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

I much prefer a straight stock on a lever gun. Aesthetically, they look much better to me. They flow to my shoulder and come on target much more naturally as well. I am curious about other lever gunner's preferences.

I prefer pistol grip. To me it just feels more natural when working the gun. I think my wrist is at a straighter angle if that makes sense.

I can't decide which I like better, so I have several of both!

I have both, if I was regulated to one it'd be a pistola grip.

I prefer the looks of a straight stock but a pistol grip feels better and shoulders a bit more naturally. I own both but favor a pistol grip.

I'm more comfortable with a pistol grip, but can live with a straight one. Not a big deal either way.

The straight grip on many levers do provide for better visuals, however, the pistol grip absorbs felt recoil much better in my experience and points faster to target and more in line with the iron sights. The Marlins and Winchester models with Monte Carlo stocks straight or pistol having high combs are much better at utilizing iron sights and superb for utilizing a low power riflescope.

Kinda depends on the cartridge for me. We have a Mod. 94 in .44 Mag. and a Mod.94 Big Bore in .356 Win. Both are light weight and have a 20"barrel and a straight stock, which suits them. My Mod.71 in .348 Ackley Improved and 1895 Marlin 45-70 both have a pistol grip stock and it suits them and the recoil generated by 250 and 405 grain full power loads. I find the heavier recoiling rifles more controllable with a pistol grip stock. Were all different and seem to perceive recoil differently.

Own both and they feel equally comfortable to me. I have never based the decision to buy a new lever action on straight or pistol grip style.

What he said 😁

All my lever guns have straight stocks. They have served me well.

I like a straight stock on the Winchester 92 and 94, but prefer pistol grips on all newer designs.

Even with a 4" longer barrel. a Winchester 64 feels quicker to the shoulder and sights on target than the typical 20" barrel 94 carbine to me.

I have both, and enjoy shooting both, but I shoot the pistol grips regularly and the straight stocks just sit in the safe and look purty.

Same here.

Another vote here for having both and liking both. I think that the straight stocks are a little sleeker looking, lighter and maybe better with irons. Pistol grip and a higher comb works well on my scoped 336. Can't really go wrong with either.

Paul,
I hope y’all are doing ok down there, I know some in the area are still waiting on a working lightbulb.
I like the look and feel of the Pistol grip, I have never shot a straight Stock.
A gentleman above raised a point regarding the sight lines of a Straight Stock, I need to look into that as I haven’t given that a thought.
I’m a Lever gun collector and have between 20-30 guns Unfired NIB Browning, Winchester and a few Marlin and 0 have the straight stock.
I may have been cheating myself and will see how they feel and shoot for my body frame.

With a straight stock the lever is up higher and therefore needs less forward travel. With a pistol grip the cocking and loading goes farther than 90 degrees relative to the gun. I prefer a straight stock by quite a bit

Straight stock by far.

If a lever action has to have a pistol grip, for me it must also have a "big loop", not the more traditional loops that have the same curvature as the stock. Those bite the [bleep] out of the backs of my fingers when I'm shooting and when I'm cycling the action.

Tom

It just depends on the rifle for me. Some fit better with a straight stock, others better with a pistol grip. In general I tend to prefer a straight grip in smaller stuff, and a pistol grip for larger actions with stouter rounds, but exceptions apply.

In higher recoil rifles, the pistol grip/shotgun butt stock style is the only thing I will use.

For smaller cartridges, it doesn't really matter but I still tend to stick with that style if possible so everything is the same. It's nice my .218 Bee and nitro .50-110 have the same manual of arms and basic layout.

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.