I would add if you need a gun for horseback that'll slide in and out of a scarbard then of course the lever gun is perfect but aside from that you may find a bolt gun would offer a better selection and serve you well.
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Lever Actions and Calibers
- Thread starter upperover
- Start date
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Nothing to add regarding cartridge, however, if you are buying a new lever, or a used lever that has a safety (pretty much ALL levers built in the last 8 years or so have them) I highly recommend budgeting for a "delete" kit for whatever you get.
A safety has no place on a lever gun with an exposed hammer, especially if it's purpose is "emergency use".
Pennies don't exist in Canada anymore, so you know which direction they round 2 cents to.
A safety has no place on a lever gun with an exposed hammer, especially if it's purpose is "emergency use".
Pennies don't exist in Canada anymore, so you know which direction they round 2 cents to.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Agreed fer sure. I deleted the BS safeties on my Rossi 92's as soon as I got 'em. Fookin' safety Nazis doin' their best to crowd everyone into the trap.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Thanks for that info - I have not looked at those recently. Good to hear not every manufacturer is run by lawyers.
buck knife
CGN Regular
- Location
- Golden forest
I don't mind cross bolt safeties on lever guns one bit,if you don't want to use it,a small o ring will keep it from accidentally being on when you don't want it on.the safer the better nowadays lol.I like the hammer safety best,but can understand why a cross bolt safety was added,too many accidental fires .
- Location
- Vancouver Island, BC
I strongly agree. I absolutely love the BLR and the 358 is my go-to rifle. You're not taking it apart in the field though, and I have read that some people have had failure to fire due to gumming up of lube on the firing pin in very cold weather, though I have never had this issue. I wouldn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling if I dropped it in the muck of a riverbed, though with the type of hunting I do that would be pretty unlikely.
A short semi-auto in 30-06/300 win/9.3x62/338 win mag or short pump action rifle in 30-06/9.3x62 would be a really good tool for this application. Sometimes a benelli argo (r1) in 9.3x62 will pop-up on the EE, but they have a 22" barrel and 4 rd mag. I really like how compact the SLB 2000 is, as well as the fact they have a proper 5rd mag. Once in a while, a good deal pops up on Verney-Carron impact LA pumps. If you can get past the weird looks, they also make good camp guns with short barrels, battue sights and 5 rd mags in calibers like 30-06 and 300 win (except for the 9.3x62 which has only 3 rd mags).
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
I was about to recommend that the OP also consider some bolt-actions.
Every time I start seriously looking at a lever-action I end up deciding that I can get a lot more for my money in similarly-priced bolt-action offerings.
What is it about levers that has you die-hard devotees happily forking over so much money for them? I'm not being sarcastic/snarky at all - I'm truly interested.
Modern offerings have addressed the two major drawbacks that lever-actions had in the past (limited scope mounting and no pointed ammo), but I am still wondering what on earth is is about them that commands an $1800-3000 price tag? Especially when ones that fall into the lower end of that price spectrum typically have thread after thread of complaints about fit/finish and QC.
When the Ruger Marlin gets to Canada it'll likely be over $2000 after taxes. Is it just the smaller market that commands a higher price?
I do have a bolt action for my long range rifle, the lever will be open sights for close range hunting. I found a well price brand new unfired Henry 45-70, having read how lots on how there are some issues with the Rem Marlins and seeing the price of used ones I wasn't willing to spend that much and knowing like what you said the new Ruger Marlins will be roughly 2000$ after tax, so I decided on a Henry. Plus this one doesn't have a side loading gate which is nice to prevent water ingress and if I need to load an extra round I can do single shot loads. Only heard good things about Henry repeaters too. And having pointed rounds makes sense for distance but I'm not shooting over 100yds with the lever, if I'm hunting cutblocks or fields I use my 30-06. I used a 303 bolt action before getting the Henry and it was great so don't get me wrong I considered bolt options as well. I personnally would only consider bolt or lever actions for my rifles but thats just personal preference. The only other gun I own that isn't bolt or lever action is my pump shot gun I use for waterfowl (full choke ithaca).
Right now its the supply shortage making the price tag so high
Right now its the supply shortage making the price tag so high
- Location
- Vancouver Island, BC
It's just supply/demand. People went nuts when the ban hit and marlin announced they were stopping production. The price of levers just went through the roof. A few years ago, wanstalls was selling the chiappa alaskan scout for 1100$ new. Definitely worth it at that price. A stainless takedown browning BLR was 1400$ taxes in. Definitely worth it, and made me sell my wild west guns co-pilot. There were many examples on the EE of people selling marlin (JM and remlin) for > 800$ over retail and they were actually selling.
I had a remlin 336. Never again. In fact the only Remington I’ll own is a 870
If the new ruger made guns blow a Henry out of the water I could see a 2000$ tag being worth it.
But then I would cry at the 1250$ JM stamped guns any more. Lol.
If the new ruger made guns blow a Henry out of the water I could see a 2000$ tag being worth it.
But then I would cry at the 1250$ JM stamped guns any more. Lol.
Personally I would put my money on a big, heavy bullet travelling at a moderate velocity. 45/70 is a good one also 405 winchester, 35 winchester(got one), 35 whelen, 348 winchester and a few others. I have seen failures at close range with 300 win mag and similar. The old medium bores will wade a lot of meat in general.
