Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Straight Stock or Pistol Grip and Why

I have both, the difference comes into play with the Big Bores. The straight has more felt recoil.

i have about a half dozen levers and they all have straight stocks. i like the looks of those better. but truth be told, a pistol grip is better carrying for me.

Yes, and the lever is much harder on the hands with the straight stock.

Solution:

https://www.wildwestguns.com/product/big-loop-lever/

Superior to the other "offerings".

No Sir, that makes cycling slower.

The solution is a snap on lever wrap for $10

http://www.whyteleatherworks.com/

No, it won't...IF you know how to cycle a big lever. Study up. It is not done the same way as your small hands lever.

Wrap? Kinda buckskin foo foo.

Much prefer the straight on my 336 Texan 35 rem and 1895 guid gun 45-70 for looks and function. They just feel lighter and handier rifles to me. Need an 1894 44 for the trifecta. Recoil don’t notice any difference.

I hate Threads that make me realize I have a preference I can't defend! All the ergonomics I can conjure, suggest the more modern, pistol grip. But shooting, with few exceptions, I do prefer straight grip. One fellow above commented on the big loop levers as about only style approprite for the straight grip. For me about the most superfluous thing I can imagine unless you're perhaps into twirling the carbine as "The Rifleman" (That series started the trend or John Wayne in some film?) That big round lever, especially as 'action open', letting it 'all hang out'. The anatomical equivalent about as 'tasteful' as description of "pelvic floor prolapse!"

Just my take!
John

The larger loops are beneficial for those with large hands and especially when wearing gloves.

If you’re into faster pointing rifle, I think you’ll like the straight grip. If your are more interested in holding the rifle for a bit longer, I think you’ll like a pistol grip. I have both.
I had a model 64 30-30 and a 94 30-30. The 64 had a pistol grip and the 94 had a straight grip. I liked the 94 more.

I find there’s another piece to the puzzle as to what i feel what is best. I have a heavy ‘86 in 45-70 and an ultra-light 336 in 45-70. The Marlin is much more fun to carry but my fingers inside the lever suffer when shooting heavy loads. The ‘86 has a pistol grip and the Marlin has a straight grip.

If I were to buy a Marlin in 357 it would be a straight grip.
If I were to buy a 35 Winchester…

“Lever” gun means rifle almost exclusively. I make a distinction because for me the English style, straight stock wins on aesthetics, while I believe the pistol grip stock wins on function (control) not so much a factor for shotguns, but much more so for rifles where deliberate aiming is the norm.

I love the look of the “straight” on a shotgun or a rifle, other than the DGR’s or competitive guns, where you’ll never see ‘em because one needs every iota of control.

Straight grip looks cooler. So most of mine have a straight grip. That said, for most people, the pistol grip puts your trigger finger in a better position. I will shoot smaller groups with a pistol grip.

I say it depends on the gun. I doubt a great many will say that the Model 71 is an ugly rifle. The pistol grip is a perfect fit for the look of a light sporter. A heavy octagon barreled buffalo rifle looks far better with a straight stock.

Count me as "prefers a pistol grip" guy.

Hey Sharecropper, do you have any BLR's you might part with? I'm on the hunt for a particular new old stock BLR, pistol grip of course.

IMO...
If you want to make lever work in your favor the pistol grip is the choice. It lets you pull the rifle or carbine into the pocket. Also, with the pistol grip you don't have to angle your hand and wrist into degree that is unnatural. The straight buttstock looks cool and is classic but does not work for me as well.
Ltd...

71's are the Zenith in the lever action big bores! With respect to a Buffalo / LR SS, the Browning BPCR quite nice.

I'm a straight grip kinda guy. Mostly aesthetics, but I can think of a couple of advantages. There is less wood in a straight stock and it makes the rifle a bit lighter. I don't carry a lever gun with a strap, but in my hands. My right hand is at a more natural angle with a straight grip vs pistol grip. At least while carrying. I'll concede the pistol grip is a little more comfortable to shoot and cycle the lever. But I carry it a lot more than I shoot it.