An informed opinion on lever guns.

For a full tear down, most lever guns are considerably harder than their bolt gun counterparts to tear down. There has to be a down side to everything.
On the plus side, many old levers haven't been taken apart in decades and still function just fine.
I'm a mechanic, I take everything apart. If you're mechanically inclined at all, they are not that difficult. But at least have a tear down manual or a blow up parts pic to help you.
I have taken my 94 Winchester apart at the hunt camp, cleaned it and reassembled it with basic hand tools, and a nail for a pin punch. They are just not that hard.
 
Every shooter should own at least one lever action rifle.

I am a dyed in the wool bolt action lover, but I have 4 lever guns.

One is a M94 in 38-55 [1979 reproduction]
One is a 336A Marlin, 30-30, 24" barrel
One is a 336 Marlin, 30-30, 20" barrel [this is the most accurate 30-30 lever I have ever seen, shooting sub-moa with the 170 Speer FP and WC755 powder]
Last one is a 1893 Marlin, 30-30, octagon 22" barrel. [This will soon be a 38-55, since the bore is toast]

They are really "fun" guns, but they hunt very well, indeed. I shot my largest Whitetail to date with my 38-55 Winchester.

If you want power, lever guns are made to satisfy that as well. Many levers are astoundingly accurate.

Regards, Dave.
 
Eagleye said:
Every shooter should own at least one lever action rifle.

I am a dyed in the wool bolt action lover, but I have 4 lever guns.

One is a M94 in 38-55 [1979 reproduction]
One is a 336A Marlin, 30-30, 24" barrel
One is a 336 Marlin, 30-30, 20" barrel [this is the most accurate 30-30 lever I have ever seen, shooting sub-moa with the 170 Speer FP and WC755 powder]
Last one is a 1893 Marlin, 30-30, octagon 22" barrel. [This will soon be a 38-55, since the bore is toast]

They are really "fun" guns, but they hunt very well, indeed. I shot my largest Whitetail to date with my 38-55 Winchester.

If you want power, lever guns are made to satisfy that as well. Many levers are astoundingly accurate.

Regards, Dave.
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Totally agree,;) and I have a similar number.
:redface:I haven't updated the photo 'archive' yet. From the top down;
- A Winchester model 71 Deluxe in 348WCF, MY FAVORITE lever gun/calibre combo.
- A Marlin 1895GS in 45-70
- A Marlin 444S, in 444 Marlin
- A Marlin 1894, in 44-40
But in this photo, the Marlin 1895GS in 45-70, 2nd down, has been given to my son



But it has been replaced



with a Marlin GBL, also in 45-70.
 
I have 3 lever guns one of which i really like, my 336 xlr. I put them away in winter they freeze my hand instantly. When you think about it a lever gun is a ridiculous contraption, if it was invented today people would scoff
 
skookumchuck said:
I've decided to go with a Rossi '92 in .357. If it runs great out of the box I'll be happy and if not I'll be here again for more advise;)
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My advise is to go to http://www.stevesgunz.com and consider buying their low-power ejector spring and metal mag follower. Those are the best value for dollar upgrades to the Rossi.

If you are NOT mechanically inclined, consider also ordering his DVD of how to work on the 92.
 
I have 1 marlin 45-70mxl(I think), 1 Winchester 1895 30-30, 2 savage 99's 250-3000 with the rotary magazine and round counter 308 with box clip, 2 browning take downs in 243 and 325 wsm, 2 brownings in 308 and 450 marlin

I like the box clips the best but their is something to be said for looks of the tube fed levers
 
skookumchuck said:
I've decided to go with a Rossi '92 in .357. If it runs great out of the box I'll be happy and if not I'll be here again for more advise;)
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I bought a 45colt version, used, that had been worked over by Elwood Epps. I've still not had a chance to really develop a load for it, and it needs new sights (PO put aftermarket stuff on it) but it is a very slick little rifle. Contrast it to my .357 Henry big boy that weighs a ton!
 
Thanks for the link Claven2. I wouldn't describe myself as overly mechanically inclined but I'm capable enough to not be intimidated. I've had all my revolvers completely apart including my Colt double action that I was warned against and managed to fabricate a tool to help with the replacement of the rebound slide spring in my Smiths. I'll order the DVD with the springs for reference just the same. I'm sure I've seen a thread by you on the Rossi as well? Now to decide between blued or stainless.
 
skookumchuck said:
Thanks for the link Claven2. I wouldn't describe myself as overly mechanically inclined but I'm capable enough to not be intimidated. I've had all my revolvers completely apart including my Colt double action that I was warned against and managed to fabricate a tool to help with the replacement of the rebound slide spring in my Smiths. I'll order the DVD with the springs for reference just the same. I'm sure I've seen a thread by you on the Rossi as well? Now to decide between blued or stainless.
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Sounds like you'll able to work on it OK. You're just up the road from Peter Riedel at Rusty Wood Trading here in Mission, whose specialty is cowboy action (as well as being a good general gunsmith) so he can handle anything you can't sort out.

:)
 
skookumchuck said:
Thanks for the link Claven2. I wouldn't describe myself as overly mechanically inclined but I'm capable enough to not be intimidated. I've had all my revolvers completely apart including my Colt double action that I was warned against and managed to fabricate a tool to help with the replacement of the rebound slide spring in my Smiths. I'll order the DVD with the springs for reference just the same. I'm sure I've seen a thread by you on the Rossi as well? Now to decide between blued or stainless.
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Yes I have a couple threads here on tuning them. If you need help, just post.
 
I would suggest a blued gun rather than a stainless one, if you do intend to shoot CAS and Hunt with the rifle, you will spend a fair amount of time outside shooting it. I've found the stainless models tend to pick up and reflect the sunlight too well, sometimes making it a bit more difficult to see the sights. However if you intend to shoot Blackpowder or hunt alot in wet, damp areas a stainless gun in easier to clean and less likely to rust. The rossi's are very decent guns, I've owned two in .44 mag and currently shoot the one for CAS. I did a simple action job which consisted of tearing down the gun, deburring the parts with some 600 grit sandpaper and then a bit of polishing on the bearing surfaces, add a good quality lube, lighten up the springs a little and shoot it a bunch to break it in. The only other thing I did was shorten the mag tube spring, they come ridiculously too long. It's important that the main spring always be strong enough to set off any primer it may encounter, as reliability is more important than speed.
 
My main cowboy gun is an Uberti 1866 Yellowboy (bottom gun in pic). It will only shoot .38 special, but as cowboy loads are mostly "mouse-fart" that works just fine. My back up gun is a Cimarron 1873 in .357mag (they are the "hand picked" Uberti's). Both are great guns and well worth the premium you will pay for them.

 
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