Current favorite, Uberti 1876, 45/75
The one I've used the most, since age 15, is a Marlin 1895S .45-70. It started an addiction to .45 rifles that I still have. My father bought it and a Saeco 385gr GC mold, but I cast and shot them full house much more than he did, as at age 50 he found he didn't like the recoil. Today it sees loads in the trapdoor range, since I'm over 50 now, too
I also now find that I like pre-64 Winchester 94 standard rifles a lot. I never wanted to buy the post-64 new ones as a young man, as every elder I knew said they were crap, although I shot ones that my friends had. I now have several from the 40's and 50's, including the hard to find .25-35. Just right, after all.
My 1894 JM Marlin 24 inch octagon bbl .45 Cowboy Ltd. Why- it’s my favorite cas rifle, slick, accurate, reliable and fast. I seldom miss when using it. I’ve got ubertis that are prettier and a nice original 1873 Winchester 1891 musket but I love my Marlin.
My Dad's former 30-30 is now my 38-55. Next time I hope the deer still has meat attached! It handles just right.
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win trapper 94ae 357mag .very accurate light fits me .my marlin slb 45-70 is growing on me.
Favorite is a Model 94 30-30 my grandfather bought in 1927, shot my first buck with it in the 70's.
My only lever action rifle, a winchester 94, 30-30 made in 1970. I bought it 5 years ago after my house burnt down. I'd really like a winchester 71, but I'll probably settle for a marlin 1895 some day. I'd like a marlin 39a too, but...
that is a tough call to make, I have a bunch, but would maybe be a toss-up between the 218 bee and the 25-20, both Marlin CL's. But then, maybe all of them.
Barry
I can’t pick just one. My Henry H001 will put 15 shots into one ragged hole at 15 yards. My Marlin 1894C is my survival gun for defense and game. My Marlin 3000 is powerful and accurate. Not shown in my Winchester 94, which fits me like a glove and the sights are “right there” when I shoulder it. I guess they’re all my favorites.
“If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.” - Ronald Reagan
I've owned .22s, .30-30s, .357s and .45 colts. I've had Henrys, Marlins, Winchesters and Ubertis. I've had a dozen different models. Today, I own only one; a Uberti 1873 in .45 colt. It is the only one that I've ever been completely happy with.
Browning BL-22 because of it's short lever throw and outstanding fit and finish.
Mines a 1970 centennial 336 chambered in 35 Rem. It will shoot groups all in one large hole with cast boolits at 100 yards shot with our group buy 200 grain hollow point loaded at 2100 FPS. My avatar is a group shot with it. I tested it a 200 yards with the same load and shot a few 2 3/4” groups. It’s the most accurate cast gun I own.
Here’s my first try at a 200 yard group that measured 2 3/4”. I sighted it in 1” high at 100 yards. My program said it would drop 9” at 200 yards. The black dot is 9” low for the bullseye.
Here’s my first 100 yard three shot group with 40 grains of varget...
It’s tight .250” 100 yard grouping is repeatable as I retested it after switching scopes and it shot and even tighter!
Last edited by Tripplebeards; 07-18-2020 at 10:45 PM.
no scope, light, handy, accurate
winchester m94 made into(JES Reboring) 35/30-30 and 200gr fn gc with 2400/dacron.
sighting it in
Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.
To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.
MOLON LABE
Kev 18 -
I am quite fond of my Marlin M-336 XLR .35 Rem. It was from the last couple years production made @ the CT factory.
For whatever reason, it escaped the factory w/ a 1.5oz ( yes, ounce ) trigger ! I don’t know the how or why of that, but was happy the buy the rifle @ the time Marlin was being bought by Remington. The trigger was just what I wanted, as my intent was to shoot the rifle just for accuracy work, load experimentation; and not for use on live game.
My first Marlin lever rifle was a -60s M-336C .35Remington w/ micro-groove rifling, but my XLR is much better rifle. The XLR is just stupid accurate, not only because of the trigger; but also because of its superb 12 groove
Ballard rifling. When running a patch through it, the barrel appears to be slightly choked for the 2” before the muzzle. It broke in w/ just one shot, not showing any blue on patches, thereafter.
The rifle not only met, but exceeded my high expectations; making very range trip w/ me for 9+ years.
I don’t know how many times @ the range, other shooters would comment that it is a “ beautiful gun “ or
“ beautiful weapon “.
Just a great, fun gun all-around.
With regards,
357Mag
The two I’m shooting the most are a couple of Marlins:
Marlin 1892 chambered in 32 Colt (5 shots off the bench at 100 yards)
5 shots 50 yards offhand
The other is an ancient Marlin Model 1893 chambered in 30/30:
10 shots 100 yards
That old 1893 (when properly fed) is one of the most accurate lever guns I own.
Here recently the 1892 Has seen service as my “go to” short range rabbit gun:
336 Marlins: Inexpensive, accurate, rugged, easy to scope, bolt comes out easily so you can clean from the breech end, (just don't lose the little V-spring ejector). The .35 Rem is as much horsepower as one will ever need in the eastern deer thickets where I've spent my whole life. I've had Winchesters and Savages. They're all gone, but my Marlins are still here.
Then I think about my Dad's near-mint 39a. . . . . .
Last edited by uscra112; 07-19-2020 at 01:43 AM.
Cognitive Dissident
My first year BB94 has taken the favorite slot from the 50s vintage 94 in 3030. Light, handy, and accurate with most anything I have fed it. The 94 design is what I want in a lever gun, in 375 Winchester, well that’s about all the power I want or need in a 6 lb rifle. Actually it’s all the power I need in anything, mastodons are rare around here! I shoot open sights and the 94s just fit me well, did I mention light weight?? I run it at 38-55 levels or just a bit above with 250 to 280 gr cast. I always wanted a 38-55 M94, always thought it was the perfect deer round in a lever. This ones close enough, has a forever home.
“You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |