Slickest lever action?

MiG25 said:
I though getting ammo in Telegraph Creek or Timbuktu was important? 25-20 is tough even for the Handloader these days.
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There’s a list of rifles I just need to try, just to know and for the smiles. The 1892 is one and the .25-20 the most endearing chambering to my tastes for it. But there is a plan that does make sense for my cabinet if I really like the 92, and I look forward to finding out.

Fortunately fun is still a valid reason to buy a vintage Winchester.
 
Ardent said:
There’s a list of rifles I just need to try, just to know and for the smiles. The 1892 is one and the .25-20 the most endearing chambering to my tastes for it. But there is a plan that does make sense for my cabinet if I really like the 92, and I look forward to finding out.

Fortunately fun is still a valid reason to buy a vintage Winchester.
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WRT the 1895, I have a 405 that has become one of my favorites(who am I kidding, they are all favorites, lol), but I have seen quite a few pics of a custom 9.3x62 owned by Andy Larson of Skinner sights. That would be quite a capable rifle.
I'm also a big fan of the 30-06 but IMO the 1895 is the wrong platform for that caliber, but bored to 9.3 .......
 
For a take down I bought a Remington 14 1/2 in 44 Rem (44-40 in disguise) with Dominion of Canada Proofs. It's a slim, trim package.
 
Mr.Rigpig said:
WRT the 1895, I have a 405 that has become one of my favorites(who am I kidding, they are all favorites, lol), but I have seen quite a few pics of a custom 9.3x62 owned by Andy Larson of Skinner sights. That would be quite a capable rifle.
I'm also a big fan of the 30-06 but IMO the 1895 is the wrong platform for that caliber, but bored to 9.3 .......
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I have a win 1895 in 9.3x62. Very cool rifle, but I really don't like the iron sights especially the rear sight which just has a tiny notch. Aside from that it would be pretty much the perfect camp gun. Scoping it seems out of the question. What do people normally do with the 1895 ? Red dot or peep ?

Slimbo said:
I had a stainless takedown 450 marlin for a bit. I wanted to like it but I didn't like the force required to work the lever (sticky extraction?) as well as the takedown lever stuck straight out when the gun was taken down and snagged on stuff.
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I haven't had extraction issues with the 450M BLR ss/TD even with Buffalo bore ammo. I wonder if you had a defect. I prefer the blrs takedown mechanism over the wild west guns copilot style where the magtube unscrews. The protruding lever isn't much of an issue when transported in a little case or those skinner-style soft takedown cases.
 
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doctor_meltdown said:
I have a win 1895 in 9.3x62. Very cool rifle, but I really don't like the iron sights especially the rear sight which just has a tiny notch. Aside from that it would be pretty much the perfect camp gun. Scoping it seems out of the question. What do people normally do with the 1895 ? Red dot or peep ?
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Ya, I wasn't too keen on the barrel sight either. I installed a Williams foolproof model FP-71(cheapest but ugliest). I'm happy with it but I think the Providence tool Pattern 21 reproduction sight looks way better(bit more costly). The third option is the Skinner bolt mounted peep, but it also requires drilling the bolt. All 3 are worth a look. A red dot, while functional, just doesn't look right on a lever like the 1895, to me anyway.
 
Slickest Lever action? No contest, the Sako Finnwolf. If you have never had one in your hands,
you have missed out on the greatest feeling lever action ever. Dave.
 
doctor_meltdown said:
I have a win 1895 in 9.3x62. Very cool rifle, but I really don't like the iron sights especially the rear sight which just has a tiny notch. Aside from that it would be pretty much the perfect camp gun. Scoping it seems out of the question. What do people normally do with the 1895 ? Red dot or peep ?



I haven't had extraction issues with the 450M BLR ss/TD even with Buffalo bore ammo. I wonder if you had a defect. I prefer the blrs takedown mechanism over the wild west guns copilot style where the magtube unscrews. The protruding lever isn't much of an issue when transported in a little case or those skinner-style soft takedown cases.
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Is yours an original Winchester or a miroku gun? Rebore or rebarrel? I’d love to have one some day
 
With regards to the 25-20, John Wooters, the Shooting Times writer for the handloading column, once opined that used within it's effective range, no .22 centerfire surpassed it in killing effect until you got to the .225 Win, and 22-250. My own experience with the 25-20 so far has been with Woodchucks/Marmots, and it does the job very well.

As for a .40 in a lever gun, why re-invent the wheel. The 38-40 was and still is a fine cartridge. It's high velocity load for the Marlin 1894 and Win M92 as well as other strong action rifles pushes it's 180gr pill to 1800fps. A friend has an 2nd year production Win '92 in 38-40 that had a factory replacement barrel installed at some point in it's life and it's an absolute tack driver with 180gr lead conical F.P. slugs at 1400fps.

Something to chew on...

FWIW, I had a Browning '86 carbine in 45-70 up until last year, when I traded it away for something I wanted more. I didn't really have a use for a 45-70, but it was payment for some work done for an estate, and I did like the smoothness of the action.
 
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Good points, can’t say they don’t make great sense either. For me, I love the concept of commonality, and the 10mm is just a more modern .38-40 that fits more in the mag, that I already heavily stock. I used it for work and have an absolute pile of it.

Now that said, I definitely don’t need another gun… I have everything more than covered so all of this is justifications of what I find interesting. A 10mm levergun is really interesting, and when I already have a lifetime supply of it and it matches my sole centerfire handgun chambering… it becomes very tempting.

At the end of the day, I’m hobbying, I quite enjoy the shop work as well it’s part of the sport.
 
doctor_meltdown said:
I haven't had extraction issues with the 450M BLR ss/TD even with Buffalo bore ammo. I wonder if you had a defect. I prefer the blrs takedown mechanism over the wild west guns copilot style where the magtube unscrews. The protruding lever isn't much of an issue when transported in a little case or those skinner-style soft takedown cases.
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most of the BLR force to run the action comes from the bolt pushing the hammer back to #### position, that hammer spring is stiff and can be altered, also the surfaces benefit from polishing
#### the hammer first then see how smooth it is


slickest lever ever would have to be one fitted with a Pioneer super short stroke kit
 
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freddyfour said:
Would a '64 be of interest? Has your pistol grip stock.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...736-WINCHESTER-64A-with-LYMAN-SIGHT-30-30-Cal
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Saw that, nice rifle for the money asked. Think I’m good for 94 actions with my single one, 1886s and 92s have my imagination right now. Just such a beautiful action with the machined loading gate on the 1886, round bottom, I think it’s hands down the most beautiful lever action made. Biggest surprise to me is it’s not a ‘big’ action, it’s very svelte. Always avoided 1886s thinking they were massive frames.

Never been much of a collector, always buy guns to use, but some of these old Wins are challenging that, 126 years years young.

sPKNF2v.jpeg
 
boxhitch said:
most of the BLR force to run the action comes from the bolt pushing the hammer back to #### position, that hammer spring is stiff and can be altered, also the surfaces benefit from polishing
#### the hammer first then see how smooth it is


slickest lever ever would have to be one fitted with a Pioneer super short stroke kit
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Defeats the purpose if you have to #### the hammer first. Thats almost like saying if I remove all the springs out of my '92 its so slick gravity will function the action.

Realistically though, does "slick" even factor in when you're in the thick of it? Sitting at the kitchen table admiring and comparing, sure, but in a hunting situation? Can't say I've ever noticed. Same with recoil.
 
Heat of the moment, you’re right of course, you don’t hear or feel anything, long as it’s reliable. Guns that hung up on me once in awhile in my office toying with them when the bolt was full rearward and pushed slightly cockeyed, never did when pointed at a buffalo or bear.

But rationality is dangerous and could mean we’d all be shooting bargain intersurplus .30-06s if the thought was taken a step further. Being smitten with your rifle and how fluidly it operates remains a thing for me in this hobby, but suppose that’s evident from the thread I started.

Plus… it’s a costly excuse to explore new models and ideas.
 
Ardent said:
Heat of the moment, you’re right of course, you don’t hear or feel anything, long as it’s reliable. Guns that hung up on me once in awhile in my office toying with them when the bolt was full rearward and pushed slightly cockeyed, never did when pointed at a buffalo or bear.

But rationality is dangerous and could mean we’d all be shooting bargain intersurplus .30-06s if the thought was taken a step further. Being smitten with your rifle and how fluidly it operates remains a thing for me in this hobby, but suppose that’s evident from the thread I started.

Plus… it’s a costly excuse to explore new models and ideas.
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Absolutely. Thats half the fun.
 
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