E36M3
Member
22LR,
45/70 or
Other
Just wondering.
45/70 or
Other
Just wondering.
What's the Quintessential Lever-Gun?
- Thread starter E36M3
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Baby Huey
Member
Quintessential?
Have to be a 1894 30-30
Or maybe a '73 Winchester
Definitely not a Savage 99 (although they are very nice)
But what do I know. I love them all.
Have to be a 1894 30-30
Or maybe a '73 Winchester
Definitely not a Savage 99 (although they are very nice)
But what do I know. I love them all.
Domino
Member
I like .45 colt for fun, but 45/70 is a much better game gun.
DHart
Member
I have a LOT of lever guns and love them dearly. But my absolute favorite is my new Winchester 92 Trapper in .45 Colt. This caliber can go from mouse-pop Cowboy loads right on up to beyond stomping all over the .44 magnum. And the aesthetic pleasure of the .45 Colt cartridge is wonderful. This is definitely my favorite lever rifle... strongest lever rifle action made for pistol cartridges, extremely reliable and trouble free. Small, compact, light weight, powerful. Thank you, thank you, thank you John Moses Browning! 
Winchester/Miroku '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .45 Colt
Winchester/Miroku '92 Ltd. 16" Trapper - .45 Colt
Bostonterrier97
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- Dec 25, 2002
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- 211
In the days of the Wild West it was the 1873 Winchester chambered in 44-40.
In this day and age I would have to say any of the following would be the lever gun.
(1.) A 1866 Yellowboy reproduction in 45 Colt.
(2.) A Winchester in 30-30
(3.) A Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70
(4.) A Marlin in 357 or 44 Magnum
In this day and age I would have to say any of the following would be the lever gun.
(1.) A 1866 Yellowboy reproduction in 45 Colt.
(2.) A Winchester in 30-30
(3.) A Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70
(4.) A Marlin in 357 or 44 Magnum
cracked butt
Member
Win 94 in 30-30 or .32 winchester.
only1asterisk
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While the '94 is popular, THE lever action of all time is the humble winchester '92.
David
David
mcmoyer
Member
I'd say a .30-30 of either flavor.
carpettbaggerr
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unspellable
Member
Lever rifle
The Winchester Model 1894 chambered in 30-30.
The reason? It's the one you saw in all the old westerns. I even saw it in a movie about the Kansas trouble before the civil war. (Now days the movie makers have gotten a bit better at showing firearms appropriate to the time and place.)
Another reason might be that's a later and fairly well developed example of the Winchester lever action and the 30-30 is a long time favorite. It's not the most potent deer cartridge by any means, but it's the baseline against which all the others are measured.
The Winchester Model 1894 chambered in 30-30.
The reason? It's the one you saw in all the old westerns. I even saw it in a movie about the Kansas trouble before the civil war. (Now days the movie makers have gotten a bit better at showing firearms appropriate to the time and place.)
Another reason might be that's a later and fairly well developed example of the Winchester lever action and the 30-30 is a long time favorite. It's not the most potent deer cartridge by any means, but it's the baseline against which all the others are measured.
MrAcheson
Member
Hmmm for most folks its an 1894 .30-30. Everybody's got one in the family somewhere. My grandfather does.
Otherwise its a pistol caliber '92 or '73. The guns that won the westerns.
Otherwise its a pistol caliber '92 or '73. The guns that won the westerns.
JohnBT
Member
I wonder if there might be more Marlin and Winchester .22s lurking in closets than .30-30s? I haven't looked for the production numbers yet, so maybe not. And they are fairly expensive.
I'd be willing to bet that more people have shot the .22s. Even my mother has shot my old Mountie.
John
I'd be willing to bet that more people have shot the .22s. Even my mother has shot my old Mountie.
John
Ohen Cepel
Member
Another vote for the 30-30. Not my favorite. However, I think if you looked at production numbers it would probably win. Seems like everyone has one.
The 30-30 gets a bad rap at times. However, it's taken a massive # of deer over the years.
My fav would probably be the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. I also love my Marlin in .357.
The 30-30 gets a bad rap at times. However, it's taken a massive # of deer over the years.
My fav would probably be the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. I also love my Marlin in .357.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
the 1895 in .30-06.
grendelbane
Member
I almost agree with you!
However, I saw a model 1895 chambered for the Russian 7.62 x 54R at the last gunshow. It had the stripper clip guide.
Probably not too many on this side of the water.
May not be too many on the other side of the water.
I understand the Finns liked the ones they took away from the Russians.
I also understand that as late as WWII the Soviets were using them against the Nazi's.
Isn't history fun?
TrapperReady
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Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
Although you could also make an argument for the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
Then again, there's the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
My personal vote would be for the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
Although you could also make an argument for the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
Then again, there's the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
My personal vote would be for the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30.
Desert Dog
Member
I can't believe no one has even mentioned the strongest of them , the Winchester 1886/Model 71. IMHO, it is also the handsomest...
My vote also goes to the Winchester 92 in .45 Colt (although mine has a Brazilian accent) for the same reasons as DHart spoke above. I shoot this gun more than ANY other. It is a total hoot.
As far as numbers go: Winchester 94 in 30-30...
And everyone should own at least one Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70.
So I guess there is no ONE quintessential slabside...
My vote also goes to the Winchester 92 in .45 Colt (although mine has a Brazilian accent) for the same reasons as DHart spoke above. I shoot this gun more than ANY other. It is a total hoot.
As far as numbers go: Winchester 94 in 30-30...
And everyone should own at least one Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70.
So I guess there is no ONE quintessential slabside...
ChristopherG
Member
E36m3,
I don't think the 'quintessence' of a levergun lies in the specific model or caliber; I think it lies in the operator. The coolest levergun, the one that evokes the most mystique and nostalgia, is the one in hands of a person who can shuck shells through it smooth as butter and send them downrange with confidence and aplomb. Think 'defending the ranch from those old McGreavy boys' or some-such.
To me, the best way to get to that kind of comfort and competence is with a pistol-caliber 1894. Mine are Marlins, and the easiest/funnest/fastest/cheapest of them is the .357, which is such a hoot to shoot you can't hardly help becoming good at it.
Then people will surely admire your rifle; but mostly they'll admire you.
I don't think the 'quintessence' of a levergun lies in the specific model or caliber; I think it lies in the operator. The coolest levergun, the one that evokes the most mystique and nostalgia, is the one in hands of a person who can shuck shells through it smooth as butter and send them downrange with confidence and aplomb. Think 'defending the ranch from those old McGreavy boys' or some-such.
To me, the best way to get to that kind of comfort and competence is with a pistol-caliber 1894. Mine are Marlins, and the easiest/funnest/fastest/cheapest of them is the .357, which is such a hoot to shoot you can't hardly help becoming good at it.
Then people will surely admire your rifle; but mostly they'll admire you.
E36M3
Member
That was good.
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