looking for some lever action advice

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laughingswordfish

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Salmon Arm, BC
Hi all - I've got a serious craving for a nice lever action gun but am just at a loss for what to buy. I won't be hunting with it, just doing back yard shooting (I live in the middle of nowhere) and carrying out in the bush for some fun.

Length: I really would like something on the shorter side (16" or 18.5"). 20" might be ok but trying to keep it fairly light and easy to carry and I prefer the look of a bit shorter gun. I don't like the crazy little 12" guns, I want to shoulder this. Trying to go shorter than the standard 38" or so

Caliber: if I'm carrying this with me in the bush I'd just as soon be able to put a decent sized hole in a bear (been looking at .45-70) but I also really like all of the pistol caliber carbines (.45LC, .357 magnum, etc.)

Price: I'm trying to keep to $700 max and I know this is a bit limiting. The other factor is the cost of the ammunition - I had no idea some of that handgun ammo was so expensive - having a hard time finding stock to compare prices and see which would be the cheapest to shoot.

Brands I've looked at:

Marlin 1895 in 45-70, 18.5" - freaked out about the quality control stuff. I just have no experience in firearm repair or tweaking and I want to get out and shoot not take things apart and fix

Rossi Ranch Hand: too short

Rossi Puma 16" - right length, nice choice in calibers, but man they just look plain and un-appealing

Chiappa: looked at their website, 1892 trapper 16" seems nice (better looking that the Puma) but Chiappa seems pretty expensive compared to the others and I just don't ever see them in stock anywhere other than the mare's leg. Chiappa's website actually shows lots of interesting models but no stock in Canada?

Henry: similar to Chiappa, just don't see stock anywhere.

Thoughts / ideas / other brands to consider? Grateful for any suggestions I've been researching and looking for a while but just not finding what I'm looking for. I can move on the price a bit if needed, but just can't put out $1400 or more for some of the great Winchester carbines.

Thanks!
 
If its just for plinking and you want it short, why not a ranch hand in .44 with a full stock? That's and my shorty 12ga are my bush guns

Try the marlin guide gun in 45/70. Really nice little levers
 
My vote is and will always be a Marlin. The quality control issue with Remington seems to be done and over with after the first few years. I've had a couple of GG's and a GGS that were made by Remington that worked flawlessly. Only reason I got rid of GG's is that I have always wanted the SS. Finally found my SS. If you decide on the Marlin, I have a GGS that I may part with.
 
I would spend the dollars on a Winchester 94 trapper in 45 colt if you reload, or 44 mag if you don't; failing that a pre 64 Winchester carbine in 30/30 or 32 spec followed closely by a Marlin lever carbine stamped "JM" preferably in 35 rem. But that's just me.

JW
 
laughingswordfish said:
Length: I really would like something on the shorter side (16" or 18.5"). 20" might be ok but trying to keep it fairly light and easy to carry and I prefer the look of a bit shorter gun. I don't like the crazy little 12" guns, I want to shoulder this. Trying to go shorter than the standard 38" or so

Caliber: if I'm carrying this with me in the bush I'd just as soon be able to put a decent sized hole in a bear (been looking at .45-70) but I also really like all of the pistol caliber carbines (.45LC, .357 magnum, etc.)

Price: I'm trying to keep to $700 max and I know this is a bit limiting. The other factor is the cost of the ammunition - I had no idea some of that handgun ammo was so expensive - having a hard time finding stock to compare prices and see which would be the cheapest to shoot.

Brands I've looked at:

Rossi Ranch Hand: too short

Rossi Puma 16" - right length, nice choice in calibers, but man they just look plain and un-appealing

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Like you, I don't hunt. Hell, whatever time you're in the bush, I'm in it 100 times less (That's what she said, haha). But also like you, I caught a lever bug, and have finally found one that I love which fills my "non-restricted-fun-gun" roles:



I ordered the stock from Precision Gun Works in Texas for $100 shipped and paid around $600 for the Ranch Hand in 45 Colt. I'm still working on her and am still developing loads, but I'm confident that I'll be able to hit a paper plate at 75 meters in a few months. The sights aren't great out of the box, but there's ways to fix that. For the needs you described, this is my best suggestion. For more beautifully done stocks, do a search on this forum and you'll find what the handier CGN'er's have done with theirs. There's a whole thread on Ranch Hands.

My second best suggestion would be a Marlin 1894 in whatever caliber you can find under $700. Theyr'e pretty hard to find, but they do come and go every now and then. I personally like the looks of the Marlins, especially with that side eject.

No matter what lever/caliber you settle on, with the exception of 22LR, you're probably gonna have to reload if you're a silly range plinker like I am.
 
Not exactly what you asked, but there are some awfully nice 22 levers in your price range which shoot amazingly.

Also, a top-eject Winchester 94 in less than premium shape can be had for that. I bought a prewar 1894 (long barrel 94) for $750 last year, and while it isn't collector grade, it's accurate, smooth, and a joy to shoot.

P.S. - If you go new, I suggest a 35 Remington over a 30-30, both chambered in the Marlin 336.
 
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