Do it all levergun

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Shootin' a lever gun low and prone isn't that hard. There's only so low you can go on any gun before the stock isn't on your shoulder anymore and the sights don't line up with your eye.

The real difference in prone shooting a bolt vs. a lever for me is that moving the lever on the downstroke can pull the buttstock off my shoulder if the buttplate is slick. Whereas, cycling a bolt rearward in a bolt gun doesn't create that same issue with a slick buttplate.

Yeah lever guns aren't hard to shoot prone. No more difficult than an AR with a 30 round magazine which isn't hard at all. Most fights don't happen from the prone position though. People tend to stand or kneel for mobility. Same in hunting situations although hunters usually sit.
 
…I’ve never found a problem eleven rounds of 44Magnum from a stainless lever couldn’t solve.
Just how many gunfights have you been involved in with your lever gun? Armchair gunfight theory is so much fun to read.

Of course a lever action can be an effective home defense weapon (would he carry a rifle for self defense outside the home?), particularly against the most common problems with unarmed or lightly armed criminals. In the rather unlikely event that perps armed with ARs are involved, I’d want something else.

But any gun is better than no gun, regardless of action type, capacity or caliber….even a flintlock. However, I do wonder about the OP’s comment concerning ”offensive use within civilian context”, what does he intend?



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You very much implied that when you stated that it's a problem if your opponent has a weapon that's more effective.

No, you never mentioned AR's specifically, but the implication is definitely there, especially now that you've said "...high" capacity magazines and fast reloads do make a weapon more effective.".
High capacity magazines and fast reloads only matter if 1) One is a poor marksman and tends to miss their target, thus requiring more ammunition 2) One is playing a video game or 3) One really believes that they can fend off hordes bad guys with whatever semi-auto rifle it is you're not talking about and plenty of extra "mags".

Why am I comparing a competent rifleman to an incompetent one? EASY, competence with a firearm that is deemed "less effective" will always trump incompetence with a firearm deemed "more effective". Are you getting it?? It's the Indian, not the arrow.

35W
in about 4 hours and maybe 150 rds a girl who never fired a gun can be made with an AR to hit what she is aiming at and smoothly reload it. naturally she will never be the equal of the battle hardened veteran commandoes that some guys on this site are
 
Back in the day a lever action repeater was the peak of firearms development and if you had one you had a big advantage over someone with a single shot. Fast forward to today where technology has advanced to give us greater capacity, less recoil, longer range, and capability for optics and lights that make shooting faster and farther quite easy and it's hard to see why someone would prefer a lever gun for self defense.

They do what they've always done as well as they ever have, but weapons have advanced far beyond that, and the bad guys have these weapons too. Not to mention there aren't many options for good training centered around a lever gun.

If I was forced to choose a lever gun to cover all bases it would likely be a 357 magnum.

No doubt that a AR or AK will be more effective in an extended firefight, I am more referring to home defense capability if nothing else is available, or more easily reached.
Personally I live rural, and the most likely threat is a crackhead trying to break in, or more likely a fox or possum after the chickens, not well armed thugs intent on violence, however I never discount the potential for a threat because underestimating your potential enemy is always a fatal mistake.
I stipulate do all, because I want my rifle to do as much as possible, even if I own others more specialized, it’s about utility and adaptability.
 
Just how many gunfights have you been involved in with your lever gun? Armchair gunfight theory is so much fun to read.
I like how these sorts of threads always degrade to gun fighting.
The answer is none. Et tu Brute?
How many gunfights with, and also without, a lever gun have you been in? I like reading the arm chair stuff as well.

And I wasn’t disappointed…
Of course a lever action can be an effective home defense weapon (would he carry a rifle for self defense outside the home?), particularly against the most common problems with unarmed or lightly armed criminals. In the rather unlikely event that perps armed with ARs are involved, I’d want something else.
Ha! The ever popular “multiple Perps with ARs”! I love it!:D

Hard to argue with someone that occupies both sides of the fence. o_O

But how’s that AR on @bearcreek ‘s moose? We’re doing everything remember.
How about hunting in straight wall states?
(Yeah, I know, 450 Bushmaster, I have one.)


Quote me directly, a common courtesy, I don’t like when humans ask me questions behind my back, seems underhanded.
 
But how’s that AR on @bearcreek ‘s moose? We’re doing everything remember.
How about hunting in straight wall states?
(Yeah, I know, 450 Bushmaster, I have one.)


Quote me directly, a common courtesy, I don’t like when humans ask me questions behind my back, seems underhanded.
I never said anything about an AR for moose, (Although an AR10 would work better than most lever actions, if a person was so inclined. I'm not.) The OP asked about a "do it all" lever action, but then neglected to mention what he'd be hunting. The answer to his question is going to vary considerably depending on the size of the game, so I asked for clarity. Personally I think the whole "one gun to do it all" thing, regardless of action type, doesn't really work very well. Instead of several weapons that are good at their respective jobs, you'll end up with something that sort of half asses all but one or two things.
 
Wish we could have a thread without bickering. I'm gonna ask Santa if he can arrange that for Christmas.

Seems to me the theme of this thread is pretty straight-forward. It's about leverguns. The question is, if you were to choose a do it all levergun, what's your preference. It could be an enjoyable and informative discussion.

It's getting so I can predict about 98% of the time which threads are going to be closed by the mods, so I don't even bother to participate as much as I would.

~Beck
 
You could also consider the Henry Long ranger, its in 556. 556 does a lot of things well.
 
To be fair, I don’t know if there really are Cartridge Restrictions for Offensive Civilian Use in the state where the OP is posting from.;)

Well, I don’t spend any mental energy on that side of the subject. I was deployed to a combat zone for 12 months and never got into a “gunfight” so I’m not giving much thought about one breaking out in my living room.
 
What do you prefer for a do it all lever action rifle?
This should cover hunting, pest control, defensive/offensive use within civilian context, and possibly informal plinking or target shooting.

Initially, I’d lean towards an older Marlin 336 in 30-30, however argument could also be made in favor of the classic Winchester 94 instead, or perhaps a pistol caliber such as the model 92 for its increased capacity and faster action.

What would you choose?
Winchester 94 in 30-30. Classic for a reason. Slim, light, fits right, better cartridge for a light rifle. Faster and flatter with enough power for anything in the continent than a pistol caliber.
 
My vote is for the .357. As popular as .44 is, almost everyone I know has some .38 or .357 laying around.

As for the rifle itself .... I love my ARs, but when I get out into the woods and shooting at something isn't the purpose for being there, I often grab the lever gun. Very slick handling, no mags to worry about and often forget that I'm even carrying it.
 
When I posted above, I was just responding to the original question. Now that I've gone and read through the posts, I'm kind of shaking my head.

Lots of guys arguing about the effectiveness of one platform over another. I'll agree that with all things being equal, something like an AR is arguably more effective in a defensive or even offensive role; but I've found that many making arguments about what is more effective haven't even put in the time to become proficient with what they have.

My point is that it's all about practice and training. I'll take a guy that does 1k rounds a month through his lever gun over a guy that does 1k rounds a year through his AR any day. I have a friend that doesn't believe in weapons like ARs (we just agree to disagree on that point), and his tools of choice are levers and pumps. He's scary fast.
 
I chose 30-30 because the op said best all around. The other viable option would be a Browning with a box magazine for a modern cartridge. If not hunting big game it doesn't matter.
As far as comparing to another type weapon is not what the op asked.
Just my 2 cents.
 
When I posted above, I was just responding to the original question. Now that I've gone and read through the posts, I'm kind of shaking my head.

Lots of guys arguing about the effectiveness of one platform over another. I'll agree that with all things being equal, something like an AR is arguably more effective in a defensive or even offensive role; but I've found that many making arguments about what is more effective haven't even put in the time to become proficient with what they have.

My point is that it's all about practice and training. I'll take a guy that does 1k rounds a month through his lever gun over a guy that does 1k rounds a year through his AR any day. I have a friend that doesn't believe in weapons like ARs (we just agree to disagree on that point), and his tools of choice are levers and pumps. He's scary fast.

And it seems of late that an ARXX is the answer to everything. For me, it is a more limited platform than a lever gun. I just do not understand the AR infatuation. I will stick with my bolt rifles and lever rifles for do all rifles for my purposes. I just do not think I will be having an infidel uprising in my living room.

This one serves me well:

Screen-Shot-2022-09-29-at-12-26-59-PM.png

3C
 
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A 44 Magnum, in my case, a Marlin. A 41 if I could find one. (Yes, I know-Henry). A 100 yard hunting rifle, in the Eastern Woodlands where I live, that will do. 44 Specials for defense. Firing from a prone position, practice rotating the rifle when you work the lever.
 
And so I'll ask again, what do you want to hunt with it? Will the largest animal you'll hunt with it be a 150 lb southern Whitetail, or an 800 lb Moose?

Sorry I missed replying to you earlier, southern whitetail or boar would be the largest game I’d be intentionally hunting with what amounts to a compromise rifle, larger game like your moose would dictate something more specialized.
 
Sorry I missed replying to you earlier, southern whitetail or boar would be the largest game I’d be intentionally hunting with what amounts to a compromise rifle, larger game like your moose would dictate something more specialized.
That certainly broadens (is that a word? o_O) your options. In your position, I'd probably go with a 30-30 with a 1-4 scope w/illuminated reticle.
 
For me and the lifestyle I live, and if I had to choose just 1 long arm, it would easily be my 1894CB Remington made marlin in 357 with skinner sights. 20" heavy octogon barrel, the usual upgrades and it has been tuned by a good gunsmith (me)

I'm sure it will perform well in 99% of the probable and most likely situations I'll find myself in for whats left of my life. The other 1% I'll try really hard to avoid if I can.

I have a 30/30 as well, but that Remlin is slick, fast, way more accurate than it should be, and ammo is far more available in my area and I can carry more rounds in the same space.

If I can achieve my dream of moving to Wyoming, I'll choose the 30/30 as the longer ranges and ammo availability.
 
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