Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best lever action deer rifles

Yup .... The reasons for the vote to the BLR are quite practical in nature but being practical usually has nothing to do with our loonyisms.

Those old 86s and 71s are the coolest ones out there.

Asking this is like asking us to pick a wife for you. “Best” is extremely subjective. Look and feel a bunch of the ones mentioned here and pick the one you cannot put down.

My friend was gifted a Winchester M88 308 win form his grandfather when he passed away. The rifle is really nice and it has a older Redfield 3x9 on it. That rifle is a bit heavy for my tastes but it is a beautiful rifle and it shoots under an inch at 100 yards. That is a nearly perfect deer rifle.

I don't think, I could have said it Better! LOL!

Marlin 93 sporting carbine iron sights can be scoped one of my favorites very light

Win 71 for slick as snot and power ……..iron sights

The win 1886 very similar…..heavy.

Win 1895/95 hunt with the president Teddy Rosevelt ,iron sights 3003 take down with a climbing Lyman is mine.
Once again heavy.

Savage 1899 F,G, take downs can be scoped

Savage 1899 E solid frame I like 300 savage
Savages are hammerless no detachable magazine but it is a rotary magazine that allows pointy boolits.
They also have a “ spring loaded” action they kind of jump out and cock themselves.

Marlin 336 ER or 35 Remington…….now we are getting somewhere
Winchester 94 AE in 356 straight grip similar.

BLR…….has it all as in hammer, safety, and detachable magazine, takedown….but needs trigger work IMO
modern calibers magazine can be scoped they have a fugly finish on the wood IMO.

Win model 88 similar to BLR but no hammer, magazine, can be scoped.They are built with the famous win Model 70 barrels.

Marlin models

444, 1895 ……..bring the big lead…..similar to a 336

I never had a Henry but I am intrigued by the tube magazine unloading loading port option.

I agree pistol grips enhance my accuracy…..but straight grips look cool and may have other benefits but I can’t think of one.

Hmmm. Extended ranges and the need for a scope? Browning or Savage.

I can’t wait to use my TR 1895 ‘06 on something, yes I am going to shoot it.

Agree with everything you put up there except the Henry Long Ranger looks a lot better then the BLR in Trigger, quality of wood on stock and it can be taken apart easily.

I never been around a long ranger…….

Do they have decent triggers?

Yes, they have a really decent trigger. I wish they had a pistol grip stock.

I have used all but the Browning and Henry in the list. They are all good. I would say that the "best" would come
down to what the individual feels the most comfortable with. I would rank the Winchester 88, Savage 99, Winchester 71, Marlin 1895, at the top the pile.

Anyone have any experience with a Henry Long ranger? They seem pretty nice. Got to fondle one in .308 at a local shop earlier this year and almost bought it on the spot. Shop guy was raving about them but of course he would because he wants to sell it to me. I have a base model Henry rimfire lever gun and love it. Still have a nagging feeling I should have got that Long Ranger.

Sadly, today, "if" you can even "find" a decent levergun, be prepared to pay from $800 to $1800 for it! Even the new Henrys are expensive, and to me, only that Lone Ranger appeals to me. For that kind of money, one can usually find a decent BLR. Here's the deal, as we get older, if we want to do something, we better get after it "now" spend the money "now" and have a ball "now". Old Man Time ain't going to wait on you! ha

The OP did say "rifles" plural and most of the good ones have already been suggested. He didn't want a .30-30, so that takes out the M94 and the nicer, but heavier M64 and maybe the M336 unless a .35 Remington would work. What he describes reads like Texas brush country where a little more range and a scope might be in order and that M71 would be out. If that area is like brush country here in the Midwest, we find a good stand for the morning and late afternoon and might still hunt poking around during the day. I'm going to reference the Field & Stream July 2017 article by their shooting editor David Petzal where he picks the best of the best for most rifle hunting situations. He writes that for eastern whitetails, the best of the best is a rotary magazine Savage M99. For an optic on that rifle his pick is the Leupold 1.5-5-20 VX 3i. He was almost apologetic recommending a no longer manufactured rifle, but it was that good drilled and tapped made back in the mid 1950's. The OP didn't mention hand loading, so probably in a .308 because of ammunition availability. I like the 99F and .300 Savage cartridge for it's lighter weight and lower recoil.

I'm not saying it's the best, but I bought a Marlin 30-30 that Lee Hadaway, The Arms Room in CO, had applied his basic package too along with a few custom options. It is very nice for close quarters like stand hunting.

www.thearmsroom.com

Yes Jim you are absolutely right about that. If I find a Henry in a GS There is more then a 90% chance I buy it.

Savage 99 in 250 Savage is my favorite.

It's a Savage 1895, .303.

How's your eyesight? I'm 69 and 50 yds is ok and 100 yds tough with irons.

My vote is pre64 94 in 25-35 or 30-30 for irons.

Savage 99 in 250-3000 with a scope.

Merry Christmas!

A real rootin tootin mountain man lever action hunting rifle has to have and exposed hammer and a loading gate, like a old school Winchester or Marlin lever gun. From there it's a big field to choose from. Since it is deer I would want a Mod. 94 Big Bore in .307 Winchester and 150 grain Nosler Partitions. If one can see iron sights it is a realistic 200 yard rifle.

If it was for deer and bigger game I would go with my Mod. 94 Big Bore in .356 Winchester loaded with my modified 225 grain Nosler Partitions.

Those other lever actions remind me of a bolt gun with a lever hanging on the bottom. If I was going that route I would use my Dad's old .300 Savage and 150 grain Nosler Partitions. Many a moose and caribou have fallen to the .300 Savage round fired from a Mod. 99 Savage. The original "short mag" !

But, the old 30-30 is still a great choice and kills many game animals every year, from deer to elk, moose and bears.

You're gonna be upset that you waited til 77 to hunt with a lever gun. Lots of good recommendations but a model 94 or 336 in 30-30 is the place to start.