I think you are right.
Suggestions for easily scopable lever action?
- Thread starter emerson
- Start date
I think you are right.
- Location
- Haliburton County, Central Ontario
This ^^ Add to this, from my perspective, the straight stock is the one that feels custom made for me.
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I know where there is a BLR in 450 Marlin if you are looking for something with a little more clout.
David
David
450 Marlin is probably at the top of the list for me, just above 308. A heavy bullet that I can load slow or heavy sighted in @100 with a basic ballistic reticle seems a good fit. I will be trading for any BLR in my future though. Headed to work for 2 weeks tomorrow. When I'm back I'll post the 3 rifles on the trading block and then sell what's left.
If you are willing to live with the stigma, the Mossberg 464 is easily scoped using Weaver 403 bases and your choice of rings. Mine wears a Leupold FXII 4x33 in low Warnes. No issues with ejection and it prints 1 3/4 - 2" groups at 100m. I know, not spectacular, but still fun to shoot milk jugs with. I used to shoot cantaloupe, but they're too damned expensive now.
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
Why is it that whenever I read the words "Picatinny Rail" I think of banjos?
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
Personally, if you aren't nostalgically attached to the .45-70, the 450 Marlin is a better choice.
Apart from the ballistics, without having to reload, the casing works better in the action.
The 1895 Marlin of today is simply a modified 336 action, which is in turn a same-size modernized round bolt version of the 1893 Marlin.
The 1893 was designed around the .38-55 and was chambered for the Winchester .30-30 and .32 Special cartridges as these were introduced.
The original 1895 action was significantly larger than the 1893 and was, like the 1886 Winchester, designed for the large diameter .45 and .50 caliber buffalo cartridges, and of course, the .45-70.
The only real problem with the .45-70 in the modified 336 interior is the diameter of the bolt and consequently the positioning of the extractor.
The bolt is really too small for the .45-70 rim and the extractor must be sprung outward slightly to allow it to snap around that rim on chambering.
What I noticed with the 1895 that I owned is that ejection is sluggish compared to that of .30-30 in a 336 Marlin.
It works, but cases do not "pop" out of the gun, where they will with .30-30 in a 336, even if operated slowly.
The .450 Marlin, being rimless, allows a rebated rim diameter of .528" even with the belt, while the .45-70 has a rim diameter of .608".
That small difference allows the extractor to be properly sprung and for ejection to function as it does with the .30-30.
I just reload mine. I buy brass on sight no doubt about that. I've got about 250 brass now (yes I am bragging)
Very informative and interesting; thanks for posting this. I'm too much a .45-70 fan to consider the new upstart, and without doing much research I have always bought in to the idea that it was just a hotloaded version of the old warhorse for use in modern guns. Good to know more of the story.
There is also the Win mod 88 which is a great functioning and one of the best looking leverguns on the market. Scopeable and detachable magazine in 243, 308 and if you're really lucky 284. Then there is the high end and almost hens tooth Sako Finnwolf, probably one of the finest leverguns ever made.
I looked both of those up and the 88 sure is nice. The Sako is a bit past my budget. You make it tough to make a decision though. No big rush I guess. I thought I saw an 88 advertised locally, might have to try a WTT in the local buy and sell.
I'm surprized no one seems to be considering the Henry's, given that with their side ejection they are very easily scoped. They also have a fine reputation for reliability and accuracy. They're available in .327 Fed Mag, .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .44 Mag and .45 Colt.
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
How about something new from Henry, the "Long Ranger"...
https://www.henryrifles.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/
Available in .243 or .308 Win.
https://www.henryrifles.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/
Available in .243 or .308 Win.
Boy, tuff to get taste buds activated on these.
Interesting to see how they play out.
- Location
- Rockland, ON
I've had and used a bunch of Marlin and Glenfield levers, 20 of them in various configurations (RC, SC, C, Texans etc) in various cartridges including 22lr, 30-30, 32 Win Spl, 308 MX, 35 Rem and 444 Marlin. They are nice rifles, fun to shoot and effective to hunt with. They are easily scoped with your choice of optic power. Also, the design is so simple you can easily take them completely apart for cleaning, repair etc. and parts if needed are readily available.
They're all gone now, I sold them all over the past couple of years.
My lever choice is the pistol gripped Browning BLR Lightweight. IMHO the BLR is a great platform for a hunting rifle, light, accurate and reliable. The trigger can be heavy but in my experience it is perfectly smooth in the adrenalinized heat of a hunting moment. I've got them in 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win and 358 Win which covers any hunting situation I'll experience. The BLR is also easily scoped. The only downside, the action is not disassembly friendly so they need to be cleaned from the muzzle (carefully).
Top to bottom: 358 Win, 308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 243 Win
358 Win
308 Win
7mm-08 Rem
243 Win
They're all gone now, I sold them all over the past couple of years.
My lever choice is the pistol gripped Browning BLR Lightweight. IMHO the BLR is a great platform for a hunting rifle, light, accurate and reliable. The trigger can be heavy but in my experience it is perfectly smooth in the adrenalinized heat of a hunting moment. I've got them in 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Win and 358 Win which covers any hunting situation I'll experience. The BLR is also easily scoped. The only downside, the action is not disassembly friendly so they need to be cleaned from the muzzle (carefully).
Top to bottom: 358 Win, 308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 243 Win
358 Win
308 Win
7mm-08 Rem
243 Win
