Current lever action rifles

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T.R.

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Yesterday I attended the huge Sportsman's Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I handled nearly all the current lever action rifles and carbines. The "new" Marlins seem quite well made to me. Same goes for the Rio Grande model by Rossi. I thought the Mossberg 464 seemed a little rough to operate in comparison. But still a good rifle; my nephew has one. Winchester model 94 and 71 are pricey imports but exceptionally well made. Browning's BLR is tops but so is pricing. Smoothest of all are the modified Marlins built by Wild West Guns of Alaska. The representative explained that the internal parts are polished.

I did not handle the new Henry Long Ranger because of the large crowd at this display booth.

Today's consumers have a wide choice of lever actions to choose from. Which one do you hunt with?
 

It has a Happy Trigger. When I installed it, since the rifle was disassembled I polished the internals. Also loosened the barrel band. Bought it for my son(what he wanted for his first deer rifle) in 2010 when quality was so bad. When he received his 30-06 in 2012 I commandeered it to hunt hogs. Took some work but it's a shooter now. The latest Marlins are good quality.
 
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I have ony one lever action a Marlin in 35Rem. Im sure ill never want to sell or trade it. I have no money in it I traded hard labor the guy I got it from didnt want to sell it but needed a ditch dug and a water line put in so it came to me with a pick and shovel. For that reason alone I will keep it and it is deadly on deer in the brush. I have thought id like a short Rossi with the big loop lever. 45 Colt, 45=70,444 or 44Magnum. I think Theyre called a ranch hand.
 
Had one Rossi .357 - sold it.
I am partial to the Henry lever actions - I have six of them. .22LR (2), .22Magnum, .357 magnum (steel), .44 magnum (brass), .45-70 (steel)
 
I have 3 JM Marlins: 1892 in 22lr, 336 'Texan' in 30-30, and an 1894 in 45 LC. Love them all and the 1892, which I learned to shoot with, is a real treat. Was given to my grandfather for his 10th birthday in 1906 and during the Depression, he used it to put meat on the table headshooting deer in the apple orchard.

I have Rossi carbine 16.5" in 45 LC, handiest little truck and camp gun there is. A treat to shoot.

And I have a Savage 99 in 300 Savage that had seen a lot of hard use before I got it and really doesn't shoot well, but I still love it.

I keep looking at the Uberti Centennial Rifle replicas. they're awfully pretty and I fancy one in 40-60 something rotten.:cool:
 
Slicked up Marlin??? My 336 was my grandfathers. He shot 2 boxes through it. It was loaned out to every Tom Dick and Harry from the 60s on, seldom spending a deer season at the house. It has been "naturally slicked" I suppose, but next time I take it down I might see if anything needs some lapping compound and cordless drill adjustment.
 
I recently picked up a 2004 Marlin 336A. 450 plus ship/trans. There is not a current production 30-30 I would trade it for.
 
I dont do much hunting, but Im a Henry fan, having purchased 3 in the last year.

Big Boy Steel 45-70
Big Boy Steel Carbine 357
H001T 22lr

All 3 are great fun and beautiful rifles. If I were to do it over again, I might skip the 4570 & 357, instead meeting in the middle with a 44mag. Only reason being, 4570 is fun, but really no use for it around here, and a bit pricey to shoot, even with hand-loaded, cast, cowboy loads.
 
I have a 20" barreled Rossi in 45 Colt, it's a pretty decent shooter for the $. Would love to switch out the carbine buttstock for the crescent style rifle stock, otherwise I've been happy with it.
 
While deployed I decided I wanted a Marlin for a project gun.
My Brother found an early 336 and "SC" I believe. It had been been beat to heck, but when done it turned out so good that my Mom wanted it for her "House Gun."
 
I have filled 3 deer tags last fall with a 20" stainless Rossi in 357. Nice rifles with a little bit of owner input.
 
I've got a Browning BLR in .308, I can't think of any other gun I'd rather woods hunt with. My Rossi .357 is just a joy to shoot, and quite accurate.

I guess you could say my 1889 Model '73 Winchester in .38-40 isn't too current it being 128 years old, but fun to shoot anyway.
 
I prefer pre-2010 Marlin's and own many of them. I'd buy a real JM Marlin over a new one any day. I've handled the new ones and they have greatly improved their action & fit but I just can't get over their checkering. I'm a Guide Gun & Outfitter nut so I stick with what I like.



1895gunner
 
I have a rossi 92 chambered in 357/38. I knew I was taking a chance on the quality and as luck would have it, mine was a piece of junk to put it mildly. Sent it back to Rossi and had to really bug them to get it back after 4 months. When I got it back, it was as if they did not touch it. I contacted Steve Young and bought his DVD on how to slick up the action. Now it's a great shooter and I did the work myself.
 
3 JM stamped Marlins.
1894 in 44mag
444S in 444
1895 in 45-70

I was a bolt gun guy growing up. I didn't understand guys that hunted with stupid leverguns. Now? I'll take one of my leverguns over ANY gun I own for hunting. Every time I pick one up, it's like I'm walking with an old friend.
 
I have not hunted since 1979 but I have a "thing" for JM Marlins. (2) 39A's, a 1894c in .357, all from the 70s and a 2001 1895cb in 45/70. I need to find a nice JM 30-30 to add to the accumulation but the money finds other places to go.
 
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