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Favorite Lever Action Rifles

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FL-NC; I once saw a home built shooting bench with a 3/4" plywood top that had a hole cut in it so the owner could cycle his lever gun without disturbing the position of the gun on a front adjustable rest and a rear sand bag. The hole was between the location of the front & rear rests. I am sometimes reminded of that bench when I'm load testing, or checking zero off the bench with my Marlin .30-30 at my club's range.
 
Funny that no-one has mentioned Sako VL63 Finnwolf yet. From purely technical and mechanical perspective it's one of my personal favorites but fairly rare hence $$$ and IMO slightly boring. I've shot a few, in .308 and .243, and it handles a lot like a bolt rifle, not quite unlike Savage 99 and Winchester 88. The action is s-m-o-o-t-h right out of the box, though, and they have a reputation of being medium to even long range tack drivers.
 
I would have a hard time settling on ONE favorite levergun.
In rimfire, my 28,000-round endurance test Henry Golden Boy.
In centerfire, probably Grandpa's '51 Model 94 .30-30.

The GB I got kinda attached to during that endurance run, the Winchester would be the last of all my leverguns to go if I had to divest.
Denis
 
I have several lever-action rifles, both rimfire and centerfire, and like them all but if I had to pick a "favorite", it would probably be my Savage Model 99, chambered in .358 Winchester. All of them have Williams receiver sights mounted on them. I am, however, no fan of over-sized loops or under-sized barrels (commonly known as being "Trapper" style carbines).
 
With 12 levers in the safe it's quite a chore to find my favorite...

My all-time favorite looking rifle the Winchester 1894, only because it's the one my Grandfather had in the gun cabinet on the ranch so it's the first one I was familiar with. I have 4 of them, 3 in .30-30 and a trapper in .44 Mag, so I guess they're still my fav's.

The Marln 336 is a better gun for mounting a scope, plus it comes in .35 Remington, which is my favorite lever gun round. The .45-70 in the 1895G is a close second.

The .45 Colt is my favorite centerfire handgun round in a lever gun...it outshines the .357 in the 1892 clones and .44 in the 1894 IMHO.

The Henry .22's are obtainable, affordable, reliable and smooth to use so they're my favorite lever rimfire in .22 LR and .22 Mag.

I had a Savage 1899F in .308, but I had to sell it years ago to pay the rent...

Stay safe!
 
Marlins are my favorite, especially now the triggers are easily upgraded (Wild West Guns).

Runner up is a Winchester 94 and/or Browning BLR.

The Henry rifles have a nice smooth action, I just haven't seen the accuracy I'd hoped for, yet.

Anyway, my safe has several Marlins and a lone, old Win 94 22lr that shoots so good it's boring.
 
I have owned:

Marlin 336 in .30-30
Marlin 336 Texan in .30-30 set up as a scout
Marlin 1894 in .44 mag with Microgroove rifling
Marlin 1894 in .44 mag with Ballard rifling
Two different Marlin 1894s in .357 mag

I liked the way all of them looked. I liked the way all of the felt. I just didn't enjoy shooting them very much. Consequently, I no longer own any lever actions.

Conclusion: I really don't care for lever actions. But I'm still tempted by them. I'd like the chance to handle and shoot a Browning BLR and a Henry Long Ranger. But until then, I'll stick with my bolt actions.
 
As a general class I'm a Marlin fan from way back.

But I have a soft spot for the Savages and the BLRs as well.
 
My first rifle was a used 99 Savage in a .308, following on Pop's ONLY rifle, a 99 in .300 Sav. We both still have them. Had a buddy growing up with a 30-30. I shot it a couple times and hated it. To each their own, I guess.
 
hq said:
Funny that no-one has mentioned Sako VL63 Finnwolf yet. From purely technical and mechanical perspective it's one of my personal favorites but fairly rare hence $$$ and IMO slightly boring. I've shot a few, in .308 and .243, and it handles a lot like a bolt rifle, not quite unlike Savage 99 and Winchester 88. The action is s-m-o-o-t-h right out of the box, though, and they have a reputation of being medium to even long range tack drivers.
Click to expand...

Yep, I was going to mention the Finnwolf. My dad had one in 243 and that action was so slick. Deadly accurate too on prairie dogs out past 200 yards. My brother now owns it and I told him if he is ever going to get rid of it that it will be coming home with me. Beautiful gun and its a shame they are so rare that more people don't get to experience them.
 
After hawg hunting in TX this past weekend, my Marlin 336 Texan 30-30 is back in 1st place. What a perfect rifle for walk up hunting. Handy, light enough, and as effective at the ranges used as one could want.

I have a special place for my 1906 manufactured Marlin 1892, but the Texan is back on top.
 
hq said:
Funny that no-one has mentioned Sako VL63 Finnwolf yet. From purely technical and mechanical perspective it's one of my personal favorites but fairly rare hence $$$ and IMO slightly boring. I've shot a few, in .308 and .243, and it handles a lot like a bolt rifle, not quite unlike Savage 99 and Winchester 88. The action is s-m-o-o-t-h right out of the box, though, and they have a reputation of being medium to even long range tack drivers.
Click to expand...
Have seen pictures of them and know of their excellent reputation. For whatever reason I’ve never seen one but would like to.
 
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I only have 3... A Marlin chambered for 357 that I shoot 38 Special out of. It's not really a favorite and doesn't get used much.
A Marlin in 22 rimfire that my Gramps gave me. It's heavy but accurate.
And last my real favorite- a 92 Winchester in 32-20 that is a near constant companion. It's called the "hungry rifle" because it tends to be the first step to an upcoming lunch.
 
My model 94 is a 1947 flat band Eastern carbine so it doesn't have the factory drilled and tapped mounting holes for a peep sight. Despite my old eyes I think I'll keep it as is...

Charlie98 said:
I know some of you fellas like those newfangled scopes, but I prefer to kick it old school and run peeps on my lever guns... and pretty much anything else I can fit them on...

View attachment 814562
Click to expand...
 
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