Thread: Lever guns - What do ya reckon?

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

Originally Posted by flyingpillock

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

if your shooting between 1-2" at a hundred thats still only 2-4" at 200...you simply need to know your drop at that range.....and thats not hard to find out with a bit of carboard box.....PROBABLY will be a matter of aiming for top of shoulder and projectile will end up lower in the chest.... if yo uhave confidence that you KNOW where its going..no worries at all.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

if your shooting between 1-2" at a hundred thats still only 2-4" at 200...you simply need to know your drop at that range.....and thats not hard to find out with a bit of carboard box.....PROBABLY will be a matter of aiming for top of shoulder and projectile will end up lower in the chest.... if yo uhave confidence that you KNOW where its going..no worries at all.

Thanks MD, poor choice of words on my part with ballistics, what I really meant was knock down power, looking at the charts etc it looked like 150m max from memory but given the max line of sight where I hunt is so short I was just happy to consider 100m as the max range as I’d sighted it in to be bang at that range. When I first got it I’d hoped the Leverevolution ammo would stretch this but as I said it throws the 160gn around the target with gay abandon and I’ve been warned off the 140s as “barrel burners” (his words not mine) what are other folks experiences with them?
I’m happy to play conservative with it and crack out the Tikka if going somewhere where longer shots are on the cards

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.

Greetings,
Had a Winchester 88 in .308 years ago. It shot very well but the trigger was not flash. It booted more than my M700 in spite of lighter loads and a heavier rifle due to a stock with a lot of drop. For quick shooting a lighter rifle with a lower recoil cartridge like the .30-30 would be my pick although as an old codger I would want the option of a low power scope. I lent my 88 to a young friend at one stage and he managed to collect his first two deer with one 4 shot mag so it can't have been that bad.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings,
Had a Winchester 88 in .308 years ago. It shot very well but the trigger was not flash. It booted more than my M700 in spite of lighter loads and a heavier rifle due to a stock with a lot of drop. For quick shooting a lighter rifle with a lower recoil cartridge like the .30-30 would be my pick although as an old codger I would want the option of a low power scope. I lent my 88 to a young friend at one stage and he managed to collect his first two deer with one 4 shot mag so it can't have been that bad.
Regards Grandpamac.

The 88 has an advantage over its look-alike Finnwolf in that the 88 trigger moves with the lever as you work the action thereby not leaving you likely to get a ‘94 trigger finger’. (Ask anybody that has worked a ‘94 lever in a hurry!)
But the Finnwolf has a shorter lever throw!

Had a Finnwolf 308, sold in moment of madness. Still got my 88 308, won’t ever sell it. Both excellent rifles. BLR is pretty good too, still considering getting one in 223 to scratch an itch.

If you don't have a lever gun, you need to buy one. End of discussion.


(Calibre is up to you, but I live at the high end of the spectrum, 44 mag, 45-70)

barrel burner in a 30/30!!!!!!! tell him to get his hand off it....... see if you can beg or borrow a few to try.... for sure at 200 yards its not going to have a huge amount of punch...but if you keep your aim forwards eg line of leg or more...the yshould still drop. if ammunition is accurate enough to do it..and you are accurate enough to place bullet where it will do most good... go for it....your 30/30 at 200 yards is still going to be as ethical if not more so,than a 6.5cream puff at 500......

Yes 160gr Leverevolution 30-30 known to spread some on the range.

A thought Floundering - so far as I know the Citadel Levtac (you mentioned it above) is made for US company Legacy Arms. US Howa agents also. The range of Citadel arms (handguns, shotties, levers) seem to come from Philippines, Brazil, Turkey. If you go this Levtac route be somewhat careful as the levers are Brazilian and production quality can be quite variable - some scruffy, sharp edged, poorly finished stuff - but also some quite acceptable product. Have a good hard look at the product, and make sure there's a return warranty.

Thanks for the advice mudgrips. I will make sure I have a good look. Will buy local as well so I can always drop it back in. Warranty is a good point as well.

Running a Citadel levtac in .357. Hilariously good fun with a can and .38 supers. Terminal performance is moderate at best so bullet construction is pretty important. Short and handy, easy and fast to run. Having a real good time with it. Do I need it? Nah....would I sell it....nah

After looking around a bit now I am leaning towards the levtac in 44mag. Looks like a great gun and I imagine the rail setup will allow for even more enjoyment right?

Originally Posted by Floundering Around

After looking around a bit now I am leaning towards the levtac in 44mag. Looks like a great gun and I imagine the rail setup will allow for even more enjoyment right?

Yeah I have a red dot on mine. Very accurate, sub 2" at 50 yards with a red dot so be really good with a scope.
Just make sure the screws holding the rail on are long enough, quite a few were way too short which creates issues. Mine is back at the shop getting longer screws now.

For this type of shooting I'm running 357 cal 158 gr Hornady XTP hollow points at 16-1700 fps
and 220 gr lead bullets at 1050 fps, Just great on goats etc, Nailed a Sika Hind with the 220 gr at 45 mtr. (Not ideal but it only travelled 20 mtr)
Good for kids and beginners as well. Son's Girlfriend put a few rounds down range with it last weekend, Her first time shooting.

Much more fun to shoot than the 225 gr at 2450 fps.
Z