I need a cowboy lever gun...suggestions ?

Ruffie

Ruffie

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So my brother in law is retiring to the farm and I'd like to get him a retirement present. He is not a hunter but will need a gun on the farm for varmits and the like. He is a true blue cowboy c/w horses and all the get go. I even think he has a leather scabbard.

It must be a lever gun, I've been looking at the Alex Henry's and they look good.

Remembering this isn't for hunting but for varmit control, crows, magpies maybe a porcupine. Perhaps even a close range coyote.

I've been thinking that a 22 mag is the right caliber for this but would like to hear some suggestions please.
 
.22 mag is ok, I would think a 38 Sp/.357 mag lever would be great. Target level .38 special rounds are fairly quiet out of a rifle and still whack fairly hard on small things. .357 magnum full power rounds are fun too. For how much it sounds like he's going to be shooting, I'd rather pay 15-20 bucks a box for ammo than 8 bucks for the .22's
 
I vote Marlin 30-30. Light on the shoulder, yet enough energy to dispatch most problems on the farm. If you want cheap, go SKS.
 
I think there should be at least one 30-30 in every farm house, for a lot of reasons! And for my shear love of them, I vote pre '64 Win 94.
 
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when he gets the farm, start looking in every nook and cranny- you MAY not have to buy one- EVERY farm on the priaries had some sort of firearm stashed behind the back door or out in the barn- or in a shed- remeber on a FARM, THESE ARE TOOLS, just the same as a plough or tractor- it'll probably be either a 12 guage single, or a winchester 94 30/30 or BOTH or something similar, and be in TERRIbLE SHAPE- if you do get one, get a marlin in 30/30- now that the winchester is kind of gone kaflooey
 
When I retire I hope someone buys me a lever gun. Lucky guy. The 22mag will do what you mentioned above. And the Henry is a great gun I've had one for a couple a years now no problems and very accurate. But if you do go bigger +1 for the 30-30 in a Marlin (got one of them too). R:d:
 
Very important for him would be to go to the country store and buy "a box of shells for my gun." For this reason alone, 30-30. (Marlin.)
 
The two rifles that I carry in my scabbard on horseback are a BLR 81 in .223 or a stainless Puma 92 in .357. The detachable magazine on the BLR makes for quick loading and unloading when you want to jump in the truck.
 
That's an interesting sounding 94, even if someone may suggest washing your mouth out in soap, for telling it's history! Got to be politically correct on here, you know! (Bull Biscuits. There, I said it before any one else could!)
I will agree, a pre 64 94 would be ideal.
I said Marlin as an afterthought, because most 94s on the used market now are post 64s. Also, Marlin has a great history in the old west, but missed the publicity, because all Hollywood knew was Winchesters and Colts.
 
marlin 336W in 30-30... if your brother is a real cowboy be sure to get him the "W".
or a marlin 1894 in 44 mag. regardless i will say without hesitation that a marlin is more rugged than a winchester. i wouldn't even think about a henry or mossberg.
 
A model 1892 in 32spl or such, maybe 357. Totally cool. Mind you he would have to reload the 32spl probably. A 30-30 would be a hands down easy call. That and a 22 and a 12ga pretty much covers size and method of transport.
 
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