Recommend Me a Lever Gen.....

[drdanno84]

Chiappa Mare's leg

I bought one these a few years back, great quality and fun to shoot, .357 magprodotti_immagini_immagine_581.jpg

[golfish]

.

I'm drawn towards Henry right now and actually considering their 5.56 or .308. Or one in 357/38. Certainly I'd also consider Winchester, Marlin, etc. I'm looking for smoothness of operation, good looks, and reliability. Use would be almost exclusively at the range. Loading must be from the side, except for the 5.56/.308.

What say you all? And thanks!

Not much of a choice for .556 and only two for the .308. Lots of info on this forum about lever guns..

FWIW, I purchased a new Henry Long Ranger in .308 about 5 months ago. I don't have much of a range report on it.

I have 3x Rossi's and a new Marlin in .357. The Marlin is much nicer then the Rossi's

[pennstater]

Henry Big Boy steel rifle. The new ones have the side gate. Ultra smooth, very accurate. I have two, one .357/38 spl, the other in .45 Colt. They don't disappoint. Happy New Year.

MLC

[rromeo]

I've had a dozen Marlins, and still have a half dozen. Don't buy one. They're awful, especially they older ones. Tell all of your friends they're awful.

[Horsewright]

Seems to me like its an apples/oranges thing comparing the .223/.308 levers to the pistol cartridge levers. They're whole different critters. I have a BLR (top rifle) in .243 (kinda right in between your .223 and .308). Excellent, accurate rifle with a very high quality build. Smooth as glass. I also have the Browning Mod 95 in .30-06 that has been recommended several times in this thread, (bottom rifle):



Again an excellent, accurate, quality rifle in a powerful round. Not a lot of fun from the bench but had a blast the other day busting clay birds at a 100 yards from the standing position. Both rifles are made by Miroku for Browning.





If you decide to go the high intensity route either one of these I can highly recommend. I've kinda been kicking around the idea of getting a BLR or a Henry Long Ranger in .223 my own self.

The pistol cartridge levers are just a blast but as mentioned a different critter than above. Someone had mentioned the Uberti 1873 in .357 and we have one. Just plain beautiful to look at, handle and shoot. Recoil is non existent.





Also have a JM marked Marlin 1894 in .45 Colt. This is a workman's gun. The machining is not as nice, the polishing is not as nice, the blueing is not as nice the wood is not as nice, the wood to metal fit is not as nice. But the action is smooth and it always goes bang, sending that big ole bullet right where ya pointed it. A great saddle or truck gun, lighter and handier than the 73.







If you are looking at a hunting rifle look at the top ones. If more of a fun gun, booneying gun, home defense gun, yeah pistol cartridge lever all the way.

[Oceanbob]

Browning. Many calibers to choose from and fed via a box magazine making it easy to load and unload.

This^^^^

I would love to own a Browning take down like this.

[Cowboy T]

A Ruger 96/44 is a very good choice. The action is slick, and the .44 Special/Magnum is easy to reload. The magazine is the same compact design as the 10/22 uses, has 4 rounds, and is quickly and easily swapped out for a new one.

For .357/38, Rossi 92's are also good, as are, of course, Winchesters. Haven't tried a Henry, but those who have 'em say they love 'em.

[OCEquestrian]

Browning B-92 in .357/38. Rare as hens teeth but worth the hunt and premium you will pay.

[RNE228]

Savage was offered with both depending on cartridge. The later ones had removable magazine.

A brief web search does not show if 243/308 was offered in the original internal rotary magazine

Have had opportunity to shoot the BLR in 223; that was a fun gun to shoot!

Browning BLR in 308. Another super nice gun. Just me. The whole magazine fed lever thing is sorta.....?weird? But if you wanna shoot .308, .223 etc, Browning BLR, Henry Long Ranger or Savage 99

[Bladewurk]

Marlin 1894 all the way if you already have a 357/38 and reload

[sonofeugene]

Geez, you guys are no help. Here's what you all listed so far:

older Winchesters
older Marlins
new Miroku's
Henry in .45-70
Henry in .357
Henry in .44
Uberti 1873 competition rifle
Apples
Winchester 94
Henry all weather .357
Browning, box fed
Marlin
Browning 95 in 30-06
Winchester 95 in 30-06
Savage box in .308
Savage box in .243
Browning in .223
Marlin in 357
Marlin in 218 Bee
Older Marlin
New Winchesters
Rossi
Browning 95 in 30-06
Winchester 95 in 30-06
Henry golden boy in .22
Henry X in 357
Marlin 94 series
Taylor/Umberti 73 in 357
66 clones in 38 special
Henry 45-70
Browning BLR in .308
Henry Long Ranger
Savage 99
Winchester 94 saddle ring
Chiappa Mare's leg in .357
Rossi's x 3
Marlin in .357
Henry Big Boy in 357/38
Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt
Browning BLR in .243
Browning Mod 95 in .30-06
Uberti '73 in .357
Marlin '94 in .45 Colt
Browning take down
Ruben 96/44
Rossi '92 in .357/38
Browning B-92 in .357/38
Savage
Browning BLR in .223

I think you covered them all so I'm back to square one. I guess I simply have to take the step and get one. I don't reload, at least not now, so that may be a factor.

To answer elSquid's questions:

Price is not an object and I might even spring for an engraved one.
Since 100 yards is the longest range around here, that's it. I'd also shoot at 50 and also the 40 yard tin can range.
I think I'd need a .22 to shoot at indoor ranges, at least those in the San Jose area.
My eyesight is not bad for nearing 70, though I do have a bit of a floater that's bothering me in my right eye. I can see the front sight, though.
Don't need a red dot or scope though who knows.

So, again, thanks for all the suggestions. And I now have a bunch more guns to look at.

Cheers!

[Endless]

I'm thinking of scratching an itch and getting a lever gun after all the Covid stuff dies down. So, which brand can you recommend most highly? And what caliber?

I'm drawn towards Henry right now and actually considering their 5.56 or .308. Or one in 357/38. Certainly I'd also consider Winchester, Marlin, etc. I'm looking for smoothness of operation, good looks, and reliability. Use would be almost exclusively at the range. Loading must be from the side, except for the 5.56/.308.

What say you all? And thanks!

Do it right the first time.

Marlin 1895 45-70

And be done with it.

[RNE228]

For tin can range a 22lr would be great

38/357 in rifle works fine for 100 yards. all of the pistol cartridge's should out of a 16" barrel. The JM Marlins are a hoot to shoot.

223 would be a fine 100 yard cartridge Fun in the BLR. Sorry, no experience with the Henry.

Remember with a lever on the bench you have to move the rifle every time you chamber a round.

Geez, you guys are no help.

To answer elSquid's questions:

Price is not an object and I might even spring for an engraved one.
Since 100 yards is the longest range around here, that's it. I'd also shoot at 50 and also the 40 yard tin can range.
I think I'd need a .22 to shoot at indoor ranges, at least those in the San Jose area.
My eyesight is not bad for nearing 70, though I do have a bit of a floater that's bothering me in my right eye. I can see the front sight, though.
Don't need a red dot or scope though who knows.

So, again, thanks for all the suggestions. And I now have a bunch more guns to look at.

Cheers!

[RNE228]

Add Winchester 88 in 243 or 308

There's lever action shotgun to

Geez, you guys are no help. Here's what you all listed so far:

Cheers!

[200Apples]

Geez, you guys are no help. Here's what you all listed so far:

[one incredibly comprehensive list of leever-op'd long guns]

I think you covered them all so I'm back to square one. I guess I simply have to take the step and get one. I don't reload, at least not now, so that may be a factor.

Cheers!

If I may, since you mention a 100 yard range, I will suggest a chambering of .357. It is the most fun and useful combination. Very powerful cartridge for it's size and typical bullet weights spanning 125 - 180 grains.

One may hunt deer-sized game with it, one may plink to one's heart's content with .38s, other handloads, etc... a .357 Marlin 1894 or Winchester '92 (Browning/Miroku or Rossi) is just about the most fun one can have with their pants on.

If I could only have two levers, one would be the .357 1894 Marlin, the other my Marlin 1895GS*. Leave the spitzers to bolt actions unless you find a stainless Browning BLR takedown in .308.


*The .45-70 is a cartridge infinitely handloadable from very, very mild to T-Rex wild.