freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Speaking of wild bill, he seems to often have Browning 71's for sale. That is also a nice classic rifle to consider on a great action.
....
- Thread starter BigRed89
- Start date
Speaking of wild bill, he seems to often have Browning 71's for sale. That is also a nice classic rifle to consider on a great action.
The Marlins don't expose their guts when you operate the lever like a '94. I've got a [JM] 45-70 that I'm still getting to know.
Another good lever gun is a Browning or Pedersoli '86/71. The carbines kick like hell, but not the rifles. I've dropped two moose with my Browning '86 rifle with a smokeless load at BP velocity. "Bang!" Moose falls down.
Another good lever gun is a Browning or Pedersoli '86/71. The carbines kick like hell, but not the rifles. I've dropped two moose with my Browning '86 rifle with a smokeless load at BP velocity. "Bang!" Moose falls down.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I fully agree.
My 86/71 shoots me hardcast 405 gr loads at 1300 fps into an inch at 80 yds and plowed through both shoulders on a black bear atabout 70 yds out that was a tad over 330 lbs. Anchored it on the spot. The one moose I took was dumped with a Marlin 1895 45-70 using a hardcast 405 gr load
at the same velocity back in the late 70's. Similar shot placement & results. Das moose was a tad over 600 lbs.
Of all the lever rifles I've used over the years, the J.M Browning designed Winchesters are the cream of the crop as far as easy carrying, handling and performance are concerned. I stick with model 92's,94's & 86's as far as lever guns go these days. I've had many a Marlin as well but never liked the lever pivot being at the balance point on the receiver. Savage 99's with the internal rotary mag are sweet handling rifles fer me and carry well. I've shot numerous Winchester 88's and Browning BLR's and found them to be just fine accuracy wise but their magazines are right in the sweet spot for one handed carry. Never owned one of them.
Op, glad ye got a nice model 94. These are the best handling rifles made for hunting the woods fer me. Folks wanting a 94 in potent loadings than 30-30 can choose from many calibers up to .450 Marlin in the many versions of these made over the years. I'll always have a few 94's in the stash.
Nothin' looks better or hangs better for off-hand shooting than a classic 26" barreled model 94 fer me.
View attachment 185964
My take on your question depends on what caliber and style of rifle you are looking for. I've owned a model 81 BLR in .308 for 30 years, for a lever type action it is pretty accurate, 1.25 minute of angle groups at 100 yards.It has taken, several black bears ,caribou, moose and whitetails .All using 168 grains ballistic silvertip rounds. Also the rifle handles well and looks great.
I love the handling characteristics of the 94, but I didn't find it much fun to shoot. The action wasn't so smooth anymore once rounds were being extracted, the ejected rounds clocked me on the forehead, and straight grips aren't really my thing. If I could afford to have guns sitting around for collecting purposes, I'd be sure to have one. But it could never be my main rifle.
Lately I find the 99's interesting. If I knew the safety could somehow be made lefty-friendly I think I'd snap one up. Especially with a peep sight. I haven't seen a tang-safety model yet but the older ones seem nicer anyway.
Lately I find the 99's interesting. If I knew the safety could somehow be made lefty-friendly I think I'd snap one up. Especially with a peep sight. I haven't seen a tang-safety model yet but the older ones seem nicer anyway.
You want fun +accuracey try an 88!
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Marlins have a reputation for shooting tighter groups than Winchesters, however, to my mind anyway, the handiness of the Winchester far outweighs any small advantage in that area.
Scoping a traditional lever gun, is almost criminal!
It destroys the fine carry ability that is part and parcel with why lever guns are so enjoyable!
If thine eye offend thee.... Put a peep on it! The small aperture on a peep sight corrects many vision ailments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_occluder
all my Levers wear peep sights for that reason. The effect is nullified unless the peep is close to the eye, those models out on the barrel do nothing for vision.
Scoping a traditional lever gun, is almost criminal!
It destroys the fine carry ability that is part and parcel with why lever guns are so enjoyable!
If thine eye offend thee.... Put a peep on it!
The small aperture on a peep sight corrects many vision ailments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinhole_occluderall my Levers wear peep sights for that reason. The effect is nullified unless the peep is close to the eye, those models out on the barrel do nothing for vision.
At present I have two Henry's a 44 and a 45/70 as well as a straight stocked Marlin in 30/30, I prefer the Henry's mainly for the tube loading that many others dislike, I prefer levers with straight stocks, all of mine have peeps on them the Henry 45/70 is a pistol grip.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Jeronimoe83
CGN Regular
- Location
- Prince George, BC
Im going thru a bit of a lever action phase
I had a JM stamp 1895g that I regretfully sold. Was after a 1895gs jm stamped but couldnt find. I discovered the Henry All Weather 45-70 which I like so much, I bought the Henry Wildlife Edition 45-70 today. I think the Henry rifles are worth what you pay.
I had a JM stamp 1895g that I regretfully sold. Was after a 1895gs jm stamped but couldnt find. I discovered the Henry All Weather 45-70 which I like so much, I bought the Henry Wildlife Edition 45-70 today. I think the Henry rifles are worth what you pay.
