Do it all levergun

Yeah lever guns aren't hard to shoot prone. No more difficult than an AR with a 30 round magazine which isn't hard at all. Most fights don't happen from the prone position though. People tend to stand or kneel for mobility. Same in hunting situations although hunters usually sit.

 

Just how many gunfights have you been involved in with your lever gun? Armchair gunfight theory is so much fun to read.

Of course a lever action can be an effective home defense weapon (would he carry a rifle for self defense outside the home?), particularly against the most common problems with unarmed or lightly armed criminals. In the rather unlikely event that perps armed with ARs are involved, I’d want something else.

But any gun is better than no gun, regardless of action type, capacity or caliber….even a flintlock. However, I do wonder about the OP’s comment concerning ”offensive use within civilian context”, what does he intend?



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in about 4 hours and maybe 150 rds a girl who never fired a gun can be made with an AR to hit what she is aiming at and smoothly reload it. naturally she will never be the equal of the battle hardened veteran commandoes that some guys on this site are

 

No doubt that a AR or AK will be more effective in an extended firefight, I am more referring to home defense capability if nothing else is available, or more easily reached.
Personally I live rural, and the most likely threat is a crackhead trying to break in, or more likely a fox or possum after the chickens, not well armed thugs intent on violence, however I never discount the potential for a threat because underestimating your potential enemy is always a fatal mistake.
I stipulate do all, because I want my rifle to do as much as possible, even if I own others more specialized, it’s about utility and adaptability.

 

30-30 Win 94

 

And so I'll ask again, what do you want to hunt with it? Will the largest animal you'll hunt with it be a 150 lb southern Whitetail, or an 800 lb Moose?

 

Henry Big Boy X. Self defense, hunting, range fun, does it all. Mine happens to be in 45 Colt.

 

I never said anything about an AR for moose, (Although an AR10 would work better than most lever actions, if a person was so inclined. I'm not.) The OP asked about a "do it all" lever action, but then neglected to mention what he'd be hunting. The answer to his question is going to vary considerably depending on the size of the game, so I asked for clarity. Personally I think the whole "one gun to do it all" thing, regardless of action type, doesn't really work very well. Instead of several weapons that are good at their respective jobs, you'll end up with something that sort of half asses all but one or two things.

 

Wish we could have a thread without bickering. I'm gonna ask Santa if he can arrange that for Christmas.

Seems to me the theme of this thread is pretty straight-forward. It's about leverguns. The question is, if you were to choose a do it all levergun, what's your preference. It could be an enjoyable and informative discussion.

It's getting so I can predict about 98% of the time which threads are going to be closed by the mods, so I don't even bother to participate as much as I would.

~Beck

 

You could also consider the Henry Long ranger, its in 556. 556 does a lot of things well.

 

Winchester 94 in 30-30. Classic for a reason. Slim, light, fits right, better cartridge for a light rifle. Faster and flatter with enough power for anything in the continent than a pistol caliber.

 

My vote is for the .357. As popular as .44 is, almost everyone I know has some .38 or .357 laying around.

As for the rifle itself .... I love my ARs, but when I get out into the woods and shooting at something isn't the purpose for being there, I often grab the lever gun. Very slick handling, no mags to worry about and often forget that I'm even carrying it.

 

When I posted above, I was just responding to the original question. Now that I've gone and read through the posts, I'm kind of shaking my head.

Lots of guys arguing about the effectiveness of one platform over another. I'll agree that with all things being equal, something like an AR is arguably more effective in a defensive or even offensive role; but I've found that many making arguments about what is more effective haven't even put in the time to become proficient with what they have.

My point is that it's all about practice and training. I'll take a guy that does 1k rounds a month through his lever gun over a guy that does 1k rounds a year through his AR any day. I have a friend that doesn't believe in weapons like ARs (we just agree to disagree on that point), and his tools of choice are levers and pumps. He's scary fast.

 

I chose 30-30 because the op said best all around. The other viable option would be a Browning with a box magazine for a modern cartridge. If not hunting big game it doesn't matter.
As far as comparing to another type weapon is not what the op asked.
Just my 2 cents.

 

And it seems of late that an ARXX is the answer to everything. For me, it is a more limited platform than a lever gun. I just do not understand the AR infatuation. I will stick with my bolt rifles and lever rifles for do all rifles for my purposes. I just do not think I will be having an infidel uprising in my living room.

This one serves me well:



3C

 

I would say that THR members are not your average gun owner. That said, it did for quite some time and there are likely millions of people today that still get by with a singular do it all weapon.

 

A 44 Magnum, in my case, a Marlin. A 41 if I could find one. (Yes, I know-Henry). A 100 yard hunting rifle, in the Eastern Woodlands where I live, that will do. 44 Specials for defense. Firing from a prone position, practice rotating the rifle when you work the lever.

 

Sorry I missed replying to you earlier, southern whitetail or boar would be the largest game I’d be intentionally hunting with what amounts to a compromise rifle, larger game like your moose would dictate something more specialized.

 

That certainly broadens (is that a word? ) your options. In your position, I'd probably go with a 30-30 with a 1-4 scope w/illuminated reticle.

 

For me and the lifestyle I live, and if I had to choose just 1 long arm, it would easily be my 1894CB Remington made marlin in 357 with skinner sights. 20" heavy octogon barrel, the usual upgrades and it has been tuned by a good gunsmith (me)

I'm sure it will perform well in 99% of the probable and most likely situations I'll find myself in for whats left of my life. The other 1% I'll try really hard to avoid if I can.

I have a 30/30 as well, but that Remlin is slick, fast, way more accurate than it should be, and ammo is far more available in my area and I can carry more rounds in the same space.

If I can achieve my dream of moving to Wyoming, I'll choose the 30/30 as the longer ranges and ammo availability.