How many of you hunt with a lever action.

I like to hunt with my Marlin 336 35 Remington. Makes a great little "bush gun".

Every once in a while, I drag my little all stainless 94 WW. Trapper out of the safe and use it at the Ranch.
With a 280gr WFN LBT cast bullet at well over 1600 fps, it's a sure killer on big feral hogs.

Carried a 110 year old 1895 a bunch last year but never bloodied it.

Been known to get blood on Savage 99's, Marlin 94 & 336 and Winchester 94's.

Yes. I hunt with a lever action of some sort most of the time.

Love to to hunt with lever guns. I have a 336 in .30-30 and one in .35 Remington and they are both excellent rifles for where I hunt.

Marlin 336, .30-30 Win
Savage 99, .300 Sav

The country I hunt is pretty wide open and while I enjoy lever actions, they are a handicap for the type of hunting I do. If I was hunting dense foliage or deep northside timber, I'd be content with a nice light levergun.

Now small game hunting; IE jackrabbits, my favorite rifle by far is my Marlin Mountie model 39. In fact it's the rifle I enjoy shooting most of all.

I've carried them a fair bit while hunting but haven't killed much with them. The only two I have now are a 336 in .35 Rem that I've killed one deer with and a Win 94 XTR in 30-30. I just picked it up a couple months ago so it will likely get hunted this year. It's never been fired but that will change soon.

Dave.

Edit, I almost forgot the Win 9422 XTR Classic. It has killed a fair bit of small game over the years.

Finnwolf, but let's not talk about it.....



DMc

The .22 Marlin 39A is my favorite rifle of all time - learned to shoot with one 50+ years ago and I still enjoy time afield with mine. For small game, and some varmints, there's nothing I'd rather carry.

Time to time I'll hunt with a lever action. Last fall I spent a day afield with the good old .30-30 Glenfield, while hunting a pretty thickly timbered area here in Washington's Cascades. It shoots well and I enjoy carrying it.


Didn't take anything with it. Passed on a couple of smaller bucks, hoping for big antlers...

Guy

I enjoy taking out my 336 marlin in 3030 a time or two q year

Marlin M39A .22LR, Marlin M336C .30-30, Marlin M1895 .45-70, Browning BLR '81 .308. All get used with some regularity...

I use two every year. A Guide Gun and a Winchester M94 in .30-30.

see here ( https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/9751260/Re:_Savage_99_hunting ), plus sqwills with a 39a

Last 2 years I've used my 336 in .35.

I enjoy hunting with one of my lever action rifles as often as possible.
I have used 30-30, 348 WCF, 35 Remington, 375 WCF, 405 WCF and 45-70 in Marlin and Winchester rifles.

StarchedCover

Have used a Winchester 94 on deer and a Winchester 88 for deer and elk.
Shot plenty of ground squirrels with a Marlin 39.

Yep! My Winchester 1895 405 WCF

I hunt with several different savage 99s I own a couple of times a year. 300 savage still gets it done.

I got a couple of 99's I hunt with..

Savage 99's mainly - 1945 99EG in 300 Savage is the "lucky gun".



Take my dad's 1954 336 out occasionally also (yes, it was unloaded when the pic was taken ).

An old 95 in 303 brit goes hunting with me when the weather is nice. It's taken one ok buck since I've owned it, and sat next to me a bunch while I read a good book in the woods.

Funny story: My father-in-law retired from his service station in the 80's, and finally took the cross-country trip he'd always dreamed of. He was stopped before going over Hoover dam and asked if his propane was shut off, and if he had any explosives, or firearms..."yes" he had firearms.."are they loaded?"..."of course they're loaded! 'else what good are they!"..."OK, move it along, and have a nice day"

I used to hunt with a bunch of different ones- 1892-.32-20, 1894's .25-35[2]-.303-30, 99R .300, 99E .308 and dad's 88 .308. I don't use them as much these days. Too many specialized rifles I guess.

I still have a pretty good set; Marlin 39A Mountie, 92 Rosii SS in .357, Savage 1899TD in .250-300 and Model 88 in .308. These will go to my youngest grandson who is a southpaw. So will a couple of Ithaca 37's as I can reverse the safeties on them and the Model 88.

I do use the 39A a lot and the .250 Savage is my favorite coyote calling rifle.

Browning BLR .358 Win
Browning 71 Carbine .348 Win
Winchester 71 Deluxe Rifle .348 Win
Winchester 94AE .25-35 Win
Winchester 94AE 7-30 Waters
Winchester 94AE .307 Win
Winchester 94AE Wrangler II .38-55 win
Winchester 94 .32 Win Spl
Winchester 1895 .405 Win
Savage 99 .303 Sav
Savage 99 .375 Win
Marlin 1894S .41 Mag
Marlin 1894S .44-40 Win
Marlin 1894CL .25-20 Win
Marlin 336RC .32 Win Spl
Marlin 336ER .356 Win

I used to own several more but I'm now down too.
Browning BLR .358 Win
Browning BLR 257 roberts
Browning BLR 30/06 sprn
Browning BLR 450 marlin
marlin 1894 44 mag

I used to hunt more with my lever actions. For quite some time I hunted them exclusively. Have rotated back towards bolt actions for much of my target shooting and hunting. Still consider them an important part of my rifle options.

I have hunted many Marlin, Savage, Winchester and Browning leverguns over the years. If press I would say my favorites are Savage 99F 300 Sav and Marlin 336RC 35 Rem.

Marlin 336A 30-30, Marlin 336 35rem, Savage 99 250-3000, Marlin 444, Win. 1894 30wcf with 26in octagon barrel, all are hunted like the savage and the 336A the most today. I think Marlin lever guns pre-cross bolt safety are one of the best deer guns around. I wish I bought a lot of them when they where selling for under 200 dollars.

I've dragged my 1950's 336RC 30-30 out a few times over the past few years, unfruitfully. This fall looking to bloody a 1895 45-70 stainless guide gun on a black bear up in maine. Hoping to add a 336SC 2/3 mag 35 rem to my stable soon, and eventually wish to own a Win 71 348.

336 35 Rem
94ae 307 Win
1895G 45/70

I have been hunting deer with a 336 in 30-30 for a few years now. I am going to load some 125 grain Sierra FNHP bullets for it and try them out next season.

Please let us know how they shoot.

Shrapnel,

Beautiful rifles and trophies..

Bought my first 336 .30-30 in'75; 2nd .Mar. .30-30 '93 model in 2012; .444 Mar. in 2000. Can't beat them.

Bought first 336 .30-30 in '75. 2nd is a '93 mod .30-30
Then .44Mar. in 2000. Can't beat them.
WILL.

I have a couple of them that I have owned for years. However I drank the koolaid years ago and have done most of my hunting w scoped bolt guns abut have never shot a deer over 200 yrs. I have shot one deer with my 30-30 . The only draw back to me is at 60 I can't see the sights as well as before and while I can scope my Marlin , a scope just ruins most of the handling chapters tics I like about the lever guns.

I have lots of hunting pics with falling blocks:(

That is like a lever action single shot.

Couple of Savage 99's (300 and 358) and a Winchester 94 (32 Spl) get plenty of use in my hands.

Dale

Have a scoped 336W I use for hogs. Would really love to own a 99 in 250-3000.

Got a Browning 92 in 44 mag I love to carry. I have been less than impressed with the Lever Revolution ammo on hogs and deer so am looking for alternative factory fodder. I reload for my bolts but not this one.

two main whitetail guns are marlin 444 and savage 99eg 300sav.

I have a Browning BLR in 358 Winchester for the woods or if black bear is on the menu.


Dan

I love a lever action and think they are about ideal for the areas I currently hunt. My favorite two are a Winchester 71 deluxe and a Marlin 44 mag. Something about carrying them gives me a feeling of confidence that I don't get with a bolt action. That is probably because the first rifle I ever had was a Marlin 44 mag.

One of the frequent themes on the fire is what should I get my kid for a first rifle on a budget. The common answers are how about a entry level bolt such as the ruger American, the axis a Marlin x etc etc. Actually one of the best ideas would be a nice clean used Marlin 336 or 94 AE . Sure the kid may someday buy a bolt gun but a nice clean lever is a top quality rifle that will last a lifetime and everyone should have at least one.

I hunt some with a 99e in .308, haven't taken any game with it yet...

I bought a Marlin 336 in 44magnum in 1967 and have used it ever since for hunting deer and hogs in the thick stuff. I have added a Marlin in 35 Remington and like the addition of a little range over the 44 magnum. I have a Browning BLR in 284 Win and a Winchester 88 in 308, but really rather hunt with one of the two Marlins.

I came across an M94 in .32 Special, and thought it would work better, for me, if it were a half-magazine, 22"-barrelled .25/35 Imp. I was right.
An M99TD in .250/3000 appeared in my cabinet, and as soon as I can replace the cracked stock (in the usual place-behind the tang) I'll be carrying it in the field.
My M92 in .256WinMag with 1/2 mag and tang sight WAS a Rossi .357 mag, but works quite well for jackrabbits now.
When I went for a walk out the road, in Alaska, my M71 (Browning) in .375/348 Improved went with...and I feared NOTHING!
Lever guns are FUN!
Have fun,
Gene

When ever I travel into Canada I always take one of my Marlin 336 35 Remingtons. I like them, they are handy and I like the 200 grain bullet.

I am mainly a bolt action guy, but still have a few levers:
94 .32 spl. carbine-my first whitetail, an antelope and mt. lion
still have it.. It was my dad's.
99 in .300 Sav. used it on antelope and mulies. Sold it a couple years ago.
99 in .358 win. mulie, hogs, and antelope.. Sold it with the .300.
99 in .250 Sav. antelope.. My late wife used it on antelope and mulies.. Still have it as it was her fathers.
94 in 30-30 antelope.. Bought it from a neighbor after her brother passed.. He and I often hunted deer together when I was a kid..
336 in .30-30 whitetail, mulie, antelope, and a couple mt. lions.
336 in .25-35 whitetail, mulies, antelope, and coyotes.. A favorite..
1895 in .45-70 whitetail and antelope.. Keep it in the camper when we're in grizzly country..
39a have had a couple of these.. Shot thousands of gophers, p.dogs, forest grouse, rabbits, and tree squirrel with them..
this is also a favorite..

Another die-hard bolt action guy here... Until 2002 when I inherited a mint Marlin 30AS (economy model 336) in .30-30 from an uncle. It quickly became my favorite woods gun for deer season (in rifle zones). The .30-30 is also an easy deal to reload. I've basically duplicated 170 gr. factory loads in both velocity & accuracy with IMR-3031 and 170 gr Speer FP's. For a woods gun I don't need long range capability; the old .30-30 works just fine like it has now for over a century. If I need to shoot longer that's why I have bolt guns in 6.5x55, .25-06, 300 WSM, etc. The funny thing about lever guns is how cool they suddenly become when you start using one. I still hunt with handguns or my old fully rifled 12 ga. 870 when in areas where rifles are a "no-no", but the old .30-30 is now my one and only woods gun in rifle zones. Possibly because I recently turned 65 and have really come to appreciate centerfires that are light and easy to carry and don't kick the snot out of me.

Been using them a lot this year.

Win 64 in .32 Special


This year's deer rifle...Marlin 336SC (1957) in .30-30. Scope is an old Lyman 3X

When I go to SILs' ranches to see about things or to feed ( I don't do the heavy jobs anymore), I generally take a lever gun. It is generally a Marlin Glenfield 30 in .30-30 because of hog problems. I would rather take the .218 Bee, but a pig gun, it is not, unless one gets a head shot.

In the past, I used Savages in .243 and .300. Both were fine deer rifles and I can't recall why I sold them. The next decent take down or 99F in .308 I run across at a good price, is likely to go home with me.

Jack

Been hunting with the same BLR dad bought me in 1980.
Also have a very nice DRC Marlin 39A with about a grand of "upgrades".

Adding to the fire

1. Marlin SBL 45/70 SS
2. Marlin GG strait grip ported 45/70
3. Legacy Puma 454 Casull SS
4. Rossi Rio Grande 30/30 SS
5. Ruger 96/22 RFM with 17 HMR Brl.
And if things work out a Savage 99 in 308 win.

First lever: Marlin 336SC carbine .35 Remington. Bought when I was a Junior in high school 1953.

Marlin 1895 SS 45/70

Cinco Grande Marlin 1894C .357 Magnum

Bought used and in rough shape 39A .22. Restored it myself. Sent many a sage rat to the promised land. Was a cowboys pickup gun.

My favorite is my 336-A in .35 bought here on the fire along with a 336cs in 30-30 for my son also bought on the fire.

Also have two 1894's in .357 and .44 for what ever. The fun gun is a 39a mountie built in the 60's

Doc

Always been a bolt action guy, even in tight terrain/woodlots/big forest. I plan on hunting a 336 in 30-30 a little this Fall just to see how I like it in the thickets.

Ditto that.

That said, lever guns have always had a unique allure that other types of long guns simply cannot match. My hunting buddy and I came up with the phrase "lever action satisfaction" to describe it.

My first lever gun was an Ithaca Model 49 .22LR single shot. This was something of a Winchester '94/Martini-Henry falling-block crossbreed. I was a 10-year old farm kid when mine showed up under the Christmas tree along with another for my older brother. The following Christmas there was a third for younger brother. (My memory says all three showed up the same year, older brother disputes this. We'll go with his version.) Brothers and I became very good with the Ithaca rifles. The only pheasant I've ever shot fell to my Model 49 while on the wing. (Yeah, I know, but it was an instinctive reaction to the bird flying up at my feet while I was hunting CRP land for rabbit. And I was 10 or 11 - give me a break.) My Model 49 put lots of rabbits and squirrels in the pot. It got away from me in 1970 and several years ago I started looking for a replacement. Found this one at a gun show - near pristine for $105. It has turned out to be wonderfully accurate.



Ruger #1's have always fascinated me and when I found this one in .280 Rem at the LGS I couldn't pass it up. It was not quite a bug hole shooter but would regularly turn in .5" groups with preferred loads. A/the previous owner had it nickel plated and had a Moyers trigger installed. Although I've taken antelope with it and loved the rifle, it really didn't suit my hunting needs. I sold it and bought a Ruger Hawkeye All-Weather .280 Rem instead.

(The rifle on the left is my M77 in 7mm RM, my first centerfire rifle. It's still a keeper.)




My more "traditional" levers have a permanent place in the safe. With them I've taken elk, deer and antelope, along with coyotes, fox and prairie dogs.

Top to bottom:
Marlin 1895 (.45-70)
Marlin 375 (.375 Win)
Marlin 336CS (.30-30)
Browning B92 (.44 Mag)

Sako Finnwolf 308 win

Same pics I have posted many times but here's a small sample of what I have to offer







Here's a mulie killed by the .307 rifle in the pic above
[img]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t292/inmanta/DSCN1632.jpg[/img]

OK dog gotta ask... Where exactly is Wyoming's anal orifice?

Rock Springs...

It's not Rawlins...so I guess things could be worse...

true~

Dog,

I just gotta say: That 307 looks a little out of place in that country, topped with a low power scope and surrounded by big bins and a spotter. Definitely spot and stalk!

Damn nice pics of beautiful country and animals.

I hunt thick nonsense that anyone in their right mind avoids like the plague - which is exactly why I hunt it. One of these is what I drag along in no particular order:

Thanks Deernut...even in that alpine country, my shots are often within 100 yards after I sneak into the timber. It's pretty rare that I need much range.

That being said I have a 6.5X284 I will be playing with bergers and AMAXs to hunt with this fall.

DH, what calibers were those 99's... I liked the ones I had, but the drop of the stock and the safety were not my favorite thing about them.. Neat old rifles though..

Sharpnel, .308 or .243???

243, I would like to get a 308 to go with it someday...

Nice rifle, especially in a .243... Only ever saw a couple..

Hunt Whitetails every year with some Savage 99 or another.



This fall going to, also hunt with a Marlin 336 30-30 with a peep sight, which I have not done since the 1960s.

Nice. Love that Ruger 44 carbine. Neat little rifle for close work in the thickets.

Nice rifle Shrap. Which bullet you shootin in that 243?

roundoak, two sharp rifles there.. That 99 have a worked over stock... I am not even close on all the 99;s... The Marlin has a nice piece of wood also.. My 336 .30-30 is the 24" barrel and half mag.. Love it..

The big mulie was a .303 Savage. I don't like the drop in the stock either but the gun is nice.

The fox was killed with a .250-3000. I've taken a couple antelope with it too.

I also have a .300 Savage and a .22 Hi-Power that have seen their share of field time.

The safeties do suck, but I'm a strict cold chamber hunter anyhow so its a moot point.

Federal Blue Box 100 grains...

Hell, I didn't even know 99's had safeties...

Get it when you can. I am sure glad I got mine and NIB. They are getting harder to find.

99C in .308