Why lever guns

[Prodigal Son]

me and my Westernfield 740 in 405 Jess 300 gr cast boolit opening morning! Love lever guns!

[centershot]

I like them because "boys" can't seem to hit the back-side of a barn with them!

The Late John Kort 300 meters 44-40 Black Powder:




"Chip Mate", blackpowder 44-40 wins Arizona State Championship March 2012.
Attachment 262635Attachment 262636

Savvy Jack, John Kort died? I am so sorry to here that! I shot with him at McKean County Rifle Club and at his Lever Action Jubilee at Ridgeway Rifle Club in years past. He was a very knowledgeable gentleman, he will be missed!

[1hole]

Hunting rifles for men means a lever gun in a Marlin 336/.35 Rem or Winchester 94/.30-30 Win. with peep and square post irons or a compact 1.5-4x scope for aiming. Any hunter thinking he needs greater range or magnification should get closer.

[hpdrifter]

To me, a lever gun is a blend of art and mechanics. Mechanical art! Form AND function. A truly enjoyable device. Sometimes, I just like to work that action.

Very few bolts have had that blend to me. A few have. I recall the first MarkX I handled(I think) back in the 70's??, sort of captured form/function meld and a Mossberg 308. Forget the model of the Mossberg, but it had a T shaped safety on the tang and was rather short and handy. Both of them had fixed sights. To me, a bolt or any rifle has to have fixed sights to "look" complete to me. Just old fashioned I suppose.

[sharps4590]

Why lever rifles? Boy, I bet several books could be written on that topic.

Back in the late 70's I was all about lever rifles and Hawken rifles. I went through the new '94 Marlins in 357 Mag and 44 Mag. with revolvers to match. Then came a '95 for a while. I'd had a '94 in 30-30 in the early 70's. None of them were "right". THEN...I discovered '92's and 86's, the real ones. They were right. So was the old '73 in 38-40 but it didn't live with me very long. I still lust for an old Marlin in 38-55 or some other cartridge in that class but, interest has waned a bit in levers. But, none of the above addresses "why".

They're cool, that has been well established. They carry easy, they're handy, I've never owned one thsat wasn't "accurate enough" and some really accurate, given the way the plastic, stainless steel and sewer pipe sized scope crowd talks about them. History has been mentioned and for me that is probably the biggest "why." I like old things...historical things....and old cartridges that still work regardless of what the previously mentioned crowd tries to sell everyone. They're interesting...to me...and as one poster mentioned, few today have heard of a 40-82...which is what my '86 is chambered for...and I killed my first hog with...a long time ago. I'll take the 32-20 over the 38 Spl. any day, every day, revolver or rifle. Is it better? I don't know, but it puts a lot bigger smile on my face than the 38 Spl.

Having said all that, I wouldn't think of getting rid of my Mannlicher/Schoenauer's, pre WWI and WWII Mausers, drillings, double rifles, single shots or combination guns...but I didn't get rid of my '86, '92 or '73 clone either. Matter of fact, over the last two weeks I worked up a surprisingly very accurate BP load for my '73 Clone in 44-40, (no 45 Colt in a lever for me. It lives in it's proper home of a Colt SAA). If I had anything on the AR platform....I'd sell or trade it. I wasn't impressed in basic training in 1972 and my opinion hasn't changed.

Why lever rifles? It isn't that they "still work", it's that they never stopped working.

[rking22]

Well, for me it is the light and handy with enough power and accuracy. Winchester 94 and 92 fit me and to be honest I could get by just fine with my BB94 375. But, big but, I like pump guns and single shots just as well, maybe better depending on the use. I like the mechanical interactions to feed from the magazine and the straight forward hammer trigger mechanism. I have no more interest in the new levers with the extra safety than I have in the current infatuation with plastic bolt and autoloaders. I like old working guns, practical usefulness but designed and built with care.

[FergusonTO35]

Alot of the appeal for me is the cartridges. Most lever actions are chambered in cartridges that are easy to shoot and cast boolit friendly. Especially, the .30 WCF my favorite of all. Bolt actions and autos, not so much.

[Four-Sixty]

I'm very fond of Marlin's tried and true 336 in 30-30. When it comes to my shoulder the sights are just "right where they're supposed to be - ready for action".

Racking the lever rapidly is satisfying on its own. I can chamber a round without taking my eyes off the sight's picture. You can also top it off when you want which is cool on its own.

[popper]

Why levergun and specifically why 30/30 leverguns have lasted so long. Look at automotive advancements, or any successful product. Cost, performance, reliability, use, appearance. Consumer evaluates those and makes a purchase. 3006 bolt action, mostly availability/cost. 30/30 does about all needed by most, Evol ammo increase performance. 308W actually does most of 06 with less cost. Amused in a big Houston LGS years ago. Racks of new leverguns (45/70) and racks of same used. Few 30/30, in Texas! Why? probably few 45/70 sales!
Same analysis for AR15s. They work, do the job and are somewhat cheap. 32/20 levergun (very popular in olden days) probably being replaced by AAC BO (or variant) for small case rifle case.

[Drm50]

I don’t want anything new that I can think of. I can’t think of one American company that is not putting out mostly second rate junk. The days of milled guns are over. I’m no more interested in a synthetic stocked BA than a new Marlin lever. It won’t be long before you will see these bubble packed and hanging in Walmart. New stuff has the character of a joint of Chinese pipe.

[rking22]

Was running channels yesterday before work, raining so lazy. Anyway they had the new marlin 45-70 with the black plastic and pickinny (or whatever) stuff. Just can’t see it, if that’s what you want just buy an AR. Talk about a pig with purple lipstick, well maybe it has good bones but the exterior designer was high on something. Obviously not targeted to my tastes. At least they aren’t wasting good walnut, I guess.

[hpdrifter]

Was running channels yesterday before work, raining so lazy. Anyway they had the new marlin 45-70 with the black plastic and pickinny (or whatever) stuff. Just can’t see it, if that’s what you want just buy an AR. Talk about a pig with purple lipstick, well maybe it has good bones but the exterior designer was high on something. Obviously not targeted to my tastes. At least they aren’t wasting good walnut, I guess.

I am about resigned to the fact that I'm gonna HAVE TO go with Henry's edition of it. They won't come out with a loading gate 45 Colt in normal dress, so this might be my alternative. Gonna wait em out a couple more months tho. I don't care for Marlins 38 twist. It'd probably work for me, but..........................

[Yrmff!!]

Well... It is a feeeling called LOVE!
Just look at her, my "plumpy Jane!!"
Hard hitting! (or mouse fart if i want to)
Easy to reload! (when i got the grip of it)
Cast frendly!
A little oddball! (just like mee ) here in Sweden
Due to swedish weaponlaws a shtf alternative
And....
And....
It puts a big grin on my face!!!



I also have a win94 .30-30 WCF
and before i have had.
.44 marlin 1894
.303 Savage 99b
.243 Blr
So i seem to have a need for leverguns.
I still would have had theese rifles if the swedish gunlaws had been more moderate but they are hard on weaponowners, and we are restricted to six rifles for hunting...

I also have

Swedish mauser M38 6,5x55
Husqvarna Nr25 32-20wcf
A Swedish Rolling Block 8x58RD
Remington 870 12 Gauge.

I Cast, load and hunt with all of them

Best regards Heikki

(sorry for the bad spelling! but im´a Swede! )

[caffe]

The autoloaders are cheaper to make than bolts, or levers. People in states that have laws vs autoloaders should move, out of those states and stop funding our enemies with their tax monies.

[megasupermagnum]

The autoloaders are cheaper to make than bolts, or levers. People in states that have laws vs autoloaders should move, out of those states and stop funding our enemies with their tax monies.

You can walk out the door with a Savage Axis for $200. What semi auto out there sells for under $200?

[303Guy]

Welcome aboard, Yrmff!!

The 30/30 Winchester is a very efficient cartridge and seems to be perfect for cast boolits. It takes a near full case of several slower powders and burns them at rather low pressures, ideal for cast. Ideal for lever actions.

[Bazoo]

Yrmff. Welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing.

[Yrmff!!]

My first .30-30 was a 1976 years production It shoot well from 113grain up to 200grain cast and jacketed! but was terrible in the action and never got smooth whatever i tryed to do, so i traded it of to by my .444 Marlin in 2012 i believe.
Then a couple of years ago i ran into an early 94AE that is wery well made and that i scooped because of my seeing isn´t what it used to bee!
That one i load and shoot a lot with and always with a smile on my face! ::
Thanx for the welcome! 303Guy and Bazoo
I have been reading on the forum for many years and learned a lot fron u guys! but never posted before!
Y

[tmanbuckhunter]

I guess because they're just flat out fun and take me back to another time and place. New guns and bolt action sporting rifles don't interest me at all. Don't get me wrong, I have a few, including an AR, and I like them, but they're like appliances. I don't need 6 microwaves, just one good one. Leverguns, and vintage rifles are like cups. A man needs many different cups for many different purposes.

[FergusonTO35]

I know it's a Remlin, but I would buy one of these right now if I had the cash or a spare organ or two: