Why a lever action?

[DJ E.]

I'm mainly thinking about the Win model 94. They look cool, have that air of history to them, but why would you want one? I have a few ideas, let me know if I'm on the ball, kinda like a middle weight to the semi and the bolt action. A little slower than a semi, but maybe more accurate? And a little faster than a bolt action, but a little less accurate? Or just because you want one..The only rifle caliber the 94 comes in is 30-30, correct? Maybe one in .44 might do the trick.

Is the modern lever action obsolete?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

-Easy to keep a round out of the chamber while walking through the woods and load quickly
-Faster loading than a bolt
-All American

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I bought a Win. Trapper in 30-30 last month because, uhhh...

It was a good deal?

Actually I didn't justify it. I didn't have one and I wanted it.

They come in several calibers besides the 30-30. For some reason the 44 mag seems to kick harder than the 30-30.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Why? Because they are fun.

The 94 comes in .22LR, .22WMR, .30-30 Win, .30WCF .307 Win, .356 Win, .375 Win, .32 Win Special, 7-30 Waters, .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .44-40, .444 Marlin, .45 LC, and probably some more I can't think of right now.

 

[ARperson]

I love our lever gun,

Lightweight, fast-handling, fun to shoot. They are also pretty potent and look very non-intimidating in some areas that are too PC for their own good.

Every American should have one, they are full of history, even if they are brand spankin' new.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I agree with ARperson. Also 94's are best with rifle calibers (30-30 etc...) If you choose a pistol caliber, look at a Win 1892 clone or a Marlin 1894. These actions were designed for pistol calibers and are more likely to give 100% reliability. Navy Arms imports a nice 1892. The 1892 is the gun that won the western!

 

[Legionnaire]

Echo the "fun" reason. Light recoil in the pistol calibers as well, and cool to own a handgun and rifle that take the same cartridges. I'm partial to the .44 mag, which is a reasonable deer round out to 125 yards or so.

 

[4v50 Gary]

What HK says. They're fun. They're cool. They're part of our American Heritage. Own one today.

The above message was not paid for or brought to you by the NSSA or CAS.

 

[Bobarino]

i just bought a '94 Ranger .30-30 from another highroader about a week ago. the '94 was the very first rifle i ever fired. i used to watch cowboy flicks all the time when i was a kid. i thought the '94 was the quintessential cowboy rifle and i just HAD to have one. fast forward 20 years and i still wanted one. found it for sale locally for a very good price and couldn't pass it up. i didn't need it for anything, i don't hunt, ammo is too expensive to use for a plinker, a little rough on the shoulder for a plinker, certainly not the most effective home defense gun, but it is indeed fun, sentimental (for me anyway), and its Americana at its finest. what better rifle to hand down to your son when he comes of age than a Winchester '94 .30-30.

Bobby

 

[Mulliga]

Consider a Marlin 336C. Winchester 94 is slimmer and lighter, but it kicks harder.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

What every one is saying.

I bought my Win 94 in .30-30 because I thought my state was going to pass a California like "assault" rifle ban - they didn't. I think as a home defense tactical defender, the lever action is almost as affective as a semi-auto and it is so cowboy non-threatening PC but deadly all the same.

One disadvantage to the lever action tube fed rifles, is that the ammo has to be of the non spitzer bullet design, that is, the bullets nose has to be soft and rounded - ya don't want to set off the primer of the bullet in front of you in the tube. And .30-30 ammo is not as cheap as AK or .223 rounds.

Winchester and Marlin both make great products. You can't go wrong with either. Marlin is probably the better of the two but I have found my Win 94 to be outstanding in accuracy and reliability and it was considerably cheaper than the Marlin.

The .30-30 packs a punch, and it does kick a bit, but nothing uncomforatble.

I think the perfect plinker is a lever action in .22 - don't have one. Gotta get one!

 

[Kaylee]

Marlin is probably the better of the two

well now you gone and done it.

Had a Marlin, gave it away, prolly won't ever buy another.
One of these days I'd love to pick up a '94 .30-30 or a '92 45 Colt though.

For a woods gun that gets carried a lot and shot a little, I'd sooner put up with a little more ouchies now and again in exchange for a rifle that's lighter to carry and faster to shoulder. Since I think scopes are goofy on a lever rifle anyhow -- they screw up the almost divine balance and handling of the piece -- the easier scoping of the Marlin is meaningless to me.

So Winchester for me, thank you.

Now that said, both the Marlin and the Winchester have survived practically unchanged (minus the stupid lawyer tricks) for over a hundred years, so there can't be too much wrong with either one.

Now, as to why a lever rifle...um... you sure you're an American?

Seriously though..besides tradition, 'cause they're light, handy, fast, relatively inexpensive, and do the job just as well as a custom bucks-up 7.857674 mm loudenboomer magnum, at least at the ranges that a lot of box-o-shells-a-decade deer hunters hunt.

And I'd not at all say they're obsolete. Now, they *are* spendier to buy and shoot than say... an SKS, which seems to me is becoming the modern "Bubba Gun" -- a role formerly held by the ol' .30-30. .30-30 is a little more painful on the shoulder to boot. But at least if you pick a good one, the finish and the feel of a good ol' American .30-30 beats the pants off a ComBloc discard any day of the week. At least for me.

-K

 

[roscoe]

My Winchester 94 30-30 is perfectly balanced and just seems to sight naturally. When I shoot rapidly, I can fire aimed shots pretty much as fast as I can with my SKS (takes some practice), and more accurately, although reloads are slower. Plus, there is something light, lean, and compact about them that makes them seem very handy.

In fact, I love it so much I plan on getting another, a trapper with a 16" barrel in .44 or .357, as a truck/backpacking gun.

 

[schromf]

lever madness

My son has the itch for a lever action, cowboy, engraved etc. Been digging through Winchester, Marlins, Replica's sights and literature for a week or better. I did see a new M1895 in Win 405, but I think since Winchester and Browning are owned by the same people these days, its a new spin on the Japanese Brownings from a few years ago. I was looking for for a 38-55 but Winchester only did a limited production run of these and it was a year or so ago, and they already did their aweful engraving on it. I think Marlin did the same last year in a 336CB. in a basic model.

I was looking for something useful cartridge wise in my mind the M1895's, the Savages, the old Winchester88, and the Browning Belgium BLR, the Winchester 71, and I am sure I missed a couple others were the most useful as they had magazines on most of these and you weren't limited to flat nosed bullets. Sons probably going to be stubborn on this, personally I think he would be better served by going out and buying a new Sako, but its what he wants so I am doing my looking.

A lever is a pretty handy little brush gun, short easy to carry. If I was going to buy one for myself I would probably look for the Browning Belgium BLR first in either a .308 or 358. Then either a Savage or the Win 88. One the old cowboy style the 38, 40 cals were good but ammo is tough for all but the 38-55, and of course the 45-70. I have shot the 444 Marlin before, and I know they have a couple new rounds out, they all sound like a lot of recoil in a light rifle.

My flag on this with my son is he wants to have it restocked and engraved and I think silver plated and I don't think certain guns are worth dumping that much money on. Guess I will keep my eye open for a pre 64 Winchester, or one from the turn of the century in good shape.

Before everybody gets upset with my slightly negative on the levers its not really true, I shot my first elk with a 32 Win in a model 94, packed an old Marlin 336 I bought almost new for $35 for years. It just I am just as fast on the second shot with a quality bolt action rifle and a lot less likely to need it. The typical levers work well in brush, or if you keep your shots in the 75-150 yard range, and they are handy, but as I got older I migrated to more accurate platforms.

 

[six 4 sure]

Why? Because they are just so darn cool. I have four now and I'm planning on ordering another soon. My next one is going to be a Puma (1892) in 454. For lots of good lever gun info check out www.leverguns.com

Schromf I feel your pain. For a couple of years now it’s been my dream to build or by a Winchester 94 in 38-55, but I can’t seem to find something that will make me happy. It seems every rifle Winchester has made in 38-55 over the last twenty years is some special edition variety with engraving I don’t care for. If you son is wanting one with silver plating, you might want to look for a “Legendary Frontiersmanâ€. It was one of the special runs and has a silver or nickel receiver and is a 38-55. These pop up on gunbroker every now and then. If that’s not what you are looking for, since it sounds like you willing to spend some money, you might want to consider buying a new 30-30 and have it rebarreled. It’s my understanding (but I could be wrong) the internal parts for a 30-30 will work for a 38-55. I know there is at least one thread in the forum at www.leverguns.com that discusses this. You might also try the custom gun shop through Winchester. I don’t know if it’s still available, but, a year or so ago, they still offered top-eject 94’s (without any of the safety’s) that could be engraved with a couple of choices, and chambered in any of the original calibers. This was the route I was considering, however, their web site has changed and I don’t know if it is still an option. If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, there are links to several lever-gun smiths at the link I posted above that might be of some help. If you need a couple more choices send me a PM. I have several links to custom stock makers, Winchester restoration smiths, and gun shops that specialize in old lever guns. I might be able to save you a little search time on the net. Good luck with your search. Kind of sad that the 94 Winchester was originally chambered for 38-55 and you can’t get one today.

six

 

[David4516]

Why a Winchester 94?

#1: Its cool. In fact it's even cooler than that... it's like super cool...

#2: It's fast. I can shoot a lever gun faster than any other action type (except semi-auto of course)

#3: It's easy to carry. Winchesters are just so darn light and handy, Marlins on the other hand arn't...

#4: I like having the exposed hammer. When I hunt I like to leave a round in the chamber with the hammer down. Lever action is about the only rifle that you can do that with...

I liked my Winchester 94 in .30-30 so much that I bought a second one. Its the only gun that I've got 2 of, I don't know if I can give it a higher recomendation than that...

 

[jrpeterman]

I like the Win. 94 for all the reasons mentioned. It is a light, sleek, and fast handling rifle. Plus, memories as a kid of Chuck Conners emptying that lever action in the Rifleman were enough of an inspiration to buy one as an adult.

 

[Secmat]

94 Trapper in .357 mag topped with a Williams peep. It has dings and dents from going everywhere and is probably my favorite long gun.

 

[Mal H]

I like 'em for the coolness, the fun factor, even the sound of them is special, and I have found them to as accurate as any bolt action in the same price range. However, one thing about them that I don't think anyone has mentioned is the high capacity tube magazines they usually have. My Win 94 can hold 11 rounds of 45 Colt and my Marlin 39AS can hold around 18 22LR or even around 27 Shorts. You'd have to get expensive and long magazines for any bolt action to accomplish that, that is, if a magazine that will hold that much even exists.

 

[Swamprabbit]

Because you can load up the tube and throw them behind the seat of your pickup and let it stay there until you need it sometime next year. When you pick up it, there is a 100% chance it will work. Also, just to repeat, they are HANDY!

 

[foghornl]

Marlin Model 30A in .30-30 for me. Shoots well, .30-30 is enough round for what I want to do.

Now, if I was looking for another lever gun, I might go with the 1894 or 1895 Cowboy...26" barrel in .45-70 9+1 capacity.

 

[Coot]

Winchester 94 Trail's End

DJE- this is what you need!

 

[Coot]

BTW- the Trail's End (in .44 Mag, .357 Mag/.38Spl, and .45LC) are priced way below the current run of M92s...wholesale is just $578.50, so they should be able to be purchased for around $660.00 (the M92s are about $750.00).

 

[Dr.Rob]

You can get a new Marlin 336 for around $350.

A new Marlin Cowboy model will run you between $500-600.

In pistol calibers the Winchester 92 is a better gun than the 94 (in my opinion) on both the lever has a lot of side to side movement you won't find in a Marlin.

To me, the Marlin 30-30 is the truck/saddle gun by which all others are judged.

The 30-30 has more than enough punch for deer or varmints, has plenty of range with iron sights, and ammo is readily available at every Wal-Mart/Stop-n-shop kind of place in the US.

 

[Chuck Jennings]

One thing that balances out the slow reload time is the fact that you can top off the magazine anytime and still be ready to fire. A tactical advantage for those of us only allowed 10 rounds anyway.