Lever-action as primary rifle? (Probly gonna get one...)

[Drjones]

Hi all.

I'm pretty much settled on the Marlin 336SS, (.30-30)and now have the opportunity to buy one NIB for a very attractive price.

Even got to shoot one (though it was blued) recently.

Since I live in CA, I can't have any of the rifles I REALLY want, like AR/AK variants, etc.

So, because I don't have a rifle, I'm thinking of the Marlin.

I can't remember if I brought it up already, but what do y'all think of a lever-action for "social situations"?

I know that an AR/AK would likely be top choice, but again, I can't have those.

Oh, and NO I will not be hunting with this.

Thank you!
Drjones

 

[Sactown]

Have you looked at the M1A or mini-14? Possibly some of the milsurp rifles? An SKS? I can bring examples for the next THR shoot. You can see what other rifles are like.

 

[EJ]

I think a lever in 30-30- or a pistol cal --44 Mag is a great choice for a "social work" carbine-- light rifle--
I prefer a WIN Trapper-- but to each his own--

They're fast handling accurate carbines --

 

[Marshall]

Nothing wrong with gun for what you want! I think you will be suprised how much you end up liking it.

 

[Matt G]

The 336 has surprising potential for accuracy. Put a good receiver peep sight on it, have an action and trigger job done on it, and practice. Put a butt cuff and a sling on it, and you've got a very serious rig. No, it's not perfect, but it will solve so many scary situations. I very much admire the SS varients, and am considering one in the future for myself. (as I live in the free state of Texas, however, my decision to get one would actually be by choice. )

Field & Stream did a range test of the popular rifles out there that included the Marlin, Winchester, and Browning lever guns. They were shocked to find that their scoped 336 could actually give 1" groups at 100 yds. (Well, so was I.) Talking to a lot of people, I find that while the Winchester 94 seems to be a little slicker of action, the 336 seems to be the more accurate of the two, by far.

 

[Marko Kloos]

There's a lot to be said for a lever-action carbine, especially in a revolver caliber. You can have ammo commonality with your .357 or .44 Magnum wheelgun, and these cartridges are very different critters when fired from a 16+ inch rifle barrel.

Get a Marlin, put a red dot on top, and you have a fast-handling little social rifle with fast action and decent capacity.

 

[Deadman]

' but what do y'all think of a lever-action for "social situations"? '

Its not going to be any less effective than a manually operated pump action shotgun.....


Up until the recent accquisition of a 7.62x39 No.4 Enfield carbine, my Marlin 1894CP (.357mag) was going to be my general purpose/survival/shtf rifle. And it will still play an important role for general purpose/survival etc due to its light weight, compact size and fast manual action.

 

[foghornl]

For medium range (as I would call it) 50-125 Yds, a good lever rifle in .30/30 or .35 Rem is hard to beat. If you happen to have one in your favorite pistol caliber, so much the better for ammo logistics.

I like my Marlin Model 30A in .30/30. I have a Tasco 4X32 scope mounted in Hi-Rise see-throught rings, set dead on at 75 yds, so I'm fairly well in the 'boiler room' on a direct hold from 25-125 yds with the 170-gr ammo.

With that setup, I have 6+1 of .30/30, and 9 more in a Koplin brand buttstock sleeve.

 

[larryw]

I went with the Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag. 10+1. The 44 is as effective as the 30/30 for "social" encounters under 100 yds and may be better suited for indoor/close encounters. Absolute hoot to shoot (quickly becoming my favorite rifle) and OK at indoor ranges. You're welcome to give mine a try (San Jose area), PM if interested.

Regardless, Ashely Peep sight with a Williams Firesight front blade are a great combo.

Larry

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I have a 336SS and its a good shooter---but it rarely comes out of the safe---because the stock is absolutely beautiful---it looks like it should be a Dakota or Cooper rifle---not exagerating---I mean literally.

It came from Marlin that way and I snatched it up on the spot---from the moment I laid eyes on it in the rack---it didn't leave my hands untill I signed the paperwork.-----lol

It should be a good gun for you---mine is.

 

[SoDFW Jason]

Doc,

I just sold a Mini 14 to buy a 336 as my "primary". I absolutely love it. Short, light, with a "punch".

 

[Soap]

I believe that levers are great for a California social rifle. I would get the action and trigger slicked up, Ashley sights, and a good sling. This gun should be able to handle a surprising amount of duties. Just remember to practice! Reload drills, malf drills (even though my 336 has never malfed I practice anyway), transition drills, and dryfire can all be done at your home. Then when you get to the range, just make sure you know the limits of the rifle when its in your hands.

BTW- IIRC one should only conduct dryfiring with the safety "ON". Otherwise the firing pin in arranged in such a way that it is possible to severely damage it.

 

[Mannlicher]

I think to some extent the choice of a lever gun as your 'primary' rifle begs the question, "primary for what purpose".

For deer hunting, despite the number of fine bolt guns in the safe, I keep reaching for the Marlin 1894S, .44 Mag. 6 decent deer with this rifle. All were one shot kills at under 75 yards. For my type of hunting, it is my primary rifle. My son has had equal success using my 1960's vintage Marlin 336 in .30/30 Ackley.

For other uses, the lever gun is outclassed. For long range hunting, or, god forbid, social work, the lever gun has to take a back seat to better choices.

 

[P95Carry]

Well .... I'd hate to be withouit my Win 94 (in.357) .. it is not the best finished rifle I have but ....... for 100 yd work it vindicates itself admirably.

I also have a Savage 99C ... lever, in .243 .. love that to bits!

 

[Sodbuster]

Savage 99C ... lever, in .243

Darn near the perfect rifle. I want that rifle, in that caliber.

 

[P95Carry]

Shall I really make you weep Sodbuster??!

I won the damn thing thru a $10 gun raffle ticket 2 years ago ....... sweatest prize i could have imagined. Outa the box it performed real well, first with factory ammo and then, i sorta hit lucky on a homeload using a heavy bullet .. 105 grainer .. and it shot even better.!!

I am amazed at how well Savages shoot, from new and outa the box .. remarkable.

 

[JohnKSa]

I think if I were going to purchase a lever rifle for hunting/social work, I would look at a .44Mag.

Lots of rounds for social situations, and plenty of power for hunting if you don't stretch the range.

If you handload, I think that .454Casull would be a good choice--Puma is making a lever-action in that caliber. You could load your defensive rounds a little lighter to make recoil more manageable and would have near 45-70 capability with the full-power fodder.

I remember a COPS episode where a burglar?/robber? was shot after entering a person's house. The homeowner ventilated him (repeatedly) with some sort of a lever rifle. They removed the crook from the scene on a stretcher with pressure pants on, but I think it was a lost cause--he looked really dead to me...

 

[itgoesboom]

Dr. Jones,

I would say that the Marlin would be an excellent choice, depending on what your usage would be. If you are talking a home defense rifle, where if it was to be used, it would be inside, then i would suggest getting either a shotgun or a lever action in .357 or .44 mag. If you are more concerned with a "riot" situation, then the lever action in 30/30 would be a very good choice.

Light, fairly fast, accurate, short, and carries a pretty good punch. That and if you are ever stopped or if anyone spots it, it looks like a hunting rifle, so its less conspicious.

With that said, a semi auto would probably be a better choice. Something like an M1A, Mini-14 or an SKS would be my choice.

I.G.B.

 

[BusMaster007]

I'm excited for you in your choice to get a lever-action, even if it is by decree rather than choice.
I just got a couple of Winchester 94's in .30-30 fixed up and they will join my Marlin 1895 .45-70 in the lever-action category. Fun guns.
Immerse yourself in a few links to see what you might want to do to that nice Marlin stainless .30-30...

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi


The following links have more links to other firearms that a good many of the readers here would enjoy. Trust me on this one.
http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/leverguns.htm
http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/molever.html

http://www.ashleyoutdoors.com/home.html

http://www.brockmansrifles.com/beast.asp

http://www.wildwestguns.com/

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/nav/start.asp?webtag=leverguns

There's one link I couldn't find tonight that showed a Marlin 336 set up with the buttcuff, etc. I'll look for it tomorrow.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[DAL]

My two cents, I think a lever gun that you know and shoot well is a perfectly reasonable tool for most "social situations." If it's in a pistol caliber, match it with a sidearm and you've got enough weaponry and firepower to handle nearly any situation of that type that can be imagined. Plus, you'll have LOTS of money left over for ammo/practice/training.

the recent accquisition of a 7.62x39 No.4 Enfield carbine

Wow, Deadman, where did you find an Enfield in that caliber? I'd love to find a companion Enfield in 7.62x39 (cheap ammo!) to go with my Ishapore Enfield in 7.62x51 (.308).
DAL

 

[sixgun_symphony]

A .30-30 for social work is effective out to 200+ yards as we are not concerned about making clean kills as when hunting game.

A slight advantage of the lever action rifle is that they can be topped off.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

If Illinois bans semi-auto rifles with magazines (there is a proposal on the books) then you can bet it will be a lever action for me when social work is necessary.

As a matter a fact, I had been contemplating getting one in 30-30 and .22LR anyway.

Marlin or Winchester? I am leaning towards the Marlin right now for the 30-30 and the Winchester for the .22LR.

 

[Sir Galahad]

Like Texas in 1880...

The lever action is the "assault" rifle of the Old West. It still remains a good choice for self-defense for people whose states decided they don't "need" rifles like the AR or AK.

The Imperial Russian Army used Winchester lever action rifles with integral box magazines for a while, by the way.

 

[Sven]

aEven got to shoot one (though it was blued) recently.

See what happens when you go to a High Roader get-together? You end up buying more guns!

-sven

PS: when is the next shoot, again? haha

 

[CampX]

Sounds good, a tactical lever action. I have a Trapper in 44Mag, and it handles and aims FAST, and leaves a big hole. I bought for the wife so she can hike and rockhound without worrying about becoming bear food.
I believe, correct me if I am wrong, that one of the famous Wild West gunfighters, can't recall who, shot more men in gunfights and used a lever action to do it....must research it.