Wanting a lever gun - Need advice

[Calplinker]

Bought up all my semi-auto's and now want a lever gun or two.

Been looking around a bit and doing some searches and have some criteria in mind, so I'm hoping some of you lever experts can offer some advice.

Here's my wish list:

Chambered in .44 mag (have dies for this) or .45 LC
Prefer highly figured walnut stock with tight grain- Love the wood and want it to show
No safety (do these have this now?)
Prefer case hardened finish, blued or stainless. Don't like gold.

Been looking at Henry rifles, but their Big Boy's seem to all have a gold finish. Really don't like the ugly open grain walnut stocks on Marlin's. Woodworker here who knows wood and to me, those are just ugly.

Want a high quality rifle but would like to keep it under $1500 as I'd like to add flip up peep sights. No scope for me as I love the irons on these guns.

What would folks recommend? I don't mind spending $800-$1000 on the rifle, then changing out a few things to get it to where I want it.

[chiliman21]

I got a marlin 44 mag when my father in law passed. I like the gun. It goes bang when I pull the trigger.

[63j300]

Check taylor firearms saw them last week was looking at a take down that was stainless but i know they had case hardened don't remember the woo.

[dfletcher]

Bought up all my semi-auto's and now want a lever gun or two.

Been looking around a bit and doing some searches and have some criteria in mind, so I'm hoping some of you lever experts can offer some advice.

Here's my wish list:

Chambered in .44 mag (have dies for this) or .45 LC
Prefer highly figured walnut stock with tight grain- Love the wood and want it to show
No safety (do these have this now?)
Prefer case hardened finish, blued or stainless. Don't like gold.

Been looking at Henry rifles, but their Big Boy's seem to all have a gold finish. Really don't like the ugly open grain walnut stocks on Marlin's. Woodworker here who knows wood and to me, those are just ugly.

Want a high quality rifle but would like to keep it under $1500 as I'd like to add flip up peep sights. No scope for me as I love the irons on these guns.

What would folks recommend? I don't mind spending $800-$1000 on the rifle, then changing out a few things to get it to where I want it.

You might want to look at some of the Pedersoli lever action rifles. FWIW, I just picked up a high grade Browning 71. It meets some of your requirements, not all.

[NordicDave]

Level guns are fun and draw positive comments & attention at the range, kind of like tactical guns did 30 years ago.

My favorite rifle is my Winchester 1894 16" trapper in .44 Mag. Swings fast, points great, and hits a pop can 100% of the time at 50 yards.

Easy to find ammo, great for defense, and excellent pig, deer, and other meat getter rifle.

Tons of these are around used in lots of calibers.

-NordicDave

[TMB 1]

Look for a Browning Model 92 44mag

[xrayoneone]

Second the Browning 92. I see them for around $600 pretty frequently. They are beautiful with NO safety.

[milotrain]

If you find a 92 for $600 buy it every day. I have a .357 and it is a JOY.

[glockman19]

I'd still get a Henry or Marlin. They are the best lever action rifles produced new today.
The "gold" on the Henry is brass, and if you don't like the stock on the Marlin and you are a wood worker then just make your own.

[Nick Adams]

What is the collected wisdom regarding the Browning BLR? I have a chance to buy one in 30 06 with nice German glass? And for the OP the wood looks like it has about 10,000 coats of high gloss lacquer.

[Model94Guy]

The BLR is as good as it gets for an out of the box Lever these days, and the 30-06 is a great round. If the OP was not stuck on pistol cal. i would have recommend he look at them. If i don't rebarrel my .243 to .358 Win., i will purchase it in the BLR line.

[Calplinker]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. The Browning 92 looks like a nice gun. I also like the Uberti rifles, though they seem to cost a lot more.

May keep an eye out for a used 92.

[milotrain]

The only problem with the Browning 92 is that you won't want to drill it for sights because it's too nice, and you WILL want peep sights.

[tankarian]

Look for a Rossi 92.
They make excellent guns and they are only manufacturer that managed to chamber one of their rifles in .454 Casull.
Also, if you ever want to scope a 92, they are the only ones who have a base mount for a long eye relief scope.

[Calplinker]

Rossi

Look for a Rossi 92.
They make excellent guns and they are only manufacturer that managed to chamber one of their rifles in .454 Casull.
Also, if you ever want to scope a 92, they are the only ones who have a base mount for a long eye relief scope.

Those look awful nice too and I like that they have so many options like barrel type, length, chambering, etc.