Lets talk lever guns...current roundup

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mshootnit

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OK
If you take these current US made walnut/blue lever rifles in 30-30 :
Henry
Mossberg 464
Marlin 336

And shoot five consecutive five shot groups with Five commonly available factory loads, for example (Remington, Winchester, Federal, Federal fusion, Hornady Leverevo, Am. whitetail) which model is most likely to come out on top in terms of average accuracy?
Another way of phrasing, do we have a general concensus of most-to-least accurate among these models?
 
I can only speak for the "Remlins". I have three.
A .338MXLR is 1.5moa, likewise a M1895 with 300gr Remington JHP over 46.5gr H4198 gives near MOA (5-shots). The 2010 .338 MXLR needed a bit of tweaking (wood fit, forend loosening, action polishing, chamber polishing, trigger job). 2016 M1895 is as it came from box, except scope mounted. It's actually as good or better than any JM Marlin I've ever had. Second M1895 is still NIB. It isn't as smooth or have as good a trigger as #1, but is decent. I plan to swap it for a M1894 in .44mag eventually.
Why two M1895's?
Got them for $299 on clearance at Walmart in September. With $50 rebates from Marlin and sales tax, I have $267 in each!
(I also have a 2003 M1895GG. It too needed some tweaking of the trigger.)

I once owned a Henry.22mag. Won it in a PPC regional match. It shot 4" groups at 50yds. Plastic front sight/barrel band. Profoundly CHEAP. I understand they now use metal castings for band. Traded it off promptly.
An octagonal barrel Yellow Boy .22mag version I mounted a scope on for an acquaintance shot better, about 2" at 50yds. However, I recently aquired a Marlin 1980 mfg M882 SS bolt action .22mag that does 1.5" at 100yds. About like a Rem 597 .22mag I have.

I vote Marlin. Don't forget that Miroku is now making some excellent Win M94's, though they are $$$$.
No experience with Mossberg l/a's

Edited to add: I presently own 13 l/a's, oldest a 1915 Marlin '93 in .25-36Marlin. 3 Winchesters, 10 Marlins! And yes, I shoot them! (except the stated NIB M1895).
 
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Since all but two of my levers are older Marlins, with one 1914 92 and a mid sixties 94, I guess I voted with my wallet. I take old Marlins any day.
 
I own a Marlin 39A ,topped with an older Weaver K6, that from rest, shoots about 1& 1/2 " groups consistently!
The older Marlins are real shooters, the centerfires , especially accurate with reloads.
 
No way of knowing. Even though mass produced and with "mostly" interchangeable parts, thank you very much Eli, no two rifles are the same. One off the line can be a tack driver, the next not so much.

Add to that, any manufacturer can produce products that exceed standards and ones that don't quite measure up.
 
OK back in the day if you asked which is more likely to be accurate Ruger or Remington 700, most would correctly say Remington (back then). So I was wondering if we were seeing Marlin being better than Henry and Mossberg.
 
I own a nmber of lever guns. The best one depends on which one I need at the time. I do however like the Pre-64 Winchester 94 .30 WCF. The one that is really special is my .45-90 Winchester Mdl. 86 SRC. These are just amazing rifles. 86 src.png
 
Having shot a Marlin quite often and personally owning a Henry, I'd give the slight edge to the Henry. By no means is either one a bad choice and it could be my bias showing. I guess the real question would be is the extra tiny MOA gain really worth the extra money? I don't have any real experience with a Mossberg.
 
I have a Marlin 30/30 that I bought new at the local hardware store(long gone) in around 1982 It is a decent rifle . I have heard like almost everyone on the planet, how the quality of the marlin had taken a nosedive. I do not know about the recent production runs, but it sounds like the quality is improving . A friend got a Henry Big Boy in .357 and he really liked it , so I got the itch for a lever action .22 i got a Henry H0001 just the basic gun,and I like it just fine. It has me thinking about one of the bigger rifles that they make,but I dont NeeD a new gun at this time (sigh)
 
I own two Henry rifles, the .22LR Golden Boy and the .357 Big Boy. I reload for the .357 and that has increased accuracy significantly and both shoot great and have been my go-to rifles for brush hunting hogs/deer (.357) and rabbits/squirrels (.22LR). I have fit both with Marble Bullseye sights as I find them easier to acquire targets quickly over the original factory sights. It took me some playing to get the right load for the .357. I love them both and will be acquiring more...maybe the .327, .41, and .44.
 
I've been very happy with my Miroku Winchester currently available. The quality is outstanding.
 
SmokingFrye said:
I own two Henry rifles, the .22LR Golden Boy and the .357 Big Boy. I reload for the .357 and that has increased accuracy significantly and both shoot great and have been my go-to rifles for brush hunting hogs/deer (.357) and rabbits/squirrels (.22LR). I have fit both with Marble Bullseye sights as I find them easier to acquire targets quickly over the original factory sights. It took me some playing to get the right load for the .357. I love them both and will be acquiring more...maybe the .327, .41, and .44.
Click to expand...

What load and bullet do you use for your 357 Henry?
 
If you want a traditional receiver loading-gate fed lever-action (as opposed to tubular magazine fed), you need to decide between the Marlin and the Mossberg (I'd choose the Marlin over the Mossberg but only because I personally know something about the Marlin and nothing about the Mossberg-other than what I've read, of which the "reviews" have been mixed). The Henrys that I have examined all have seemed well-finished and exhibited good workmanship.
 
mshootnit said:
OK
If you take these current US made walnut/blue lever rifles in 30-30 :
Henry
Mossberg 464
Marlin 336

And shoot five consecutive five shot groups with Five commonly available factory loads, for example (Remington, Winchester, Federal, Federal fusion, Hornady Leverevo, Am. whitetail) which model is most likely to come out on top in terms of average accuracy?
Another way of phrasing, do we have a general concensus of most-to-least accurate among these models?
Click to expand...

I don't think so.

I don't own one but would bet if you put a Miroku 30-30 up against the above three it would come out on top in the accuracy department. And for what a Miroku cost it should.
 
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cdb1 said:
I believe that's true but also don't think leverguns are as inaccurate as some would have you believe.
Click to expand...
I agree. I have a couple levers that are more accurate than your average boltgun. Apparently leverguns don't have internet access. ;)
 
The Mossberg had teething issues. My understanding is they are fixed. If I were to buy another 30-30 it just might be a 464.
 
This is the most accurate lever gun I own...1" c-c groups anytime with Winchester .30-30 170 grain Power Point factory ammo.

Winchester 94 AE 24" barrel.

400967694.jpg



I know...lever guns shouldn't have scopes

413057318.jpg


391613630.jpg


336269241.jpg


270024917.jpg


But some do...

346298775.jpg


413123981.jpg
 
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