Are lever action good/legit hunting rifles ??

[jethunter]

I’ve been seeing some Chiappa brand levers which is unfamiliar to me, are those a Henry copy cat ? I’ve heard here and there that they’re still made by Henry but a different name similar how GMC makes Chevy vehicles.

Also I’ve seen a few 47-70s and they’re a bad ass gun !!

As of now since I’ve been looking around online I’ve seen some Henry all weather short barrelled 30-30s that are REALLY nice, a short barrel would be a bit easier to maneuver in a Bush/forest as well. Any cons for a short barrel other than potential accuracy for longer range shots ?

30-30 ammo is it hard to source or what size of cartridge is good to look at, being ammo can be hard to source now on some areas. Also I do love the looks of a tactical lever as well, so I’d be looking to upgrade it with buttstock and hand guard and big loop of it don’t have one.

Chiappa has been around much longer than Henry. No, Chiappa isn't a rebranded Henry.

Henry is a relatively new company, been in existence maybe 20-ish years. It is not related in any way to the original Henry rifles from 100+ years ago.

 

[Gasoline boy]

I have killed deer with a Henry 30-30, Henry 45-70, Winchester 88 in .308, Marlin in 45LC all lever actions
I have also killed deer with a Weatherby bolt in .308, a Ruger bolt in .308 and a savage bolt in .308
I have also Killed deer with an APA compound bow, a PSE compound bow and a Matthews compound bow.
The weapon is almost irrelevant shot placement is the key. Now if you are one of those hunters who can't seem to get close to a deer (within 100 yds) you have to think about other things. Things like calibre and optics.
Knowing how to hunt is way more important than the style of action your weapon is.

 

[B]

I have used a 16" .357 for deer more than once. It only gets easier from there with stuff like .44RM up to .45-70.

 

[MRP]

3 if you include a pistol caliber option. Still need to get one myself, really wish $500 30-30s were still a thing...

Ok 3 it is, I have much love for the very under rated 30-30 but my favourites I’ve had would have to be a savage 250-3000, the .444 IMO gives up nothing to the 45-70 and the .44. A extra mid caliber would be a.358. Thinking of hunting bear with the .44 this year.

 

[alpining]

...curious are they good legit hunting rifles for deer, and What cartridge would be best? ...
would a bolt action be better. Anyone have any experience using one for hunting or what they’re like to carry through the bush for the day for such activity. ...

I love my lever actions, but I rarely hunt with them compared to my other rifles. I use my levers primarily for bumming around in the woods, and for casual hunting: "I guess I should take a rifle, I might see a deer".

If you're serious about hunting, then you should choose the cartridge that best suits the type of hunting you want to do first. THEN decide which rifle type to use.

You don't need an excuse to get into lever actions. If you want an excuse to get into lever actions, "So I can hunt" is not a great one - Most hunters in most of Canada are probably better served by a common bolt action rifle in a common chambering.

 

[Bubba Yugga]

If you're willing to "roll your own", then the .45-70 is a very versatile choice.
In addition to grizzly stopping engine block disintegrators, you can download to 300 grain bullets over 16 grains of Blue Dot for "Colt 45 equivalent" at about 1,100 FPS.
There's also my favourite bush chicken load, 10 grains of Trail Boss pushing a .457 round ball.

 

[woodlotowner]

All but one of a dozen or so deer taken with a lever rifle. Ya, they work...

 

[hawk-i]

I've got levers in 44 mag., 444 Marlin, and 30-30, fun to shoot but I don't really hunt much with them.

Don't think I've seen any hunters carrying levers while out hunting in the last 30 years either but that certainly doesn't mean they won't work great.

 

[hors555]

All I hunt big game with are levers, mainly because I like them and they are handy. I also pretty much exclusively walk and hunt fairly dense woods, so they are more than adequate for 99% of shots that may present themselves

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

It all depends on your terrain and hunting style. Levers excel in the bush, where iron sights & quick shots are the norm. A lever may not be the best choice for open country pronghorn hunting, thats where a flat shooting, scoped, bolt gun comes into its own.

Really, you need one (or 3) of each!

 

[SuperCub]

I could live with a pre-safety 336 in 35 Remington.

 

[Suther]

I've got levers in 44 mag., 444 Marlin, and 30-30, fun to shoot but I don't really hunt much with them.

Don't think I've seen any hunters carrying levers while out hunting in the last 30 years either but that certainly doesn't mean they won't work great.

It sure seems to me that they get more love out east than they do here in BC.

 

[Jay]

I'm a big fan of levers.

And like SuperCub said, 35Rem in a Marlin 336 is something special.

Mine.

 

[MiG25]

If most shots are under 100 yards (and out to 200) the Winchester 94 in 30WCF or 32 Special with a peep sight is very hard to beat as a Deer Rifle. Same goes for the Marlin, and add the 35 Remington to the mix, but it does not carry as well as the Winchester.

 

[hawk-i]

It sure seems to me that they get more love out east than they do here in BC.

Yeah seems like that, next time I'm sitting in a tree stand for deer or moose I'm planning on taking the 444 Marlin.

 

[jim drury]

I cannot believe you are a member of this group and need to ask a question like this. I’m sorry if you are genuine but this does not pass the smell test.

 

[NAA]

I'm a big fan of levers.

+1 here, too.

So, on the OP's original question.... a resounding "yes".

---------
NAA.

 

[Evanguy]

id love a lever in 25-20, one day ill get one. (I hoping the Kamloops gun show will have one).

lever can be handy hunting rifles for sure, same as any iron sighted rifle really.

 

[Spruster]

Not sure if missed . Hanson buck . shot with the famous win 88
Love the gun so much I have 3, lol

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I could hunt happily here on the East Coast with my Model 71 Winchester for the rest of my hunts here and barely suffer at all. But in more open country I would be handicapping myself with that same rifle. Yes, I know you can scope a level, but only if you're a bad person, which I am not.

If you're the kind of person that is only going to have one rifle, a lever may or may not be the best choice for you. But since you're the type of guy that joins a site called CanadianGunNutz, you're probably not a one and done firearm owner. So buy the Henry if that's the one you like (and if you can even find one) and consider it to be a fine addition to your battery.

I have a few lever guns. To start with, for my tastes, I prefer an external hammer on my lever guns. I've had a couple 99 Savages and Winchester 88's. Presently, have three Marlins. An old 1894 in 44-40, a 45-70 GBL and a 444S. A short while back, I picked up a model 95 Winchester in 303Br. But, in lever guns, the favorite lever gun & calibre combo, and my pride and joy is my Winchester model 71 deluxe in 348WCF. I did have a standard grade 71 but when I saw this deluxe at a local gun show, I NEEDED it.