LEVER ACTION - Best caliber for Deer and Black Bear

SuperCub said:
Are you a handloader? How much selection for ammo do you have in Moncton these days now that Green Diamond is out of it and Cabelas gone?

They should have left that Cabelas open by the highway. Can't see BassPro getting more traffic in town.
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Looks like the OP went bye-bye on this thread but has been on CGN otherwise.
 
Hard to beat the great ol' 30-30 in a lever action rifle! Low recoil, effective on the game you've mentioned within the range you've mentioned, and is light, handy and fun to shoot!
But definitely lots of choices as previously mentioned; 250 Savage, 257 Roberts (not mentioned but was made in limited numbers in the BLR), 7mm-08, 284 Win, 308 Win, 300 Savage, 303 Savage, 30-40 Krag, 30-06, 348 Win, 35 Rem, 356 Win, 358 Win, 375 Win, 444 Marlin and 45-70. There are many other less common cartridges also chambered in lever action rifles
Open sights vs scoped is going to be as big a factor for your preference as the the make and model of the rifle.
Marlins (except for waffle tops), Winchester AE's and Model 88's, most Henry's, most Savages, the Sako Finnwolf and the Browning BLR's are easiest to scope. Winchester and Browning Model 71's will be open sights or peep sights. Sorry, do not recall how easy it is to scope a Winchester 1895.
In the end, it is a very personal preference that only you can decide.
As for something classy and will be as much fun to just hold and admire or polish in front of the fire on a cold winter's evening, the original Winchester Model 71 Deluxe, or the fancier newer Browning Model 71 High Grade Reproduction from 1989 (limited production in both rifles and carbines) may be to your liking.
The Sako Finnwolf is a fairly rare rifle and was offered in very few calibers, so one in a 308 Win may be interesting to you.
Turnbull is making some very fancy lever actions, as is Bighorn Armoury. These may be of more interest to you. Definitely not inexpensive firearms!
Many lever actions were also made available in pistol cartridges, and a matching pistol/revolver and rifle may be more in line with your desires; many options there too!
Best of luck in your quest!
 
30 30 is a great all round caliber. However 308 will give you the most grain choices. 308 lever with detachable mag is way to go
 
fljp2002 said:
Still here, bass pro is ok for ammo selection however for neat stuff we need to go mcAdam.

Havenā€™t started to reload yet but considering it.
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Given the fact that you do not reload, you really need to stick to ammo you can get locally and easily. McAdam is almost a three hour drive from Moncton. You need to confirm that what you need is actually in stock and on hand before you go.

I still stand by my recommendation for a BLR 81 in 308 for your needs here in NB. It offers more range than a 30-30 and a far better selection of bullets easier to scope and uses a very good detach mag system. All these other chamberings recommended (35 Rem, 45-70. 358Win, 348 Win, etc etc etc) while might be cooler than a plain old 308, would be a royal pain in the butt to find ammo for here in NB with limited selection and expensive pricing.
 
If the $ were there, a Win. 71 in 348 or an 1886 in 45-70. Really like a 1894 Rifle I had in 30-30 with a full length octagon barrel and magazine tube.
Worked like a charm with the tang peep. A Model 88 Winchester in 358 would fit the bill too !
 
The least practical option due to cost, weight, iron sight restriction and hard to find ammo is a Model 71 in 348W ..... BUT it is the most elegant and beautiful, slick, strong lever action made IMO. "IF" I were buying a lever action .... this is what I would get. You dont even have to go hunting ... you can just sit in front of the TV working the action to enjoy it!! AND its a great cartridge for ALL big game in NA. --- but you will definitely want to reload. The 348W cartridge is the rimmed equivalent (on game) of the 350 Rem Mag
 
SuperCub said:
Given the fact that you do not reload, you really need to stick to ammo you can get locally and easily. McAdam is almost a three hour drive from Moncton. You need to confirm that what you need is actually in stock and on hand before you go.

I still stand by my recommendation for a BLR 81 in 308 for your needs here in NB. It offers more range than a 30-30 and a far better selection of bullets easier to scope and uses a very good detach mag system. All these other chamberings recommended (35 Rem, 45-70. 358Win, 348 Win, etc etc etc) while might be cooler than a plain old 308, would be a royal pain in the butt to find ammo for here in NB with limited selection and expensive pricing.
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The OP never did clarify if he wanted a traditional chambering or more modern box fed option. His only specifications were deer and bears under 150 yards and making an assumption based on his current location I'm restricting it to Black bears and whitetail deer. The .308 certainly is well suited to that if a modern box magazine fed rifle is his preference but the .30-30 isn't leaving much on the table under 150 yards if the more traditional tube fed is the OP's desire. Of course most centerfire rifle cartridges are capable of that, if the trigger actuator nut does it's part of putting a suitable bullet where it needs to go.
 
Jim870 said:
The OP never did clarify if he wanted a traditional chambering or more modern box fed option. His only specifications were deer and bears under 150 yards and making an assumption based on his current location I'm restricting it to Black bears and whitetail deer. The .308 certainly is well suited to that if a modern box magazine fed rifle is his preference but the .30-30 isn't leaving much on the table under 150 yards if the more traditional tube fed is the OP's desire. Of course most centerfire rifle cartridges are capable of that, if the trigger actuator nut does it's part of putting a suitable bullet where it needs to go.
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You right ...... The BLR is the most practical choice but not by far the nicest classic tradition rifle available for someone who wants a nice lever gun.
 
Looking at the various look of the various model being recommended, I will say that side loading tube fed is the look I will be seeking. mag fed model donā€™t have that classic western feel to them
 
fljp2002 said:
Looking at the various look of the various model being recommended, I will say that side loading tube fed is the look I will be seeking. mag fed model donā€™t have that classic western feel to them
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My personal two favourite lever gun styles are a pre 64 Win 94 in the Saddle Ring Carbine configuration (this one from 1927) and the Marlin 336 from the 70's with the nice slim for end and pre safety.

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You can't go wrong with most of what has been posted. From 243 to 4570, they will all get it done. My brother has had a BLR in 308 for at least 30 years, great gun, probably your most practical, no nonsense choice.

My only lever is a pristine Marlin in 4570 that my father gave me when he turned 90. It's about 40 years old, I put a 1-4 power bushnel on it when he got into his 80's so that he could still shoot accurately. The rifle is surprisingly accurate for a lever shooting a big square hunk of lead.
 
In 2002 I was at a rifle shoot in Willow Bunch.
I believe the top shooter was a Vietnam veteran turned Saskatchewan farmer using his 45-70 Marlin.
Closely followed I think by a younger man with a BLR in 223. Another local guy did very well with a Winchester 30-30 carbine. A policeman was a serious contender until he broke the firing pin his Ruger 77 while practicing dry fire. IIRC a BPCR shooter placed fourth. I thought he should have placed better.
I think the furthest target was 440. Steel gongs.

Got to meet the veteran because he was gawking at my Garand. The guy had quite the war stories. Nice fella too.
 
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