Lever action question.

[robsterclaw]

Cripple creek was nice to me last night, and I've always wanted a lever action rifle. I like the looks of the Henry, and thinking 30-30. Anyone have one of these? And if you were going to buy one, would you go 30-30 .45 357 or 44 magnum? May have to put one under the tree.

[Ah Pook]

I like the Marlin '95 in .44mag. The .44 has very similar ballistics to the 30-30. I also like the idea of a companion .44 handgun. ;)

[hurley842002]

I guess the big question is, what will you be using it for? Just a plinker? Deer rifle? You really can't go wrong with the 30-30 for a lever gun. My favorite however, would be the Marlin 45-70 Guide gun, sweet little thumper. I prefer Marlins for lever guns.

[Marlin]

There is only one true caliber for a lever gun.. .45/70...[Tooth]

That said, (Hee,,hee..) .30/30 is an excellent round, I kind of miss mine.

However if you already have a handgun in .38/.357, .44, or.45 Colt. it would make a fine companion piece..


Oh, a +1 for the Marlin also..

[theGinsue]

You just can't beat the quality and support provided by Henry Rifles. I don't have a Henry, but if I were to get another lever action I'd most probably go with a Henry.

Now, for caliber. The standard that everything forst thinks of when they consider lever actions is 30-30. I shot my first whitetail with a Marlin 30-30 lever action. I won't discount their power, accuracy, and reliability. I have a couple (er, had...before the tragic boating accident). BUT... If I were to get another lever action, I'd probably go with a .357 so that I could use the same ammo between my regular mountain carry handgun and the rifle.

Once I get a new leather western gun belt and holster set-up made for .45 Colt, I'll be changing that over to my new mtn carry gun combo (Ruger Blackhawk and Wincheser 94).

[robsterclaw]

Two Marlin mentions. I'll have to go peek at some. It would be just for fun. Not for hunting or anything. Just a different style rifle to shoot. And the only reason why I picked Henry's is I like the octagon barrel.

[Marlin]

A few Marlins with an octagonal barrel also..

[Tooth]

[robsterclaw]

.357 was my second choice. Too bad Cripple Creek wasn't nice enough to me to get 2 rifles. Well it was but wifey took her half. She takes her half as we go along so in case of divorce, she already got her half!

Marlins with Octagons? Yep have to go peek at gunbroker porn again.

[Colorado Osprey]

I have a few levers. From the 45/70 and smaller. Some with heavy octagon barrels, but most have standard barrels. From experience using these hunting, the octagon are cool looking but really heavy in comparison.

Henry makes good rifles. Marlin makes good rifles. Winchester used to make good rifles.
I have all of the above.

Do you prefer the pistol grip or straight stock?

Don't feel under-gunned with the 30-30. With Hornady LEVERevlution it is just shy of the 308 Win ballistics.

The Marlin 1895's can handle really stout reloads.

The Winny 357 mags, most have trouble feeding 38 Special.

The levers in 45 Long Colt when handloaded outperform the 44 mag versions.

For a collector the Henry usually demands the most $$.
For reliability and utility factor the nod goes to Marlin.
For nostalgic factor it is hard not to get a winny.

Good luck with your purchase.

Don't count out some other nostalgic rounds like 44-40,25 WCF and 32-20
These are also usually the most expensive to buy and shoot.
Not really hunting rounds but it gets the, whoa cool factor.

[funkfool]

I just got my first lever... a '69 Marlin Western Field 30-30 in immaculate condition - back when the appearance of the wood mattered... for a price so low I can't mention it...

Love it.
All it needs is the screw that holds the end cap on the tube...

[Ah Pook]

Here's a couple of good sights.

marlinowners.com (http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php)
leverguns.com (http://www.leverguns.com/)

[Sixgun]

Winchester is my brand or Browning.
IMO. I think the best pistol caliber lever gun is the 1892 in 44-40(oldies) or the
45LC(newbies). Yes they are more money but you will not lose any if you sell it..
IMO... The best rifle caliber is the mighty 45/70 in the 1886.
But you can't go wrong with a 1894 30/30. The ones made before 1964 are best. My personal favorite in the 94 is 38/55.

Sorry boys but the Henery's and Rossi's the have issues when uses in Cowboy action.

Marlins are great guns, but Winchester are Sexier. OOps did I say that to loud. I have a thing for old gals.[Tooth]

Sixgun on leverguns.com is a total wack job.

[Irving]

for a price so low I can't mention it...


Call for price?




Robersterclaw: Congrats on the win. What were you playing?

[Bailey Guns]

The 1895 and 336 are the traditional Marlin rifles in the rifle calibers. .45-70, .450 Marlin, .30-30, etc... Then they do the 1894 models in the handgun calibers like .44, .357 and so on.

I have a couple of the Marlin lever guns...a guide gun in .45-70 and a 94 in .44 Mag. Marlin probably makes the most durable lever guns on the market today. In my opinion, nobody can touch Henry for the smoothest actions and best customer service.

Some of the imports (Rossi, etc...) are making some pretty nice stuff, too.

[SouthPark]

If you are going into the pistol cartridges, I recommend you look at Cimarron, which is highly regarded in the SASS world. http://cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/1866.htm

I think 45 Colt is a good pick, since there is not much it can't do well, from light loads to magnum class.

[Colby]

I really like the Marlin 444, would be a great Bear gun for alaska.

Colby

[ERNO]

I'm afraid of the Golden Boy Henry's. At the range, about 8 years ago a guy had a 45 colt Henry. He was shooting offhand, about 10 feet away from me, when the tubular magazine exploded just after he had fired. I do not know whether he used handloaded ammunition or not. He suffered cuts on his arm, plus a puncture wound to the gut. Thats when I went thru pure hell trying to call an ambulance. The RSO was about 800 yds away. The range house phone needed a certain code to work, which I did not know. I called 911 on my cellphone, and the dispatcher insisted on an address instead of a street corner. I did not know the address. The wounded member decided to take off to the hospital in his own pick-up. I offered to take him to the hospital but he declined.
He drove off, and that was the last time I ever saw him again. I'm also a frequent shooter at the range.
The RSO came back on his ATV, and he ask me if I saw his range badge number? I said I forgot to look for his range badge number.


Erno

[TFOGGER]

... the tubular magazine exploded just after he had fired.


Erno

Probably the fault of the shooter, roundnose or pointed bullets causing unintended initiation under recoil. With flatpointed or hollow point ammo, this would not have happened. I used to use .30 carbine pointed bullets in 30-30 varmint loads(light, cheap, and economical), but NEVER loaded them into the magazine on my 94.

[ERNO]

Winchester is my brand or Browning.
IMO. I think the best pistol caliber lever gun is the 1892 in 44-40(oldies) or the
45LC(newbies). Yes they are more money but you will not lose any if you sell it..
IMO... The best rifle caliber is the mighty 45/70 in the 1886.
But you can't go wrong with a 1894 30/30. The ones made before 1964 are best. My personal favorite in the 94 is 38/55.

Sorry boys but the Henery's and Rossi's the have issues when uses in Cowboy action.

Marlins are great guns, but Winchester are Sexier. OOps did I say that to loud. I have a thing for old gals.

Sixgun on leverguns.com is a total wack job.


Sixgun, can you tell me what are the issues with the Henry's and the Rossies in Cowboy action?

It's been so long ago that I am not sure whether he used flatpoint or roundnose. I thought it was flatpoint or I would have said something to the injured shooter myself.
Can you buy a roundnose, or pointed bullet for 45 Long Colt? I have never seen any for sale, though I'm still not handloading yet.

Thanks,

Erno

[Sixgun]

Sixgun, can you tell me what are the issues with the Henry's and the Rossies in Cowboy action?

It's been so long ago that I am not sure whether he used flatpoint or roundnose. I thought it was flatpoint or I would have said something to the injured shooter myself.
Can you buy a roundnose, or pointed bullet for 45 Long Colt? I have never seen any for sale, though I'm still not handloading yet.

Thanks,

Erno
When shooting really fast sometimes get
feeding problems and hang ups, I know guys do some gunsmithing to fix the issues.
I shoot SWC and RN in my 92's and 86's with no problems. My father makes all my bullets in old designs, maybe that why I have no issues. I have bought some bullets from Sundance bullet co here in Denver with really good luck. Check them out.

Not loaded ammo.[Coffee]
www.sundancebullets.com/ (http://www.sundancebullets.com/)

[funkfool]

Call for price?
Nah - a buddy of mine called me and said "Wanna buy a rifle?... cheap?"