Thread: Lever guns - What do ya reckon?

The point with lever actions, and particularly the Winchester 94'in .30/30, Winchester / Rossi 92 and the Marlin, is not that you can shoot fast with them, although they are faster than a bolt action, but the point is that they are perfectly fitted for off hand shooting, and specifically for off hand shooting with open sights. There is no hunting rifle more purely natural to handle and shoot than a open sighted Winchester lever action for standing up and shooting at deer.
Only the Marling can be suitably scoped without ruining the rifle. None of teh rifles I mention are chambered in cartridges that are much used over 200 metres. But I hunted for years with a Winchester 94 carbine in .30/30.

Using a lever action is more comfortable and instinctive to work than any bolt action. If you really want one, and in a modern cartridge, then you need a BLR in .308.


image upload

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

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!

Thanks Z that's really good advice and experience. Leaning towards a levtac as a saving goal for the optic mount option capabilities etc. I'm also left handed so the top eject is nice

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.

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

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.

More guns more fun right? I have a few smaller calibres, but I just think a wee lever gun would fit nicely into my travel case with my mountain gun when I fly around the country for trips with my mates, who are reasonably dispersed across NZ now.

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.

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.