[makarov1]

I know that lever action guns like the model 94 do have a certain nostalgic appeal. What other reasons would THR members give for owning one, as opposed to something more modern like a mini-14 or 30?

[Badger Arms]

Good question. The Mini-14 does not come if 45/70. The 44 Magnum versions are cheaper than the Ruger 44 carbine. They are quicker to work than a bolt action. They are reliable. They are trim, lightweight, and point well. Being that so many lever-guns are out there, many grew up on them and are familiar with the manual-of arms. The Mini-30 might seem more modern, but it and other newer designs are merely variations on a theme for some.

[son of a gun]

A lever action can slide into a scabbered on a horse or atv were a clip fed rifle cannot with the clip in the gun.

[Dave Markowitz]

You can't hunt with semiauto rifles in PA.

And some of us just like them.

[farscott]

1) Chambered in a wide variety of useful cartridges, from .22 LR to .45-70 Government. I especially like the handgun cartridge chamberings, but magnum rifle cartridges can be chambered in lever actions (Browning BLR).

2) Very easy to carry due to very thin profile and relatively light weight. Lever actions tend to fit a lot of people.

3) Very reliable and easy to operate action. Very easy for both lefties and righties to use.

4) Lots of afterrmarket sights and accessories, so the rifles can be easily customized to suit individual preferences.

5) Very affordable. Name brand lever action rifles are available used for around $200 made from blued steel and walnut. My most expensive example, a Marlin 1897T, cost me less than $550.

6) Relatively large magazine capacities. My Marlin 1894P holds nine rounds of .44 Magnum.

7) Nostalgic ties to American West and to American hunting. This one is a huge factor. When I came of age and got my first centerfire rifle, it was a lever action.

8 ) Fun to shoot. :)

I personally own four lever actions, two in .22 LR, one in .357 Magnum, and one in .44 Magnum. I have also owned lever actions in .45 Colt, .30-30 Winchester, and .35 Remington. My lever actions see much more use than my bolt actions.

[Tamara]

What other reasons would THR members give for owning one, as opposed to something more modern like a mini-14 or 30?

You can get a Mini-14 in .45 Colt? :confused:

(Somethin' kinda nice about dragging a rifle and a pistol out to plink in the backyard for a bit and only needing to bring one box of ammo for the both of 'em... :D )

[JohnBT]

Modern does not necessarily equal better, or even good sometimes.

My question has always been "Who would want a Mini-whatever?"

John

[jimt]

my son just turned 9. after an exhaustive search, he chose the henry youth model lever action rifle. its easy to load (tube fed) its smooth as silk, it is accurate, and it looks like a "old fasioned cowboy gun"- very important to a nine year old. I love the thing and use it as much as he does. Im looking at a marlin 1894 ss in 44 caliber . lots of fun those lever actions......

[kentucky bucky]

If you have to ask.............then you wouldn't understand anyway.:neener:

[Pilgrim]

It makes a good politically correct patrol rifle for a peace officer in a community that is skittish about their officers having semi-auto rifles.

Pilgrim

[Mannlicher]

Lets not lose sight of the fact that lever guns have been around, in one form or another, for over 140 years. A lot time to perfect a design. They have been around so long, because they perform their intended function almost perfectly. The cartridges they are matched with are well developed also. The 30/30 still kills game with the same level of effectivness as it always has, and probably better then it did when introduced. New design bullets, and better powders, yes, but the combination of the handy lever gun, and well matched cartridges seems to insure that hunters will be selecting these for many years to come.

[sm]

They work.
Less is more.
Never left a mag for one at the farmhouse, get 2 miles down the road and go "oops", and have to go back. I have done that with mini 14.:) Oh .44 mag rds rolling on the floorboard, won't fit mini 14s either...fit the levergun I went back and got...left the mini...fire ants bigger than first thought.:)

[Chipperman]

They are legal in some locations where EBR's are not.

[Hkmp5sd]

Because John Wayne used one! :)

Seriously, they are reliable and fun to shoot. They are similar to pumps in that they can be fired rapidly since you can operate the action while the stock is still tucked into the shoulder and your eye is on the target. And also like a pump, your hand remains in contact with the lever at all times, unlike a bolt gun where you release the stock to grab the bolt and then back to shoot. For me at least, that makes it easier to shoot than a bolt action rifle.

When compared to the autoloader, the lever action is like the pump and bolt guns in that the expended brass is not ejected as soon as the round is fired. A benefit if you don't want to hunt for your brass all over creation.

[Brian Dale]

All of the practical reasons stated above, and I'll restate "handling." In addition, "I just like it" is always a valid reason for owning a particular rifle.

[Gary A]

I think the appeal of leverguns is very subjective. I don't see why anyone who is not inherently attracted to them would choose one over a more "modern" arm. Certainly I can think of few reasons to do so. However, I love leverguns and will gladly put up with their perceived shortcomings in order to spend my time purchasing, shooting, and depending on the type of rifle/carbine I like. I am confident that leverguns will serve 99.99% of any need I have and can imagine having even if they are not optimal for all situations. In other words, if ya gotta ask why their appeal, it is possible they don't appeal to you. If they appeal to you, as they do me, the question of why never arises. Just different strokes.

[444]

#1: Variety. I own several lever action rifles and didn't buy any of them in lieu of a semi-auto. I own semi-autos also.
#2: Only hits count. You may be able to unload the magazine in a semi-auto far faster than I can unload a lever action, but if you don't hit anything all you did was make noise. So, since we are going to be aiming and using the fundamental techniques of basic marksmanship to HIT the target, speed doesn't mean a whole lot.
#3: Compatibility with a handgun. I have a couple handgun/carbine combos. Ruger Blackhawk/Win 94 Trapper in .45 Colt. Marlin 1894C in .357 along with a safe full of .357 handguns. I sometimes like to explore the backcountry of Nevada. I drive the endless miles of dirt roads, camp, walk etc for sometimes a week or two at a time. I of course always carry a handgun on my belt and it is nice to have a long gun in the same caliber that gives a little more performance than the handgun both in terms of velocity and practical accuracy while using the same cartridge. I can fill the loops of my belt with cartridges and use them to reload either gun.
#4: They work. Why argue with success ? If a given caliber/rifle combination will fulfill all the needs you have, why not use it ? I have hunted both the thick woods of the east and the wide open desert of the west. I see no reason to take an extremly flat shooting, high magnification, heavy rifle into the woods when the longest shot I could possibly take might be 100 yards. I would rather carry a carbine that is light, and quick handling yet perfectly capable of making any shot I might be presented along with plenty of power to put down the animal being hunted.
#5: For the self defense role, I can think of a number of reasons to choose a lever action rifle or carbine. Most have already been mentioned. If you had to shoot to defend your life with a long gun, it would look better to everyone concerned if it was a lever action. I don't anticipate getting into a firefight involving numerous magazine changes etc. as a civilian. Having a couple rounds on tap should be enough.
#6: To me, the Mini 14 or Mini 30 don't fill the same niche as a lever action. The Mini 14 isn't a great long range performer. If I was looking for a rifle for maybe 200 yards or less, let's say for varmint hunting I would be just as happy with a lever action in a pistol caliber. I think you could get just as good, if not better accuracy out of the lever action. Ditto on the accuracy of the Mini-30. If I was looking for something bigger, I would go for a much more powerful lever action with the same range limitations.

Buy what you like. Buy one of everything. All have their uses.

[Atticus]

"1) Chambered in a wide variety of useful cartridges, from .22 LR to .45-70 Government.."

........and basically in the same gun.

[Brian Williams]

Levergun, only negative is hard to load and unload.

Simple, compact, traditional.

[Shane]

Leverguns are great 50 yard guns. Iron sights, no scope to mess around with. High rate of fire (.357 magnum and .44 magnum lever guns often carry 9-10 rounds). Low cost, good reliability, relatively simple and durable. Even rifle caliber .30-30's hold a respectable payload (5 or 6 shots).

Pistol caliber leverguns are great home defense rifles IMO, especially the .45 Colt and .357 magnum models (one can load .38 specials in the .357 magnum model for less penetration). One can load their levergun with the same load they load their (backup) revolver.

I see the .44 magnum and .30-30 models as better outdoor defense, like on a large ranch or farm.

[Jeff Thomas]

Lots of good reasons above.

For choice of a "truck gun" (rifle in the vehicle in case of self defense need on the road), I've decided the "politically correct" aspect is key. If an LEO finds I have a 30-30 Marlin in the truck, I think it will be a relative non-event. If instead of that rifle, I have an AK, AR or similar semiauto ... it is quite conceivable I'll be spending much more time in discussion about the arm. Logical or right? Probably not. But, I'm convinced it is reality.

I don't think I'm quite as well armed vs. an AK or AR, but I'd wager the difference is usually immaterial.

If you've never owned a lever action rifle, try one out. They deserve at least one slot in your safe.

Regards from TX

[SteelyDan]

Others have already covered this better than I can, but I think there are three reasons for a lever gun:

1. They shoot big bad rounds.

2. The handgun-compatibility thing.

3. They're lever guns. And that alone is sufficient.

[C.R.Sam]

Functional
Fun

Sam

[chaim]

Most of the plusses are covered, but I do want to address this one quote:
I think the appeal of leverguns is very subjective. I don't see why anyone who is not inherently attracted to them would choose one over a more "modern" arm.
I do, and it comes down to "try it, you'll like it". When I first started I had no use for a lever rifle. I wasn't into the "cowboy thing". I wanted military style arms, old military bolt rifles, maybe a few nice commercial bolt rifles and some commercial semis. Well, one day I walk into one of the Marts and I have $250 in my pocket and I just felt like buying a gun. Well, for $250 you can't get a bolt or a semi unless it is in .22lr. Well, I didn't want another .22lr, however there was a nice Winchester 94 in 30-30 on the shelf for $250. I thought "why not" and gave it a try. Well, it is now my favorite gun (including my handguns) and action type, and I have had a taste for another for quite some time now (I think I might finally "scratch that itch" soon with a pistol caliber or .22lr lever rifle in the next few months).

If you aren't sure about them, or you don't really see them as your thing, give it a try anyway. It isn't that expensive for what you get and if you don't like it you can sell it for almost as much as you pay new (or you can go used and save about $50 and sell it for pretty much exactly what you paid).

[bukijin]

....if you can't own semi-automatics :( then it's the next best thing....

[JNewell]

Something no one seems to have mentioned is that lever actions are generally the flattest actions around. Autos and bolts have various control levers and knobs sticking out...pump rifles tend to have fatter forearms to make gripping the slide to operate the action easier. You can stow a lever rifle in places others wouldn't fit.

[Dr.Rob]

Like behind the seat of your truck, or under your right leg one horseback.

The first 22 I ever shot was a Marlin lever gun. That right there is a darn good reason.

Besides, a tricked out choate stocked mini14 with flash lights, laser sights and a bayonet just has no place at a Cowboy shoot.

:uhoh:

I prefer the Marlin to the Winchester, though I admit I've never had the priveledge to shoot a Henry (or reproduction)... seems to me like somebody left the fore-end off that rifle.

My first deer rifle was a Marlin 336 30-30. Good sturdy rifle for a youth, but still packs enough punch to kill all sorts of game. probably more game has fallen to the 30-30 in America than any other caliber. 223 and 7.62x39 can't make that claim.

As a shooter, the mini 30 with a 5 round clip and softpointed bullets is VERY much like having a 30-30, and I think would make an excellent rig for white tail. It's also neat that you can "convert it" into a "serious" social rifle by slapping a 30 rounder in it. Having said that, if you can't solve your social woes with 5 rounds of 7.62.. maybe you need backup.. AND more bullets.

Consider this as well... lots of MFG's make lever guns. Only one company makes the mini.

My next rifle very well might be a Marlin levergun in 44 magnum. Just as a companion to my Vaquero.

[TrapperReady]

Why a lever gun?

In no particular order:

* Very compact and easy to carry
* Excellent ergonomics for offhand shooting
* Classic styling
* Wide variety of chamberings
* Short length and light weight make it ideal for hunting dense cover
* Nothing to alarm the non-gun folks
* Fun to shoot
* Accurate........ enough
* You can pretend you're a cowboy, just like when you were 5 years old
* Why not -- they've worked for well over 100 years

[outdoorman63]

have to agree..they are just damn reliable and i dont ever have to worry bout a mag for it....

[JNewell]

dont ever have to worry bout a mag

There was the one I dropped, that dented the tube, that put the mag out of commission completely until replaced... :(

[jar]

The original assault rifle.

Custer sure wished he had some.:D

[CZ 75 BD]

also, pistol and rifle can use the same ammo just like the old days.

:D

[Yanqui]

I purchased a Mini-14 many years ago at the local gun shop. I was looking at a Rossi 92 SRC in 357 Magnum but the very pretty lady showed me the Mini-14 and said it was a better weapon and used the same ammo the M16 did. I did not know a lot about it so I purchased the Mini-14. It was OK. But the magazines were really expensive. I purchased a folding stock set up but it was awkward to shoot with the stock in the folded position.

I attended a Gun show at the VFW a town away. I saw a neat looking lever action rifle. The receiver had western scene engraving on both sides, the barrel was short and it had a large lever. I asked the seller if he would be interested in a trade since I didn't have the money to buy the lever action. I told him I had a Mini-14. So I went to my truck and brought it to him to inspect. He liked it. We traded and I got the cool looking lever action and a bag of reloads.

The cool looking lever action was and still is a Winchester Model 94 Wrangler in 32 Win. Special. The barrel is 16" long and the lever is a John Wayne lever or a large loop lever.

It is the best deal I have ever made. I can't badmouth the Mini-14 because it really is a neat rifle. But I can honestly say that I have had more fun with the lever action than with a semi-auto and that includes other semi autos I have owned. I sold off my FAL, HK, Galil, and AR-15 back when Heir Bush banned the importation of black rifles. I sold off all my CAR-15's right before Y2K.

I will always keep my Winchester Model 94 Wrangler. I've had it for over 15 years now. But I would never have been able to acquire it if it wasn't for the Mini-14.

Why a lever action? It is a "feeling" that you have. Almost spiritual.

Ha! It's a lever action thing. You just wouldn't understand.:D

[Jaco]

With South Africa's new very restrictive firearm legislation I foresee that lever actions will get more popular here, it can have a good rate of fire, and is small enough to use inside a building.

The pistol calibers are cheap too shoot, and even the .22 Magnum rounds out of that length of barrel makes an adequate self defense round.

[jem375]

Every time I pick up my Savage 99A lever action rifle in 308, I ask myself the same question....answer:....it's the best deer rifle that I own.....I put down my Winchester Model 70 in 7MM STW, my Remington 700 in 30-06, and pick up this beauty and go.............

[RustyHammer]

If you have to ask, you've never owned one .... :rolleyes:

[cleve land]

A BLR is one of the handiest,powerful and versitile whitetail rifles I have ever used. I find it much faster than a similar bolt-action rifle. :D

[chaim]

Oh, I haven't noticed anyone (even me) mention this, but an expert can shoot these as fast as or faster than most semi-autos with a lot of practice. Heck, most of us, with practice, can shoot it nearly as fast. I also really like the easy "load on the fly" capability. Sure, loading from scratch is more of a PITA than just putting in a box mag, but it is very easy (unlike a box mag) to top it off on the go after you have touched off a few rounds.

[Gary A]

Lot of good things here. Chaim makes a really good point about trying one even if they don't automatically appeal to you. It's fun to say (I'm one who said it) that if you gotta ask you'll never understand, but Chaim is right...give one a try. I'm one with Yanqui also...I'm a big Ruger fan and I've owned a couple of pretty nice Mini-14s and have neither today. I only got so much room and so much time and so much money and leverguns rule the day for me. One of these days I'm going to get a Browning BLR in .308 but until then I'll have to make do with Marlins, Rossi/Pumas, and e Winchesters.:) (I need to do something about my lonely Winchester.) On a side note: recently I got a Rossi 44 and was a little surprised at how much more the hot Remington 180s kick than standard 240 grain loads. The 240s were nice, the 180s tapped me with that hard butt plate a bit more.

[Feral_Goz]

For all the reasons already mentioned. They make a great sound when you work the lever, and a greater sound when you squeeze the trigger.

[foghornl]

First center-fire rifle I ever shot was a Marlin in .35Rem. Ever since then, I ALWAYS have a lever rifle/carbine knocking around close at hand.

Kinda 'jonesing' after the Marlin [1895?] Cowboy in .45-70. Loooong barrel, but how many bad things can you put down with 9 rounds of .45-70?

p.s. don't try the Chuck Connors as The Rifleman trick...When I tried the snap the rifle around to eject the last empty, I solidly smacked myself in the forehead. :what: