What kind of lever action should I buy?

Winchester’s are the original assault rifle.
That damn yankee rifle that you loaded on Sunday and shot all week!
I’m sure they will soon be outlawed along with those nasty Lee Enfield military assault rifles and Mausers and Mosins etc etc
 
DOUGLAS D said:
Winchester’s are the original assault rifle.
That damn yankee rifle that you loaded on Sunday and shot all week!
I’m sure they will soon be outlawed along with those nasty Lee Enfield military assault rifles and Mausers and Mosins etc etc
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I'd better steer clear of Winchesters then. I want something designed to kill the fewest number of people in the longest amount of time.
 
saunders278 said:
I'd better steer clear of Winchesters then. I want something designed to kill the fewest number of people in the longest amount of time.
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Bacon!

How long are ya willing to wait? Wait, bacon kills lots of people slowly. Carole Baskin. Takes her a few years and she only kills one at a time.
 
saunders278 said:
I'd better steer clear of Winchesters then. I want something designed to kill the fewest number of people in the longest amount of time.
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Nice.... :)

Great question for Justin, "Can you please suggest a suitable firearm for Canadian gun owners that is designed to kill the fewest number of people in the longest amount of time?"
......... crickets.
 
I have owned both the marlin 336 (JM stamped in stainless steel, was a real beauty!) and a Winchester 94 AE. Both were accurate, both handled great. Between the two I preferred the marlin. I have big hands, the marlin has a bigger diameter forend, fit my hand better. Now, have was the opportune word. I sold them both once I started shooting farther. 300 yards is a long ways for 30-30, meanwhile it’s nothing but a small leap for 308 win.

If I were to get another lever gun it would be a BLR or a Henry long ranger, either in 308. Yes there are others (savage 99, Winchester 88) but I prefer guns I can get parts for, just in case.

Fun fact about 308 (since you handload), you can download with H4895 powder (down as much as 60% of max listed charge). BOOM, your 308 can lob bullets in amazing rainbow trajectory just like the piddly 30-30. You can go as far as loading 30 cal round nose bullets if you want. Powder consumption will be close to that of 30-30, if you want it to be. BUT, if you want to reach out and touch something, 308 can do it. You want to launch pointy bullets with decent ballistic coefficient at reasonable velocities, 308 can do it. 30-30 simply cannot. So, 308 can be 30-30 if you want it to be, but 30-30 can never be 308. This is why I will never own another 30-30. It’s not that I hate 30-30, I just don’t care for it’s limitations. Detachable box mags are also a plus with these models.
 
I have handled (not shot) the new series of Marlin "Darks" and they seem well put together and I liked the sights.

Scrummy
 
I recently purchased a Marlin dark in 45-70... love it. Super smooth, 2inch 3 shot groups with factory ammo and can get my handloads down to 1.5 inches. Easy to scope and the rail makes it simple to remove the scope and utilize a red dot if desired. The iron sights on it are excellent as well. In regards to handloading costs, Starline 45-70 brass can be found for around $0.80 a piece. Projectiles are more costly than 30 cal but a lot of cast options to use.

I also shoot a Winchester 94 in 356 Win which is absolutely beautiful. The balance is fantastic and it shoots amazing. I used to own a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Great gun but just didn’t love it. I do also own a Browning BLR takedown in 358 Winchester. The BLRs are smooth and the fact that you use detachable mags is awesome. I have a Burris scout mounted over the barrel so POI remains the same after takedown.

And now, after all that, my favourite lever gun is my Rossi 92 in 45 Colt that I purchased used. It is super light with an incredibly strong and robust action. Mine rifle happened to be a model that was well put together and it is smooth and functions flawlessly. It puts my plinking loads into one hole at 25 yards and I have been doing some longer range work at 100 yards with a 2x forward mounted pistol scope and I’m getting legit 2 inch groups And some groups hovering around an inch. I have been loading some fairly Hot 250 and 300 grain Hornady Projectiles in front of heAvy loads of H110 and getting excellent results. I have reviewed some of Paco Kelly’s information on loading the 45 Colt in these strong actions and was impressed. His loads are a little extreme but it does give one some perspective on the versatile nature of the 45 Colt. All I know is I’d never part with my Rossi 92 and hopefully would never have to part with my Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt that matches so nice.

Once you go down the lever road, it is hard to turn back.

Good luck.
 
Fuzzy, I have a Chiappa 1892 clone in .44mag which is great. It also likes H110 and have the Leupold 2.5x25 mounted on it up front.

Currently trying to get a marbles tang sight for it.

Scrummy
 
OP, you didn't say if you want to put a scope on it? If so... Go Marlin...

Here's my 1974 vintage Marlin 336 in 35Rem.

Cheers
Jay

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saunders278 said:
Hey everyone,

I haven't given up hope yet, but since our benevolent and handsome leader has decided my Ruger Mini-30 is far too dangerous in my hands, I'm looking into options for replacing it with a lever-action.

Like I said, I haven't given up hope, and am certainly open to advice on what I can do to help the current situation, but I just enjoy doing research on firearms, so for this thread I'm looking more for advice on lever-action rifles (or other rifles that won't incentivise me to murder babies, puppies, etc).

I've never owned a lever-action, and have only fired Winchester 94s. I like the 94, but would prefer a side-ejector. As far as chambering, I'd prefer something in the medium range, maybe 30-30, but would like input on that as well (I do re-load).

This rifle would be used for target-shooting, bear defense, and a back-up deer hunting rifle (possibly elk or moose in the future, but I've never hunted anything that big). Also, I'll be leaving it with open-sights.

I really like the designs of the Marlins, but I've heard of quality issues in recent years.

Thanks

Keith
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Modern 94 Winchesters have no problem with low scope mounting if that's why you want a side eject. They modified the action years ago to angle the cartridge ejection out the side. Modern Winchesters, (Miroku) are pricey, but the quality is exceptional.
 
Jay said:
OP, you didn't say if you want to put a scope on it? If so... Go Marlin...
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No scope, I'm looking for a centerfire plinker basically, for in-close targets. I've got a couple bolt guns for hunting and long-range targets.

My Mini-30 was great because the old Chinese or Russian ammo wasn't all that much more $ than 22LR. I'll want to re-load for this lever gun (I don't suppose they make a lever gun chambered in 7.62x39? Ugh, and I doubt the libs will want to buy back the 1000+ rounds I still have from my last crate).

Anyways, even with re-loading, I think 45-70 would be too expensive, I think 30-30 is the way to go. Or even a BLR 308 that Rifleman87 mentioned.

At the moment, I'm leaning toward a used, JM-stamped 336 Marlin, there seems to be a handful for sale here and elsewhere.
 
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Marlins are great fun. As are any of the others. I also like the Winchesters and Browning BLR's. All fun with open sights, although some prefer the open sights on the Marlins and Winchesters over the Brownings, but still usable.
The 30-30 may be among the cheaper ones to shoot for plinking.
For bigger cartridges you can also look at the 35 Rem, 356 Win, 375 Win (both in Marlin and Winchester, but the Marlins can be harder to find) and 358 Win (Browning). And even more fun to shoot, and more suitable for bear, moose and elk (except for the 35 Rem for moose and elk)
Ammo can be a bit more challenging to locate, but for handloading are not that expensive, but more than the 30-30.
 
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Speaking as an lever-action owner of Browning (.308 BLR Take down), Marlin (JM) in 444 Marlin, and a Winchester 94 Angle-eject Big Bore in 444 Marlin, I find my go-to for deer (and larger game) hunting and for just plain fun is my JM Marlin. 22" Sporter, pistol grip, the older Micro-Groove barrel rifling. It's dead-to-rights accurate out to about 150 yards.

Having said that, I hanker for a Henry in 45-70 - but I'm waiting for the upcoming side-loading port instead of the ported magazine tube. Those should be in Canada sometime in the next few months, originally scheduled for 2020 fall, but possibly delayed due to this C.C.P.-Virus stuff. https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/

O.N.G.
 
Marlin 336 chambered in .30-30 and fitted with Skinner peep sight might be right up your alley. Very rugged and reliable sight set up. Great for up close shots in deep bush.
 
Can't argue with that. Henry rifles are excellent. Recently tried out one of the new side-loading-gate versions(.30-30). Was impressed with its overall build quality, function, handling characteristics and accuracy. A really clever design. May add one of these to my battery, in the very near future. Should the opportunity present itself, you may want to try one out.
 
If you look at the new rifles, Winchester is cheap and rattles. Doesnt seem solid IMO. Henry makes a solid rifle. Well made. Beautiful piece and shoots so smooth(30 30). I would love the 45 70. Beautiful piece.
 
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