Lever Action
- Thread starter Be10yts
- Start date
I really like my older Marlin, I find spare parts can be a pain but are available. I also have a Henry Big Boy. I find the action isn’t as quick but when my firing pin broke they sent me 2 in the mail for free. Not so sure if new Ruger Marlins part support is as good but no doubt somebody will chime in. I can say the new Marlins are as good as the older ones though in terms of quality.
That's rather an open-ended question. Covers a lot of ground. I'll try to give it a shot, though.
As far as a combination plinker/hunting caliber is concerned, .44 Magnum would make a good, all around choice. More than adequate as a short/medium range hunting caliber. Factory ammo is easy to source. A versatile and easy to reload cartridge. Most brands will also accept .44 Special cartridges. A good choice for low recoil target shooting.
Brand wise: That's going to depend on your budget. Plus, which one you like best. Handle each make first, if you can.
Top of the heap(in .44 Mag.) is the Miroku-Winchester Model 1892. Excellent build quality, accurate and reliable. Next, Marlin, Henry and Rossi. All are good performers. Henry in particular, has outstanding customer service.
If you want a simple, dependable and easy to maintain rifle, either Marlin or Henry. These two rifles are essentially identical internally. Both very easy to strip and clean, etc.
Rossi rifles may not be as well finished as the others. But, are certainly reliable, durable and accurate. The Model 1892 being very popular with many shooters.
There's likely others I've missed. But, this should offer some ideas.
Al
ps : Calmcat: The Henry Big Boy is an excellent rifle. With .357 being a versatile choice. Perhaps lacking the punch of the .44, but still capable of taking deer-sized game(where allowed), at close, woods ranges. I am not a fan of the big loop lever, My own personal preference being for the original 'small' lever models. But, for winter use wearing gloves, the extra room is welcome.
As far as a combination plinker/hunting caliber is concerned, .44 Magnum would make a good, all around choice. More than adequate as a short/medium range hunting caliber. Factory ammo is easy to source. A versatile and easy to reload cartridge. Most brands will also accept .44 Special cartridges. A good choice for low recoil target shooting.
Brand wise: That's going to depend on your budget. Plus, which one you like best. Handle each make first, if you can.
Top of the heap(in .44 Mag.) is the Miroku-Winchester Model 1892. Excellent build quality, accurate and reliable. Next, Marlin, Henry and Rossi. All are good performers. Henry in particular, has outstanding customer service.
If you want a simple, dependable and easy to maintain rifle, either Marlin or Henry. These two rifles are essentially identical internally. Both very easy to strip and clean, etc.
Rossi rifles may not be as well finished as the others. But, are certainly reliable, durable and accurate. The Model 1892 being very popular with many shooters.
There's likely others I've missed. But, this should offer some ideas.
Al
ps : Calmcat: The Henry Big Boy is an excellent rifle. With .357 being a versatile choice. Perhaps lacking the punch of the .44, but still capable of taking deer-sized game(where allowed), at close, woods ranges. I am not a fan of the big loop lever, My own personal preference being for the original 'small' lever models. But, for winter use wearing gloves, the extra room is welcome.
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Unless you’re on a budget you cannot go wrong with anything Ruger Marlin or Winchester. I have a Henry Model X I love too, but wasn’t a fan of Henry’s wood.
Most on the market are great. Go find one in a shop and feel how they fit you.
Most on the market are great. Go find one in a shop and feel how they fit you.
I have a Henry big boy steel 357 and I absolutely love it. Gentle to shoot but enough oomph to feel substantial.
Very accurate to 100yds.
I may even take a deer with it. 158gr around 1650ft/sec
My only complaint is its a pig on ammo! Lol
You can cycle through a lot of rounds in a short period of time.
I also have a 30-30 Henry. It's great too.
If I didn't have both I'd get the 30-30 as it's more suitable for hunting.
Just get both.
Very accurate to 100yds.
I may even take a deer with it. 158gr around 1650ft/sec
My only complaint is its a pig on ammo! Lol
You can cycle through a lot of rounds in a short period of time.
I also have a 30-30 Henry. It's great too.
If I didn't have both I'd get the 30-30 as it's more suitable for hunting.
Just get both.
Target shooting and lever action do NOT belong in the same sentence. Sorry, but they just don't. Yea, great for plinking, and plinking out to distances most don't normally shoot, but def not a target rifle. Not saying you can't, but def not the norm.
If a hunting rifle, then what ever floats your boat. Many nice ones, and even old nice ones out there that will fit the bill nicely. Winchester 1895 comes to mind for and old gooder one.
Many new ones in all kinds of calibers to hunt with, from 357 to 458, depending on what your after and how far you plan to accurately shoot it and features you want it to have. You want a take down lever, yep they are out there. You want a stainless with lam stock, yep. You want the classic look, yep they have them.
If you reload your own, .45 Colt is very versatile. It can be a low recoil plinker or be more powerful than a .44 Mag. It has been referred to as the "poor man's 45-70". Factory 45 Colt isn"t that powerful usually since it might get loaded in weaker handguns. 1892 Winchester type rifles are one of the strongest followed by 1894 Marlin types.
