Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General If you could own only 1 lever action rifle - what would you buy?

jbmi;

Rimfires don't count against the total... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

silver78, what do you want to do with the lever? Hunt and plink at targets? Target shooting and plinking, and maybe a bit of hunting? What's the plan?

Getting the picture, now. You want a new, traditionally-styled levergun in walnut and stainless steel, chambered for a popular cartridge.

If you also want that rifle to be pleasant to shoot, easy to carry, and yet practical for taking a deer (someday maybe) inside of 200 yards with iron sights, I'd recommend the Marlin 336SS, .... the .30-30 carbine in stainless steel, with walnut stock.

I'd also recommend that you have a Lyman or Williams receiver sight installed, along with a correspondingly higher front sight. Makes for a real nice rig.

I'd second that but with a scope if your set on SS. If not the 1895 cowboy in 45-70 is mighty slick. I prefer the 1894's because they are so easy to work on and I like the smaller cartridges like the 44mag.

He doesn't want it scoped.

I like the marlin 336A in .35 Rem. An honest, do everything, lever gun and a hoot to shoot.

George

Thanks for the suggestions. Here are some replys to your comments.

Regarding my 1 gun safe - (Smile) I'm a bolt action fan for hunting. The lever is more of a want - just to have one. I also need to make room this year for the REM 700 CDL Anniversary model. I'm really annoyed with Remington. I didn't plan on buying the 30-06 commemerative rifle - but it's so nice looking that I really want one.

Regarding the "no scope" comment - I'm trying not to spend too much $$ on this purchase - maybe a scope will come later.

On calibre selection. Over the years several of my friends have owned the lever action 30-30s. So I have shot several 30-30 lever guns. So to me the 30-30 is a natural choice. But one friend has a 45-70 that I have fired. I am a recoil wimp - but there's something about shooting those heavy bullets that I really enjoy. I have no interest in tolerating a lot of recoil for a magnum round - but the 45-70 is different. If I had never fired the 45-70 I would just buy the 30-30.

On the pistol calibers - They certainly have low recoil so maybe this is a good chioce - but as Carlos111 noted above - the CAS people at my club would try to drag me into the CAS world - and I just don't have the time or money for this right now. Carlos must know the CAS guys at my club - I was talking to my IWLA club VP last month and she tried to talk me into attending a CAS event. (Must ignore voices in my head - resist the temptation...)

Anyway I think my choice has been narrowed down to 30-30 or 45-70. Any added comments to help me finalize the decision are appreciated.

If cost is a factor then the the 30-30 gets my nod. The 45-70 ammo is not cheap and the 1895 Cowboy is much pricier at $800 Vs the 336 that might be half as much. I had a guide gun and I'm just no fan of the recoil. The 1895 cowboy version with the octagon barrel is simply a classic IMO. There is nothing more traditional than a 30-30 to me and if you really are a one lever gun guy what I would say is look for a pre-64 Winchester '94. They can be had for $4-500 and they are the real deal. If you ever want to scope I say go with a new Marlin. You cant go wrong with any of those choices but to me the 30-30 is far more practical.

The 30-30 is extremely practical and handy and comes in stainless. The 44 Mag is just as handy and has the same power as the 30-30. Either would make a fine deer rifle. I don't know that I could limit myself to one. I would have a hard time limiting mine to 5. So I didn't. I'm trying to limit myself to....a dozen. Yeah that's a good number.

If you're not to worked up on a scope , the a 94 winchester in 30-30 , and if you might scope it someday a BLR81 in 308.

If it were me a traditional straight checkered stocked Winchester 30-30 with sight hood and white triangle rear sight. Sure some others might be a little bit more accurate but none is as easy and quick to handle. For jump and dump deer hunting there is none as good.

I have 11 Savage 99's and will be getting more given the chance so my choice is obvious. Warning to you is that once you get one of these, you will want more.

Marlin 336SS-Ltd .35 Rem (mini guide gun) special run for TALO. They are still out there.

silver78;

Considering that you want it stainless, the only other one that would even be in the running, if it were me, would be the Rossi/Legacy M92 Puma.

Stainless and "walnut" (actually a hard South American wood dark/walnut finished). Available in .38Special/.357, ..44Special/.44 Magnum, .45LC, .454 Casull (will also fire .45LC, I know this for fact), and .480 Ruger.

Available with 16", 18", or 20" round barrels, or 24" full octagon barrel.

Here's the pics and links:

Octagon 24":


Round barrel (20", IIRC):


Here's the link: Puma

I had the blued/walnut .454, and safariman now has it (PM him for details, or see my threads here re: that one).

If I were to do it over again, and likely will, I'd have Steve Young order it for me and give it a action job prior to receiving it. He can get a cut price on the order and do the action job on it, slicking it up NICELY, and all totaled for about the price of the new Marlins, so it puts it in the apples-to-apples category for consideration. Young's website is here: Steve's Gunz

What kind of groups do you get with those Puma rifles? The 454 should make for a pretty nice rifle for short range deer.

Winchester Model 71 Deluxe, .348 Winchester

Walks with fire;

I got one BIG ragged hole at 50 yards with irons and .45LC loads, and about 1.5" to 2" iron sight groups at the same range with the few five-shot strings of .454 I sent down range. And, yes, considering that it delivers factory .45-70 ballistics (300 gr. @1850-1900 fps) out of that short carbine, it'd be a fine deer/bear/whatever set-up. 9+1 of .454 or 10+1 of .45LC in the 20" barrel.

The Marlin Cowboy aka 26 inch barrel can be had in the $500 dollar range not $800 bucks.I own a Mod 94 Win in 30-30 and a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 and by far,the 45-70 gets the nod.The 45-70 can do anything the 30-30 can plus one heck of alot more from mild recoiling factory loads in the 1800 fps range in 300 grain bullets to over 2350 fps depending on barrel length.The Marlin 45-70 is under $500 dollars new in box,I gave $399 for mine but the 30-30 is less expensive than that but gives up a lot of ballistics to the old but modern 45-70 if one hunts Elk or larger than Deer game.

Not knocking the 30-30 as it has put alot of meat in my freezer and still does with a couple of my friends but the 45-70,to me,is a much better choice in a levergun.

Good luck on choice.

Jayco

If you know a source for NIB 1895 Cowboys for $500 please share. I want one. Retail is $849 and Davidsons OTD price here is $730. That's a good average of most shops in my area. Retail on the 336SS is $692 and those I have seen for a little over $500. Two hundred bucks still is a pretty good difference. Marlins are made in the USA and easy to work on yourself which is a nice bonus.

www.galleryofguns.com

$543 bucks at Wal-Mart.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3138670

Our local gun guy will order any rifle/pistol for $25 bucks over his cost also.I don't want a long barrel or I would probably order one from him.When I got my Guide Gun his price was a few dollars less than I gave but I was 200 miles away at the time so I bought it in Coeurd'Alene Idaho at a local sporting goods store.

Jayco

That is a great price. I just called all the Wally worlds in my area and none of them carry the Marlin Cowboy. One said they would special order it for $693. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I think I'll stick with the sporting goods store for any potential service issues. You gotta love the fine print on the wally world web site that says "In stores only, prices may vary". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />