silicosys4
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2012
- Messages
- 3,735
Since the discussion about 45-70 lever guns has been kicking around the forum in another thread for a while, I'm curious what people's experiences with theirs has been, and if you've had experience with multiple brands?
I have very little experience with them so far, I picked a Browning 1886 SRC earlier this year and haven't had the time to shoot it more than a few times, and not with more than a few kinds of ammo.
I don't consider it better or worse than other brands and models, It was just at the intersection of my interest in lever guns, Winchester, and the .45-70. Plus the Browning was $500 cheaper than any of the other 1886 replica's I could find, and its got a very strong action, perhaps more so than the Marlin. I can't say if its stronger than the Henry.
My only other experience with a .45-70 lever gun was a Henry brass receiver lever gun, the one without the loading gate. Beautiful rifle. But it didn't feed very smoothly and had to be ran with authority or you would fail to get the action fully into battery and have a hammer fall with no firing pin strike.
If I had to do it again, much as I love the 1886 for its silky action, by far smoother than the Henry, I might look more towards the Henry or Marlin for the ability to easily mount a scope. That wasn't an itch I was trying to scratch with the 1886 though, and I wouldn't give the 1886 up to get one.
Are there any currently available .45-70 lever gun designs I'm forgetting?
I have very little experience with them so far, I picked a Browning 1886 SRC earlier this year and haven't had the time to shoot it more than a few times, and not with more than a few kinds of ammo.
I don't consider it better or worse than other brands and models, It was just at the intersection of my interest in lever guns, Winchester, and the .45-70. Plus the Browning was $500 cheaper than any of the other 1886 replica's I could find, and its got a very strong action, perhaps more so than the Marlin. I can't say if its stronger than the Henry.
My only other experience with a .45-70 lever gun was a Henry brass receiver lever gun, the one without the loading gate. Beautiful rifle. But it didn't feed very smoothly and had to be ran with authority or you would fail to get the action fully into battery and have a hammer fall with no firing pin strike.
If I had to do it again, much as I love the 1886 for its silky action, by far smoother than the Henry, I might look more towards the Henry or Marlin for the ability to easily mount a scope. That wasn't an itch I was trying to scratch with the 1886 though, and I wouldn't give the 1886 up to get one.
Are there any currently available .45-70 lever gun designs I'm forgetting?