Why a lever action?

[Coot]

Although both Winchester and Marlin have their supporters, the octagon barrel, case colored Trail's End is less than the Marlin CBC (pictured above). The former wholesales at $578.50, the latter at $598.50.

The standard octagon Trail's End (blued) at $533.50 is slightly more than the standard Marlin Cowboy , which wholesales at $507.50.

Both are well made guns, but to my eyes, the Winchester's nicer!

 

[G.I.Jew]

They're fast, they're accurate, they're cool, and they are so much fun! Indeed the .30-30 has a bit more thump than an SKS, but not enough to hurt right away. My Marlin 336 (made in 1948) is incredibly accurate and balances extremely well.

 

[MeekandMild]

OK, lets don't get carried away now!

There are some things that are better a little bit heavier and sturdier. Forget about those little weiner-dog Winnie rifles and get a Marlin. The choice in 45-70 is a 7 pound guide gun or a 7.5 pound regular sized 1895. My choice is the bigger of the two.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigBore_levrAction/1895.htm#

Back to the original topic, though I think that a lever action has some serious advantages.

#1 You can't get doubling like a semi.
#2 You're not going to have to raise your hand up into the air to work the bolt.
#3 You have an open hammer with a half cock position.

I hope to get the 1895 soon but I have a 336 and love it.

 

[DonP]

Rossi 92

Cost of a Rossi '92 in .45 LC with a 20 inch barrel, $375.00

Cost of a Large loop lever, ala Chiuck Connors and the Duke, $65.00

Looking sooo damn cool when you learn to "twirl cock" the rifle at the range, priceless

Everybody should have at least one levergun and have fun

 

[goon]

I want one too.
A 16" carbine in 30-30, and I want one made before they started putting that stupid safety on them.
I have no reason to want one, I just do.
I just like that sound that they make when you work the action...

 

[Kestryll]

Looking sooo damn cool when you learn to "twirl cock" the rifle at the range, priceless

Looking sooo damn bruised for the three weeks it took you to learn to "twirl cock" the rifle at the range, priceless

 

[Roadkill]

This was the first year I decided to get serious about deer hunting, pulled out a mkIV .303, sighted it in, loaded up some 170g HPs and promptly missed two deer. Not at all used to shooting at a moving target at 125yds offhand through the woods from a tree stand. Took my Garand, didn't take two shots cause just wasn't sure of shot. Went to pawn shop, $175 got a well used Winchester 94 .30-30 with a 3x9 scope. Now I have three deer in the freezer. I love my milsurps, shoot them on the range all the time. But the 30-30 is a perfect 150yd deer rifle. Light, powerful, accurate, and easy to carry & climb with. I'm going hog hunting next week. Will I take my Garand, 03,03A3, M1 Carbine, P17, MKIV, MKIII, Gew 98, 98K, ect., ect.? Nope. I'm taking the 30.30.

rk

 

[Bobarino]

i suppose i should add that even though the old school looks and function are what i like about the rifle, (my '94 has no safety, serial number below 6,000,000) i did just get a set of Tru-Glo fibre optic sights for it. i'm installing them tonight and will head to the range soon to sight them in. nothing wrong with a little modern touch on an old favorite right?

Bobby

 

[Abe]

As everyone's said...they are fun, they are cool, they are The All-American Rifle. Everybody should own a few. I've got three right now, all Winchesters (.22, 30-30, and .410) with two more on the list (.45 Colt and .45-70, though I'd have to get this from Marlin.) I like the Winchesters over the Marlins for some practical reasons (weight and proportions for instance) and some not-so practical/sentimental reasons (looks and history.)

Buy one, and then buy some more...they're great!!


They also help to counter all of the evilness of those horrible Evil Black Rifles.

- Abe

 

[SteelyDan]

I'm sitting here watching "Silverado" on the Bravo channel, and you dare to ask such a question?? As most others have said, they look cool, they are cool, they're very functional and cool, they can shoot small and very big bad bullets and they're cool, they're reliable and cool, they're fun and cool, they're part of American history and they're cool, and they're cool.

They're just a lot of fun. And did I mention cool?

 

[Chuck Jennings]

Oh, and by the way,

They're cool!!!

 

[DJ E.]

SteelyDan-If I ever buy a lever gun, YOU will be the reason why

I was just checking to see if my wanting a lever gun was kinda odd, but it seems that alot of you feel the same way I do. They seem like fun. I just might have to try one on for myself.

 

[Johnpl]

Isn't one aspect of the lever action the fact that it has a flat profile...ideal for carrying in a saddle scabbard? Thought I read that somewhere...or did Lucas McCain say it?

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I don't remember when I caught lever-gun fever (specific diagnosis: Marlinitis), but I hope I don't ever get over it.

I think that for the money, you just can't get a sweeter rifle than a 30-30 lever action (Marlin or one of those other brands).

The ultimate stamp of approval is that even my wife thinks they're "cute," which means she doesn't give me "The Look" when I show up with another one.

 

[cliff355]

One more point gents:

Next to the single shot, the levergun is the only other rifle that will not slam fire on you. No matter how fast you work the lever, the bolt is only going to go 1/3 as fast.

I bought my 1895SS two days after my FAL blew up on me after slam-firing a winchester factory round. Been happy ever since and my receiver's still in one piece.

 

[Brian Williams]

Because with the fire power of a 357 you can have this.

 

[Thirties]

Perfessr,

I finally got my Marlin m1894C a couple of weeks ago (like in your photo). I love it.

I'm playing with some 850fps Titegroup loads with NBC 158g copperized RNFP bullets. This set up shoots like a high velocity .22lr, and is very accurate off hand at 25 yards. I can't see my target at distances beyond that.

I wanted to ask you about your tang aperture sight. I assume it folds down easily when you are carrying the rifle. Can you describe the folding and unfolding process; and how quick and easy it is to get it back to zero position after unfolding?

Thanks...

 

[cliff355]

DonP:

Where did you find that large loop lever for your M92? I can't find them at Brownells.

 

[cliff355]

Thirties:

Don't mean to jump in front of the prfesser in reply, but I just installed one of those Marbles sights two nights ago. Haven't shot it yet, but the sight flips up and down easily with thumb pressure, and has a detente to lock it in the up position. There doesn't appear to be any reason why that sight shouldn't return to immediate zero when it is flipped up and "clicks" into position. It doesn't interfere with carrying the gun either up or down and the sight picture is excellent - front sight is sharp as a razor.

 

[Series 70]

I've been jonesing for a rifle for a bit and a Marlin lever is on the short list. My problem is that I can't decide between four (and I can't buy four and stay happily married).

I want a .38/.357 version, since I'm already setup to load for .38.

I want a .44/.44 mag version, since I want a longer effective reach than what I'd get out of the .38/.357, and I could load for this also after buying dies. It would also be a convenient point to use in a future "I want a 629" discussion - "But, dear, I can already load for that caliber."

I want a .30-30 because a want something that shoots real rifle ammo in a medium caliber.

I want a .45-70 because I want a .45-70.

With my Dillon SDB press, I can only load pistol calibers - no reloading for the last two rifles. But still...

 

[Razor]

DonP:
Where did you find that large loop lever for your M92? I can't find them at Brownells.

I'd like to know also. I have a Rossi '92 in .357mag and absolutely love it! In fact, my black rifles are getting jealous of all the attention its getting.

BTW: They're COOL!

 

[David4516]

AHHHHHH! My Eyes!

Too many Marlin pics... Must... look... away....

Much better...

thats my Pre-64 .30-30, and it's Tactical! (Well, not really...)

 

[Gewehr98]

About the .44 Magnum Model 94 Winchesters...

Does anybody here know if they feed and fire .44 Specials without too much trouble?

(Something to think about for my collection until Winchester decides to do a Trail's End in .30-30)



BTW, Roadkill, not sure what you're trying to say here:

This was the first year I decided to get serious about deer hunting, pulled out a mkIV .303, sighted it in, loaded up some 170g HPs and promptly missed two deer. Not at all used to shooting at a moving target at 125yds offhand through the woods from a tree stand. Took my Garand, didn't take two shots cause just wasn't sure of shot. Went to pawn shop, $175 got a well used Winchester 94 .30-30 with a 3x9 scope. Now I have three deer in the freezer.

You're blaming the Lee-Enfield and Garand?

 

[DonP]

cliff355 Large Loop?

Cliff,

I got my large loop from StevesGunz.

I think he has a link on Leverguns.com

He'll install it for free if you have him do an action job on your Rossi.

I did it myself though. It took a little bit of fitting and work with the japanese water stones and some wet and dry paper at 1200 grit to fine hone the lever to the right dimensions to fit in the bolt nice and snug with no binding, maybe a half hour worth of fitting at the most, but a pretty easy job at the kithcen table.

They list a few other places that you can get them for the Rossi and other Levers too. Look for the thread I started a while back on "The Twirl" and there were a few other sources listed there.

And Kestryll, you're wrong, it only took a week or so for the scars on my right shoulder to heal from learning the twirl. I wisely used Paco's advice and wrapped a big red bandana around the front site to preclude major reconstructive surgery, Ha!