Never owned a levergun before.

[Lacedaemon]

Ok, so I have never owned a lever action of any sort before - in fact the closest I have ever come was a friend's red ryder BB gun.

I am thinking of picking one up for entertainment purposes and possibly for a protection gun for some Alaska fishing, although my 870 currently has dibs on that trip.

Basically the easy choice is a Marlin in 45-70, but there is a little buzzer going off in my head saying that a BLR in .358 Win would be pretty cool. I like the idea of a .358 Win, and it seems to operate at similar energy levels to the 45-70.

I don't reload, but this might be a project that makes learning how worthwhile, especially if I go the .358 route.

So my basic question is, am I comparing apples to oranges? Or is it as I suspect, one of those cases where either will do the job and a person should just pick the one they like or get a good deal on? (I recognize that the Browning is an inherently more expensive proposition).

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[teumessian_fox]

I like the Browning. My go-to-rifle for hunting in woods (Green Country, OK) is my older BLR in 308.

The thing I like about the Browning is that the bolt has locking lugs just like a bolt action rifle and cams into place for added strength. Not so with the Marlin or Winchester.

Also (and I've also owned both Marlin and Winchester), when you drop the lever on the Browning, the trigger assembly stays with the lever. If you've ever tried for a quick follow up shot w/a Marlin, you've likely experienced pinching your finger. Not so with the Browning.

But either weapon will suit your purposes, I'm sure.

 

[chicharrones]

If you've ever tried for a quick follow up shot w/a Marlin, you've likely experienced pinching your finger.

Not yet. I'm sure it's happened to some people though, but I've never thought about that. Maybe if I were wearing gloves, or had thick fingers it would have happened in the last 20 years.

 

[blarby]

Protection gun for alaska fishing ?

Protection from the fish ? If its the bears you are worried about, I'd say 45-70 with some of that spiffy new hornady high rev lever ammo would suit your purposes just fine.

Never pinched myself with my lever.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Either would suit, but that .358 has more range and so would make a better hunting rifle.

I have a Marlin and I like it, but the BLR would just be more versatile.

 

[merlinfire]

Protection from the fish ?

The salmon are HUGE

 

[Robert]

I love my Marlin 1895G. I am working on a trade for a very nice 1895 Cowboy with more than a little custom work done to it. The 45-70 is a fine hunting round if you know your, and the round's limits. Keep it inside 200y and you'll be fine. I have no experience with the 358 so I can not speak to how it preforms.

 

[northwoods99]

Go with the .358 Browning BLR. I have one and it is my favorite rifle. But my Model 99 300 Savage run a close 2nd.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Wait, you don't have a Red Ryder?


What are you waiting for?

 

[teumessian_fox]

I forgot to add that the Browning has a detachable magazine. I like that feature a lot. (Vs the tubular mag of Marlin and Winchester)

 

[Lacedaemon]

Thanks!

Seems that it's roughly as I expected: Get what you like.

I like the .358 win, it seems like rooting for the underdog.

And I am terrified of salmon, , at least up to the point that they are filleted. Until then they are scary as hell. I am glad that people on this board are so understanding with such wonderful advice!

 

[teumessian_fox]

I am terrified of salmon

In that case, you need a different weapon altogether.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBm7U9-8OM

 

[KodiakBeer]

It's the bear/salmon hybrids that are dangerous.

 

[Abel]

Basically the easy choice is a Marlin in 45-70, but there is a little buzzer going off in my head saying that a BLR in .358 Win would be pretty cool.

Having owned a BLR & several Marlin leverguns, you are a winner either way. Good luck.

 

[788Ham]

If you've never shot anything besides that Red Ryder BB gun, you'd better do a lot of bicep curls and build your grip up, cause when you light off that Marlin 45-70, you're gonna want to be hanging on when she goes BOOM ! It'll surprise the tar out of you, especially when you see those salmon/griz hybrids goin' upstream! LOL

 

[MikeWSC]

Loads of great advice, the Marlin .444 is also one to consider. I've loaded
both standard rounds and the new Hornady FTX bullets. Both work great, the pointed soft tips hold nice groups out at 200 yards. Have been shooting
lever guns for a while, Marlins in .22 rim,.30-30, .35 Rem and the .444.
Swapped my Win 94 in .30-30 a while back and miss it so gonna pick one
in .45 Colt in a couple of weeks. They handle great, quick to point and just fun
to shoot. Oh , the .444 brass used with the lever-evolution bullets need to be
trimmed a bit.
For a backup in Alaska, pack a big bore wheel gun while fishing. A .44 mag .454,.500 etc...,much easier to carry while walking the rivers.
Good luck and have fun with whatever you choose.

 

[kragluver]

I have two Marlins - a 336 in .30-30 and an 1895 in .45-70. Both have been great guns. I purchased the 1895 new and the 336 was picked up used off gunbroker for a song. I refinished the 336 several years ago by browning the barreled action and refinishing the stock. Shooting a lever is a hoot. Check out the forum at http://www.leverguns.com/.

The 405 gr bullet loaded in the .45-70 will stop anything that walks in North America and most animals anywhere in the world for that matter. You will find that the .45-70 is a joy to load as you can load it from mild to wild. I've shot a few of the "wild" loads and I've found for deer hunting and general shooting, I much prefer the mild loads. A case full of 3031 under a 405 gr bullet will thump pretty good on both ends when fired from a lightweight rifle like the 1895 - however it won't eliminate the "rainbow" trajectory that this cartridge exhibits. IMO - stick with velocities below 1500 fps (at least for the big bullets) and your shooting experience will be more enjoyable.

 

[451 Detonics]

I say go all out and have a Winchester or Marlin built into either a 450 or 500 Alaskan, show those bears you mean business! Heck all you have to do is mention Harold Johnson's name and most will head for the horizon.

However out of the guns the OP mentioned I would likely go with the Browning. It's shorter throw, detachable mags, ease of scoping make it full of win and the .358 is a great cartridge.

 

[Sunray]

Considering that you apparently don't live in Alaska, local availability of .358 ammo could be an issue. Winchester only loads it with one bullet weight(200 grain ST's) and it may not be readily available. Midway, for example, doesn't list the Winchester ammo at all. Runs $60.95Cdn per 20, up here. Winchester 300 grain .45-70 runs $46.95Cdn per 20.
Something to think about until you start reloading.

 

[KodiakBeer]

He'll need to reload in either case. Premium "Marlin only" .45/70 ammo is insanely expensive as well.

 

[foghornl]

Not counting the "Red Ryder" model Daisy and the Nylon 66, a Marlin .44Mag lever action was my first rifle. Had a .357 and a .35 Rem cals over the years, too. Right now, i have a model 30AW in .30-30.

the .45-70 is certainly up to the task of taking care of those dangerous salmon/bear hybrids...

EVERY ONE should have a lever rifle of some sort...it is one of those things ya just need.

 

[CraigC]

So my basic question is, am I comparing apples to oranges?

Yep! If you want a levergun, get a real levergun, not a boltgun with an underlever. IMHO, traditional leverguns and BLR's rarely appeal to the same people. Decide which you like best, what your range needs are and proceed.

 

[stonecoldy]

Likely would go the 870 route myself if that's what I had on hand-if I owned a 18"-21" barreled Remington 870 12 gauge I'd just work on a good choice of slugs and ask for advice here. If I had a 26"-28" barreled version I'd consider cutting it down to 18" or buying a short barrel for the cheaper economic route. Fishin' ain't no Lake Erie walleye trip up there!