Another Lever Action Question

[CarlS]

I am looking for a lever gun in .44 as a companion to my SBH and my Redhawk. My primary use is hunting – deer and hog – and self-protection. I might use it for an occasional coyote. Most of my shots are in the 50 – 75 yard range and the NE Florida woods and swamps are thick. I have a Marlin 336, 30/30 so I am leaning toward a Marlin. I am considering a Marlin 1894 Cowboy or a Henry Big Boy. Just love those old octagon barrels. Don’t know much about the modern Henrys as to their quality and how well that brass receiver would hold up.

Comments, suggestions, and recommendations appreciated.

 

[tc300mag1]

I would get the Marlin. Played with a henry and it just didint have the fit or finsh that i thought it should.

Maybe the one i looked at is a example of most of them but i see so few here.

 

[Brian Williams]

If you are going to walk around in thick swamp and woods get the Marlin with the 20" barrel and get a peep sight mounted on the reciever and it will be great.

 

[Wildalaska]

Marlin, no question

WildtrustmeAlaska

 

[MrAcheson]

Marlin. The new Henrys may be good guns, but they don't seem to be earning many peoples' trust.

 

[CarlS]

Thanks for the input. Looks pretty unanimous; I will go with the Marlin, which I'm familiar with anyway.

 

[MeekandMild]

Just remember that you check the screws and if any seem to be working loose, use a dab of blue loctite on them. Been there. Done that.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Isn't Ruger making a stainless version of their lever-action .44 Mag. these days?

 

[Bullet Bob]

If you can find a good used one, I can highly recommend one the Browning 92 reproductions in .44 (or .357); very slick, accurate, good ergonomics. I think Winchester currently sells the same gun, but the repro won't have a safety added. Here's mine in .357, with a Lyman 66 aperture sight added:

 

[CarlS]

Bullet Bob, you just complicated my decision!! I will definitely see if I can find one and check it out, if nothig else. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[PO2Hammer]

The Browning/Win 1892 action is probably the strongest action of the pistol caliber leverguns. They don't always feed the shorter cartridges i.e. .44 spl in .44mag as well as the marlins, but they have a great smooth action. I had a Rossi 1892 in .357 that was great with mags, but didn't feed .38's reliably. I'll second the Lyman reciever sight on whichever model you choose. They are tough, fast and accurate. It's worth the money to get them drilled and tapped. If you are going to shoot just .44 mag brass, the 1892 should be a fine choice. I'm not a fan of Ruger but their levergun in .44 has very low recoil, noticably less than my old .44 Marlin. Can't comment on Ruger accuracy though.
P.S. the Winchester 1892 is the gun that won the western!