Looking For My Ideal Lever Gun

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Jon_Snow

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I've been shooting lever action smallbore silhouette for a while now and my club is just about to start hosting a pistol-cartridge lever gun match as well. I shoot a Marlin 39A with Williams sights in smallbore and I love it (nailed 10 pigs in a row last match). I want to find a centerfire gun that matches as much as possible, so I'm looking for help finding the following.

A lever action tube fed gun (required)
Chambered in 357 Mag or 44 Mag (other pistol chamberings allowed, but these are preferred)
20" or 22" barrel (18" would be ok, but not great)
'Pistol' grip (straight stocks look and feel strange to me)
Will accept Williams receiver sights (to my knowledge only the Marlin guns offer this)

So, does such a gun exist or am I SOL? What's the closest I can get?
 
There is a thred going on here right now "lever gun pics" might help you pick, some nice stuff on there , if your looking for new I think you will have to look at Marlin , or a replica Uberti :D
 
Check the Italian brands like Rossi and uberti

Marlin and such make good rifles but most of the pistol cal ones I've seen are all 16 and 18 inch barrels.
 
rossi is brazilian and although i love my rossi revolver they sure did me wrong on my 92
 
savanahsdad said:
There is a thred going on here right now "lever gun pics" might help you pick, some nice stuff on there , if your looking for new I think you will have to look at Marlin , or a replica Uberti
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I saw that, and have been looking though it. I didn't see anything that matches everything I wanted though.

Salmoneye said:
Looks like all the 336 .44 Mags are 'Texans' (straight stock), so you'd have to change the butt, lever and trigger plate to make it a pistol grip...
Click to expand...

Normally I'd be all for that, project rifles are more interesting than factory rifles anyway, but the rules of silhouette shooting preclude it. The barrel must be original, the stock must be in 'original configuration'.

snakeman said:
I think uberti makes an 1873 in 357 with a pistol grip. That would be my pick.
Click to expand...

Looks like the special sporting rifle would work, but it's a bit pricey and I don't know if I could get the Williams sights on it. Maybe I should bite the bullet (no pun intended) and just get a Texan stock.
 
Winchester 1892 deluxe. They aren't actually made by Winchester anymore, but man are they a nice little lever gun.
 
The Uberti is a great rifle capable of good accuracy. It is a little heavy with good balance, the attributes of a silhouette rifle. There are two 357s and 45 Colt. The other is a Marlin in 38-55. I would put a Marble Tang sight on the 73. Period looking and very effective.
All the '73 needs is a good trigger job. You mention tube fed. Like a 22lr?
 

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Red Cent, those are some gorgeous rifles. Are they both original 73s? You know, since they do make 1973s with pistol grip stocks, maybe I can buy one with a Texan and convert it, since it's a configuration that was once offered by the factory.
 
Straight stock 1894 44 mag. Absolutely wonderful shooter. Very little recoil: just enough to know you're shooting something fun.
Same in 357. Most people seem to have a great time with theirs, mine is finicky.

Sorry, both are straight stock: I'd love them to be pistol stocks like my 1895 45-70...which though is a Remlin is still a good gun.
Greg
 
Pistol caliber and pistol grip is going to be a problem. I find pistol grip stocks on a lever gun appalling but to each his own.

I think you may have a work around on the rules. The Marlin 336 is "originally configured" in both straight grip (the Texans) and pistol grip stocks. Changing out a straight grip stock on a .44 Mag for a pistol grip (and the action lever) should not really be a rules violation. It's a bit lawerly, but it may fly.

As far as I know, Uberti has done some special edition .44 Mag rifles with a pistol grip but you will pay dearly for one.
 
RPRNY said:
Pistol caliber and pistol grip is going to be a problem.
Click to expand...

I've noticed. I know my solution seems a bit iffy, but it's not a competitive advantage, just a personal preference so I think the power-that-be will let it slide. It is as simple as swapping stocks to convert to the pistol grip or will I need to swap levers and/or other parts as well?
 
Have a friend that is selling his 44 mag ruger vaquero bisley and marlin 44 lever for a $1000.00 for the pair. I think it's just what your looking for. PM me and I can give you his address.
 
The switch is butt stock and lever. I have a 336 30-30 on the way destined for a 35-30/30 rebore/rechamber that is pistol grip and nose cap forend. If you get a straight grip and want to switch, let me know.
 
If you can get over your requirement for the pistol grip stock there's lots of good options.

If being able to shoot fast is important than an 1892 action isn't the way to go. I'm struggling with my Rossi 92 for use in cowboy action and it's the snap up of the cartridge elevator right at the end of the lever travel that is the big problem. At anything up to very fast it's fine. But once you're trying to cycle it at the sort of pace used in Cowboy action meets it starts poking the nose of the rounds up into the air or lifting them just enough that they are still settling down onto the elevator but in mid air when I jam then into the edge of the chamber.

But if it's a less frantic shooting pace that lets you rack the lever, pause for even 1/4 of a second and THEN rack the lever back and up to the closed position that's all it takes for a 92 to work very nicely.

And for longer distances the .357 has the velocity to work well with minimal drop. Especially with a 124gn bullet.
 
They are repros from Uberti. I really like a pistol grip, especially for competition. More ergonomic.

RPRNYC, why are they appalling? The well heeled gals and guys have always custom ordered. An original like thisin 95% + would set you back around $20,000.00. Now thats appalling. :)
 

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Red Cent - no offense intended. To each his own. For me, lever guns and SxS shotguns should be straight gripped.
 
there are plenty of folks willing to swap a straight stock setup for a pistil grip one. if by some chance you strike out here, check over on marlinowners. That said, the new marlins are pretty much junk (unless something has changed in the past year) and that has helped drive up the prices and lower the availability of pistol caliber marlins.
 
BCRider, silhouette isn't a fast sport. For those that aren't familiar, the goal is to knock over metal silhouettes of animals at different ranges. For pistol cartridge lever action, targets are set at 40, 50, 75 and 100 meters. You shoot five at a time, with 30 seconds to load and 2 minutes to take your 5 shots. I force myself to break position, bringing the rifle back down and cycling it at waist level after each shot in smallbore, so time isn't a concern.
 
Red Cent, the only Uberti I found on their website is the Special Sporting Edition, with an MSRP just shy of $1400. I'm keeping it on the list, but it's a bit more than I'd like to spend. I will be scouring gunbroker for one, but haven't seen one yet.
 
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