Lever fever lately

[NC_JEFF]

Just bought an 1894 Marlin in 44mag, circa 1977. So Im here now to begin my education on what this (my first lever) gun likes to digest. I'll be scouring your threads for the foreseeable future in search of answers to questions I don't even know enough to ask. I also bought a Henry 22 and an Ithaca 22, both lever, at the same time. I can see from the sheer number of post that you guys have probably told me most of what I still ever need to know to get the most enjoyment from this Marlin. Having said that, THANK YOU to all who have contributed to this subforum.
JD

[historicfirearms]

Welcome to the club. Lever guns are addicting. I've got a bunch of them and don't hunt much or play cowboy games, just really like them for some reason. By the way, nice score on the 1894. I've been wanting to pick one up in 44 mag for a while but haven't found the right deal yet. 1977 rocks!

[Shawlerbrook]

Ditto on the levergun addiction. I bought my first( a pre-64 Win 94 30 30) about 20 years ago and now I have 15, including a 1977 Marlin 1894 44 mag.

[izzyjoe]

You'll love that rifle, I have one from 1980. It has a Williams peep sight, and with cast boolits it's fun to shoot! Do a search there's tons of info here on them.

[OverMax]

I have a lever or so also. Which are either 30 & 32 cal. old Winchesters & Savage's. Only 22 lever I have is a T/D Marlin 39 50'ish model rifle. Bought it from a old gentleman who seldom shot it 20 yrs or so ago. I'm following suit. (don't shoot it much either)
Only 44 I now have is a Ruger Redhawk which I tote when at my cabin so's to chase Black Bear out of the cabins yard being its location is 60mile south of the Canadian Border the yard attract allot of non-desireable woodsy riff-raft.

BTW: hopefully your a home-re-loader as that would surely help keep your 44 ammo cost to a minimum. Honestly jd. Its a perk on this site to read someone bought something non-troubled and very shoot'able. Congratulations.

[MrWolf]

Welcome to the madness. I also love Marlin levers from a 32 long colt to 45-70 and some duplicates. Think they are breeding when I am not looking.

[Scharfschuetze]

Yep, welcome to the addiction Jed.

I've been shooting one or more since the mid 60s. I've either had or have lever guns from 25/20 through 45/70 and most of 'em have been a hoot.

I'm think that your circa 1977 Marlin is a "Micro-Groove" barrel. If so, read up on the threads regarding that rifling style as it takes a slightly different approach as far as cast boolits go.

[Hick]

Welcome-- as you may see from the above replies, Levers are like peanuts-- you cannot have just one. I have one pre-64 (32 WS) and one post-64 (30-30) and they both shoot great, both jacketed and cast.

[wv109323]

I have that rifle and like it a lot. Mine will shoot jacketed and a commercial cast 240 gn.(.429) bullet well. I have trouble with my cast bullets. I tried shooting as cast at .430 IIRC and still no accuracy. I powder coated some and have not tried them.

[beechbum444]

Great rifle..I'm in the middle of finding out what they like to digest and I "think" that they like the bigger .432 cast boolits, but I could be wrong, and yes lever are VERY addicting. I'm not sure why?? Just wait until you put a piece of 444 marlin brass next to the 44 mag brass.

[BCRider]

Lever guns ARE addicting

Congrats on those three new levers. Plus here's a story for you about your Henry.

I co-run my club's Jr .22 program and typically take along one of my own .22's for the kids to shoot as a source of some variety from the Savage MkI FVT rifles with peep sights. Over the 5 years I've done this now I've taken along a couple of bolt repeaters, my precious BSA Martini, a couple of various "boy's rifles" that are 100 years old, a Ruger 10-22 with scope, a Rossi pump and finally the Henry H001. Not all at the same time! Just one per week on a sort of rotation by popularity.

After doing this for a couple of years I asked which one they all liked the best. The response was a hands down majority vote for the Henry. And when I asked why that one it was because it was a lever gun and fun to operate the action.

So yeah, we don't need to be a bunch of crusty ol' curmudgeons to enjoy a nice lever rifle.... or three

[TXGunNut]

Addicting? I can quit any time I want! Really!
Welcome to the affliction.

[Scharfschuetze]

After doing this for a couple of years I asked which one they all liked the best. The response was a hands down majority vote for the Henry. And when I asked why that one it was because it was a lever gun and fun to operate the action.

Good on you for volunteering your time with kids. I do the same, but with shotguns and bird hunting. Next youth shoot for Pheasants Forever in the Puget Sound area is in two weeks at Joint Base Lewis McChord.

My brother also uses a Henry .22LR for youth programs. He reports that it works just great and the kids love to shoot a lever gun. Of course he's in Wyoming and lever guns are pretty common there.

[ironhead7544]

Try the .433 bullets from Dardas. They really improved my 44 Magnum accuracy.

I only have a 24" 1984 Cowboy 44 Magnum right now but have owned many levers over the years. Most I wish I had back.

[Speedo66]

I don't know where they came from, but one day I looked around and there was a Belgium Browning .308 BLR, an original .38-40 Winchester '73, and a Rossi .357.

They just sorta' snuck up on me.