Lever action dilemma
- Thread starter m_falafel
- Start date
I have the Henry big boy in 44 Magnum, and while you can shoot 44 specials in it, at 50 yds you can literally see the arc of the bullet on it's way to the target. Another thing, and some reloading manuals caution you on this, is not to use light pistol loads in a rifle because they may not have enough oomph to make it out of the longer barrel. The Henry is a beautiful well made rifle, but it is heavy. I would go with an older Marlin 336 in 30-30. I have one of those, and would take it over any Winchester any day of the week. If you want compact you may consider the mare's leg, but a lot of people have discovered that the short stock is useless as tits on a bull. I do believe there is a thread on here about putting a proper buttstock on the mares leg while keeping the short barrel. I have a new found liking for lever guns and am trying to convince myself that I should get a marlin in 45-70
buzzmagoo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- sprucewood Hallows Eastern Townships
Henry‘s are an excellent choice. I must have lucked out on my two Alaskans 44 lovely guns. Winchester !hard to go wrong with them especially the newer ones. My father got a old marlin in 38/40 thats beat all to hell ( busted stock , rust and pitted) and it still shoots true. If this will be your first lever get a 22 and get used to the action. Then go bigger. Try and borrow other makes and models to get to feel what you like then go from there.opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one. All ways bye the best that you can that way if you need to sell it will be easy to get your price back. Be safe and enjoy the sport.
buzzmagoo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- sprucewood Hallows Eastern Townships
Henry‘s are an excellent choice. I must have lucked out on my two Alaskans 44 lovely guns. Winchester !hard to go wrong with them especially the newer ones. My father got a old marlin in 38/40 thats beat all to hell ( busted stock , rust and pitted) and it still shoots true. If this will be your first lever get a 22 and get used to the action. Then go bigger. Try and borrow other makes and models to get to feel what you like then go from there.opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one. All ways bye the best that you can that way if you need to sell it will be easy to get your price back. Be safe and enjoy the sport.
My 1947 model 94 inherited from my grandfather is the best bush rifle I've ever owned and shot. Even at that old the thing shoots straight and I haven't had a single problem with any of the internals. The 30-30 makes me feel a lot safer in the bush as well. The weight and feel of the model 94 is remarkable and I highly recommend it.
I have a Browning 1886 SRC that is very well made. It is about 20-25 yrs old and built as good if not better than the original Winchesters, no tang safety or rebounding hammer crap. Sad thing is I never use it, like in 5 or more years.
Over 30 years of shooting I have rationalized the way I buy guns. I've purchased lots a guns in my early years that ended up being disappointments and resold at a big lost. These are my 3 rules of gun buying. Hopefully it make sense.
1. Parts Availability: A gun will break eventually. I have shelved gun for the reason that I couldn't find parts or send it out for repairs to see it back months or years later.
2. Caliber: I how much will the gun cost to feed. All my guns are shooters and in a good season I shoot around 3000 rounds of different calibers.
3. Resale value: A well respected brand will keep its value much more than a less known 'foreign' brand. Lever action Winchesters, Marlins (especially the older models) and Brownings retain their values much more then let say Rossi or Chiappa.
1. Parts Availability: A gun will break eventually. I have shelved gun for the reason that I couldn't find parts or send it out for repairs to see it back months or years later.
2. Caliber: I how much will the gun cost to feed. All my guns are shooters and in a good season I shoot around 3000 rounds of different calibers.
3. Resale value: A well respected brand will keep its value much more than a less known 'foreign' brand. Lever action Winchesters, Marlins (especially the older models) and Brownings retain their values much more then let say Rossi or Chiappa.
I've got a stainless BLR takedown in .308Win. Beautiful piece of machinery that comes apart into 2 pieces less than 23" long. The mags change quick and while easy to get are a bit pricey though, like a freakin' $100 each!
But I can use whatever pointy rounds I feel like. The 4 rd capacity might be a issue but if the first 5 didn't do the job, the next 4 probably won't either.
But I can use whatever pointy rounds I feel like. The 4 rd capacity might be a issue but if the first 5 didn't do the job, the next 4 probably won't either.
I bought a takedown Miroku Winchester 92 in 32-20. I carried the rifle in my luggage as a travelling salesman. In reality I would not pay the premium for the takedown feature again. The rifle stays assembled full time now.
I haven't read all posts but own a 94 and 9422 Winchester, 92 Winoku (Miroku Winchester), and a 444 Marlin. I once owned a Browning BLR and liked it. I just prefer traditional lever, exposed hammer and tube magazine in 100 year old chamberings. If forced to choose only one it would be the Marlin design. The Marlin fits a little bigger than the Winchesters, scopes with ease, and cleans easily from the breech. Gladly I do not have to make that choice.
The Winchesters are the nicest handling rifles on the planet, specially in barrel or peep sights. Rifles with scopes feel clumsy after a day of hunting with a lever. If optics or gadgets are wanted the choice is a Marlin or side eject Winchester. The receiver sighted 30-30 94 or 336 make the ideal first lever imo. A 44 Mag will make a dandy brush rifle, once owned a Ruger auto in 44 Mag, and my 444 has taught me that big bores offer outstanding terminal ballistics. Both the 44 Mag and 30-30 will be loud but reloading will tame the sound problem with mid power practice ammo.
The Browning BLR and Savage 99 are fine rifles in hotter loadings. I prefer the BLR only because of the external hammer.
I haven't read all posts but own a 94 and 9422 Winchester, 92 Winoku (Miroku Winchester), and a 444 Marlin. I once owned a Browning BLR and liked it. I just prefer traditional lever, exposed hammer and tube magazine in 100 year old chamberings. If forced to choose only one it would be the Marlin design. The Marlin fits a little bigger than the Winchesters, scopes with ease, and cleans easily from the breech. Gladly I do not have to make that choice.
The Winchesters are the nicest handling rifles on the planet, specially in barrel or peep sights. Rifles with scopes feel clumsy after a day of hunting with a lever. If optics or gadgets are wanted the choice is a Marlin or side eject Winchester. The receiver sighted 30-30 94 or 336 make the ideal first lever imo. A 44 Mag will make a dandy brush rifle, once owned a Ruger auto in 44 Mag, and my 444 has taught me that big bores offer outstanding terminal ballistics. Both the 44 Mag and 30-30 will be loud but reloading will tame the sound problem with mid power practice ammo.
The Browning BLR and Savage 99 are fine rifles in hotter loadings. I prefer the BLR only because of the external hammer.
I read all the comments on this thread regarding the Chiappa which were mostly negative to my surprise. I have both the Chiappa Takedowns in 44 mag Alaskan and the mares leg both with heavy octagon barrels and they are both two of my best rifles. I know for a fact that there are a lot of confusion out there that confuse the Chiappa with other makes. For a fact I have also owned a 44 Henry big boy Mares Leg only to have it returned due to defects and only getting it back ager 9 months on warrantee. Perhaps the other comments on this thread are from past older models of Chiappa or they were made for other suppliers like puma under inferior specks dictated to produce less quality models. I can only attest that my recent (about a year now) models are perfect.
My 50 cents
My 50 cents
I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.
That's great. What are the books about?
Some people want to know if they are getting advice from a person who has experience with a sample size of one, or from someone who has experience with many. Next time I won't bother posting. Gratitude of this sort is just not worth the grief of providing free advice.
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Are you OK? Don't be all butthurt. Im sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your little feelers. I was just funning you a bit quoting a line out of Anchorman. Youtube it...you might even laugh. Free advice is generally worth exactly what you pay for it but in this case I will agree that Chiappa levers are cheaply made junk with a big price tag.
Would of been three if I wuzz qwick like a bunny.
But, I do have a comparable to that fine shoot'in 44 mag.
Just need to git me arse up yer way and try'er owtt.
Amung a bunch of others.
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
The Rossi 92 carbine or mares leg would be the only real option compare to a Marlin or a chiappa....
I recently purchased a mates leg in 45LC, put on a full size butt stock and it's a right handy 12" carbine!
Claven has it right!
I recently purchased a mates leg in 45LC, put on a full size butt stock and it's a right handy 12" carbine!
Claven has it right!
I thank you for all your advice. I too am a leveraction fan and offer free advice. Yours has helped me in the past and I hope you reconsider because it is much appreciated. I'm sure there are hundreds of folks like me. One worthless negative post is sad but a part of the internet experience.
