Dangnabit! You lever guys just confuse me.

[mrcpu]

SO I'm reading here, and over on another forum about how much people love their lever actions.

When I grew up, I had a lever action 30-30 that took Hercules to work, and it was a major PITB. So all this time, while looking for guns for myself, and the kids, I've just been ignoring the lever action as too much hassle.

Finally, today, at Fox's in GP, I broke down, and tried a lever action youth model (CZ I think) with my daughter, who's 8, and looking for her first youth rifle.

Man, oh man, that thing was smooth. Sweet. Slick. I am losing my love of bolts and semi's...

SO I tried one of the other larger caliber levers, I think it was 308, maybe .243, I handled so many, I'm confused, and it was slicker'n snail snot as my grandpappy used to say.

So now, lever action is back on the table, thus probably increasing my # of choices by at least 30%, and increasing my confusion by 50%, and increasing the potential of a larger hole in my pocket getting both bolt and lever by 100%.

Which is good for America's gun manufacturers, but hard on my psyche...

 

[dispatch55126]

All of my fathers rifles are generational hand-me-downs. Among them is an 1864 Spencer, bolt action 20 guage and a Winchester 30WCF Model 94 dated to 1928. I finally am starting to take over his collection and refurbish them and the Model 94 has one of the smoothest actions I've ever used. Its action is far more substancial than a new manufacture Model 94 today. A bolt will usually be more accurate as the tolerances are tighter but a lever action will keep you on target for more aimed shots per minute.

 

[toivo]

Finally, today, at Fox's in GP, I broke down, and tried a lever action youth model (CZ I think) with my daughter, who's 8, and looking for her first youth rifle.

Man, oh man, that thing was smooth.

I've never seen a CZ lever gun, much less a youth model. They do make a youth model bolt action, the Scout. Could it maybe have been a Henry that you were looking at? They're known for being pretty smooth.

 

[Sunray]

"...had a lever action 30-30 that took Hercules to work..." A Win 94? They're like that. Try the action on a Marlin 336 or 444. A No. 4 Lee-Enfield they're not, but far smoother than a Win94. Mind you, it may be damaged too. They're not smooth, but demi-god strength shouldn't be required. Burred part maybe.
"...Model 94 dated to 1928..." Well 'broken in'. They're not like that anymore. Haven't been for eons.

 

[Cosmoline]

If you really want a treat, look around for a Savage 99. Sweetest shooting levergun ever made. The 99E's came in .308 and can still be had for a reasonable price, though the older 99's are becoming collectors items. You don't have to limit yourself with flat nose bullets with the 99, and the action is both simple and strong. They also tote like a dream for hunting.

The Winchester '94's made between about 1970 and about 1981 are also a real bargain. Collectors have little interest in them for now, but they're fantastic shooters. By the 70's Winchester got the bugs worked out of the 64 changes, and they aren't mired by the lawyer safety or side eject. And of course you can also find some older '94's for a good price if you search around. I never thought much of the USRAC versions made after the buyout in the early 80's.

Marlin 336's and related models are a notch heavier and stouter than the '94's. I like them, but I've always felt they should ease up on the steel for the mere .30-30. They use that same frame for the new 1895's which tells you how strong they are.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I will be the first to admit it. If you want raw accuracy, get a bolt. But if you want to have fun, shoot a lever. I have a nice 9422 that I shoot with my daughter and others and every likes the lever for just plinking and having a good time. My 94's are all 30/30 and while not the most accurate (any of my 700's will beat them) they are just fun to shoot.

 

[made2cut]

The last two guns I've bought are Marlin lever actions - 336 in 30-30 and 1894 in 357. The 1894 is especially fun to shoot, it to me is the ultimate plinker that has some significant punch.

 

[byf43]

Lever guns are FUN!!!!!!!

My first. . . an 1894S Marlin, in .44 magnum.
I then acquired an 1894 Trapper that will eventually be my son's. (Ordered the 'John Wayne' style loop lever for it before they all disappeared!)

Next. . . Marlin 1895G in .45/70 'Gummint'.
Next. . . Marlin 1895CB in .45/70 'Gummint'.

Like a fool, I sold the first 1894S.
Hmmmmmmmmm. . . there's a "funshow" this weekend, about 10 miles from here. Think I'll head over and see if anyone has an 1894CB in .44 mag.


There's just 'something' about those octagonal barrels!!!!!!!

 

[DogBonz]

YUP,

"...had a lever action 30-30 that took Hercules to work..." A Win 94? They're like that.

My fathers is like that, but then again, he never cleans the damn thing except for the barrel.

My win 94, is actually quite smooth, but then again it is always super clean and when I got it, I used to play with it (the action) all the time, so that may have smoothed it a bit. Either that or I just got used to it.

 

[wileyj]

Winchester Model 94's require a "full bodied" movement to the action. They are easy to short stroke and not work properly.
Also consider the EMF and/or Puma Model 92's. Or the ones from Cimarron.
The Model 92's are more designed for pistol caliber rounds and are very nice.
And if you want them even nicer, check with http://www.stevesgunz.com/ for a 92 that has been made REALLY smooth. There are good reviews on http://www.gunblast.com/ on the 92's
thanks

 

[rockstar.esq]

I would wonder if the Brownings might be smoother still due to thier use of rack and pinion? As I read all of this it occurs to me that I've never heard of anyone using bearings to smooth out an action. Timney uses them in it's triggers to great effect. I'm expecting a fair amount of "it'd cost too much" but I'm actually thinking of custom smiths who have a bit more latitude in what they can do. It seems like a lever action could really benefit from some super slick bearing action instead of time consuming polishing on parts that'll wear loose. There once was a custom gunsmith who marketed his pistols under the "Devel" trademark and he used an hourglass shaped roller on bearings in place of a polished chamber ramp to ensure hollowpoints would feed with minimal drag.

 

[mrcpu]

Many moons ago, I was reading an article that talked about how super-polishing objects can actually increase friction in some circumstances. And so these
guys were taking the metals, and blasting it with some kind of laser/chemical/peanut butter/something making these little micropits that were so small as to be undetectable, but make the sufrace slicker, perhaps because it held pockets of lubricant or somesuch. It was along time ago...

THen it went off into lots of funny symbols with these weird greek letters and lots of math and my eyes kind of glazed over.

I don't know if it applies to guns and the stresses involved, but the synopsis was interesting reading, even if I didn't understand the remaining 20 pages...

 

[Slab_J]

If you can find a used savage 99 for a fair price go for it, i have one in 300 savage, it shoots flatter than a 30/30 and light recoil.