I consider myself mostly a bolt action man because of this. Why are their actions so damn rough. The two lever actions I have shot were a pre 64 1894 and a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem. Has anyone had a gunsmith smooth theirs out, and was there a significant improvement?
Why are lever actions so rough?
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Jayb
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The linkage in a lever gun is more involved than a bolt gun. I have 7 lever guns, and more than seven bolt guns..... all the lever guns are "less smooth" than any of the bolt guns. I've done a little smoothing, and polishing on most of my lever guns, and they function very well. A bolt can slide open all by itself if you tilt the rifle up a bit. I doubt you'd want the action to come open on a lever gun if you shoot uphill. 
MilsurpShooter
Member
Smoothest lever action I've ever felt has been off the Henry 22's. Ever in a gun store and see one, ask if you can cycle it.
rocinante
Member
I have a marlin 1894 with an action job and it seems pretty smooth although truthfully this is the first lever rifle I have handled so I do not have a basis in comparison. I bought it used so I do not have a before and after experience.
skinewmexico
Member
My pre-64 94 seems fine to me. Not rough, just more feelings when you hit pivot points. Although for the life of me, I can't see why it matters, on a bolt, or a lever. Is it like a fingernails on the chalkboard kind of thing? Cuz all I look at is what happens downrange.
Float Pilot
Member
I have a 1892 vintage Model 92 Winchester that is smooth like butter....The old 1886s are pretty smooth as well. The Model 95 are pretty good and I personally think the 1894 (94s) are the worst as far as smooth operation due to their design. They require a fast manipulation of the lever.
gcrookston
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my 1886 and 39a are two of the slickest actions I own. I've owned a couple of 94's over the years and agree with float; when slowly opened or closed they can tend to feel like they are binding.
Yeah, I shot an antique .38-40 black powder 92 this guy in Montana was still using as a "working gun". Smoothest thing I've ever felt. It's broken in, I imagine.
He pulled it out to use it to drill holes in some posts when the Makita's battery died, so I asked if I could shoot a couple rounds at some gong targets near the campsite. Fun little gun!A century of regular use will smooth up a lever gun quite nicely.
stownsend
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If you are looking for a non-conventional looking lever gun, look at a Sako Finnwolf. My father had one in 243 and it had to be the smoothest lever I have ever felt. It literally opens itself and you just have to close the action. The gun was only made in 308 and 243, but is a beautiful firearm if you can find one.
George Hill
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My .30-30 Marlin is smooth as all get out. Like butter. But I had a Gunsmith work it over.
halfacop
Member
My Browning Lever Action in 308 is the smoothest lever I have ever racked.
Straight out of the box it was as smooth as butter. Thats rack and pinnion gears on those guns are strong as hell but just glide in your hand.
Straight out of the box it was as smooth as butter. Thats rack and pinnion gears on those guns are strong as hell but just glide in your hand.
Clipper
Member
If you're looking for a smooth lever action, you should try a Savage 99...
strangelittleman
Member
All one has to do is sit in front of the T.V. w/ an empty weapon and work the action for 30 min. a night for a few days and it will smooth it's self out. I've done that w/ my Marlin 1894cp and it's smooth as Skippy peanut butter!. It's the same system I use to smooth up all my weapons. Much to my dear wife's chagrin...HAHA!
ZeSpectre
Member
Did my own action work on my Rossi Puma (Win 92 clone) for cowboy action shooting. Took a few go-rounds to get it just how I wanted it but I'll bet it's as fast and smooth as any 92 out there.
My 336 Marlin...that's another issue. Smoothed it up some but I'll never EVER shoot it like I do that Puma so I'm not quite so worried about turning it into a race-gun.
+1 on the Henry lever .22 being SMOOOOOOTH!
As for the why? Lots more moving parts interacting with each other.
My 336 Marlin...that's another issue. Smoothed it up some but I'll never EVER shoot it like I do that Puma so I'm not quite so worried about turning it into a race-gun.
+1 on the Henry lever .22 being SMOOOOOOTH!
As for the why? Lots more moving parts interacting with each other.
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Geronimo45
Member
Henry levers are very nice. Lower strength hammer spring?
So nice, in fact, that they'll convince you to try out the classic intro to The Rifleman.
Since temptation won't be easy to resist, try wearing very thick gloves when you do it.
So nice, in fact, that they'll convince you to try out the classic intro to The Rifleman.
Since temptation won't be easy to resist, try wearing very thick gloves when you do it.
Pigspitter
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Sometimes after a rough day at school I sit in the basement and cycle the action of my Henry. It has a soothing affect.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
Give your lever gun time to break in. It will smooth out. I've had my marlin .30-30 since 1964 and it gets better every year.
Roswell 1847
member
If you can find any "Gun Slick" try that out.
I had one very small tube of it that lasted 20 years.
I think it was made by Outers.
You disassemble the moving parts and apply Gunslick like grease, then reassemble and cycle the action till it feels right. Then disassemble and carefully remove every trace of the Gunslick.
It micro polishes the contact points.
Do it right and a stiff action becomes smooth as butter, just don't over do it.
I had one very small tube of it that lasted 20 years.
I think it was made by Outers.
You disassemble the moving parts and apply Gunslick like grease, then reassemble and cycle the action till it feels right. Then disassemble and carefully remove every trace of the Gunslick.
It micro polishes the contact points.
Do it right and a stiff action becomes smooth as butter, just don't over do it.
Lewis Wetzel
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Methinks you doth protesth too much....
There are conditions and there are variables. Many moving parts in a lever action. I've never known one that was 'too rough'.
You need to shoot more. Especially the lever actions.
There are conditions and there are variables. Many moving parts in a lever action. I've never known one that was 'too rough'.
You need to shoot more. Especially the lever actions.
AStone
Member
I found my Marlin 336A in .30-30 to be a bit stiff after purchase.
After a lot of dry fire and cycling very slowly,
paying close attention to where the sticky points were
,
I found that it was rough in a minor way at particular points in the cycle.
So, I tuned it up.
It's noticeably smoother now.
Admittedly, an action job by a smith would be better.
But at the time, my business was slow,
so I did a basic smoothing job myself.
As an added benefit, I learned a TON
about my rifle in the process.
After a lot of dry fire and cycling very slowly,
paying close attention to where the sticky points were
,I found that it was rough in a minor way at particular points in the cycle.
So, I tuned it up.
It's noticeably smoother now.
Admittedly, an action job by a smith would be better.
But at the time, my business was slow,
so I did a basic smoothing job myself.
As an added benefit, I learned a TON
about my rifle in the process.
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