School me on lever guns

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gshipps

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My son is looking for a truck gun. He's left handed so he like to try one. But looking for something with a little more range than a 30-30. I see savage had a 243, was it ok? What all else is out there?
 
Im likin a Henry Rifles AR-7. Only $250ish,breaks down to 16",stuffed in its own stock. Im looking for to gettin one
 
never seen a lefty lever-gun, but I have seen lefty's shoot levers with no problems.
If you can find a Savage 99 in 243 buy it, it's value will continue to rise !!
I have a 99 in 300 Savage; Love it, and very accurate. Also more powerful than a 30-30
 
Well, there are a lot of misconceptions about the 30-30. People saying its weak or a 100 yard round. That's simply not true. And now with Hornady's Leverevolution, you can comfortably reach out to 200 yards minute of deer with 160 gr bullet. So, I would not discount the consummate lever gun round. For a truck gun for a lefty, a Rossi R92 (Winchester 92 clone) in 30-30 would be hard to beat. While it still ejects to the right, the 92 is a top eject and will chuck empties up across his forehead rather than across his line of sight.

If you want more distance, a Savage 99 that will handle a spitzer bullet is a great idea. But I wouldn't be slinging mine in the back of a truck...
 
The Browning lever rifle is also a box magazine instead of a tube mag. So it's pointy bullet friendly as well. Not to mention that it comes in a wide variety of chamberings. A bit pricey to have as a bash around truck gun though....

Does a truck gun really need to be able to hold more than one or maybe two rounds? When I think of a truck gun I sort of see a cheap'ish H&R Handi Rifle single shot break open beater that lives in a rifle sleeve in the trunk of the car or in behind the seats of a truck.
 
As another option: Ruger Gunsite Scout?

True lefty, laminated stock so weather/kicked about resistant. Pic Rail for handy optics/sight swap out. Short OAL. Detachable box mag which I find handy and useful if you want to keep the gun truly unloaded. .308 chambering easy to feed and won't lose much power from being in a short barrel. Shame ruger don't make their pistol chambered bolt actions in LH...

ATB,

Scrummy
 
I shoot left handed and never have had a problem with lever action rifles.

While either the Winchester Model 88 or Savage Model 99 in a .308 chambering are nice choices and great rifles I can't say I would want one banging around in my truck.

For larger cartridges like the 45-70 or 444 Marlin the Marlin (older rifles) are nice rifles. Additionally lever guns in handgun chamberings are nice. However, I do not see them as much beyond 200 yard rifles (45-70 & 444).

For a good range of rifle cartridges the Browning BLR family is hard to beat with as mentioned the detachable box magazines. There are also the BLR take down flavors available.

All of this in keeping with a lever action rifle.

Ron
 
I love levers, my personal favorites are the Winchester 30-30 or a .357 carbine. I am devoutly left handed but unless I was some top gun competition shooter I would not buy a "lefty" firearm. Too specialized. I think the lefty only deal is overblown. I have done just fine all my life.

If you scope (gasp!) a top eject lever it has to be offset, another challenge for a lefty.
 
I'm a lefty and killed my deer this year with a Marlin 308MX. Makes the .30-30 look like throwing rocks, the FTX bullet for the MX is a better design than the one for the .30-30 with a higher BC and delivered at a higher muzzle velocity. Only thing that isn't "lefty friendly" is the safety. For a truck gun that isn't an issue as you just don't keep a round in the chamber, leave the hammer down and you don't need the safety. It's a side eject so adding a low power scope is easy.
 
You are going to pay some good money for a Sav 99 in .243 and that would be a shame to make it a truck gun. Maybe just get the Browning lever rifle and be done with it, if you want that cartridge.
 
Levers with flatter shooting cartridges tend to be worth more than the average truck gun. You can get a pump rifle and switch the safety from right to left. Plenty of beater Remington pumps around.
 
urbaneruralite said:
Levers with flatter shooting cartridges tend to be worth more than the average truck gun.
Click to expand...

That seem to sum it up right there. I was thinking pump also. Not quite as "cool" but would work good. Deer, coyote, varmint size round is the idea. And I already load .243 so that's what I was thinking. Brownings might need a look.

And lots of good advice. Thanks.
 
If you start thinking a pump action maybe a 22" barrel used Remington 760 or new Remington 7600 in .308. A new one from Bud's runs about $700 but I have seen many of the older 760 guns running about $400 to $500 in very good condition. Just a matter of if the rifle will get beat up as a truck gun. I like the old Remington 760 guns myself.

Ron
 
Lefty and truck gun... Either a Marlin 30-30 or a Remington 7600 in any of the calibers they are offered in. The pump makes a lot of sense. Often they sell used for less than traditional levers, much less than a Savage or Browning lever, they come in more modern calibers, are much faster for repeat aimed shots. Most think of levers as lightweight rifles, but a 7600 pump with a 22" barrel is only slightly heavier and the 7600 carbines are lighter than a lever.
 
how about one of those marlins in 308me or 338me if you want more range than a 30/30? but for the price of one of those I'd just get a .22 and a cheap lefty bolt gun and throw them both in the truck and call my bases covered.
 
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