Need help selecting a "shorty" lever action rifle.

[Hokkmike]

I want to buy a Trapper model lever action rifle. I know they are available in .357/.38 special, .44 mag, and 45LC. I'm not sure about .30-30. There are probably a few other calibers as well.

I am interested in a rifle with a 16 inch barrel.

I am just learning what the prices will be. I have about $400 to start with but can go up from there. Aside from voting in the poll any other advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

I will not put a scope on this gun as I think that is not compatible with the style and "quick reaction" capability of the gun. (I realize that this is just my opinion and a debatable point)

Thanks for your help.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I love the action on the Henry rifles but I don't think they do a barrel shorter then 20 inches. Found it, they have a 16 1/8th barrel, but it's only in .22

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I voted winchester. I've owned all of the ones you mentioned. The win 94s are my favorites. They're lighter, quicker, and handier than the others. Mine at least do one hole out to 50 yards with a load they like. The henrys don't fit me well. The marlins are too heavy.

Although if I ever get another "thumper" caliber it'll be the marlin specifically for the weight. My win 94 in 444 marlin thumps you around good with a stiff load.

As for the caliber? Which do you already have in a handgun?

 

[db_tanker]

A Winchester Model 94 Trapper is a thing to love.


Dad had one that was the 16" saddle ring carbine and I swear that rifle was sudden death to any 4 legged critter that it was pointed at.


Marlins are nice, don't get me wrong...but I am in the group that thinks, as for lever guns, there is Winchester and then there is the rest.

your main reason for wanting one...style and quick reaction? Makes the answer obvious IMO.

Get the 30-30 and don't look back.

D

 

[Piney Woods]

If you decide on a pistol caliber, rather than the 30-30, you can't go wrong with a Marlin. Winchester lever guns in pistol calibers tend to be VERY prone to problems (FTF, FTE, jams, etc.).

If you want some hands-on time with a pistol-caliber lever gun, go to a CAS (Cowboy Action Shooting) Match (We're a friendly bunch, and the North Mountain Sportsmans Association in Muncy Valley holds a CAS match on the 4th Sunday of every month, so there are definitely some CAS shooters near you.) Let a couple of the shooters know what you're interested in and they'll probably show you a dozen different examples. Beware: Some of 'em will be slicked up enough to make you drool over their handling qualities.

If you go with the 30-30, I like both the Marlin and the Winchester. I've seen dozens of used 30-30s from both manufacturers lately with widely varying prices. It pays to shop around.

 

[mainebear]

I've got a nice little Winchester Trapper, has the saddle ring etc. I shoot 125 grns for light stuff all the way up to 180 grain for deer. What a light little brush gun. Also I have short legs so I never drag the barrel with this gun. I see a fair amount of these around in this area for $300-$375 used and in good condition.

 

[Omaney]

Just put the first vote in for the Puma. I got mine for less than $400 last week at BPS. It's a .44 and that 16" barrel is light. Had a bruised shoulder after the 30+ rounds I put through it the first time out. It functioned very well (no probs whatsoever).

 

[Furncliff]

I bought a Marlin 1894 cold... never even held one. It's become one of my favorites. The pistol calibre rifles are fun and cheap to shoot (at least in 357 mag/.38 special.) Mine has an 18 1/2 in. barrel. I have seen 16 in. barrels in a marlin lever. I think they are esentially a 336 cut to 16 in. the lop might be shorter also.

Here's an article by one of the members here that details cutting to 16 in. and other mods done to a 336cs in 30-30:

http://www.madogre.com/Interviews/Marlin336CS.htm

 

[Hokkmike]

Thanks to all for your help.

 

[rcmodel]

The problem with Winchester is that the 94 action is a 30-30 length.
When converted to the pistol calibers, you got way more stuff going on in there then necessary.

The only proper Winchester in any pistol caliber is the model 92.
It is a shorter & smaller action designed for pistol caliber rounds.

rcmodel

 

[Seafarer12]

I have a navy arms (high grade puma) in 357. Its a great gun. Nice wood and finish, great trigger, changed the springs and did a little polishing now its slicker than owl snot. Its at the top of my list for favorite guns. Now if they would just make one in a 32 mag.

 

[bogie]

I haven't had any problems with my little Winchester... even run .38 JHPs through it... About like shooting a .22...

What's the shortest barrel on the Marlin?

 

[H2O MAN]

Winchester

 

[Cosmoline]

"Winchester" can mean many different things. The Pumas are really Winchester '92s, as are the Brownings. The USRAC rifles marked as Winchester were a real mixed bag. Overall Marlin is the last maker of high quality leverguns for a reasonable price. The down side is they don't make too many really short rifles. They had a "Spikehorn" variant of the 336 but it was only out for a short time. They do have some short .44 mag, .41 mag and .357 variants for their 1894 series. And the famous guide gun in the 1895 series.

 

[ArmedBear]

I love the action on the Henry rifles but I don't think they do a barrel shorter then 20 inches. Found it, they have a 16 1/8th barrel, but it's only in .22

Henry's centerfires are RIDICULOUSLY heavy: almost 9 lb. out of the box -- not with a scope or anything. That would make them undesirable for a little "trapper" style rifle, in my book. A Marlin 1894C weighs 6 lbs.

My 1894C has the standard 18.5" barrel, but that's plenty compact for me. I wouldn't want it any shorter. But some people have a specific mission for a rifle and 16" just works better.

Winchester, of course, doesn't make lever guns any more. So you'll pay a premium. The Pumas are pretty nice, though, and available in stainless. For a practical knockaround gun, I kinda like stainless, even though I have mostly blue guns.

My recommendation would be Marlin, then Puma, and neither of the others. The Marlin is a beefier gun, doesn't get dirt or rain in the top like a 92, is easier to clean well, and handles great. Also can be loaded with stupidly-heavy loads, without destroying it. The 92, though, is a great-handling rifle and always has been, and that counts for something, too. That, and stainless steel in more calibers.

The real Winchesters are getting too expensive to use and abuse without guilt, and I'd rather have a 92 in a pistol caliber than a 94 anyway. Henry's are too heavy. If I'm going to lug around a 9 lb. rifle, I can have my 24" .30-06 with a big scope on it; that's not the point of a little lever gun to me.

 

[pete f]

I have winchesters in 44 mag and 45 colt, I have never had an issue with my guns not feeding, ejecting, etc. I have had thousands of rounds thru both.

I bought a browning 92 in 45 colt in order to shorten it down and that gun never worked right.

 

[rbernie]

I prefer pistol grip stocks and I prefer Marlins. Sadly, that pretty much rules out any of the 1894 actions, since Marlin made VERY few with a pistol grip stock. Since I prefer 30-30 and 35 Remington over the pistol chamberings, I can happily indulge myself in 336's and feel no sense of loss.

Several years ago, I got the urge for a 16" levergun to set up scout-style. I bought a $200 Marlin Marauder (short mag tube) in 30-30 and had it cut down to 16.25". The result was/is dang near perfect. It didn't come that way, but it cost precious little to make it that way.

My point is that you shouldn't feel compelled to settle just so you can buy something new. If you decide that you like pistol grip stocks and 44 Mag chamberings, then buy an older 1894 Marlin in need of a refinish and have a pistol grip lower tang bolted on.

 

[JNewell]

Look for one of the 94 Wranglers, which came in .30-30 and .38-55 (short tube, big hole). If you need a pistol caliber, go Marlin.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

This poll has pretty much run it's course...Marlin is the clear choice.

 

[Gene357]

Cimarron Arms

Just ordered a Cimarron Arms 1892 Trapper .357 mag. 16 inch barrel, case hardened frame, blued barrel and lever. Just over 800 bucks. These are made by Uberti, I believe. Well worth a look if you are interested in handgun calibers.

 

[Sgnitsah]

Marlin 1894C

I recently purchased an older 1894C with a serial number of 200XXXXX. It is my understanding that the date of manufacture may be determined by subtracting the first 2 numerical digits of the serial number from 100. If this is true, then this rifle was manufactured in 1980.
All this aside however, I am trying to determine if the rifling is microgroove or Ballard type. Also, the barrel lists it as capable of handling .357 or .38 special. I happen to have quite a bit of new and reloaded .38 special that have been loaded with 158 gr Lead round nose and wad cutter bullets I would like to use in this weapon. I have heard that the .38 Spcl. may not properly function through this rifles action. Anyone have any input regarding the above would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Harve Curry]

I voted Marlin 1894.
Either the 45 Colt or 44 magnum.
45 Colt if your a handloader, you can push it a bit hotter then what's on the shelf.

 

[JNewell]

Marlin is the clear choice

Best choice might be one of the 92 clones, if they're made with short tubes (don't know and didn't check)? The 92 action is compact, very strong and was designed to feed short cases.

 

[stormspotter]

Early Interarms (Rossi) 16" 357 pre-safety. It loves 16.0 grs. of H110 with a 158 gr. Hornady XTP.



Check out the Leverguns forum. Nate Kiowa Jones does some fantastic work on leveractions. He can give you some good advise also.

 

[Robert]

My vote goes for Marlin. I carry an 1895G all over the mountains here in Colorado. The 45-70 is not a normal pistol cartridge, but at 100 yards or so it'll stop just about anything but death and taxes. The barrel is 18 inches, but anything shorter and I think she'd be a mortar, rather than lever action artillery.