Choice of first lever rifle?

H Wally

H Wally

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I'm wondering if any cgn'ers could help point me in the right direction and answer some questions.

I'm looking into the world of lever action rifles and wondering a few things.

Firstly, how low would you guys go as far as price for a new or used lever action rifle? I originally just wanted one because they're neat, and I don't have one, but if I liked it I could also end up plinking or carrying it in the woods.

My preference soley based on looks so far has been the winchester series, between 1873 and 1894. I love the long octagonal barrels and the equally long tube mags. Marlins also sometimes catch my eye - but I don't like the big ramps that seem more prevalent as front sights on their rifles. I'm looking for those appearances for purely aesthetic value, what would you choose and why? (p.s. - I'd be selling one of my other rifles to finance this, so I know an original 1894 is out of the question:()

Thanks,
H Wally
 
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You can't go wrong with a Win 94 in 30-30 they can be found from $150 and up depending on condition.

Levers are available in both pistol cartridge's and standard centerfire cartridges which would dictate what model you maybe interested in.

I have a pre-64 Win 1894 in 30-30, a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70, a Browning BL22 22lr and a LSI Puma M92 in 454 Casull.

My favorite all round lever rifle/cartridge package is the Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 seconded by the M92 in 454...
 
I suggest you go to a gun show and handle a bunch of lever guns. There is quite a range of "fit," just like shotguns (and everything else, for that matter). For example, I cannot get a sight picture with a Marlin 336, but a BLR fits me perfectly. Many fellows find that a scoped BLR doesn't work for them because they have to lift their cheek off the stock to acquire a sight picture. Not me - I use a scoped BLR as my main deer gun. And so on, and so forth.

It has been a while since I saw a $150 Win 94 in my part of the country, or here on CGN for that matter. In decent and shootable condition, an older 1894 will set you back at least $400 around here and the sky is the limit for better (and original) guns.

For a starter gun in a lever, and in keeping with your thoughts about plinking and relatively inexpensive, it is hard to beat a BL-22. I could have sold you one a couple weeks ago....:rolleyes: But they are not hard to find. Price range on them is about $300 to $400 depending on condition. I sold mine too cheap, but it is the worst time of the year to sell a gun and I needed some $$$.

WARNING: lever guns are highly addictive. :p

Doug
 
I wish I never sold my Winchester lever. And I agree with Doug, any $150 one you find will have to be in pretty rough shape, they are usually in the $300-$400 range. I hunted deer with mine for years and its such a nice light and balanced rifle that I realized I needed no scope,and was quite accurate .It was like an extension of my arm and I could fire off a quick and accurate shot without the scope. Was great in the thick bush, only thing I would have liked would have been a wider lever so I could more easily fit my fingers in there with a thicker glove for when it was cold out.
 
My point exactly. Different lever guns fit people differently. I have owned many dozens, maybe even hundreds of lever guns (never a Sako yet, but....)

Some fit, some do not. Some I like to shoot, some were not so pleasant for me. I drive a Ford, you might drive a Chevy, same same.

Doug
 
I ended up going with a M94 in 30-30 (top eject) for my first lever. Nice little brush gun thats pretty accurate for me within 150yards and cheap to feed. Got my first deer with it, so I'll never sell it.

I had a BLR in .243 which ironically, I sold to Doug. Nice rifle, very accurate, but it just wasn't for me as I wanted it for Yotes and went with a bolt.

A buddy recently purchased a Marlin stainless GG in .450. Definitely a fun gun, solid, great looks, and surprisingly accurate with the Leverevolution ammo. Something similar might be my next lever.

Are you going to use it for hunting or plinking? For plinking, I'd go with a pistol caliber. Hunting, something with a bit more oomph.

If you can, handle as many different ones you can find, and buy the one that fits you best.

Good luck.

PS I drive a Dodge!!
 
kombi1976 said:
Mmmm, a lever gun, eh?
I know.......a Martini 577-450!! :D
Click to expand...

Got a neighbor that's been trying to sell me one in dog aweful condition for $3000:rolleyes: He's convinced it's the last of it's kind.

I don't hunt yet (trying to find someone who teaches the course) but I will be eventually. So far I do all my plinking in milsurps, so I wouldn't mind a lever in rifle cal either, I'll just get into reloading faster.

Doug: That's a good suggestion to go handle some, as I've never held any levers, the mechanism has always been what has interested me.

I still really like the look of the long barrelled levers over shorter barrels, and I'm used to m91/30's and a full length ross m10, so I don't forsee it being too big of a hassle. Is there a caliber preference out there? I've heard 30-30 commonly, as well as 45-70 and .357. Anything special about these loads for levers? Cost for a pack of regular 20 rds, or for a single rd?

Edit: Heck, what would people suggest as far as a pistol caliber, other than a .22? I'm looking for something a little more beefy... do they make them in 9mm??:D
 
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My first lever was a 1916 manufacture 1894 Carbine in 30WCF, lots of character and still shoots as welll as any of the youngin 94's. I became very biased against any other lever actions and consider myself a Winchester sorta guy.

I of course love and respect the right of anyone to own and like whatever they want, I don't judge, the others just don't work to my sensibilities (as far out of wack as they are).

My old Winchesters have grown, and because of their age, I liken my safe to the 'Legion', they are a bunch of old farts, but I love 'em.

Its nice to toss up the usual 30WCF with a 32 Win Special if you end up looking for a 94.

Go Winchester!
 
Heck, what would people suggest as far as a pistol caliber, other than a .22? I'm looking for something a little more beefy... do they make them in 9mm??
Click to expand...

The 38 Special/357 Mag, 44 Special/44 Mag, 45 Colt in the Marlin & Win 1894's or you could check out the Puma line that uses a copy of the smaller Win 92 lever action that goes up to 454 Casull this model will also shoot 45 Colts.

As I stated before I have one of the Puma's M92 in 454 Casull and it is turning out to be a very nice accurate rifle that is once I got rid of the rear sight which is the worst rear sight I have ever used on a rifle...
 
Depending on what you are intending to do with the firearm ; I would suggest a Savage for deer sized game (let us face it, they do have style), a Large calibre Marlin for large carnivores (ease of scope/peep mounting and cannon calibres) or an early Winchester for a toy to play with (because the early ones are fun to play with).
 
my choice is a marlin 336. less moving parts means a smoother action and they're much easier to mount a scope ,if you want one. that being said the win. 94 has a great history of reliability and is a pretty gun regardless of which angle you look at it from. as far as $150.00, my son bought a 94 in .32 spcl. last oct. and paid $350.00 and there isn't a mark on it. i would think at $150.00 it would be in rough shapeas far as pre '64 to post '64, i've worked on a lot more pre guns than post,you'll hear talk of "stamped out" parts and gold old "machined parts". i'm not even going to comment on that one.
 
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