Lever action questions?

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gulogulo1970

gulogulo1970

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I'm thinking about getting a lever action in 44 Magnum. I was wondering, what kind of safties are on each (Marlin, Winchester) and which is easier to operate? I saw in a thread where someone said some lever actions have a lever saftey you have to squeeze to get the gun to fire. Is this true? I only noticed a tang or button safety on the lever actions I looked at. It would seem if that is true, it would be a distraction when aiming. Fill me in, I'm ignorant in regards to this feature.

BTW: I'm leaning towards the Marlin 1894, but I've always liked the way the Winchester trapper looks and handles. A lot of posts lean towards Marlins. They sound like good rifles. But, has anyone had good luck with 44 magnum Winchesters? Also what is the difference in todays Winchester lever actions and a Pre '64 one? Thanks for the help.
 
Since i dont know squat about lever actions and have never fired one i await the replies to your questions as well.Ive wanted one for years and have always leaned towards Winchester's for nostalgic reasons but have always heard that Marlins are the better rifle.:confused:
 
Both the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 94 have a little doohickey underneath the lever that needs to be pressed in for the rifle to fire. Don't know about the other models.

On the models I've handled, you wouldn't know it was there on the Marlin unless you looked for it -- it's tripped easily just by closing the lever. The Winchesters I've handled however DID require you to actually squeeze the lever shut in order to fire. Honestly, I disliked that, but I'm certain by welding up that little tab a bit it could be made to disengage the safety just by closing -- and not squeezing -- the lever.

Modern lawyer-proof lever guns though... :rolleyes: that's a whole nother story, with pushbutton and slider safeties all over the place. You don't need a pre-64 to buy one without the extra safeties... those are more a product of the last 10 years or so I think.

As for the whole Marlin vs Winchester debate -- that's even older than the AK vs AR debate. :) Short version's this --
If you wanna scope it, and you don't mind the extra weight -- get the Marlin.
If you want really light and handy, and don't care about scoping it, get the Winchester.

Finally, if you're looking at a pistol-caliber levergun, at least take a look at the Winchester model of 1892, rather than the '94. Feels slicker to me -- and more nostalgic, definately. :)
.. and come to think of it, I think it doesn't require you to squeeze the lever loop to fire. You can also get good clones of the '92 without the funky safeties from Rossi and others. Good servicable rifles I think, but they don't say "Winchester" on the side if that's important to you.

-K
 
The manual safety on the Marlin is handy when you want to empty the tubular mag without as much pucker factor. Put the safety on that blocks the hammer and work the action as fast as Kent McCord, the Rifleman. Then you go find the ammo...:p

Regarding the "automatic" safety, which the lever depresses when you close the action, some SASS (cowboy action) shooters get that disabled so as to speed things along.
 
The wood on the front stock fills the hand MUCH better on the Marlin 1894. The Winchester 94 front stock feels too short and skinny.

Of course, that's the main reason the Marlin feels heavier. You may like the balance on the Win better. So you really have to handle both to decide.:)
 
I have a Winchester 94 Trapper in 44 mag and another Winchester 94 Trails End 45 Colt w/ 20" Barrel.

I like the Winchesters over the Marlin.

Although if I get another lever action it will the the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70

I think most modern manufactured lever action rifles are a good buy, it's just the features which matter to you most. I have the hammer safeties on both my Winchesters and I don't mind them...though some hate them with a passion. I like the new Puma 454 Casull lever action, it looks like a good pistol caliber gun. I would suggest you go to a store with a large selection and try all of them out.
 
The manual safety on the Marlin is handy when you want to empty the tubular mag without as much pucker factor
Click to expand...
You don't ever have to close the action on each round as you cycle them through - just close the action just enough to start the cartridge into the chamber and release it from the piece (elevator?) that lifts it from the magazine. Then open the action fully again, turn the rifle over and let the cartridge drop out into your hand. Not fast, but safe, and you don't have to go looking for your cartridges afterward.


As far as safeties, I believe the hammer was originally considered to be the "safety" on a lever action - let it down (carefully) to half cock for carry with the chamber loaded. Personally, I feel safer with that than the little buttons on bolt action rifles that can get bumped to the Off (Fire) position. But an impact could conceivably overcome the half cock notch.
 
I have an EMF Hartford Model 1892 Short Rifle in .357 Mag, made by Rossi. It's also available in .44 Mag and .45 LC. This is an accurate replica of the Winchester 1892. The action is very slick, even without being tuned, and it does not have any of those abominable safeties.

Rossi leverguns are also imported by Legacy Sports, but have a safety mounted on the bolt. Navy Arms also imports Rossis, but I believe they lack the safety. I have read on THR that the guns imported by EMF and Navy Arms have better finishes than the Legacy Sports guns, but I can't verify that first hand.

If Winchester levergun needed safeties other than the half-cock notch, John Moses Browning woulda designed 'em that way! :fire:
 
The safeties on both brands have changed through the years. My Marlin 336 (1947 vintage) does not have a cross bolt or lever safety. The hammer does have a half-cock "safety"
 
I have both a Marlin and a Winchester '94 SC but both are in 30-30. When asked which I prefer I alwaays answer that it depends on what I'm doing. the shorter, lighter SC is much nicer in brush and scrub. It is a fast pointer and simply a joy to carry.

In more open country I like the longer, heavier Marlin with a scope. It is not as fast as the Winchester and doesn't feel as natural, but on longer shots where the scope comes into play, the additional stability of the Marlin really pays off.

So I'd say take a good look at the surroundings you'll be in. Will most shots be shorter, rapid shots, or will you be shooting out over longer open distances? Will you be working your way through scrub and tight surroundings? Will you be shooting freehand or will you be able to support the rifle?
 
"If Winchester leverguns needed safeties other than the half-cock notch, John Moses Browning woulda designed 'em that way!"

Amen! I couldn't agree more...


I like Winchesters alot more than Marlins, mainly because they are much more "handy".

" I saw in a thread where someone said some lever actions have a lever saftey you have to squeeze to get the gun to fire."

Yup, but in most rifles you won't even notice it. I have 2 Winchester model 94's, one that was made in the 50's and one that was made in the 70's. The lever saftey on the old one is barely noticable, it doesn't really take any extra pressure on the lever. On the newer one however, I do have to squeeze on the lever a little. So I think it varrys from gun to gun...

Both of my rifles are in .30-30, so I can't tell you anything one way or the other about .44 Mag lever guns...
 
I actually disabled the cross bolt safety on my Marlin Guide Gun by clipping on an E-clip preventing it from being pushed to the safety on position. The rifle still has the original as designed hammer notch for safe carry, or, better yet ,carry it in "condition 3" most of the time. I have handled several Marlins and Winchesters throughout the years and never had a problem with the lever activated trigger block.

I am not advocating people disable safety mechanisms and that was my choice alone to do that but a lot of so called safeties are being put on guns by litigation conscious manufacturers. Gun safety is a user issue.

BTW: Chuck Connors portrayed Lucas McCain on the old series "The Rifleman". Kent McCord is best known as one of the LA cops on the old "Adam-12" series.
 
"Actually he designed the '86 and '92 and the '87 lever shotgun as well IIRC"

Really? Cool, I learned something new today.

This is a bit off topic, but isn't the model 87 the gun that they used in Terminator 2? I wonder how hard it is to find one and how much it would cost...
 
If that's the lever-action shotgun (isn't it '97? Maybe I'm just being a ditz, I know squat about scatterguns) -- I've heard Norinco has a repro in the works... SWAT I think had a review of one not too awful long ago. I'm sure the folks over in Shotguns> know all the details. :)


-K
 
Kaylee,

The '97 is the pump. Terminator used the lever action earlier model Winchester.

I've always had a Winchester 94 of one type or another most in .30-30.
I think I've got 5 now. Might get a Marlin someday.

Got a couple with no apparent safety other than the disconnect at the lever/bottom tang/grip and the hammer. Got one with the cross-bolt ala Marlin. Gonna hafta get a tang mtd one as well to round out the various attorney designed models.

The only handgun cartridge Win. I've got is a .45 Colt trapper model. Works well. Short, quick, accurate enough out to 50 yds... probably do well further out but my middle aged eyes and open sights get kinda fuzzy trying to line up three things at once quickly.

I did put a Bushnell scope on my 94AE making it a bit easier on quick shots at deer with my vision. Looks kinda weird. Works.

Always wanted an octagonal barrel with a tang mtd type sight but saw no reason using the .30-30 round, plus the fact that I do put my right thumb over the top of the grip, plus the fact that buying an octagonal barrelled rifle would be pricy and they're heavier than I need to tote around for what they can do. But I did buy a 66 Centennial Rifle; its more for looking at than shooting and kinda too bright and shiny for hunting, tho I did shoot it a time or two or three.

Shot several friends Marlins in .44 and .357. Nice. Worth buying. If I were startin out again I might buy one. Just always liked J. M. Browning/Winchesters design a little more. Handy little things.

Adios

edited to add... David, a shooting '87 in either 12 or 10 ga will run you about a grand. Check out GunsAmerica and do a search on 87's/Winchester Shotguns pre 1899
 
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