Lever Action Choices

D

DES0LAT0R

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Hamilton
Hi everybody! Ive been looking into getting a lever action but I cannot decide on one that would suit my needs and was wondering if anyone could give me a hand. It would most likely be only for plinking (im planning on getting a 45-70 for hunting in the future), so I was considering one in a pistol calibre. Also, I would prefer to get one with a side loading gate. I also want to put a rear peep sight on the receiver so a side eject would be better.

So heres my question. Is there any 357 lever guns out there with a side loading gate and side eject for a decent price ($750)? The only one that I was able to come up with was the Marlin 1894c, but I cant find it anywhere online new or used.

Or am I better off getting a marlin 1894 in 44 mag? Im planning on getting into reloading for it and I dont see the 44 mag being much more expensive.

So, any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
.357 mag/.38special is definitely cheaper to buy and reload, the recoil is minimal, and its adequate for deer or black bear with .357 hunting loads if you decide to hunt with it. As for the Marlins, they're very nice rifles, I'm not fond of the fat forend though, and i'd suggest installing a one-piece firing pin. The other option is to get a somewhat less expensive Rossi 92 with the safety on the bolt, remove it and install one of the peep sights from StevesGunz. The only other side eject is a Henry, I've never been fond of them personally, and they load from the front.
 
I already have a 22 (ruger 10/22). I was looking at a centerfire so i could start reloading. Im not fond of the levers that load from the front, hence why i want one with the side loading gate.

I didnt know that was an option on the rossi. I just figures since the way the bolt is and how its top eject that it was impossible to do so. Ill keep that in mind if i cant find a side eject one i like.
 
All of the rifle you've listed are 150 yrd guns unless you are Very well experienced and are really the same rifle at different power levels . I know you like the side gate & I assume the tradtional look but handle / try a Savage 99 , In 300 sav. or .308 its a completley different ball game, The way the rounded bottom of the 99 fits the hand has to be felt to understand .
 
You can have a williams peep installed on a Puma, it is top eject but the peep will be way in the back and not in the way.
I got that done in my Puma 454, cost me 30.00 dollars to drill and tap the holes in the receiver.
 
I was looking to stick to pistol calibres since they are cheaper to shoot. 30-30 is much more expensive from what I can tell. Thats why I was looking for a 357 mag and considering a 44 mag if I cant find one I like. I know that they would have a much shorter range than rifle calibres, but the gun club with the longest range around where I live is only 200m. Plus I would be most likely shooting on crown land when I can, so a long range gun seems a bit of a waste for me right now. When I have the money and the room, I plan on getting a bolt 308 for that anyways.

Until then, Im looking for a fun plinking gun that is not too expensive to shoot and I could learn how to reload on.
 
Get a Rossi Ranch Hand and put a full size buttstock on it. Do what skokie said in his post for the sights or better yet get a 92 rail and put a red dot on it.
Here's mine, huge fun and cheap to run. .45 Colt. I have the large loop lever but I am modifying it into a medium loop lever, thus the small loop lever that is on it right now. I can load from mild to almost 44 Mag levels using Ramshot Silhouette and 250 gr cast wheel weight bullets. I carry it when I walk the dogs at night thus the need for the flashlight.

 
You can do a pistol cartridge leverguns if you want, but given your criteria, a Winchester 94 Pre-64 in .30/30 would be ideal... $500-$600 will buy you a good one.
 
Handloading for the 30-30 will be incredibly cheap if you start to reload. More so if you run with cast boolits. (The weights will run you the same 113 to 200 ish for the 30-30 and 125 to 200 {I think} for the 38/357)

The versatility of loading mild to wild will be greater with the 30-30: from .22 velocities on up. 3000 fps if you can find some "accelerators" for the ol' gal. (sabotted rounds)
 
Lionel said:
Handloading for the 30-30 will be incredibly cheap if you start to reload. More so if you run with cast boolits. (The weights will run you the same 113 to 200 ish for the 30-30 and 125 to 200 {I think} for the 38/357)

The versatility of loading mild to wild will be greater with the 30-30: from .22 velocities on up. 3000 fps if you can find some "accelerators" for the ol' gal. (sabotted rounds)
Click to expand...

What are you using to cast the bullets for the 30-30? Do they need to be gas checked?

I don't understand why you think the 30-30 is the answer when he says he is getting a .308 which will do everything the 30-30 will plus a lot more. He can run cast bullets in the .308 also.

The pistol cartridges are certainly not 200 yd rounds and I would never shoot at a deer with even my hottest loads at more than 50 yds, if that, but for ease of loading, loading costs, size of guns and just sheer fun factor they are really hard to beat IMO.
 
Not to further derail things, but it is hard to beat the .357 or .38 for ease and cost of reloading, no lubing of cases, no gas checks to buy and install for hard cast, and they are about as cheap as buying .22LR to load, if you cast your own. Besides, that's what the OP was asking about in the first place.
 
Hey Guys,

I had my heart set on the Marlin 1895 Guide Gun (45-70)

I have been spending hours on the webs reading reviews and I'm now so stuck. Apparently since Remington bought Marlin quality control is non existent. Off centered sights, Burring around the load gate, poor stock fit, cheapy details, scratches and so on
PLEASE HELP. I absolutely hate how the Henry 45-70 loads. I just cant get past it. All that holds your rounds in the tube is notched cap? Seems super insecure if wrestling around in thick brush.
I have seen some hope in a few post saying the 2015/2016 Marlingtons are stepping up the quality ladder, slowly...
ANY input is really appreciated. I am also super interested in learning to handload my 45-70 rounds and cast my own lead. Any literature suggestions?

Thanks all
 
Personally, I prefer tube loading... as far as secure goes, it has been working for more than a century... but if you want a Marlin 1895, just get one manufactured in or after 2014 and you should be good... if you are ordering new you'll be alright. Or just watch for a JM rifle.
 
I know I sound like a Rossi salesman, but they make the Rio Grande in .45-70. It's a fair bit less expensive and is a side eject and somewhat similar to a Marlin but with full length magazine tube and an included scope base. From what I've heard they are decent guns, I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one myself. As for casting, I'd suggest watching a few YouTube videos on it, see what you want to get into. I have a Lee Production Pot, I find the spout really makes it easier to get the lead in the molds, far better than ladling it into them. Remember too that if your going to cast, you may also need a sizing press and dies and you'll need some way to lube the bullets, either a lubri-sizer or you can pan lube after the fact. That being said, for what I shoot I don't have to resize, and I pan lube. Lee molds are a good starting point, cheap and they let you learn what you're doing. I agree with you on the tube loading. Imagine if you lost the plunger?? The original Henry Rifles had a better system for tube loading, with the captured spring and follower. As for reloading, there's a gods amount of information in the Reloading forum, and Hickok45 has a decent intro to reloading video where he loads some .45-70 if I'm not mistaken. Here's a little perspective for you though. 100 rounds of a moderate, 405 grain plinking load, .45-70 will cost you about $26 if you already have brass and cast your own lead. Whereas 100 rounds of .38/.357 plinking loads will cost you less than $10. That's if you have to buy the lead for casting.
 
To the OP. Look for a nice older Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 Rem and you will have the best all purpose lever rifle going. The 1895s in 45-70 are very good too if you decide on a big bore. Avoid the Winchester 94s at all costs. Compared to the Marlins they are a complicated, awkward, prehistoric firearm. :)

The end.
 
Super into the big bore. Wife will only let me buy one gun. I am naturally drawn to the Marlin 1895 GBL. I have no clue what GBL stands for but I like the Pistol grip stock versus straight. I am just going to buy one, shoot it and see what happen. There will always be nay-sayers, I am going to find out for myself. I have been reading so much into the lever action rifles, 45-70 in particular, the other day I was pre paying for fuel and put in 4570 as my PIN number. HAHA obsessed or what?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom