So I just got back from trying out my uncles lever gun and well i'm impressed! honestly ive never been interested in lever gun as I find them sort of ugly looking and pointless cause a bolt action rifle is quicker to kick the next round in the chamber I thought. Also they always reminded me of an old person's gun. Well this 20 year old is an idiot for thinking this and am defiantly buying a lever gun this year... The problem is I dont know where to start, I know nothing about them, and neither does my uncle, he only got his cause it was free.... I perfer it to be blued, and to have black plastic stock, I dont want a .22, thinking maybe a .357, I dont want to pay more then 600..... Is this possible, what company makes the best one within my price range?
Need Help On A Lever Gun
- Thread starter srnm
- Start date
You can get black butler creek stocks for win Model 94 Lever guns.
Try WSS and check their online catalouge.
It is available elsewhere too, you just have to ask around or have your local guy bring it in for you.
Rob
Try WSS and check their online catalouge.
It is available elsewhere too, you just have to ask around or have your local guy bring it in for you.
Rob
Edward Teach
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- who cares?
Burn the heretic!!!
You could snag a used Marlin 30-30 for $400ish off the EE, then use the extra cash to buy a *shudder* ramline synthetic stock setup for it. OR you could bedliner over the original stock. *Shudder again*
30-30 ammo is dirt cheap, easy to shoot to 200m, and just works damn well in a lever setup.
I myself like the blued and wood finishes, as I find it very classy, but hey, whatever works I suppose.
30-30 ammo is dirt cheap, easy to shoot to 200m, and just works damn well in a lever setup.
I myself like the blued and wood finishes, as I find it very classy, but hey, whatever works I suppose.
- Location
- London, Ontario
Get a Marlin 336 in .30-30Win and/or a Marlin 1894 in .357Mag/.38Spl....I am thinking about getting one too
. If you do decide to get plastic funature for it prepare to get laughed at...ALOT. Wholesalesports.ca has them on for around $600. Btw even seen how fast someone who knows what they are doing work a lever or a smoothed out leer gun even? They are crazy fast and stay on target much easier AND generally have more rounds then a bolt gun (6+1 in a .30-30Win and 8+1 or 9+1 in .357Mag)
. If you do decide to get plastic funature for it prepare to get laughed at...ALOT. Wholesalesports.ca has them on for around $600. Btw even seen how fast someone who knows what they are doing work a lever or a smoothed out leer gun even? They are crazy fast and stay on target much easier AND generally have more rounds then a bolt gun (6+1 in a .30-30Win and 8+1 or 9+1 in .357Mag)And abortions have their time and place too.....
- Location
- London, Ontario
I like a 94 Winchester carbine in 30-30.There was so many of them made they must work.I have one I pack around at the cabin with me all the time,light,quick,tough and easy to pack.I just bought another one for my youngest son who likes to walk rivers fishing and does alot of camping.
Lever Actions
Lever actions are a "fun" gun to use, as you have found out. The thing here, is you have not given anyone a direction to point you as far as a calibre or intended use for your choice.
If you are thinking of hunting with the occasional "blasting them downrange" session, then probably a 30-30 is a good calibre to choose. Other calibres are .45 Colt, .44 Rem. Mag., .35 Rem., .357 Magnum, 44-40 Win., and of course, the .22 LR. Bigger Calibres are the .45-70, .444 Marlin, and such. There are also 38-55, .307 Win., .356 Win., and such that are not so common, and are harder to obtain ammo for. And lets not forget the Winchester 71 in .348.
There are "replica" lever actions, copies of Winchester 66, 73, and 86 rifles, at higher prices due to the nostalgia factor and the cowboy action shooters. There are "modern" lever actions for "modern" calibres such as the Browning Lever Action, and the traditional types such as the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 94.
So, what are you going to do with it?
For my preference, if for a general, all round, lever action, I would choose either a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 in 30-30 Calibre. The Winchester 94 is lighter than the Marlin, but if you ever intend to put a scope on one, there are problems. The older 94s are top eject, so mounting a scope has to be offset to the side. However, the later "angle eject" models are a lot better for scope mounting. Since Winchester has ceased production, it could be a factor, but there were millions of these made, so a spare part should not be any problem, except for maybe the later angle eject models. One big factor is that you darned near have to clean a Model 94 from the muzzle.
The Marlin 336 is still in production. It is a bit heavier than the Winchester 94, because the receiver is made from steel. It is side eject, which means that you can easily mount a scope. The thing I like about the Marlin 336 is that it can easily be cleaned by taking one screw out of the lever, and removing the bolt to the rear. This allows cleaning from the rear of the rifle, without possible damage to the muzzle.
Anyways, as you have seen from the previous posts, I would forget about the plastic stock replacement. That is, unless you intend to hunt in the darkness of the deepest woods where no one can see you.
You probably really don't want to be remembered as "the Dork with the plastic stock on a lever gun," and be reminded of your indiscretion for the rest of your life by your shooting buddies, and future generations to come.
Lever actions are a "fun" gun to use, as you have found out. The thing here, is you have not given anyone a direction to point you as far as a calibre or intended use for your choice.
If you are thinking of hunting with the occasional "blasting them downrange" session, then probably a 30-30 is a good calibre to choose. Other calibres are .45 Colt, .44 Rem. Mag., .35 Rem., .357 Magnum, 44-40 Win., and of course, the .22 LR. Bigger Calibres are the .45-70, .444 Marlin, and such. There are also 38-55, .307 Win., .356 Win., and such that are not so common, and are harder to obtain ammo for. And lets not forget the Winchester 71 in .348.
There are "replica" lever actions, copies of Winchester 66, 73, and 86 rifles, at higher prices due to the nostalgia factor and the cowboy action shooters. There are "modern" lever actions for "modern" calibres such as the Browning Lever Action, and the traditional types such as the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 94.
So, what are you going to do with it?
For my preference, if for a general, all round, lever action, I would choose either a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 in 30-30 Calibre. The Winchester 94 is lighter than the Marlin, but if you ever intend to put a scope on one, there are problems. The older 94s are top eject, so mounting a scope has to be offset to the side. However, the later "angle eject" models are a lot better for scope mounting. Since Winchester has ceased production, it could be a factor, but there were millions of these made, so a spare part should not be any problem, except for maybe the later angle eject models. One big factor is that you darned near have to clean a Model 94 from the muzzle.
The Marlin 336 is still in production. It is a bit heavier than the Winchester 94, because the receiver is made from steel. It is side eject, which means that you can easily mount a scope. The thing I like about the Marlin 336 is that it can easily be cleaned by taking one screw out of the lever, and removing the bolt to the rear. This allows cleaning from the rear of the rifle, without possible damage to the muzzle.
Anyways, as you have seen from the previous posts, I would forget about the plastic stock replacement. That is, unless you intend to hunt in the darkness of the deepest woods where no one can see you.
You probably really don't want to be remembered as "the Dork with the plastic stock on a lever gun," and be reminded of your indiscretion for the rest of your life by your shooting buddies, and future generations to come.NolanOsborn
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
Couldn't have said it better if I tried.
NolanOsborn
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
As others have touched on, I would recommend a Marlin 336 ( 336 C has nicer wood, 336 W is less expensive. Both will get the job done. ) in .30-30.
Don't let others opinion dictate your actions as far as gun aesthetics go. While I would rather give up my levers than plastic stock them, if that is what you like. DO IT.
Just keep the wood stocks for when you change your mind
Don't let others opinion dictate your actions as far as gun aesthetics go. While I would rather give up my levers than plastic stock them, if that is what you like. DO IT.
Just keep the wood stocks for when you change your mind
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Bassmaster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- WMU 48 - Whitetail country
Marlin 336....smooth, balanced and quick to the shoulder.
Bass
Bass
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Since no one has mentioned the Savage Model 99 or a Winchester Model 88 yet, i thought i'd chime in and mention those 2 types of lever action rifles. My father has an 88 that he has been using since about 1970, chambered in 308 and this rifle has always been a pleasure to shoot (when he lets me ) and it has killed many moose and cariboo. I bought a Marlin 336XLR chambered in 35 Remington a few months ago and didn't like it very much. The caliber is wonderful. It will kill moose, bear and deer at 150 yards no problem. My father also has a Marlin 336 in 35 and it's a beauty. The problem that i had with the 336XLR was that I tried bringing it into the thick bush we have around here (black spruce so thick it takes 5 minutes to walk 20 feet in it) and found it to cumbersome so i traded it in for a Savage 99 in 300 Savage with a 20 in barrel and havn't looked back.
As a few of the previous posters have mentioned, you can get a lever action rifle in a whole bunch of calibers. Not as many as a bolt action rifle but still enough. So my questions to you OP are as follows:
1. Do you intend to hunt with this rifle or target shoot?
2. Do you intend to put a scope on it or not?
3. Do you plan on shooting any more than 100 yards with it or will it be a close range rifle?
All of the answers to these questions should determine your choice of rifle and caliber. Get back to us with the specifics and we'll be able to help you out a little better. Good luck.
Dorian
) and it has killed many moose and cariboo. I bought a Marlin 336XLR chambered in 35 Remington a few months ago and didn't like it very much. The caliber is wonderful. It will kill moose, bear and deer at 150 yards no problem. My father also has a Marlin 336 in 35 and it's a beauty. The problem that i had with the 336XLR was that I tried bringing it into the thick bush we have around here (black spruce so thick it takes 5 minutes to walk 20 feet in it) and found it to cumbersome so i traded it in for a Savage 99 in 300 Savage with a 20 in barrel and havn't looked back. As a few of the previous posters have mentioned, you can get a lever action rifle in a whole bunch of calibers. Not as many as a bolt action rifle but still enough. So my questions to you OP are as follows:
1. Do you intend to hunt with this rifle or target shoot?
2. Do you intend to put a scope on it or not?
3. Do you plan on shooting any more than 100 yards with it or will it be a close range rifle?
All of the answers to these questions should determine your choice of rifle and caliber. Get back to us with the specifics and we'll be able to help you out a little better. Good luck.
Dorian
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NorthernCX
CGN Regular
- Location
- In My House
Haven't seen mention of the Henrys or [shudders] Mossbergs yet. Haven't shot either, the Henry's look not too bad but seem pricey, the Mossbergs look god-awful to me, not sure how they are for fit/finish/overall quality... but I wouldn't expect much for probably the cheapest 30/30 lever out there, less than $500 at Wholesale IIRC.
