This is my first post. I finishing a job soon and will have some extra cash. I'm going to pick up a couple of lever rifles but can't figure out what to get. I know I want a 45-70 1895 so that part is easy. Great for ohio hunting but expensive to shoot and hard on the shoulder. I also want a 357/38 for leisure/ smaller game. used marlin 1894 for $1000? 1873 $1000 ( miroku or uberti)? henry $700 but I don't like them? 1892? Don't want a Rossi. Help... I'm going nuts
Lever question. Stressed out
- Thread starter OwenC
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https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...Rifles/Marlin/Marlin+1895GBL+.45-70GOVT+18.5"
Buds has the 45-70 right now with a rebate - $429.
Buds has the 45-70 right now with a rebate - $429.
scaatylobo
Member
Your passing up the ORIGINAL lever gun with a "modern" load ---- the 30-30 ?.
I love my 2 Winchester 30-30's.
Had a Marlin 45-70 and it was just not as useful,cheap,or fun to shoot.
Did have a couple of the .44 & 45LC lever guns for CASS.
No longer as I don't do cowboy shoots for a good while.
Lever gun's = the original assault rifle
I love my 2 Winchester 30-30's.
Had a Marlin 45-70 and it was just not as useful,cheap,or fun to shoot.
Did have a couple of the .44 & 45LC lever guns for CASS.
No longer as I don't do cowboy shoots for a good while.
Lever gun's = the original assault rifle
badkarmamib
Member
It's a shame Ohio requires straight-walled cartridges for deer hunting, or I would suggest .30-30, also.
badkarmamib
Member
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/32294 Marlin 1895 .45-70 $400 after rebate
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/32285 Marlin 1894 .44 Mag $430 after rebate
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/32285 Marlin 1894 .44 Mag $430 after rebate
badkarmamib
Member
I like the idea of a .357 lever gun myself, but they do seem a little rarer, at the moment, in my quick search.
badkarmamib
Member
Better be careful with statements like that around here, or you will be buying reloading supplies to go with your new rifle(s)
bannockburn
Member
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Since you don't want a Rossi ( which would have been my first suggestion), then I would look for a Marlin in either .357 Mag. or .44 Mag.
Jason_W
Member
What don't you like ab out the Henry? Is it the tube loading?
I'm actually wishing I had gone with a henry over my Marlin 1894. The Henry is a much smoother, better finished rifle. Unless it's going to be your primary defensive rifle, the tube loading system isn't much of a handicap. Even then, loading gates on the revolver cal carbines are small and often stiff. I can't imagine feeding rounds into one while shaking uncontrollably from adrenaline.
If the gun is going to be primarily a hunting gun, the tube loading is ideal. You won't have to cycle all your rounds in order to unload at the end of the day.
RPRNY
Member
So if you rule a Rossi out for your pistol caliber gun, your choices are '73 replicas, Win '92s, the Marlin '94, or Henry. If your intent is to have it available for hunting, I would suggest that you choose 44 Mag rather than 38/357 as it gives you a bit more range and certainty. I would further recommend that you get a carbine model with a @16.5" barrel as these are incredibly handy. A good ghost ring peep sight set up (Skinner, for example) or a Marbles rear Bullseye, and you have a very fine and handy little rifle.
44 Mag argues for the Marlin 1894 (available in 20" - still quite handy), the Winchester '92 (scarce and more expensive - also 20") or the Henry. While the Uberti '73 replicas are available in 44 Mag, the action of the '73 isn't ideally suited to Magnum pressures and they are all $1000 +
New Marlin '94s are available for less than $500 plus a $75 rebate. I would want to handle and physically assess any Remlin, but reports are that the latest builds are fine. Here is an example: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/667837335 Older ones are more in the $800 - $900 range.
Winchester '92s are a great choice but harder to scare up and pricey: here's a Browning B92 20" though: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/672724578
Then there is the Henry. Available in 16.5" and 20", if you can bring yourself to order something as absurdly named as the "Big Boy", the steel models are available in the $650 - $700 range. While I prefer the side loading gate, mag tube loading wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. Here's an example: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/673648637
Lastly, if your view on the Rossi is colored by quality concerns, I would suggest that you reconsider. Think of the R92 as a 95% finished gun. It wants some work - removing the God-awful ugly safety, lightening some springs, replacing the crappy plastic mag follower, and stoning the loading gate edges, for example. So, they need some work, but they are reliable and work well. I had one in 38/357 that I could net get to feed 38 spl well and moved on. I have one in 45 LC which is super fun, super handy, and very reliable. Available around $500. Just a thought: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/673480619
FWIW, if you can physically examine a Remlin 1894 to make sure you know what you are getting, that would be my recommendation. I have a New Haven made Cowboy Ltd II in 45 LC and it's a gorgeous rifle.
44 Mag argues for the Marlin 1894 (available in 20" - still quite handy), the Winchester '92 (scarce and more expensive - also 20") or the Henry. While the Uberti '73 replicas are available in 44 Mag, the action of the '73 isn't ideally suited to Magnum pressures and they are all $1000 +
New Marlin '94s are available for less than $500 plus a $75 rebate. I would want to handle and physically assess any Remlin, but reports are that the latest builds are fine. Here is an example: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/667837335 Older ones are more in the $800 - $900 range.
Winchester '92s are a great choice but harder to scare up and pricey: here's a Browning B92 20" though: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/672724578
Then there is the Henry. Available in 16.5" and 20", if you can bring yourself to order something as absurdly named as the "Big Boy", the steel models are available in the $650 - $700 range. While I prefer the side loading gate, mag tube loading wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. Here's an example: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/673648637
Lastly, if your view on the Rossi is colored by quality concerns, I would suggest that you reconsider. Think of the R92 as a 95% finished gun. It wants some work - removing the God-awful ugly safety, lightening some springs, replacing the crappy plastic mag follower, and stoning the loading gate edges, for example. So, they need some work, but they are reliable and work well. I had one in 38/357 that I could net get to feed 38 spl well and moved on. I have one in 45 LC which is super fun, super handy, and very reliable. Available around $500. Just a thought: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/673480619
FWIW, if you can physically examine a Remlin 1894 to make sure you know what you are getting, that would be my recommendation. I have a New Haven made Cowboy Ltd II in 45 LC and it's a gorgeous rifle.
J-Bar
Member
About Marlins; old ones have good reputations, the newer made after Remington bought Marlin not so much. I don't own either, just passing on the gossip from my fellow cowboy action shooters.
Model 92s; very strong actions. For Ohio deer hunting I would consider one in .45 Colt rather than a .45-70. Ammo is cheaper and easier on the shoulder. Nothing wrong with a .357 either, but some 92s don't like to feed .38 Specials, in case you were planning to use .38s as well. The angled feed into the chamber is pretty sensitive to cartridge length. My impression of Ohio deer hunting is short range shots...no need to punish yourself with a .45-70.
Model 1873; not nearly as sensitive to cartridge length variations since they feed horizontally into the chamber. I have two Ubertis I use in competition. Available in both .357 and .45 Colt. Easy resale to cowboy action shooters if you decide you don't want it anymore. Personally the Winchester name isn't that important to me; it's a Miroku instead of a Uberti is all.
Model 92s; very strong actions. For Ohio deer hunting I would consider one in .45 Colt rather than a .45-70. Ammo is cheaper and easier on the shoulder. Nothing wrong with a .357 either, but some 92s don't like to feed .38 Specials, in case you were planning to use .38s as well. The angled feed into the chamber is pretty sensitive to cartridge length. My impression of Ohio deer hunting is short range shots...no need to punish yourself with a .45-70.
Model 1873; not nearly as sensitive to cartridge length variations since they feed horizontally into the chamber. I have two Ubertis I use in competition. Available in both .357 and .45 Colt. Easy resale to cowboy action shooters if you decide you don't want it anymore. Personally the Winchester name isn't that important to me; it's a Miroku instead of a Uberti is all.
Kingcreek
Member
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J-Bar
Member
A "hot" .45 Colt is a .454 Casull, and 92s were chambered for that as well!
Depending on your ability to shoot groups, 150 yards should be easy.
RPRNY
Member
I believe by "hot 45 Colt" one is referring to the "Ruger/TC/Freedom Arms Only" loads found in many loading manuals. These offer 300 grs at 1200 fps from 7" test barrels and would deliver roughly 1400 fps from a 16.5" barreled carbine - PROVIDED that the rifle is proofed to at least 30,000 CUP. The 454 Casull is a whole different kettle of fish: 300 grs at 2,000 fps from a 20" rifle, but at @ 55,000 CUP. The Rossi/PUMA '92 that was chambered in 454 Casull had problems with mag tube separation, used specially heat treated steels, and was still viewed as iffy.
Owen C. They do make lower pressure 45-70 ammo for those shooting historical firearms or cowboy action shooting. This type of ammo will have less recoil. However, if you get a Marlin--get the Ballard rifling if it is available rather than the microgroove as most, if not all, of the low pressure rounds use lead bullets.
Sunray
Member
The ORIGINAL lever gun was not a .30-30. It was a "pistol calibre" rimfire. Colt's percussion levers predate the .30-30 by 57 years.
"...expensive to shoot and hard on the shoulder..." Easily fixed by reloading. Nothing says you cannot use a TrapDoor load in a lever action. Reloading doesn't have to be horribly expensive to get into either.
"...used Marlin 1894 for $1000..." One must shop around. They're available for less on Gunbroker et al. There's one on there right now with 1 bid of $632. Item # 672693223. It's in Jonesboro, AR. BNIB at Cabela's in .44 Mag or .45 Colt for $669.99.
"..."Ruger/TC/Freedom Arms Only" loads found in many loading manuals..." Are hand gun loads.
"...expensive to shoot and hard on the shoulder..." Easily fixed by reloading. Nothing says you cannot use a TrapDoor load in a lever action. Reloading doesn't have to be horribly expensive to get into either.
"...used Marlin 1894 for $1000..." One must shop around. They're available for less on Gunbroker et al. There's one on there right now with 1 bid of $632. Item # 672693223. It's in Jonesboro, AR. BNIB at Cabela's in .44 Mag or .45 Colt for $669.99.
"..."Ruger/TC/Freedom Arms Only" loads found in many loading manuals..." Are hand gun loads.
Speedo66
Member
There are probably loads of Rossi owners out there shaking their heads. lol
You might want to reconsider, they're good, solid, accurate guns. Newer ones seem to have less initial problems, mine from 2 years ago had none.
Hard cast flat nosed Buffalo Bore .357's are good deer medicine.
You might want to reconsider, they're good, solid, accurate guns. Newer ones seem to have less initial problems, mine from 2 years ago had none.
Hard cast flat nosed Buffalo Bore .357's are good deer medicine.
TN Outlaw
Member
I agree^^^^
I have a R92 357/38spl bought 4-5yrs ago and ill admit, the fit and finish is pretty iffy. One side of the forearm was thicker than the other and the safety is ugly, but the gun shoots and cycles like a dream. Ive had not one problem cycling 38spl in it and it is surprisingly accurate! Ive shot several 1 1/4"-1 1/2" groups @100yds with those open sights and for me to be the one tickling the trigger, thats great!
180gr Buffalo Bore or Double Tap hard cast has been known to let the air out of several deer so its just an option.
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