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I have lever fever; I can't stop buying lever actions

6K views 94 replies 52 participants last post by  mac66 
#1 ·
I started out loving Glocks, and other pistols and currently my wheelhouse is handgun caliber lever guns. I started with a couple of Winchester 92's in .44 mag, then a couple of Marlins in .357 mag. Now the latest, a Marlin in .45 Colt.

I don't remember the last time i had so much fun just cycling the action of a gun.

I recognize the downsides (not as accurate as a bolt or semi auto, nor as reliable, not as far reaching) but the fun factor is incredible.
 
#33 ·
:supergrin:

Not mine; I found it on the Internet. But. . . :whistling:

wp
 
#34 ·
Lever guns are fun, I'd love to have a 45-70!

.45-70!!!!!!

I have been 'bitten' by that animal!!!!!

I've now got 3 .45-70s.
An 1895G and 2 1895CB. One with 26" barrel and one with 20" barrel.

A Winchester 9422 XTR followed me home, a while back, that was used, but appears to have never been fired.

Rounding out the leverguns are two .44 magnums.
A Winchester 94 Trapper and a Marlin 1894CB.

All of the Marlins are JM, except the 1895CBA with 20" octagonal barrel.


FWIW, one of the guys on a local forum is selling his 1895G and 1895CB.
Both JM rifles. The G was built/born in 2000 and the CB was built/born in 2001.
Not really expensive, but, VERY reasonable for JM rifles.
 
#42 ·
I've never taken a deer with a rifle cartridge; .44 Mag in a carbine or a revolver, and one doe with a .45 Colt levergun.
Don't miss a chance to use iron sights; I drilled the .45 Winchester for a tang sight, and it is a ball to shoot. Pistol calibers are the deal; hoping to find a Rossi 92 at some point.
Moon
 
#43 ·
Used to be, not that long ago, there were always half a dozen used levers at LGS for 300-500 bucks, and the occasional pre-64 94 at 500-650. One day since I like levers I snagged a pre-crossbolt Marlin Texan for about $350.

Dang I love that rifle and 30-30 is so fun to load for and shoot. I since picked up a pre-Remington new Marlin 336 pistol grip, and now have the 1972 Winchester 94 my dad got new.

Hardly ever see pre-safety levers in the store now. Whenever I see a Marlin like that I'm grabbing it unless the price is absurd.



 
#46 ·
I don't know what it is, about Henry, I just can't bring myself to buy one.

The .22lr that I handled and shot, just felt like the action was made of pot metal.

Oh, it was fairly accurate. It was just 'cheap feeling' in my hands.
Whenever the action was worked, the finish was rubbing off of it.

?????
 
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#49 ·
Go with the .357 !!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
At $50 a box for 45-70 at my LGS, I will have to agree. You know what is really scary? .35 Remington ammunition at $75 a box!
 
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#47 ·
Was looking for a lever-action .357 or 45c recently.
My local gun dealer, a guy I trust, says he's getting negative reports on new Marlin lever-actions he's sold lately.
Were they recently bought out by another company?
He suggested I stick to Henry; more expensive but better quality.
I can't confirm from personal experience but am curious.
Any comments?
tbc
 
#50 ·
Was looking for a lever-action .357 or 45c recently.
My local gun dealer, a guy I trust, says he's getting negative reports on new Marlin lever-actions he's sold lately.
Were they recently bought out by another company?
He suggested I stick to Henry; more expensive but better quality.
I can't confirm from personal experience but am curious.
Any comments?
tbc
Marlin was bought out by Remington. The quality of Marlin rifles has plummeted. I was there yesterday, looking at a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun(it is one of my Grail Guns!) and the clerk showed me all the issues in fit and finish, which were horrible. He told me that they have a better than 60% return rate on new Marlins to go back to the factory for repairs. The owner would stop carrying Marlins, but then he would have to drop Remington, too, and he sells a lot of 870's, which have very few problems.
 
#53 ·
No safety and gold trigger ?
 
#54 ·
That's a shame.

I had firearms before I married the second time around.

She made a comment about my firearms, and that she didn't think I should buy any more.

She also said that they all look alike, and that I could bring in a new one every week, and she wouldn't know the difference.

I told her that I had firearms before we got married, and I'll have firearms after we are married, or, she can start looking for someone else to marry.

Since she can't tell the difference, we have no issues.

We are approaching our 30th anniversary....... I think.
 
#55 ·
.45-70!!!!!!

I have been 'bitten' by that animal!!!!!

I've now got 3 .45-70s.
An 1895G and 2 1895CB. One with 26" barrel and one with 20" barrel.

A Winchester 9422 XTR followed me home, a while back, that was used, but appears to have never been fired.

Rounding out the leverguns are two .44 magnums.
A Winchester 94 Trapper and a Marlin 1894CB.

All of the Marlins are JM, except the 1895CBA with 20" octagonal barrel.


FWIW, one of the guys on a local forum is selling his 1895G and 1895CB.
Both JM rifles. The G was built/born in 2000 and the CB was built/born in 2001.
Not really expensive, but, VERY reasonable for JM rifles.
hey bud, what's the kick like on the 45-70 ?
 
#61 · (Edited)
It's really not bad.
Winchester and Federal 300 grain JHP are "pooty-tats".
Remington 405 gr JSP are downright mild.

I've never compared them to any other caliber, but, IF I had to compare the above, I'd say equal recoil to a .308.

Now, I've done a LOT of reading on handloads, and from what "I" have found out, Reloader 7 gives the best velocity with lower pressures than other comparable powders.

IMR 3031 is supposed to be good, and I bought some to try.

However, loading a Cast Performance 405 gr LWNGC boolit, with 40.0 grains of RL-7, I get FANTASTIC groups at 100 yards, and about 1660 fps, with very tolerable recoil.

Now, step up to 42.5 grains, and after FIVE rounds of that load, "I" have had enough for one session.

44.0 grains is brutal on this old, gray-haired guy. (Max load, btw!!)

I know guys that shoot small loads of Trailboss and a 405 grain lead bullet, and are getting cloverleafs at 100 yards.

I know others that are loading Alliant 2400 (bunny-fart loads) and filling the case with "Cream of Wheat" and SMACKING a 24" (4" thick) steel gong at 200 yards. A distinct "THUH-WAP" from the lead flatpoint hitting that gong brings a smile to your face.


Honestly, I think that IF I had to choose just one caliber/cartridge for a rifle, I would walk toward the .45-70.

I like it THAT much!


ETA: Full disclosure - I did put a Limbsaver pad on my 1895G. The factory pad was as soft as a brick, and since I broke my neck (2001) I didn't want to really jar myself with some warm(er) loads.
 
#56 ·
Here is my favorite lever action. I don't think anyone else has one. Very accurate .22 mag, 9 shot rotary mags, dual extractors :)

I didn't think Savage made a .22 Mag Lever. Very Nice.
 
#59 · (Edited)
I have a 1972 Belgium made BLR in .308 that I purchased new back in high school. It's been a great hunting companion over the years and has served me well here in the hills of WV. I'm very glad I bought an extra magazine back then. Those things are like gold these days and routinely go for $250.00+ in used condition and are hard to come by. For over 40 years it had a Redfield 4x widefield scope. I replaced it a few years back with a Nikon 3x-9x because the Redfield has lost a good bit of its clarity. If memory serves, I paid $175.00 for the rifle. Money well spent.
 
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#66 ·
I have a 1972 Belgium made BAR in .308 that I purchased new back in high school. It's been a great hunting companion over the years and has served me well here in the hills of WV. I'm very glad I bought an extra magazine back then. Those things are like gold these days and routinely go for $250.00+ in used condition and are hard to come by. For over 30 years it had a Redfield 4x widefield scope. I replaced it a few years back with a Nikon 3x-9x because the Redfield has lost a good bit of its clarity. If memory serves, I paid $175.00 for the rifle. Money well spent.
After looking through a 32x Wild or Leica for a few decades, I get a bit picky about my optics.

Most of my scopes are Nikon, truth be told, consider them the best bang for the buck in both rifle scopes and total stations.
 
#60 ·
I started out loving Glocks, and other pistols and currently my wheelhouse is handgun caliber lever guns. I started with a couple of Winchester 92's in .44 mag, then a couple of Marlins in .357 mag. Now the latest, a Marlin in .45 Colt.

I don't remember the last time i had so much fun just cycling the action of a gun.

I recognize the downsides (not as accurate as a bolt or semi auto, nor as reliable, not as far reaching) but the fun factor is incredible.

don't know where you get not reliable, a pump action is reliable as is a lever action, as far as accuracy goes I have a marlin .30 30 pre 1967 with a 3 x 9 scope , & she is as accurate as one would want 150 - 200 yrds. as with any rifle the caliber , bullet, and barrel length all play a part in accuracy.
 
#62 ·
No safety and gold trigger ?
Absolutely. It's a 336 R.C. In 35 Rem.
Possibly my favorite gun, for the sentimental value.

I looked up the serial number before, forget the exact year, maybe 64'. Dad was stationed at Plattsburgh airbase, and met a guy there that hunted black bear.

So Dad bought the rifle to go bear hunting with his buddy. From what I've been told no bear were harmed on any of their outings...
 
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#64 ·
My best lever is a 1980's 20in marlin in 357mag.

With Leverevalution 140grn ammo it get 1.5in groups at 100y.

Really easy to carry and shoot.

Plenty enough for deer and pigs at 150yrs and less.
 
#69 ·
I started out loving Glocks, and other pistols and currently my wheelhouse is handgun caliber lever guns. I started with a couple of Winchester 92's in .44 mag, then a couple of Marlins in .357 mag. Now the latest, a Marlin in .45 Colt.

I don't remember the last time i had so much fun just cycling the action of a gun.

I recognize the downsides (not as accurate as a bolt or semi auto, nor as reliable, not as far reaching) but the fun factor is incredible.
You need mo' cowbell.
 
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