Thread: Lever guns - What do ya reckon?

i shoot a couple of Sav 99's and for a while had a Ruger 96/22m (22mag, and a Marlin 57M (22mag)

The Marlin 57 was heavy and stable. The Ruger 96 was light and fast, great on goats at short range in the scrub but required more attention to form on Paper..

On another occasion got into a mob of goats at 10-20 mtr,, I had the Sav 99 in 243 while my 2 mates had bolt 223 & 7M08. I got 5 shots way each landing a goat while they only go 3 shoots off each. (The low power course scope helped)
Any of the 308 family (243-358) will be fine to 300 mtr and the 30/30 family (35 rem, 360buckhammer, 375win) to 200 mtr.

So look for Sav 99, BLR, or step down a little to marlin 336, Win 94 (1894) plus equivalents.
Z

Nice pic @JohnDuxbury

I'm left handed and sometimes use a Marlin 1894CS in .357 Magnum with a 1-4 x 20 scope for close range hunting.

I love the rifle, great for quick offhand shooting at targets inside 100 yd. Have taken small game , lots of goats and a few pigs

The low comb is not the best for cheek weld when using a scope, and like most lever guns have a fairly heavy trigger and a cross-bolt safety catch that is backwards for a left handed shooter. The narrow fore end is not ideal for shooting over a rest.

If I were after a bush gun for 100 yd shooting a Marlin stainless .30/30 with 2-7x scope would be a good choice.

For all round 200 yd shooter I use a LH bolt action .308 with 3-9x scope.

Mate had a BLR 358 lever gun, nice gun....sadly his son swiped it and it was used in an armed holdup by Mongrel Mob so either destroyed or some lucky policeman has it now...I have a Big Bore 94 in .375 and at 200 metres one would be aiming over the horizon to get the bullet to land anywhere near the target, I always thought it as a 150 metre gun and the 30-30 as a 100 metre gun....if anyone has a BLR 358 there is a box of reloads here they can have....mate left them behind after a hunting trip.

Have a rossi 357 carbine.
Great little gun and balances perfectly if carrying with one hand with the rounded bottom of the reciever.
I have mounted an OEG sight on it as it should be a good fit for it function wise but it just doesn't look quite right.
I reckon I should rip it off and go back to the irons.
As Mr Duxbury has commented on the lever action post with the short barrel I had to remove the rear sight ladder to get it to print on target.
If it was a 44 it probably would be perfect.
Put a spring/shim kit in it and it's made a huge difference.
Doesn't throw the cases into domestic flight paths and improved the trigger weight wise

Originally Posted by Floundering Around

I found myself slightly hampered by the fact that I was fielding a rifle clearly meant for hunting at a bit more range up close, and naturally my wallet cried because I was using the most expensive caliber that I reload with.

Load your big hitter down and learn to shoot it faster is the cheaper option and probably the best . . or talk yourself into buying a leveraction and enjoy.
i have 3 levers and say get one and teach yourself how to shoot them well . . consider casting bullets . . you will not save money tho but you will have a great time.
Good Luck.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

BLR in .308/243 etc has to be about the quickest and most accurate.....a scoped 30/30 or 44 magnum or 357mag in that order after that....although I BELIEVE Henry have put out a lever action .223...IF you could find one that would just about be the ducks nuts.in saying that I would back myself with bolt action .223 to drop 6 from 6 at that range,and reload and get more before out of range if not out of sight.

Agree on the BLR..had one in .243, it was the slickest little rifle for a southpaw! Should never have sold it!!

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

i shoot a couple of Sav 99's and for a while had a Ruger 96/22m (22mag, and a Marlin 57M (22mag)

The Marlin 57 was heavy and stable. The Ruger 96 was light and fast, great on goats at short range in the scrub but required more attention to form on Paper..

On another occasion got into a mob of goats at 10-20 mtr,, I had the Sav 99 in 243 while my 2 mates had bolt 223 & 7M08. I got 5 shots way each landing a goat while they only go 3 shoots off each. (The low power course scope helped)
Any of the 308 family (243-358) will be fine to 300 mtr and the 30/30 family (35 rem, 360buckhammer, 375win) to 200 mtr.

So look for Sav 99, BLR, or step down a little to marlin 336, Win 94 (1894) plus equivalents.
Z

Or a Finnwolf - if you can find one!

I have a Marlin 30A in 30/30 calibre, with a Tasco 4x scope, in very good condition that I could be persuaded to part with... pick up in West Auckland.
Text me on 0274791855.

I recently got a little citadel .44 mag. Since I got it I haven't taken any of my other rifles out.
Can have it slung over my shoulder all day if I'm working, hangs low so doesn't get caught on anything. Light as and hits harder than I thought it would.
Do 100 yards no sweat with the red dot. Under $2 per round and can fire it pretty quickly.

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

Mate had a BLR 358 lever gun, nice gun....sadly his son swiped it and it was used in an armed holdup by Mongrel Mob so either destroyed or some lucky policeman has it now...I have a Big Bore 94 in .375 and at 200 metres one would be aiming over the horizon to get the bullet to land anywhere near the target, I always thought it as a 150 metre gun and the 30-30 as a 100 metre gun....if anyone has a BLR 358 there is a box of reloads here they can have....mate left them behind after a hunting trip.

I cant like that....but appreciate your telling it...some plurry kids just dont learn no matter how much parents have tried

I love my 358win in Sav 99 but with full power loads it would not be my first choice as a short range quick fire rifle, just too much recoil.
For that the 243 is much nicer to use. Or look at the 30/30, 35rem, 375win (all based on the old 38-55 case)
Or as I reload I carry it with a mag full of pistol bullets over trail boss and just drop in a full power cartridge for longer shots as I generally have enough time to settle into a rest etc.
Those loads at 357mag power levels are real Good fun and fast shooting without cooking my barrel. 5 Rapid full power shots really get the barrel hot.
Z

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the late reply, been out hunting without cell service surprise surprise! I appreciate the advice, especially regarding calibre and projectile selection. I reload and haven't had a crack at straight walls yet, so would be good to tick that one off. Fundamentally, I appreciate the BLR for its modernity and scope comparability, but I really think I want the classic lever gun feel, even if that means forgoing a scope. Besides it will be good for me to practice my iron sight shooting with something other than my milsurp rifles for once!

Appreciate everyone's advice/experience.

Fair enough, then find a Rossi 44 magum. Old school style, straight wall case. Happy to use and abuse because its not an old collectable classic. I personally would go for a 20 inch barrel version.

I bought a Marlin 336 30/30 last year, absolutely love it, it’s the complete opposite aesthetically to my plasticy Tikka which I value for its practicality but have no pride in ownership.
What surprised me is just how well it’s suits the vast majority of my hunting, I scurry around the bush where you’d be lucky to see more than 50-70 meters ahead, I’d assumed I’d have to limit shots to 100m for deer given the ballistics (it doesn’t like the soft plastic pointed bullets) so I’m interested to hear talk of 200m or is that just for goats rather than deer?
I really like how balanced it feels in the hand and for me at least how easy I find to have it in a state of even safer “semi ready” when expecting a shot than a bolt action ( hammer on half cock, lever not fully returned so bolt not in battery as well as having safety on, all very easy to correct as I bring the gun up)
Impressed by its accuracy as well, had hoped for 2” at 100m at best but just a smidge over an inch if the gods are smiling, ammo is half the price of the 6.5CM so happy days!
It’s also a nod to nostalgia as my first centrefire was exactly the same rifle over 33yrs ago��
Even managed my first deer in ages with it last year, dropped like a sack of spuds.
Anyway that’s my pointless reply but I like it so much I had to write a little rave!

FP

+1 FP above...

If you are after a classic lever action experience and your range is to 200m then I would go for either the Winchester model 94 or the Marlin 336 - both in 30-30. These are the number one and two biggest selling sporter centrefire rifles respectively in history and there is good reason for that. Yes they have the old world lever charm, but they are also very quick and very effective for their 0-200m purpose. That's my experience. My 94 was ideal in northern bush conditions - open sights or scoped.

The Winchester 94 was designed by John Browning (the man's a genius), is very slim in the hand, a delight to carry and bring to shoulder for quick bush shots. I can confirm that. The Marlin 336 came out about 1948 but was based on the earlier Marlin 1895. Both rifles are collectors' items now and increasing in value. If you don't mind spending collector level coin then buy whichever you prefer of the 94 or 336. They really can have a charm, an appeal that puts a smile on your dial. If you want to buy a lever fairly similar but not a collector's piece, then as suggested above a Rossi might do it. Note - Brazilian made rifles like Rossi, Magtech, other CBC product etc are somewhat variable in production quality - you gets what you pays for.

30-30 in a modern load eg Leverevolution will still be pushing 1300ft/lbs at 200m (barrel length unknown) - and that's well over the 1000lb guideline for a solid bigger game cartridge.

The other old classic is of course the Savage 99. I'm a Winny 94 or Marlin 336 fan - slightly prefer the 94 but very happy to have either in the closet. But ..alot to like with the 99 - although less around now.