I'm a big lever fan and owned a few.
I came onto this older thread in a bout of procrastination at the office.
Here's my limited experience and personal preference.
I have both a Marlin Texan 336 and Winchester 94 in 30 30 and wont be selling either.
My first marlin was a 336 from the 80's. Never really enjoyed the look and feel of it, the thick stock turned me off and it felt cumbersome. - I sold it.
The lever addiction had set in. I turned next to Browning BLR 81 in 308. shot well, had issues with rattle in the mag like Carlsen Highway, trigger was average, same pressure issues
on hot factory loads from Norma, sticking and wasn't confident to pull it apart and clean the thing which really turned me off. I also suspected the narrow straight stock may come a cropper
if I fell so I moved it on. I shot quite few deer with it, running shots were awesome, swung like a shot gun but wasn't that taken with it too keep it.
Next, I came across a reasonably rare Marlin 336 Texan in 30 30. Great little rifle, accurate, run a holosun or an old 3 Leupy M8 3x on it. I much preferred the straight stock, the action is slick and tight, the trigger is exceptionally good for a lever and its accurate May have had a trigger job, I dont know. I've hunted it and like it's portability and it looks classic.
Next, I had to have a Winchester 94. I mean any collector of levers has to have one right? I picked up a well used early 70's model
which I know is not the holy grail like the pre 64 but I love this rifles whole mystique, it does feel like I'm holding a piece of history and
it a dream to carry in the bush and fast to point and work, the action on my one is not quite as slick as the Texan nor is the trigger as good but it more than makes up for it
in other ways. I run Lyman aperture sights on it and it's bang on.
Horses for courses, not either or just have both. Next I will go after a 22 lever I suspect.
If browning could sort out the trigger issue', I'd look at a silver wolf laminate take down in 308, 7mm08 or 358.
Hot barrels Lever addicts!
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