Bearly an excuse for a lever action

[mp510]

Probably not cheap, but how about a .444 Marlin Outfitter. 18.5" barrel, and a round that will definetely deposit some serious energy...
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/anderson/444Outfitter.htm

 

[cyclist]

BTW, why doesn't anyone make a stainless pump with an 18" barrel and rifle sights?

Here you go (hope nobody already mentioned this one):
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model_870/model_870_marine_magnum.asp

You can add your own rifle sights.

I still like the old Winchester model 94 in 30-30 for a general all purpose woods rifle though.

 

[REOIV]

Get a Saiga in either 308 or 12 ga.

Chrome lined barrels, tough as hell, based of the AK so they are reliable in pretty much any environment. They aren't stainless but you'd have to really treat one like dirt to mess it up. Think of how badly most AKs are maintained and you'd have to be worse than that....

Loads of after market parts if you ever want to dress it up and either one costs under 500 dollars for a brand new one.

They both have standard AK sight rails if you want to mount optics to them later.

The Saiga 12 is threaded to accept poly chokes and is 19 inches long and can accept all sorts of folding stocks if you want it portable.

The 308 comes with a 16inch barrel and can use the same parts as the 12 ga so same folding stocks etc.

 

[astocks2622]

I'll put one in for the marlin 1895. go for the M model, it's got the 18.5" barrel. the 45-70 will do just fine. another option is a shotgun with a 20" smoothbore with changeable choke. I've got a rifled coke on mine, and i get as good of accuracy as the fully rifled slug guns. (4" at 150yd, open sights)

 

[theNoid]

Ok, so I am particular to my Browning BLR, and you can have a qualified guy Dura-Coat if they SS look is real necessary.

Of course, if you get a SS Marlin in something like 44mag or 45lc, this simply gives you a reason for the future purchase of a matching caliber/finish revolver or two for backup. Now that's what I am talkin' about

Noidster

 

[macadore]

My general purpose gun is a Benelli Nova slug gun. http://www.benelliusa.com/firearms/large/novaSynthetic20GaSlug.jpg It is a smooth bore so it also handles buckshot well. It will suffice on hominids at any range from which one expect to continue leading a normal life afterwards.

 

[stevekl]

I've owned a Marlin .357 for three or four years and it's the gun I shoot most out of all. I've run both factory and reloaded .38 and .357 through it and have never had a jam or failure of any kind.