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What's a good first lever gun?

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  • Rorge Retson
    Veteran Member
    • Feb 2012
    • 2712

    What's a good first lever gun?

    I'm thinking I am amiss by not owning a lever gun. What's a good one to start with?

    FYI, I have no wheelguns as of yet so cartridge is not a consideration...
  • #2
    Canucky
    Veteran Member
    • Dec 2007
    • 4265

    Start small 22lr.

    Comment

    • #3
      Garv
      RSG Minion, Senior
      CGN Contributor - Lifetime
      • Apr 2014
      • 9026

      I'll assume plinking so:

      .357/.38: Marlin or Rossi for starters, Winchester if you want to spend the extra money.

      I have a Rossi 92 in .357, basic but fun.

      Marlin re-started production, there is a thread here recently. https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1459256
      I am not sure about any reviews.

      Henry for .22
      Last edited by Garv; 07-08-2018, 10:39 PM.
      Originally posted by Kestryll:
      It never fails to amuse me how people get outraged but fail to tell the whole story in their rants....

      Comment

      • #4
        Horrendo Revolver
        Senior Member
        • May 2015
        • 1013

        Marlin 336W.

        Comment

        • #5
          Kokopelli
          Veteran Member
          • Sep 2008
          • 3389

          Since you posted this in centerfire rifles, I second the nomination of a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Try to find a pre Remington made one.
          If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth. - Ronald Reagan

          Comment

          • #6
            elk hunter
            Senior Member
            • Sep 2014
            • 2122

            Originally posted by Horrendo Revolver
            Marlin 336W.
            Yep

            Comment

            • #7
              tomrkba
              Senior Member
              • Jun 2016
              • 1513

              People are still having trouble with current production Marlins. Research a bit; you will need to know what you are doing if you want to make sure you get a good 336. Pre-Remington models have “JM” stamped on them.

              Henry 22 lever actions are excellent. I like mine quite a bit.

              I like Winchester lever guns but they are pricey. They are probably worth it.

              I also like the Browning BLR.

              I am considering a Mossberg, but need to research it more. They seem pretty good.
              Biden's
              Laptop
              Matters

              Read the Kelly Turnbull novels to see where California is and will go: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kelly+tur..._2_15_ts-doa-p

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              • #8
                MyOdessa
                CGN/CGSSA Contributor - Lifetime
                CGN Contributor - Lifetime
                • Mar 2011
                • 2326

                Henry .357

                Comment

                • #9
                  MissiontoMars
                  Senior Member
                  • Aug 2012
                  • 1544

                  Originally posted by Rorge Retson
                  I'm thinking I am amiss by not owning a lever gun. What's a good one to start with?

                  FYI, I have no wheelguns as of yet so cartridge is not a consideration...

                  I've had a Marlin 336 in .30-30 since 2013. It has been gobs of fun, and a good learning experience on this particular type of firearm. I must have gotten lucky, as my particular specimen has good wood/metal fitting, and after a good fluff/buff of my interior surfaces, runs pretty smoothly. has been 100% reliable so far.

                  My next purchase is going to be a levergun in .357 magnum/.38 special. Either a new version Marlin 1894, or a Winchester 1892 takedown.

                  Those would be my recommendations for you, though I don't think you'd go wrong with anything from Henry, Rossi, or even Mossberg in .30-30 or .357/.38

                  Cheers

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    elk hunter
                    Senior Member
                    • Sep 2014
                    • 2122

                    I bought a new Marlin a little over a year ago I put a Trigger in it and it shoots better than the old (50's) Marlin my wife has. Other than finish the new one is every bit as good as the old one. Winchesters are high but I bought one in 25-35 and have a second one on order in a SRC in 38-55 Cal a Deluxe with upgraded wood. BLR's are high to retail over 900.00 puts them in the same range as the Winchesters. The Winchester I have shoots better than I can shoot open sights, I just got off the phone with Skinner and 2 sights are on the way to fix that problem. What ever you end up getting get what "you" want, it's your money and your the one that is going to use it. I still have another Winchester to order a 86 in either 45-70 or 45-90, as you can see I am partial to the Winchesters even though I like most all of them. HTH
                    elk hunter

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Kokopelli
                      Veteran Member
                      • Sep 2008
                      • 3389

                      There are a few “general” observations to consider on modern lever action rifles.

                      Henry - No side loading gate. You have to pull the magazine tube rod out from the business end of the rifle to fill the magazine. Then, reinsert the tube. I don’t mind this on my Henry H001 in 22 rimfire as it is one of my most accurate guns.

                      Marlin - Has a side loading gate AND side eject making it easy to mount a scope or other optic. Tends to weigh a little more than a Winchester in the same calibers.

                      Winchester - Side loading gate but top eject, making it not so scope friendly. A John Moses Browning design.
                      If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth. - Ronald Reagan

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        RNE228
                        Senior Member
                        • Oct 2013
                        • 2458

                        Savage 99 in 243 or 308.

                        Otherwise, the Marlin 94c 38/357 is fun; is easy to reload for.

                        Marlin 1895c in 45/70 is fun for a big bore

                        Browning BLR in 223 is fun too.

                        The bigger question, is what do you want it for? Fun plinker, small game hunting, big game hunting?

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          cholla
                          Junior Member
                          • Jul 2018
                          • 23

                          Henry in .45 or .357. I have 2 old Winchesters, but find the Henry's much smoother. There are some great videos on YT about the Henry's

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                          • #14
                            Sutcliffe
                            Calguns Addict
                            • Mar 2003
                            • 6792

                            Rossi's are great

                            Mine is in .45 and has a trajectory like a bowling ball.

                            I suggest the .357 version

                            Lots of fun and even anti-gun weinies can be won over by a lever gun's charms.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              plumbum
                              Calguns Addict
                              • May 2010
                              • 5394

                              If you aren’t hunting, a .357 lever is a thing of beauty!
                              Originally posted by ysr_racer
                              Please don't bring logic and reason into an interwebs discussion

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