Lever Action Love...

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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.

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@booker
For some strange and unknown reason the 338 marlin express never took off in Australia. Neither did the 307 or 356 or the 375 big bore. The 444 marlin has a loyal following and second hand 444s last less than 24 has on gunsites are are over the moon in price.
The 444 Marlin is an awesome cartridge when loaded to its potential with appropriate bullets like the 280gn Woodleigh or A-FRAME and the 300gn Barnes buster. The 280gn Woodleigh at over 2,300fps puts a lot of hurt on game. I would have liked to try some cast 400 grainers at 1,700fps
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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.

@Woodcarver
You may not be able to afford a few levers in Australia mate. There was an basic earlier model,1970s I think that was asking $2,000. It was listed as good condition, sold for full price in less than a day.
Stupidity. I bought my first 94 in 1979 for 81 dollars. Hated that bitch of a thing after it bit my trigger finger. My fault not the guns. Those 125 gn hollow points handloaded work well on pigs a a few trailer loads will testify.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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.

@freefall
You is a very silly Vegemite you had 2 beautiful rifles in 2 brilliant calibers and you let them go. That about as sensible as passing up a 60" kudu.
You must have had a good reason for the sale
Bob

 

[freefall]

The BLR did not reliably extract. 8ios.
The .444s, I let somebody talk me out of them.
I suck.

 

[ldmay375]

Maybe there’s already a thread to this effect somewhere on the site, but I’m going to post this one now. I had thought to do so because of @Tom Leoni 's thread about the use of single shots.

My heart belongs to lever actions, and that likely got its start with my first ever gun – an Ithaca Model 49 that was given to me well before the age of ten. I loved that rifle. I still do – I still have it. I still occasionally hunt small game here in Alaska with it. So my infatuation with lever action rifles started early, and now, at age 55, far and away most of my rifles are lever actions.

When I went to Africa for the first time last May, I took two: my Marlin XLR in .338 Marlin for plains game, and my 1895 GBL (.45-70) for buffalo (I also killed a zebra with it). Both worked magnificently, as I knew they would: I have great confidence in them.

So I guess with this thread I’d love to see/hear/learn two things. First, for those with a similar affection for lever actions, I’d love to see photos of your successes. I am aware of a handful of names that have never been bashful about sharing of their affinity for lever action rifles. I’m hopeful they’ll chime in, but I also hope maybe this’ll pull a few more hunters out of the woodwork so to speak.

Also, for outfitters in Africa: how often do you get clients who bring lever actions? I ask this because my outfitter had said they get very, very few. In post hunt discussions on the drive to the airport – going over all aspects of the hunt – lever actions came up after the fact and he admitted that in checking guns to make sure they were empty before putting them back on hunting rig… they certainly felt less familiar than bolt actions. It made me wonder how many guys bring lever actions with them to Africa; I’d love to hear from those of you who guide about this. Thanks in advance.

Photos provided show my go-to MXLR. Top photo: 2020 caribou hunt in March. I am MUCH more proud of what's behind me. By the snowmachine in the distance is my daughter's first caribou, which she dropped with a single shot at 170 yards. Mine was shot a brief moment later and took a couple shots - it was moving pretty good on the first and required an anchoring shot. Distance was about 200 yards. Bottom photo: my second impala from last May. It was high up on a hill with a bunch of ewes. One shot at 209 yards brought it down almost immediately.

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I like the lever guns. Though, I have not really hunted with one since I was teenager. I have had the Marlin 45-70's around for probably 30 years. Had the barrel on a blued one cut to 20" and some other work done on it. I carried it a lot when hiking. When the stainless XLR 45-70 was introduced, I bought one, gave it the same treatment and a bead blast. My son has one of the non-ported Guide Gun 45-70 and loves it.
I am looking forward to shooting my stainless 45-70 again. I have recently mounted a scope on it. It is still a handy little rifle. I believe it is a potent combination at my limited visibility ranges with the right bullets.

A few years ago, I got re-interested in levers. and went on a lengthy pistol cartridge binge. This are absolutely fun to shoot !
.

 

[Soutie18]

American style gun Hunt in Africa
Great Adventure with a great Friend .This old black impala Ewe was taken with a head shot at 50ms with my 357 Rossi lever Action Kitted out with a new aimsport silencer and leupold vx 1.5-5x20. Deadly quietly.

 

[Ragman]

Thumbing back the hammer on a lever action is just so much more satisfying than flicking the safety on a bolt rifle!

 

[booker]

@booker
For some strange and unknown reason the 338 marlin express never took off in Australia. Neither did the 307 or 356 or the 375 big bore. The 444 marlin has a loyal following and second hand 444s last less than 24 has on gunsites are are over the moon in price.
The 444 Marlin is an awesome cartridge when loaded to its potential with appropriate bullets like the 280gn Woodleigh or A-FRAME and the 300gn Barnes buster. The 280gn Woodleigh at over 2,300fps puts a lot of hurt on game. I would have liked to try some cast 400 grainers at 1,700fps
Bob

For sure Bob, I have taken elk, deer, eland, giraffe and a wad of pigs with it. Has never failed to put the beast down. It broke my heart that they stopped making them, but I do have a stockpile of ammo and components that will last a few lifetimes. I have shot the triple 4 the 45-70 and the 450 just never did like shooting them. Have owned a few but they soon find their way into a trade for something else.

 

[Soutie18]

Thumbing back the hammer on a lever action is just so much more satisfying than flicking the safety on a bolt rifle!

Could not agree more Ragman. My next hunt will be my first black powder traditional hunt . Really like the nolgastic hunts.

 

[yumastepside]

Just picked up this '92 in 38-40 built in 1900.....needs a bit of work but should do up nicely

Roger

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Just picked up this '92 in 38-40 built in 1900.....needs a bit of work but should do up nicely

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Roger

Very nice.

 

[K E Johnson]

P

Took a doe at bow range this morning with a Winchester model 92 in 32-20 Circa 1908.
I was basically bow hunting with a rifle. Used an 86 grain Hammer bullet With Lilgun powder. Entrance hole is on the right in the middle pic. The third pic is exit wound. Entrance was high shoulder. was not as destructive as some pics I have seen on here.
May never use it again on deer, but I knew it could be done. Scratch one off my bucket list. Not the last one on the list however.
Yes, 32-20 is considered marginal on deer. I was confident with the bullet and picked my shot. Second animal I have taken with a copper bullet.
I have Some Hammer bullets loaded for my .348. Hopefully I can blood it next year. Definitely don’t want shoulder with it!

 

[7x57Joe]

Have any idea what the muzzle velocity is?

 

[K E Johnson]

I did chronograph the 32-20 load. I didn’t write it down and need to check it again to go in my load book. I believe it was about 1920 fps out of a 24” barrel. It isn’t a load I would shoot a lot of. That rifle sees more cast bullets at a more modest velocity.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I did chronograph the 32-20 load. I didn’t write it down and need to check it again to go in my load book. I believe it was about 1920 fps out of a 24” barrel. It isn’t a load I would shoot a lot of. That rifle sees more cast bullets at a more modest velocity.

@K E Johnson
I used to load 100gn xtps in my 32/20 with a good does of H 4198.
Very accurate and velocity was around 2,000fps. Very potent out of my old 92 Winchester.
Bob

 

[K E Johnson]

@K E Johnson
I used to load 100gn xtps in my 32/20 with a good does of H 4198.
Very accurate and velocity was around 2,000fps. Very potent out of my old 92 Winchester.
Bob

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
I appreciate your input.
I have some of the XTP 100 grain bullets. I have not loaded any yet. I will admit my interest in the 32-20 is entirely due to my friend and mentor having one because his dad did. I now own his and another as his needs a little work to be safe. His will drop the hammer if the trigger is pulled at half cock. I have shot his, but would not be comfortable taking it out in the field. His got me interested in the 32 WCF.
I am curious as to your experience with these XTP bullets. What I saw online was not overly positive. That is why I went with the Hammer bullets for deer. Normally I am heavy for caliber guy.
I played with the H4198 on Quickload Tonight. Quickload shows better velocity with lower pressure with Lilgun. Send me a PM if you want any data run on Quickload for this.
Would love to share some Bundy and talk 92’s and 25’s and 35’s if the opportunity ever presented it’s self!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
I appreciate your input.
I have some of the XTP 100 grain bullets. I have not loaded any yet. I will admit my interest in the 32-20 is entirely due to my friend and mentor having one because his dad did. I now own his and another as his needs a little work to be safe. His will drop the hammer if the trigger is pulled at half cock. I have shot his, but would not be comfortable taking it out in the field. His got me interested in the 32 WCF.
I am curious as to your experience with these XTP bullets. What I saw online was not overly positive. That is why I went with the Hammer bullets for deer. Normally I am heavy for caliber guy.
I played with the H4198 on Quickload Tonight. Quickload shows better velocity with lower pressure with Lilgun. Send me a PM if you want any data run on Quickload for this.
Would love to share some Bundy and talk 92’s and 25’s and 35’s if the opportunity ever presented it’s self!

@K E Johnson
Lil gun is even better in the 32-20 with better velocities and accuracy.
I've only used it on a few roos and it was devastating.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
I appreciate your input.
I have some of the XTP 100 grain bullets. I have not loaded any yet. I will admit my interest in the 32-20 is entirely due to my friend and mentor having one because his dad did. I now own his and another as his needs a little work to be safe. His will drop the hammer if the trigger is pulled at half cock. I have shot his, but would not be comfortable taking it out in the field. His got me interested in the 32 WCF.
I am curious as to your experience with these XTP bullets. What I saw online was not overly positive. That is why I went with the Hammer bullets for deer. Normally I am heavy for caliber guy.
I played with the H4198 on Quickload Tonight. Quickload shows better velocity with lower pressure with Lilgun. Send me a PM if you want any data run on Quickload for this.
Would love to share some Bundy and talk 92’s and 25’s and 35’s if the opportunity ever presented it’s self!

@K E Johnson
PM sent mate
Bob

 

[ChrisG]

This was a .30-30 I re-worked for a friend of mine years ago when I was still learning to checker. He was very happy with it. Killed a few deer since then

 

[sgt_zim]

For you 45-70 reloaders...

For practicing, it's hard to beat Missouri bullet company Buffalo #1 405 gr (lead alloy). They come 200 per box, and including shipping, usually run about $60 for a box.

Sitting on top of 41 gr of RL7, I'm getting about 1625 fps, and enough accuracy out of my 1895 GBL to ring a 6" gong at 200 yards with the monotonous predictability of gravity.

I have a bunch of Beartooth Bullets in 425 and 525 gr left, and I use them only for hunting anymore. BTB appears to have gone out of business, and pushing either of those 2 bullets at 1600 fps produces stellar results on wild game. Both of those bullets have the same nose profile, with a meplat at 0.37", I believe. Shooting them at paper, they punch clean holes just like you'd get from wadcutters.