Need some info on lever guns

[200Apples]

pennstater

Bergmen, you are completely right about .22 rifles that are tube fed. No one complains about those. Funny how that works, huh?

A worthy observation, to be sure, but to be *fair*, we must realize that few would use a .22 in a fight against marauding Apaches.

[bergmen]

A .357 lever is on my very short list. I have two Marlin 30-30s (one a 1936 I inherited from my Dad - lots of history here) and a Marlin 94 in .45 Colt.

I have a Cimarron 1872 open top in .38 Special and I think a case hardened frame 1873 rifle would be a perfect companion to it.

Dan

[bergmen]

A worthy observation, to be sure, but to be *fair*, we must realize that few would use a .22 in a fight against marauding Apaches.

10-4, I have more appropriate rifles for that scenario...

[golfish]

Bergman, you are completely right about .22 rifles that are tube fed. No one complains about those. Funny how that works, huh?

The mags tubes are so much easier to load and this makes it great for plinking.

Henry gives you the best of both worlds, they utilize both gate and tube loading.

[pennstater]

Hey, Happy Easter to the MLC and all you lever lovers. Enjoy the day!

[DueceMcGurk]

Thanks Penn. You too. And all the lever lovers, ranchers, golfers and apple pickers.

[W.R.Buchanan]

OK my personal choice for you would be a Marlin 1894 CB in 38/357, with a 20" bbl.

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1894/model-1894cb

Please note: These guns are available in several different "trim levels" and calibers. Since you already have a .357 revolver then .357 would probably be the best choice for you.

I have .44's so I got a .44 Spec/Mag version with a 24" bbl..

The street price for the gun shown is around $750. There is a nicer trim level with better wood and better overall fit "Limited Edition Model" in the $1350 range and then there is the Custom Shop version where you specify everything you want that starts at $3500.

All of the new Marlin rifles I have looked at have had excellent wood to metal fit and even though the Plain Jane Models have bland wood or laminated wood stocks and fore ends, the fit of that wood is excellent. The metal work on all of them is now excellent as REM had to figure out how to make the guns on CNC machinery as all the old machinery was worn out and "craftsmen" were disgruntled. They in fact HAVE figured it out and Mechanical Flaws are few and far between which just goes to show that nobody is irreplaceable in this world or the next..

Some of the guns with Laminated furniture come with Cera-Koted metal finishes which makes those guns virtually weather proof.

The higher grade guns are as good or better than anything that any manufacturer of Leverguns has ever made. And the Lower grade guns (effectively truck guns) are better than anything comparable that JM Marlin ever made. I've had plenty of JM Marlin guns and my new ones are all better in every way.

The Plain Jane guns just need a wood refinish and some internal metal deburring and they are sweet. Mine took me 3 days to refinish the wood and 2 hours to smooth out the action. It will cycle anything I put in it including SWC's as fast as you can run the lever. I paid $500 for it in 2006.

Anyway that's my .02

Randy

Both these guns were Plain Jane versions I paid $500 for one and $525 for the other you can see what evil lurks below the Mar Shield Paint they put on these guns. One is a .44 Mag. the other a .45-70.

[bigbossman]

Winchester and their clones are top eject, which limits you in optics

Winchester went to angle eject in 1983. In any case, a scope on a lever gun is just plain wrong...... and putting a scope on a lever gun carbine should be a felony.

[deadcoyote]

[aklon]

I've got a Henry Original in .44-40 because it is so pretty to look at; a Browning Model 1886 in .45-70 Government because its big heavy bullet will handle anything; and a Winchester Model 92 in .44 Magnum for any nastiness in the woods.

I am also entertaining a strong desire for a Winchester Model 95 in .404 because Teddy Roosevelt.

[Jwalt]

I bought a new production Marlin 1894 this year. It's nice. The wife really likes it. I can't speak to long-term endurance of course but I was printing just over three inches free hand standing at 50 yards with cheap Winchester wadcutters and I'm an old man with eye issues.

I bet it would do under three inches at 100 from the bench with practice.

Cleaned it, oiled it, and cycled the action a thousand times in front of the tv. It's very smooth now. It doesn't like to cycle short .38 special snap caps.

Here's what you need to know - this rifle will not run if you're laying it over sideways while you cycle it. It's just the nature of the design. But it's very light, handy, quick, and well balanced. And it's got a flat top it's easy to pop optics on.

[hbsoldier3]

Pre 64 Winchesters are high quality rifles. If the bore is strong and there isn’t any rust then I actually prefer wear on the finish. For modern rifles the Miroku Winchesters are very well made. The older JM-stamped Marlin lever guns are also quite nice.

Love my 1942, model 94 in 32 win special.

[larkja]

Was looking at the new Henry X models - tube and loading gate. Awesome!!!

But I find they went all out tacticool and not a big fan. Hoping they'll keep the receiver and tube and put some traditional wood on shortly.

[bsumoba]

Henry Big Boy Case Hardened with 140 FTX and H110. Punches near one big hole at 25 yards with open sights. Not to mention the case hardening is sexy. LOL. I do kind of wish there was a side loading gate though.

[Epaphroditus]

Yup, 16" 38/357 in 1892 is dang fun.

Rossi R92 does need some fine tuning but it's not hard. Another +1 for Steve's Gunz DVD. Some polishing, reshape loading gate spring and replace the plastic mag follower and all is well.