Lever Action Love...

Paul Raley · May 21, 2022

booker said:
Love my Marlin 336XLR in .338 Marlin Express!! Have shot lots of game with that beast. does not latter if its 50 yards or 300 it has never failed me. Those 200 gr pack a punch even on big game in 2019 we took 3 giraffes with it and one was a big bull about twice the size of mine here. She has taken a few elk and lots of hogs. Its going to be hard leaving her at home for this years Africa trip going to take my new Christiansen Travers in 300PRC.

Nice rifle and great trophies !

Woodcarver · May 21, 2022

Hard to beat a lever. First big game animal I shot was an antelope with a Savage 250-3000. First bull elk "fell" (he was in his bed) to a 94 Winchester Trapper in 30-30 at 40 yards (the buttstock of which is my avatar). My Colorado Shiras moose took 3 shots from a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70. Guy camped next to me thought I had only shot twice the shots were that close together. (Might not have "needed" 3, but he was still standing, so...) A couple bear in Alberta found that same 45-70 to be more than capable. The 30-30 and 45-70 lever guns have accounted for quite a few other deer and elk over the years as well.
Not sure off the top of my head how many lever guns are in the safe, I would have to go count. The only other action that is as captivating to me is the double. Bolt guns are good, utilitarian actions. Semis are ok, they have a place and purpose in a collection. Not crazy about pumps, but I have a few. But lever actions are just sleek, balanced, engineering marvels that handle quickly and are so easy to carry; same can be said for the double gun. Like the double rifle or shotgun, lever guns have a great aura of nostalgia in use. Unlike the double, I can afford to have more than a few lever guns.

Ravensview · May 21, 2022

Great thread Tundra, I am a big fan of lever actions, first one was a brand new Ithaca model 39 single shot when I was eight years old,( I still remember my dad asking you sure you want a lever action single shot, my response was if I can’t hit the target with one shot I shouldn’t be shooting at it), I have gone through a few winchesters overs the years, currently use a marlin in .44 mag for bear and deer, and .308 browning BLR (awesome rifle), have several reproductions in .45 colt, 1860 Henry, 1866 yellow boy, 1873, as well as a few others. I bounce back and forth between single shot rifles, levers and pistols for deer season.

Paul Raley · May 21, 2022

Ravensview said:
Great thread Tundra, I am a big fan of lever actions, first one was a brand new Ithaca model 39 single shot when I was eight years old,( I still remember my dad asking you sure you want a lever action single shot, my response was if I can’t hit the target with one shot I shouldn’t be shooting at it), I have gone through a few winchesters overs the years, currently use a marlin in .44 mag for bear and deer, and .308 browning BLR (awesome rifle), have several reproductions in .45 colt, 1860 Henry, 1866 yellow boy, 1873, as well as a few others. I bounce back and forth between single shot rifles, levers and pistols for deer season.

Is the Marlin 44 mag you using a micro groove barrel ? If so what load are you using in it ? .

Ravensview · May 21, 2022

Yes model 1894 with microgroove, got back in the early 80’s, I just run factory Remingtons 240 grain, when I do load for it it’s 240 grain hard cast lead.

Ravensview · May 21, 2022

shotgungibbs · May 21, 2022

Wonderful thread! I too love lever actions. My first gun given to me in 1972 for my 12th birthday, was a Marlin Model 39 Century Limited .22. I took my first rabbit with that rifle. I gifted it to me son years ago. I currently have an original Winchester 1892 in 32-20, a Winchester 94 Trapper in 30-30, a Winchester John Wayne in 32-40, and an original Winchester Model 71 in .348 Winchester. Something about a lever action that just feels right in the hands! Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread!

freefall · May 21, 2022

I loved my BLR 81 in .358 Winchester. Wish I had another one. The.444 Marlins are another pair I should have my butt kicked for selling. Sweetest shooting rifle I've ever owned.

Paul Raley · May 21, 2022

Ravensview said:
View attachment 467346

Exact same rifle as mine but I cant get it to group decently yet , except for Hornady 180 gr factory rounds which for me are a bit too light for hunting .

willbaforce · May 21, 2022

Ugh. I have been drooling over a big bore lever for years.

I have and love a 30/30 and a 22lr. I think they are great guns but I wouldn’t use that 30/30 beyond a 200 yard shot on a critter. Too much bullet drop for me.

Levers are nostalgic and fun but to be honest, I think they really shined in a different time. Fairly accurate, fast follow up, iron sights were the norm. Combine all that with Shorter shots, wooded terrain and a higher likelihood of needing a fast follow up shot with older bullet technologies and they were a great defensive arm and a fantastic hunting gun option. Today, I just think they aren’t as easy to embrace for general hunting. If I lived or hunted a lot in brown bear country, I think a 45/70 would make a lot of sense. I also think they have a place where firearm restrictions limit defensive options. I just can’t bring myself to drop the coin on something I know has a limited utility.

Paul Raley · May 21, 2022

Willbaforce - The whole charm of lever actions for me is they not meant for long distance shots , they great for close targets and quick follow up shots . I agree one should not use them beyond their capability . Handgun cartridges in a lever action in my opinion should be used in excess of about 100 m and the rifle cartridges not in excess of 150 - 200 m - but all of this depends on how accurately a particular rifle is able to shoot at certain distances and the terminal ballistics .
I love the lever actions for hunting in South African bushveld where one can get really close with some good luck , slow stalking and the wind in ones favour .
Lever actions have their place in modern hunting , but like any hunting firearm , within their limitations .

7x57Joe · May 21, 2022

I do like lever guns! Thanks for starting this thread Tundra Tiger.

99 Savage G .300

99 Savage EG .300

Marlin 336A .30-30

BLR .358

BLR L/W T/D .358

BLR L/W 7mm08 (My newest pet) Easiest way to get a lever action 7x57

Paul Raley · May 21, 2022

You got some nice rifles there !

crs · May 21, 2022

Guess I should start a thread on how many of our lever actions have taken DG.
But first I have to sign up with another picture hosting and posting site as the one I was on just went away. If it ain't one thing , its another!
Been too busy with other issues lately to mess with the picture issue, so,,,

7x57Joe · May 21, 2022

Paul Raley said:
You got some nice rifles there !

Thank you Paul!

Monsai52 · May 21, 2022

crs said:
Guess I should start a thread on how many of our lever actions have taken DG.
But first I have to sign up with another picture hosting and posting site as the one I was on just went away. If it ain't one thing , its another!
Been too busy with other issues lately to mess with the picture issue, so,,,

I like Imgur, it's free, easy to use, and it scrubs your images of metadata when you upload to the site. I've been using it for quite a few years with no problems.

Best regards,

MTA · May 21, 2022

7x57Joe said:
I do like lever guns! Thanks for starting this thread Tundra Tiger.

99 Savage G .300
View attachment 467874

99 Savage EG .300
View attachment 467877

Marlin 336A .30-30
View attachment 467882

BLR .358
View attachment 467880

BLR L/W T/D .358
View attachment 467879

BLR L/W 7mm08 (My newest pet) Easiest way to get a lever action 7x57
View attachment 467878

A BLR is on my short list for buying. Great rifles

Tundra Tiger · May 22, 2022

@7x57Joe .... Them's some sexy rifles. Thank you for sharing!

K E Johnson · May 22, 2022

A 336 Marlin in 30-30 was my first rifle in about 1981. My dad had a Winchester 94 that his uncle had bought new in the 50’s. Everyone in the family used it on their first deer.
I saved up enough money for a 94. Dad brought home the 336 because it was $5.00 less expensive. I tried to hide my disappointment at the time.

I have never had a scope on the 336. When I moved on to bolt guns, it was the one deer rifle I would loan out.

It was my first and only lever until this year. I have added 3 more this year.
A good friend of mine, Larry, who was 87 years old, called me last April, two weeks into my retirement. He was renting out the side of the building his machine shop was in. we needed to move out everything the new tenant was not purchasing from him. Unfortunately he got Covid 19 and died in August at 88 years.

The family wanted me to finish moving him out of the building and offered to pay me. I told them I wasn’t looking for work but there were a few items he owned that I was interested in. I put a couple of his guns on the list when the idea of auctioning them was floated.

Larry was a southpaw so Winchester lever actions were a favorite of his.
I asked for his Winchester 71 and a Winchester 92 carbine in 32 WCF.
The 71 is engraved and second year of production. He really wanted the engraving to be factory. I don’t think it is, even though it is very nicely done. His rifle is the standard and not the deluxe. I can’t see Winchester engraving a standard instead of a deluxe. A recoil pad was added sometime in the past.

Larry’s dad had had a 92 in 32 WCF. It stayed in the family, just not with him. He had picked up a rough carbine made in 1899. The half cock will trip with a trigger pull. It fails to feed the last round from magazine.

I liked the 92 enough that I bought another in 32 WCF that is a really good condition 1907. It still shows case colors on the hammer and lever. It has a Lyman peep as well. Haven’t taken pics of it.

Sorry for the long post….