Best Lever Action for Pistol Caliber - 1892 Winchester Vs 1894 Marlin ??
- Thread starter lyle1
- Start date
The tube magazine is only an issue if you need to reload fast, right after shooting your 10th round (that's for my .357mag, a mare's legs has less capacity of course). In which case, the damned bear earned his lunch anyways, he can have me. *grins*
Otherwise, it's no worse than reloading a muzzle-loader. Not the most ergonomic, for sure, but you get used to it pretty fast. One thing to be careful about is that if you just let her 'rip with 10 rounds, that barrel can be pretty hot. Then it's a lot easier indeed to load from the side without burning yourself, lol! The reason the front loading tube went out of fashion is as much that hot barrel as the fact that it's a lot easier to reload a side gate from the prone position or sitting on a saddle, I think: the front loading tube does not make a good military weapon because of these characteristics.
I'd be curious to compare the loading times with a side gate owner, though: once the tube is opened, you can pretty easily drop a handful of cartridges down the tube by gravity, no need to push them in one by one. Overall, I suspect there's not a lot of difference in how long it takes to reload.
And those Henry's sure have very smooth lever action and a surprisingly nice trigger.
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A fun gun is a Marlin 1892 which was chambered in 32 Colt. I have one of these that was rechambered to 32 S&W. It is a ton of fun and is my varmint gun around the farm. Using 32 S&W shorts the rifle has a capacity of 19 in the tube mag and one chambered, for a total of 20 rounds. Best fun gun I have ever owned.
The tube magazine is only an issue if you need to reload fast, right after shooting your 10th round (that's for my .357mag, a mare's legs has less capacity of course). In which case, the damned bear earned his lunch anyways, he can have me. *grins*
Otherwise, it's no worse than reloading a muzzle-loader. Not the most ergonomic, for sure, but you get used to it pretty fast. One thing to be careful about is that if you just let her 'rip with 10 rounds, that barrel can be pretty hot. Then it's a lot easier indeed to load from the side without burning yourself, lol! The reason the front loading tube went out of fashion is as much that hot barrel as the fact that it's a lot easier to reload a side gate from the prone position or sitting on a saddle, I think: the front loading tube does not make a good military weapon because of these characteristics.
I'd be curious to compare the loading times with a side gate owner, though: once the tube is opened, you can pretty easily drop a handful of cartridges down the tube by gravity, no need to push them in one by one. Overall, I suspect there's not a lot of difference in how long it takes to reload.
And those Henry's sure have very smooth lever action and a surprisingly nice trigger.
I have seen more than one magazine follower come flying out the magazine of a Henry Big Boy when the gun is being fired at cowboy matches. Not entirely sure the reason for the malfunction, but I've seen it on multiple guns. Usually newer shooters who bought a Henry because they look pretty, not realizing they aren't race capable. Which may lend to them being inexperience and therefore human error being the main cause. For me though, it's simply an impractical afetation that, as you mentioned, hearkens back to the days of muzzle-loaders. At least the Original Henry rifles retained the spring and follower, no chance of it flying out.
For me side loading is the ticket, whether it be while driving logging roads or getting into my tree stand, or a quick, on the clock reload in competition, the side loading wins every time because the gun can be loaded easily without a ton of noise or parts that can be dropped or misplaced. If you are riding shotgun with an unloaded rife in the woods, you can hop out, load the gun and shoot in a second or two, try that with a Big Boy, or what if you get into your stand at dark, pull the magazine follower to put in a few rounds and it drops into the cold dark brush below. I bet you'll wish you had a 92 or a Marlin THAT morning! Just my .02, Skokie.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I reload, and my original Winchester 1892 has seen loads that I simply will not share. It has a modern barrel on an original action.
I love the little rifle, and have taken a few deer and bear with it. It's a 44-40.
Is it better than the Marlin? Don't know, don't care, I like it.
I love the little rifle, and have taken a few deer and bear with it. It's a 44-40.
Is it better than the Marlin? Don't know, don't care, I like it.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I've been happy with the Rossi 92's as they are fun rifles to tinker on and will perform well for plinkin' & hunting chores. My ones tend to be on the short side as I like the easy carry & quick to aim features. I wish I'd kept my Winchester 94 Legacy in .357 with 24" barrel though. Lovely rifle that balanced great and shot true to 200 yds. on steel.
Rossi .357 shorty.
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Rossi .357 shorty.
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Yes that happens when people reload too fast and forget to turn the magazine insert nob all the way.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Best answer right here!!
How about a Henry 12" barrel Big Boy in 44 Mag. This is my cabin rifle for deer, bear and 2-Legged unwelcome creatures.
That's a little beauty you have!
This is mine, and some results I've had at 100m with .357mag:
That's a little beauty you have!
This is mine, and some results I've had at 100m with .357mag:
Thanks. It started off as a Mare's Leg and ordered a full length stock for her. I upgraded the original front sight for a taller blade style Skinner Sight as the original was short and was shooting high. Skinner now stocks Marbles front brass bead sight and ordered a .500", now she is back to a factory look.
I also have a Henry in 45-70 steel.
