Where ya' gonna' go?

[Blackwater]

I think there's a lot of wisdom and insight in all the above. I wish I still had that really great old M-64. I wouldn't take it afield because it was such a great rifle, and I thought it simply should be preserved for posterity, so people could one day see what a really great rifle looks, operates and feels like one day (hopefully) far from now. Just like I love those old PA and Ky rifles of so long ago these days.

Today, if I still had it, I think it'd be one of if not my MAIN hunting rifle. Hunting with it just tastes different than hunting with a more "modern" bolt gun. And I just plain like that taste. Whatever its monetary value was would men little to me. I'd just maintain it well and care for it like it deserved to be treated, and simply use it, but not abuse it. Just like its makers intended.

I have a friend who has a really especially beautiful cusom #1 Ruger that he hunts with regularly, though it cost him over $5,000 all tolled. And yeah, it's got a few little dings and scars here and there. Not many, and not bad, but each one is a reminder of a memory of certain great hunts he's carried it on. And hunting with it has a different flavor than hunting with his other guns. In those times when he's alone in the woods with nothing but that rifle, he can simply look down at it, and get lost in its beauty and functionality, and those tiny "scars" remind him of prior hunts he can become wistful and appreciative about while he's waiting on ol' mossy horns to peek out of the brush. And when he takes one with that gun, it's the culmination of several years of planning and decision making and lots of talent in the 'smiths who made it up for him the way it is now. Any gun we truly have feelings for can accomplish this, of course, if we just get away from the "money rules everything" mentality. I'm really proud and more than a little jealous of those of you who have some really fine old leverguns, and still take them out for a nice walk in the woods. I've had my chance, and I'll take what I've got and really enjoy them, but some of the really fine old guns can't help but evoke some special respect and appreciation from me. The folks who made them put a little bit of their souls in them, and that's what separates the new, machine made guns, from the older, more finely crafted ones. If you can't feel and hear the difference between them, you're not looking closely enough, IMO. Our taste has gotten more plebian over time, and "whatever will work" has come to be the standard of the day, today. But there'll always be those who relish those older, more "spiritual" guns. They really are something special, whether many can see, feel or detect it now or not. There'll always be those who see the difference, even when they become rare. This, I think, is why those older leverguns continue to climb in value. It's the only real explanation that I have for it. Traditions are wounded easily, but they really die VERY hard!

[FergusonTO35]

I think it's going to be Henry. They are turning out quality guns at reasonable prices and they will take of you if you have problems. Also, I see no indication that they are planning to participate in the great race to the bottom at cheap mart price war that killed Marlin, Winchester, and H&R.

Remlin still has miles to go before they regain my trust. I bought a brand new turkey barrel with rifle sights for my 20 gauge 870 last week, part number 80062. It showed up yesterday and I discover that the front and rear sights are not aligned properly. When you shoulder the gun you are presented with the choice of front sight leaning to the left or rear sight leaning to the right. It's going back and somebody better make it right or give me my money back so I can purchase the same for my "inferior" Mossberg.

[wrench man]

I've got a whole slew of pre Remlin Marlins in my safe, one Winchester and one Pedersoli, the only Uberti I have is a wheel gun, but if they put the same effort into their rifles.
I have yet to see anything from south of the border that's worth a $%*&
The Henrys just don't do it for me?, they do stand behind their product.

[Shawlerbrook]

Got to agree with the "going used" crowd. I own 15 leverguns , and only 2 were bought new, both Henry's. I hope leverguns aren't popular, but don't agree that it is true. Good, used ones sell and are a good investment.

[FergusonTO35]

Used lever actions never stay on the shelf long around here, maybe a week at the very most.

[Kestrel4k]

I think there's a lot of wisdom and insight in all the above. [...]

+1 on this fine post above.

Am most likely going to pick up my new-to-me Rossi M92 in 44Mag this weekend, I do think that there's something about shooting a lever-action that I don't get from my other rifles.
This may be my 'fun' gun (long octagon bbl & tang sight), despite having scoped Win88 and Marlin .44Mag & .444's.

[Jake70]

Uberi, Marlin, and Rossi are still cranking out lever actions, and the Winchester Model 94 and Marlin Model 336 are still super popular. I don't think they're going anywhere.

[6pt-sika]

I like the 45-70 and have taken deer with it but in a No. 1 Ruger. I hate to see the lever action dwindle away because they certainly have their place in the shooting/hunting scheme of things. I say to Marlin, "come on and get your act together".

Here are a pair of eight pointers a got a couple years ago !

Did them in with a Ruger #1H in 375 H&H MAG shooting handloads using the no longer made Nosler 260 BT .

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I will just keep buying used Savage 99's or older Marlin's when I think I 'NEED" another rifle. I have Browning BLR's - .223, .308, .22-250, &mm Mag, .300 Mag, .325 and .358. The Browning trigger and need to be oily to function means I really should unload them to a tree sitter or range ninja. When Henry's Long Range shows up I will give it a try. If Henry centerfire tube feeds had a side-loading gate I would probably have one. I do like my Henry .22 and .17. I like my beater Win 71, but it is heavy and I prefer a Savage 99 .358 with its 2.5 Leupold for timber elk. The .358 is much lighter than my Marlin .45-70, my .444, and the Winchester 71. I always hunt with some scope, usually 2.5 or 3 power so Winchesters get left behind. I do keep a receiver-sighted Savage 99 for hunting in rain or snow, also when packing meat. There are a lot of good-used rifles out there. Not many in Wyoming gun stores, but the Internet had changed much. I do keep looking at Winchester .32 Special's though, I might 'NEED" one yet.

[paul s]

Gunshows,auction,flea markets,estate sales,internet gun sites. Only interesting leverguns are older used ones, no?

[BAGTIC]

I bought a Howa.

[Drm50]

The last new factory built rifles I have bought were all Rugers. Bought 77 back in 60s when first
out, same with #1,#3,& 77/22. There is nothing new that I would buy or want. I will not by
foreign made replicas or anything that sounds like it comes with bread sticks. The old model guns
are still out there, you just have to look. I guess I'm lucky to live in rural area where almost every
house hold has a gun or two. And believe it or not everyone with a few guns are not gun collectors. I read a book a few years ago, Winchester Repeating Arms Co, this book was more
about the company than the guns themselves. A very dry read, but I forced myself to read it.
The demise of Winchester was strictly cost of production. Most people don't realize the amount of
had work that went into all pre 64 Winchesters. The point is guns of this quality, not just Wins,
will never be made again. Savage went down the tubes in late 80s, they were putting out junk.
They are lucky they survived reorganization, around the 110 rifle, which was a 3rd rate rifle.
The other story is Mossberg, another 3rd rate company, put full court press on 500 series. Who
would have thought these two would come out on top of heap. Remington who was always the
choice of guys who couldn't afford Wins or Brownings had the lead for a few years. Their expansion and quality control has hurt them. All the old companies are gone, ate up by the big
corporations. And the plastic and stainless steel guns of the video games is what is keeping them
in business. Ammo for these is were the market is at, so they are not going to make anything
they can't sell by the truck load. And that is the sad state of affairs in US gun & ammo manufacturing.

[Blackwater]

I think it's all about who's in charge and leading the companies, and the decisions they make. It one was, that the CEO's knew a thing or two about their wares, but not any more. And this, I think, more than anything else, has squelched any really good new developments. We know how to make a really ergonomic stock, but they're made (by decisions down from the top) to be cheaper to produce. The looks, feel and sound of a really nice rifle are just plain gone now. It's all about "cheap." It's one more reason I don't like shopping at Wal-Mart, who originated and popularized "cheaper is better." T'ain't necessarily so! But then, real thinking has pretty much gone out of style too, so .... I guess it really makes sense?

[6pt-sika]

I think it's all about who's in charge and leading the companies, and the decisions they make. It one was, that the CEO's knew a thing or two about their wares, but not any more. And this, I think, more than anything else, has squelched any really good new developments. We know how to make a really ergonomic stock, but they're made (by decisions down from the top) to be cheaper to produce. The looks, feel and sound of a really nice rifle are just plain gone now. It's all about "cheap." It's one more reason I don't like shopping at Wal-Mart, who originated and popularized "cheaper is better." T'ain't necessarily so! But then, real thinking has pretty much gone out of style too, so .... I guess it really makes sense?

This is nothing new I've preferred Marlin's made before 1980 for a long time . I've preferred Remington 700's made before 1990 for awhile as well . Actually prefer a Krieghoff K-32 over a K-80 , prefer the old Browning Belgian made Superposed over the Citori thats made in Japan . And of course it goes without saying original Parker's leaps and bounds over the Parker Reproductions . The fact that most of the shotguns I hunt with are over 100 years old might tell you something as well .

Now with that being said how much of the c..r..a..p being produced now do you think will still be functional and usable in 100 years .

[paraord]

After some work I am very happy with my Rossi 92 in 44 mag, 20" octagon barrel.
Again mind you I had to do some work but now it cycles 1.680" OAL very reliably and shoots great. A little action work and that 92 is mighty slick.

[quilbilly]

Just for the record, I have really enjoyed my Mossberg lever gun 30/30. Of course it is the one with the wood stock and I put a Skinner sight on it. It has been trouble free and has shot well anything I have fed it from the 130 gr plain base Lyman with Trail Boss at 1400 fps to gas checked 160's at 2000 fps. I got it on sale and it has been a lot more than I paid for.

[EllasPapa]

I find it really interesting to read about other people's interests, and where they came from. I'm the first "shooter" in my family; my Dad grew up on a farm in Western Canada, through the great Depression. They had a .22 single shot for any rabbit that might wander into the yard, and a .12ga single with 3 rounds of #4 shot in case of a coyote or wolf. My Dad didn't ever get a chance to fire the .12 ga. & couldn't remember it ever being shot in his lifetime.

When I got started shooting in the 70's, my career almost forced my decision to shoot handguns mostly, and compete in PPC & IPSC when it eventually came along. Rifles had little fascination for me, and I didn't even own one until my mid 20's. Eventually, things like raising kids, increasingly rigorous gun controls in Canada, i almost stopped shooting entirely for a decade. When I got back into it, the "tactical" thing was just beginning, and I fell victim to it too.

Although I shot thousands of rounds through a variety of revolvers, I had no interest in western style single actions. S&W, Colt wheelguns, sure, but those rounded out backstraps did nothing for me. Same thing with lever guns. Old designs, antiquated compared to the modern semi's...not my thing.

I got a good deal on a stainless Marlin guide gun a few years back, and learned to love lever guns. I never shot it a lot because of it's cost per round. It's really only been quite recently when I picked up the Rossi Ranch Hand and turned it itno a "Canuck SBR" that I really started to love the simplicity and strength of design. I'm looking for another lever gun before I say "enough"...Not sure what or when, but I think I'll know it when I see it

[starmac]

Where ya gonna go, well I'le just go up to the gun room and pick out another one. lol No more than I shoot, I will never wear them all out, and really have no need for another one. BUT when the right deal jumps up I will grab it, needed or not.
I was driving through the truckstop parking lot the other day and saw a guy checking out an octagon barrel something or other from an individual. I resisted the urge to stop and see if he bought it or not, but it was tough.

[Blackwater]

Starmac, you're a man after my own heart, but I'd have stopped! And really, you're right, but it's awfully hard not to "fall in love" with a gun when it just cries out your name and swivels its hips so alluringly. Call me easy, I guess?

[DonMountain]

I am not sure what is driving this discussion. Since bolt action rifles are within a few years of origination with the lever action rifles everyone here is describing. So its not an "age" thing. I have a Remington-Keene bolt action rifle in 45-70 that was built in the 1880's. The main reason I like and hunt with my lever action Winchester 94 rifles is because of how light they are in comparison to my Winchester Model 70. And the ease of handling them climbing up into a tree stand. But, when I am hunting over an open soy bean field I use my Model 70 in 338 Win Mag for its range and killing power. And my Model 94 in 356 Win for the shorter range woods gun. But I do find using the lever action more "fun" to shoot. So, for me its a "fun" thing because I grew up watching westerns on TV.