoot....any opinions would help....thanks

ICE NINE

Well, what caliber do you want/like? Levers aren't known for accuracy. If it is the first for a collection, I'd have to go with a Winchester 94 or a Marlin 336 in 30/30. Both are classics in the lever action category, available in a wide range of production dates and conditions. Price varies accordingly.[This message has been edited by ICE NINE (edited 10-27-2001).]

1022man

It's not a classic, and realy dosn't look much like a lever gun. But I like my ruger 96/22. It's shoots just as well as my factory 10/22. Takes the same clips.

218Beekeep

For me it would have to be,an older ,Pre WW-2 99 Savage in 250-3000 Savage,or 300 Savage,...or an older 336 Marlin in 35 Rem.,with a 3/4 length magazine.I have 8 Savage leverguns(and have had others),and 5 Marlins,they are all accurate.I prefer them all over the 94 Win. in every way,except the 94 is nice and narrow,and light,and feel great carrying in the woods.Feels real nice....now I`ve just talked myself into buyin` a few,to replace the ones I sold.Of course Walnut stocks are a must!!!.218 [This message has been edited by 218Beekeep (edited 10-28-2001).]

gunnut

I agree with the beekeeper on this one, the model 99's are sweeeet, I wish I had a couple Hey beekeeper what ya think about the winchester modell 88's ?

roundball

Marlins are legendary for their accuracy & reliability...the one built before the late 80's do not have the "cross-bolt safety" which in my opinion is not necessary and takes away from the clean looks of the receiver; Also, rifles prior to the 90's typically had high quality black walnut for stock wood; I use several Marlins in various barrel length / magazine configurations...30-30's & .35Rem's...all 50's, 60's, 70's vintage... taken a lot of Deer with them;

Xracer

For the sweetest shooting lever action of them all, get a Marlin 39A in .22 RF.

218Beekeep

gunnut,I forgot about the 88,it was obviously made to compete with the 99,just look at it,and its model number.From what I understand,it is every bit as accurate,but in the looks department,it is not even close.Seems every time I try to buy one,the deal falls through.I really would like to have at least one in each caliber..218

andersk

I'm a big fan of the Winchester Model 94. I own several and have never had a complaint about any one of them. They handle well and shoot just fine for me. (Though I should add I've been hunting in the woods, so super long shots are not a factor for me.)Being a lefty also makes lever actions very interesting.Bonne Chasse!

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Ken

roundball

PS: The Marlins seem a little beefier than the Winchesters...if you're a big man, you might find that is also an appealing feature of the Marlins...

Dana Dean

If you ain`t got a Mod-94 Win,you ain`t got a good lever.Really,for me nothing says it like Winchester.I`ve had Browning BLR`s,Marlin 336,1895`s,and the Rossi 92 clones.They were all good guns.All the 94 win rifles(30-30) I`ve had will group 1.5 in at 100yds with my handloand of 170 Rem sp (Midway)33g. RL 15 powder Win LR pri.If you don`t like the old 30-30 then the new Win-94 timber carbine is a beautiful gun in the great 444Marlin Cal.Load it with 250 nos HG partion slug.The win-94`s are about 10-12 oz. lighter than the Marlins.Hate those safties,but must live with them.Have any of you heard about the big Daisy recall because some idiot didn`t teach his kid not to point any gun at a person even if its empty?7,500,000 guns to start with.