In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Lever Action rifles
karndogs
Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
I'm sure everyone has their favorite brand, but I would just like to get some discussion going as to what the various pros and cons are to each brand. My step dad is a gun dealer and he insists that Marlins are the way to go. As I've never owned or shot a lever action, I'm curious to learn more about them. I've been wanting to purchase one lately and have been taking his (step dad) word on it and the 336 30-30 looks like the one I've set my eyes on right now. I'd also like to know what your favorite calibers are and why.
Thank you for your replies.
Thank you for your replies.
Comments
And yes this post should be over in "Ask the experts" forum.
For pistol cartridges, I have both Marlin and Winchester 92 clones. For mounting scopes, the Marlin is the way to go. For carry and feel, I prefer the 92's.
Savage 99, too bad its out of production. Twenty years ago they were dirt cheap.
quote:I'd also like to know what your favorite calibers are and why.
In a lever gun-
The .30-30 has probably taken more deer and game in the history of the USA than any other cal.
Some may challenge that statement, But I am willing to bet it's in the top 2.
But if your looking for a bit more ompfh it is really hard to beat the Marlin 1895 in 45/70, I like the rifle, but I love the cartridge, there is just so much you can do with a 45/70, from 300 gr LRN's over 16gr of trailboss that my 10 year old daughter can shoot to rip snorting 500 gr solids over ungodly amounts of Varget that approximate 458 win power levels, it is just so much fun to load and shoot for the old 45/70
My favorite elk rifle was a .348 Win Mdl 71. Because of the price of ammo, that's the gun that got me started in reloading. There's a great deal of satisfaction in dropping an elk using a cartridge loaded by and with a bullet cast by ones self. You can still find these occasionally, but they are getting harder to find, and you probably still ought to reload for them.
Maybe 15 years ago, got a really good deal on a '70s era Win 94 30-30, which, because everyone said was a post-64 crappy rifle, I was planning on immediately flipping it. I added a Williams receiver sight to maybe spiff it up enough to speed up the re-sell, but then made the mistake of shooting it. It did then, and still does, put 5 shots into a 4" circle at 100 yards. Hornady Lever Evolution cartridges do the same thing, only 3" higher, and 250 fps faster. For me, it seems easier to carry than the 336, but maybe that's just me.
And to replace the .348, I bought a Marlin 1894 in 45-70, 22" barrel for a couple of years, and replaced it with 18.5 guide gun a few years later. The above posts are right: it's surprisingly a very versatile cartridge.
I've shot, but never owned, a Savage 99. Lovely rifle; I suppose .308 is the smarter choice, but two guys I know in Alaska carry spool magazine rifles in 300 Savage, and swear by them. Both were equipped with peep sights where the rear scope mount would live, and both guys swear the combination is more reliable, dirt-free, etc. than any other rifle.
Well, that cleared that up!!!
If I had my choice of any of the above , I'd have to take the 88 in 284 win ( for the value of it ). If I had to hunt with any of the above , it would be the 336 hands down in 30-30 , but thats just for myself , and my needs of a hunting rifle ( others may/will vary ) .
An older gentlemen at our locale gun club has a 99 in 284 win , that I load ammo for , he told me when he gives it up ( hunting that is ) the rifle will be mine for the right price , I'v been trying to buy it from him for more then a few years now .
Bottom line , if its a lever gun your wantin ,you can't go wrong with any of em !!!!
(2)35rems and 444 for Marlins
and although I like my little
Winny 94 . Marlin all the way.
In any case, they're the most accurate rifles I've ever owned.
Emmett
loading a 405 grain cast gas check ... fast fast fast. should be a good hog gun
Love my 99's too
The marlins are a workhorse though
I also have a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem with a Weaver 4x that shoots 1" groups with Rem 200 gr ammo. My 1895G (ported) in .45-70 with a Lyman peep is also accurate with cast 405gr loads, and a real thumper with heavier jacketed loads.
The Marlin seems a bit more accurate and is much easier to mount a scope, but the Win just melts my heart. too bad all the WIns nowadays are going to be from the used side.
The Win 88 was good for accuracy and also had an interesting bolt configuration. It rotates and locks like bolt gun. You could get those in .243, .308, and .284 and I've heard {qualifier}* .250 Savage. *I know you could get them custom in that caliber, but I don't know if you could get them regular factory.
All the rest of the lever actions are BP cases, most of which have been converted to smokeless powder. The smokeless loads are reduced as the original rifles aren't built to take the high pressures of smokeless.
Edit:
Thanks WinMike, I forgot about the .358 Win a great round itself if one prefers the heavier bullets.
I also left out the Browning BLR. It's the only lever gun of today that can handle 30-06 sized and magnum cases.
Not bad for 106 year old ctg
But....I'm not in the market.....[|)]
It'a a matter of opinion. Some like Winchester and others like Marlins. Personally I like my marlins. The guts don't come out when racking them. I have them in 30-30, 357mag, 44mag, 22lr. Have had 45-70, 32-20. Like them all.
And yes this post should be over in "Ask the experts" forum.
I'm envious. I've heard it said that Marlins are to Winchesters what Ruger revolvers are to Smith & Wessons. One definite advantage is the closed top, side eject.
The only problem with putting this in "Experts" versus "General Discussion is that they lock it after 10 posts in "Experts"
In any case, I own said Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70, as well as above-referenced supposed-POS '70s '94 Win. I've also shot, tinkered with, and carried (but never owned) a Marlin 336.
The advantage to the Marlin, is that it's well made and sturdy. I prefer the ease of disassembly, particularly in regards to removing the lever and bolt which ease cleaning of the bore from the chamber. The Marlin is a design that's easily passed the test of time.
Yet....I really like carrying and shooting my Win. 94. It's accurate, light, easier (for me) to carry, and comes up to my short armed, chunky body very easily. I'm not an every-year-4-deer kind of guy, but some years ago, I did a snap-shot on a buck that I doubt I could have ever done with any of my other rifles. One shot, about 6 or 7 steps, then one really dead deer.
It's that kind of memory that says, "well, hey, those supposed experts that say Mdl 94 produced after '64 aren't worth it, are....wrong!"