• You are using the old High Contrast theme. We have installed a new dark theme for you, called UI.X. This will work better with the new upgrade of our software. You can select it at the bottom of any page.

Which Lever Or Semi Is Best For Me

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fastcrazyhurt

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
7
Hi you guys i got a bunch of sportmans warehouse gift cards saved up and am looking at buying a new gun around $900. i have a few guns already but i have no lever guns at all and no big semi autos. i have searched but can't seem to find my answers although i'm sure if i looked for years i could find it here some where. so if you guys could help that would be great.

i would like a lever or semi auto for hunting bear, mouse, elk. i already have a custom 30-06. i'm thinking big bore here.

whats the most accurate, long range, big caliber lever?
whats the most accurate, long range, big caliber semi?

what would you rather have when hunting moose, bear, and elk a semi or a lever and why?

thanks ahead of time i can't wait to pick out my new gun.
 
For lever, check out the Marlin in .45-70. That would be fine for Elk or Moose; and Marlin makes a hell of a gun.

Cant really comment on semi auto big bore.
 
The .45-70 is perfectly effective at long range on large game -- if you can hit it.

The big bullet doesn't rely on energy like a .300 Win Mag or something. It doesn't need to expand to be effective. However, the trajectory is rainbow-like, and a misjudgement of distance can make you shoot over or under an elk, once you get out past 150 yards or so.

Your criteria suggest a bolt gun. The point of a semi or lever gun is quick shooting and quick followups. Long range shooting implies slow, deliberate aiming of a shot, probably from a rest, and semiautos and "long range big bore" are usually a poor mix.

You could get an Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf AR or something, but that's a round akin to the .45-70 in philosophy, also.
 
As already mentioned, you probably won't find a true long range big bore lever gun or semi-auto that fits the bill for a hunting rifle. But there are several big-bore options:

Lever:
.45-70
.450 Marlin
.444 Marlin

Semi-auto:
450 Bushmaster
.50 Beowulf

If you want something for longer range that will still be suitable for hunting you might consider a magnum semi-auto or even a .30-06.

A big bore will be more effective at stopping a charge, but I wouldn't think it's an absolute must for hunting.
 
Well, the Browning BLR is the best (and strongest) lever-action rifle ever made. The Savage 99 is back there a ways in 2nd-place.

The BLR comes in .300 Winchester Magnum (and even the .450 Marlin) but there isn't any need at all to go that high. The BLR also comes in 7mm-08 and that will do a fine job of taking any animal on this continent at any range you should be shooting at it. And remember - shots at moose and bear, and often elk - are often not particulary long shots.

The Savage 99 can be found in good calibers for you too.

As for semi-autos, I would go with the Browning BAR or one of the Remingtons, both of which come in more than one caliber that will easily "git 'er done" for you.

I, personally, would choose the lever gun because I happen to already be quite familiar with them. They are a bit more forgiving if they aren't exactly spitshine clean.

But the truth us - I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with a Browning or Remington semi-auto either. Generally the Browning semi-auto is likely to be a bit more accurate than the Remingtons but that comparison really has to be on a "gun-by-gun" basis.

:cool:
 
Last edited:
shots at moose and bear, and often elk - are often not particulary long shots.
Click to expand...

...which would suggest a larger, harder hitting round instead of a little high-velocity round like the 7mm-08...

...unless you like having wounded bears up close...
 
Well, the Browning BLR is the best (and strongest) lever-action rifle ever made.
Click to expand...

That's one man's opinion, and that's ALL it is.

Best for what? For use with the .30-06, .308, and other high-powered modern cartridges that can't be used in more traditional designs? Then yeah, I'd say that's right.

However, even though I LIKE the BLR I don't own one while I do own more traditional lever guns. I guess that means that I consider them better than the BLR for MY purposes.
 
A BLR is a detachable-magazine bolt gun in a somewhat-bulky aluminum box with a lever attached to it. It's a neat idea, and I may end up with one at some point. The takedown with a forward-mounted scope appeals to me as a combination of various features I like.

However, I'm not sure it's comparable with a Winchester or Marlin lever gun in its intended use, design philosophy, or feel. It has a lever on it, though, so I guess it's a lever gun. It hardly can be thought to replace a Marlin 1895, any more than an 1895 would make the best scoped antelope rifle.

I'm not really arguing whether it's "the best" whatever that means; it's just that it's an apples and oranges comparison.
 
i have an old springfield 30-06 that my dad gave me when i was a kid thats my main hunting rifle besides black powder. and i've killed elk, moose, deer, and hunted bear with it. i just have this money that i want to get a new gun with so i thought i would get something i don't have that is a better big game killer. maybe i should just get a 338 or 375 in a bolt. i just thought since i never had a lever it would be a nice addition. i live in washington state and when elk hunting most shots are less than 200yards but i have had lots of times when i wish i could reach out to 300-400 and still bee confident in my shot. i hunt elk now with a muzzle loader. i took my moose at 600yards with the 30-06. and my elk was 350yards. any info on the marlin XLR. i just need more than one gun. a lever 45-70 is perfect for the bear i hunt and a 338 bolt for the long shots on elk
 
I'd have to go search to be sure but isn't Uberti, or some one, making reproduction lever's in some old 50 calibers?
 
a lever 45-70 is perfect for the bear i hunt and a 338 bolt for the long shots on elk
Click to expand...

That's probably a realistic assessment. The two applications are very different, and there's more to the gun than the caliber.

A nice compact lever gun (1895GS or something) is great to have in the woods, but not a 600 yard elk gun.

A big, heavy, long bolt-action magnum is great for reaching out to big game in open country, but the last thing you want to carry around in the woods.

Sometimes, I think the round choice is secondary to the gun choice, as in, you pick the right gun for what you're doing, then you figure out which round to use in it (if there's even a choice). But that may be because I'm a shotgunner. #7.5 shot is the same, whether it comes from a 12 Gauge or a .410; for hunting, you choose the gun that handles the way you want it to, like quick and snappy, or slow and smooth, or somewhere in between.
 
Hi AB...

"...the round choice is secondary to the gun choice, as in, you pick the right gun for what you're doing, then you figure out which round to use in it ..."


Agreed Bigtime on that Logic, AB ! And that's precisely why I am so much in favor of the BLR and the 7mm/08 cartridge.

:cool:
 
Last edited:
ya i took 5 shots to kill the moose at that range and i was aiming so high i couldn't even see the moose in my scope. first 3 shots were low the second 2 hit one in spine one in vitals. i guess i was thinking i would like a lever for hunting incase i encounter a bear or cougar when i'm hunting elk. but on that off chance i could run into something it's not worth giving up long range. but this is also going to be my primary Bear and elk gun. i just wish there was a lever that did shoot like a "rainbow" so i could adjust for drop.
 
Oh, MOOSE.

You said "mouse" at 600 yards.:D

In all seriousness, though, it's not like a .300 Wby doesn't have a lot of drop that far out, to say nothing of anything you can get in a semiauto.
 
Getting back to the OP's $900 rifle , any Marlin big bore will meet your needs very will. I perfer the .444 Marlin but the 45/70 and the .450 Marlin are great rounds. I like the moderate recoil and noise of the .444. I can even make usable 3/8th oz. shotshells for it. The new Hornaday lever ammo is super, it makes my .444 and true 200 yard game killer. Groups are 4.5'' at 200 yards with the 265 grainers.
 
Last edited:
Not sure how much weight you wanna carry but in a semi auto the Garand is a 30-06 & reliable as any out there, you could find a Remington 81 in 35 Remington, about on par with the 375 Win. In lever action I like the Savage 99, I've got a 250, 300 & 303 Savage & all are accurate, the 250 being too small for anything bigger than deer though. A winchester 88 can be had in 308 also & it's a lever. I like the old school guns & calibers so those are my choices.
 
ya i took 5 shots to kill the moose at that range and i was aiming so high i couldn't even see the moose in my scope. first 3 shots were low the second 2 hit one in spine one in vitals.
Click to expand...
I'd buy a better scope too if your gonna shoot at critters at those kinda distances, and learn to become very proficient with it. You should have been able to see the moose in your scope.
I have shot antelope at a measured 600 plus yds. No range finder, using hold over. The animal was well within the scopes sight picture.
Better scope, rangefinder and plenty of practice is good idea, as shots at these distances are for the most part not advisable.

I think of your choices if I was going to shoot a fairly large animal at long distance's I would choose the 338 because of the faster velocity's, trajectory, and heavier bullet weight to retain as much terminal energy downrange as possible, and practice a lot.
 
I'll make a recommendation:

Get a Marlin 94 (or 336?) AND a Ruger blackhawk in 44 mag or 45 colt. Good to 100 yards, a lot cheaper to shoot, uses cast bullets, comparable to a 30-30, easy to reload, 10 rounds in the tube, lots of fun. Will kill anything in north america... with the exception of big foot??

Other than that, +1 on the BLR.

Got to be practical. Shooting a moose at 600 yards? Have you ever dragged a moose 100 yards solo or with two people? much less 600? Geesh.
 
With a .30-06 you have plenty of gun for all North American Game.

fastcrazyhurt said:
ya i took 5 shots to kill the moose at that range and i was aiming so high i couldn't even see the moose in my scope
Click to expand...

Maybe take the suggestion of others to practice and learn to shoot your rifle and learn what the limitations are. Shooting at an animal you can't see is SLOB HUNTING at its worst!:barf:
 
i guess i should refrase it was a guided moose hunt in BC i had a guide spotting next to me he said take the shot you listen to your guide. i couldn't see the moose becuase i had to hold the scope over its back so far the first shot i was aiming with the moose in the scope and the guide was telling me to shoot higher. the moose was in a swapy marshy area so the pack out between us 2 was horrible as it was already hard enough to walk. i'm liking the bar in 338 and yes i will be buying a new top of the line scope although i have on my 30-06 a leopold vari xII thats probably 7 yrs. old
 
45-70 is perfectly capable at 300-350yds. If you are shooting at elk or moose out beyond that then good luck. Stalking game within a reasonable distance and actually getting a clean kill is much more rewarding and respectable than six shots and a wounded elk that you track for 6 hours. Then having to try and shoot again before it runs into the bottom of the canyon.

If you load the 45-70 you could get some velocity that is very good. Some say on the verge of .458 Win. With a 300 to 350 gr. bullet you can do really well if you are familiar with you rifle and sights. I shoot a marlin 1895cb that has a 26" barrel. That gun has won me a lot of bets. Paper plates at 300yds is easier than you think. Guys with their fancy weatherby's wouldn't talk to me for a couple of day while elk hunting after they lost the bet.

Is the 45-70 capable of a 500-600 yard kill? Maybe, so is a weatherby or some other high velocity caliber, but the real question is are you capable of a 600 yard kill shot regardless of the rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

K
  • Locked
  • Poll
Lever action or semi-auto .22?
2 3 4
Replies
75
Views
11K
grant1265
G
C
  • Locked
Best semi-auto 30-06 rifle
2
Replies
39
Views
15K
PurpleProwess
P
E
  • Locked
Best Rifle/Caliber for North American Hunting?
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Replies
179
Views
13K
Art Eatman
A
B
  • Locked
Browning Lever
Replies
23
Views
2K
LeverGunJunkie
L
T
  • Locked
If You Had the Choice... Which Lever Action Caliber?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
6K
CZguy
C
Back
Top