lever action rifle

I have had levers from 22-45/70 and my fave of those is still my trusty Savage 99C 308 with a DM. Also have a Winchester Miroku 45/70 and an older Marlin 336 in 35Rem. Also use one for plinking. Got a newer 9422 that is a delight to shoot-almost as much as my BSA Martini target 22. Love my levers and hunt them when I can. Punch paper when I cant. Im a leftie so levers are a good thing for me. The 99 is perfect since it has a tang safety so left or right its comfy.
 
In my opinion, the Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 is the best bang for your buck to use your words. 30.30 is a good choice for deer and bear. .35 remington is also a good choice in the 336. It seems these two rifles are always in competition and everybody has their opinion on them...go to your local gun shop and handle both rifles, shoulder them and work the action and see which one YOU like best. Personally, if I was going to buy one hunting lever I would spend a little extra cash and get either a Winchester Model 88 .308 or BLR in .308 or .358. Don't overlook the Savage 99 either. It's good that you are doing your research but at the end of the day these are all fine rifles that will all do the job. I recommend handling as many as you can and decide which feels right for you.
 
Marlin all the way!

If you want a good all around lever rifle, the .308 Marlin Express is close enough to the .308 Winchester that the difference ain't worth mentioning. 300 yd capable, and good for everything up to and including even moose.

Son-in-law has one. Surprising amount of bite in the recoil dept. off a benchrest at the range. Very thin and hard rubber butt plate on his. Replacing it with a Decelerator tamed that nicely.

Hornady now loads a LeverEvolution 140 gr. GMX bullet (their Barnes TTSX equivalent) for these, called "Monoflex". Pretty impressive ballistics for a traditional lever action!. I use these now in my 30.30 Marlin.

If you're thinking 45-70, might want to go a few rounds with one first, make sure the recoil is tolerable before laying out your coin for one.

Lastly, a nice compact scope looks far more at home on a Marlin than any of the other traditional style lever guns...and, no, there's not a damn thing wrong with scoping one of these, either! :)

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I love my little Marlin 1895GBL. It is a Remlin/Marlington, but it is a good one (there is some out there). Don't let recoil stop you with a 45/70. It's not that bad, at all. Load it down for deer, or way up for anything in North America. Fairly versatile
 
Choice #1. Browning BLR chambered .308Win or maybe .358Win, though your ammo will be harder to find than .308.

Choice #2. Winchester Model 88 chambered .308 Winchester.


Did I mention the .308 does it all?:D

These rifles are not classics like the Marlin336 or the Win94's;), however they do deliver stopping power:eek: unmatched by the .30-30, and give similar brush handling characteristics, especially in the 20" BLR81 and 19" M88 carbine.:canadaFlag:
 
The one I want is a Marlin XLR 30-30. Prices have been all over the place, so I haven't popped yet. Sorta a stealth version of the 30 Whisper. l0l
 
I'd go for a Browning BLR, new Miroku-made Winchester, or a used Marlin 1895GS (there's tons out there and they hit the EE all the time). The BLR is non-traditional but very handy and good-looking and great options for chamberings, the Winchester will be slick and smooth and classy, and the Marlin will hit like the fist of an angry God and have major cool points.
 
Get the Marlin; real forged steel and surprising accuracy. Some guys have mentioned the Q.C. issues, but I'm pretty sure that's been corrected. Mine is mighty nice anyway.

Going after black bear, or something bigger? A 30-30 will do the job but when stuff gets a little big and tough, or small and soft the 45-70 will handle it all. Load it right down with filler and a "dash" of Bullseye and cast bullets, or loaded right up to double the factory ft./lbs. with gas checks or jacketed.

It's expensive for jacketed bullets and loaded rounds however. But cast bullets make it a lot more affordable, especially if you cast your own. Some big guys grumble about the recoil, but it doesn't bother others in the slightest.

The semi-pistol grip stock is a little more suited to heavy loads and scope mounting.
 
tactical lever said:
Get the Marlin; real forged steel and surprising accuracy. Some guys have mentioned the Q.C. issues, but I'm pretty sure that's been corrected. Mine is mighty nice anyway.

Going after black bear, or something bigger? A 30-30 will do the job but when stuff gets a little big and tough, or small and soft the 45-70 will handle it all. Load it right down with filler and a "dash" of Bullseye and cast bullets, or loaded right up to double the factory ft./lbs. with gas checks or jacketed.

It's expensive for jacketed bullets and loaded rounds however. But cast bullets make it a lot more affordable, especially if you cast your own. Some big guys grumble about the recoil, but it doesn't bother others in the slightest.

The semi-pistol grip stock is a little more suited to heavy loads and scope mounting.
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For my tastes, I'd be a little 'wary' using Bullseye in an application like that, but that's just me. That being said, for light loads in the 45-70 I have used Unique with a filler called No Draft cut to size.

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I agree with your take on a pistol grip stock. Hot loads in my 1895GS, especially with the heavier bullets, tends to be a little hard on the fingers.

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I think leverguns are one of the worst platforms available, but if I had to get one again, it would be a Marlin 45-70 guide gun in stainless.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
For my tastes, I'd be a little 'wary' using Bullseye in an application like that, but that's just me. That being said, for light loads in the 45-70 I have used Unique with a filler called No Draft cut to size.

I agree with your take on a pistol grip stock. Hot loads in my 1895GS, especially with the heavier bullets, tends to be a little hard on the fingers.
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You don't like Bullseye? Why would you be wary of it? I was mentioning the pistol grip stock as being a little easier on the shoulder having less drop. My rifle is like your stainless Marlin. I knew I was going to start loading hot and scope it, however I could not resist the aesthetic appeal of the straight grip.

When I first shot it, it rapped my fingers a little, but now even with warmer loads it doesn't. I must be gripping it a little different. Have not gotten around to changing the recoil pad on mine yet, either.
 
Rocket Surgery said:
I think leverguns are one of the worst platforms available, but if I had to get one again, it would be a Marlin 45-70 guide gun in stainless.
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They definitely have their place in hunting instances. Sure, they typically aren't as accurate as bolt actions but having the speed of a follow up shot is important for some people as well as the compact size.
 
Hmmm. One has to wonder just how much experience someone has that says the platform is the worst available. I guess that explains why there are so many of them around. I have leverguns up to 45/70 but I think Browning still makes one in 30-06. My Savage 99c 308 is one of my fave rifles and a delight to pack unlike my Ruger 77mkII 30-06. Way better than minute of pieplate all the way thru if I do my part. Just my humble opinion but then I own, load for, and shoot a half dozen leverguns as well as a collection of bolts.
 
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