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

Oops - a lever action 44 mag Marlin is now in my safe - it sure looks good. Now I still "need" the 30-30 too. I guess I should have titled the thread if you could own only 2 lever action rifles...
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Well, Silver, you lasted six days, from your first post in this thread on the 9th until today. Better than I could have done. Proud of ya, guy.

You're telling me!! I own 37 1899's and 99's, most bought when you could get them for $150-$200. Still looking for .22-250 and 7mm-08.

I own at least 8 different models of pre-'64 Winchesters, and some other Marlins to boot. My tastes really lie with the classics. If you are not looking to spend a lot, but want a solid, nice performing lever-action in a fairly hard-hitting caliber, the Marlin 336 in 35 Rem would be my choice. Drops deer like flies, and with top loads, will do the same to black bears. All with little recoil. Can be scoped later, if you wish---2MG

Marlin 94CB .357 mag. I've killed a few deer with it and quite a bit of small game, in a pinch it would do short range work with shotshells.

The Marlin 336 in .35 Rem is an inexpensive but very lethal combination, that gets my vote for cheapest but most effective in a new rifle.

I have a win 94 chambered in 44mag, great little gun, killed a black russian boar, one buck and one doe with it, absolutely deadly within 100yds. The other great thing is that you can use 44 special ammo in it for plinking. The same goes for the 357 mag model will feed 38 special, very versatile and ammo is real cheap compared to centerfire rifle ammo.

Well I must admit - despite all the thinking that goes into choosing a rifle - the 44 mag won out because it had the best looking wood. I have my share of stainless rifles w synthetic stocks - but I'm still a sucker for a good looking piece of wood.

silver78;

I know the feeling. Personally, I don't care at all for synthetic stocks, but a great piece of wood on a rifle can get my attention (and my money) faster than just about anything else.

The '94 is hard to turn down for me because it still looks pretty much the same as it did 100 years ago plus you can easily scope it. Uou don't need a gunsmith to take it apart, replace the crossbolt safety and install a WW trigger. All theese things make the '94 a favorite. Now if only the would make a 38-55 model '94.

Although one lever rifle is somewhat of a blasphemy in my mind...If I could only have one, I'd keep my 1927 94/95 Hybrid.

If I didn't already have my "one" lever gun. I'd pick up a plain jane pre-64 94 in .30-30 and send it to Turnbull for refinish & color case-ing, and then fit it with some pretty wood.

After that, I'd work full time to make sure I enjoy every minute of that rifle.

Guide Gun - 45-70 - loaded to the max.
Kicks, but will take anything on the north american continent.
Where I'm from we shoot wild hogs and deer with em'
Good Luck on Your quest for the perfect lever gun, I have 5 and am still buying!

I have a fair number of lever actions, and if limited to only one, it would be my Marlin 444 guide gun. Its not as finicky about ammo as my 45-70, and does just as good in the field on anything.

There's no real room for discussion here: Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 45-70 US Gov't.

Seriously, buy another gun safe.

Savage 99 in 358, or winchester 71 in 348. Don

Savage 99C 7mm08 Rem.

Not cheap to shoot, but if I could have just one of any kind it would be a Winchester 71 in 348 hands down. If practicality enters in to the equation, probably a pre-64 Winchester 94 in 30-30.

'Noter vote here for the 1894C in .38 Special/.357 magnum.

The most versatile rifle I own, carries about like a .22, yet .357 Magnum out of a 20" barrel has serious ballistics, and with mild .38 reloads its a joy to shoot at soda cans 100+ yards out, sorta like "Quigley Down Under" in miniature.

Plus it feeds the same rounds as my revolver, and would be my first choice for a defensive longarm in times of civil unrest.

Birdwatcher

I second this opinion. Now to decide between the '06 or the 405? Either work work world wide, just be easier to find 30-06 ammo. Hope you Marlin works well for you. My 30-30 336 has been going well for 11 years.
Aaron

If your stuck on the classics and short range shooting the Savage 99c is your best bet. But if your wanting a good hunting rifle for both short and long range... Browning's BLR in the 300 wsm or 7mm wsm 22" barrel is my only choice. Realizing this is not your basic "classic" lever action you still get the speed and accuracy of a bolt action rifle but with the semi-classic loog of a lever action. Recoil a problem? Short mags aren't that bad with a decent pad. This is not a weapon to plink with. If thats all you want to do with it stick with the Savage.

Model 71 in .348 Win. 'Cause they're cool and not everyone has one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />