What's your favorite

[Mike in MD]

When choosing a lever, what's your favorite and why?

I have a couple or so.... My order runs like this

Winchester
Marlin
Rossi
Henry

The Henry's are nice but I prefer a side gate load over the tube and honestly I use my guns and I'm afraid the brass finish isn't up to being drug through the brush.

Thanks,
Mike

[Txcowboy52]

Marlin Winchester Henry Rossi

[Drm50]

Winchester, Marlin & Savage. All three brands I have cut off dates that I have no interest in guns made after that date. Don’t do Henry or Rossi at all, nor new production Marlins from Rem or new Win repro from Japan.

[If1Hitu]

Marlin,Henry,Rossi & BLR, I own these four brands lever action rifles.

[rking22]

Older Winchester and Savage,Browning 92 but that’s about it and I’m a bit picky on vintage of those. As to why, they are light and handy, just what I want in a lever gun. Had a couple Marlins back in the early 80s, too bulky for me. Rossi 92 clone, maybe, but would have to be cheap, Henry does absolutely nothing for me.

[Walks]

Savage, Winchester, Marlin. The real American made Rifles. In that order.

After that the Uberti made copies of the Win 92, 66, 73, 86.

I did have a Browning B92 in .44Mag, it was sweet.

Rossi's & henry's are below the bottom of the list.

[wildwilly]

The Savage 99. I got two....250 Sav. and a 308 Win.

[uscra112]

Marlins - 336 and 39a. Well made, side eject for easy scoping, and accurate. The 336 design is really easy to clean from the breech end as God intended. (Just don't lose the little v-spring ejector!) Winchesters have lots of history and tradition, but all that exposed mechanism on top collects dirt and water like mad. Have two very early 99s, and while they point better than anything for snap shooting, I just can't warm up to the mechanism, and they're almost impossible to get a nice trigger pull on.

I don't buy foreign copies.....Well, I did buy a Browning copy of the 92 once, before I knew they were made in Japan. New-in-box, from a retired GM toolmaker. Hated that plastic finish on the wood. Stripped it and found the wood isn't walnut - it's something soft and spongy, like low-grade mahogany. Could not get a good oil finish on it. Gave up. It's still waaay back in the dead storage safe, hoping that I'll buy some proper wood for it someday. Someday.

[MrWolf]

JM Marlin first. Winchester would be next. Have a Henry and really am not that impressed for some reason. No Rossi.

[kenton]

When choosing a lever, what's your favorite and why?

I have a couple or so.... My order runs like this

Winchester
Marlin
Rossi
Henry

The Henry's are nice but I prefer a side gate load over the tube and honestly I use my guns and I'm afraid the brass finish isn't up to being drug through the brush.

Thanks,
Mike

You might like these Henrys then

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy-x-model/

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/leve...x-model-45-70/

[veeman]

Winchester, Browning/Winchester, and Uberti/Winchester. Yes, Winchesters. Never tried any others because I just don't care for their looks. Not saying they are bad, just saying Winchester.

[Mike in MD]

You might like these Henrys then

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy-x-model/

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/leve...x-model-45-70/

It doesn't look like those are available with wood furniture.

[curiousgeorge]

1- JM Marlin
2- JM Marlin
3- JM Marlin
4- JM Marlin

I think I've got mine ranked in the correct order.

Now, in all fairness, pre-64 Winchester is a good gun, but I need scopes for older eyes. Henry and Rossi, no experience. Never found a need to change from JM Marlins.

[Mike in MD]

I'm partial to the marlin 336. My first is a .35 rem that my dad carried. My Winchester is .22LR. It shoots lights out and runs smooth. I've bought, sold , and traded a few over the years. I have some thoughts on my next one. I'll start a new thread for that.

[pietro]

.

After buying/shooting/hunting dozens of different lever action rifles over the past 50-odd years, I've long ago discovered that I much preferred shorter/lighter hunting rifles, so:

1) Savage 1899H (20" lightweight carbine)

2) Winchester 94 Trapper 16"

3) Marlin 1894P 16-1/4" (ported)

4) Marlin 444P 16-1/4" (ported)

5) Winchester 9422XTR-M



Also rans:

* Winchester 1892 Carbine
* Winchester M86 Extra Light
* Winchester 88
* Marlin336SC
* Marlin 39a

YMMV, of course...


.

[Tripplebeards]

Never been a big fan of levers. I bought a 1970 336 chambered in 35 Rem about 13 years ago like new for $200. By buddy bought it for a $150 a few months prior and never shot it. I pulled it out a few months ago to try cast out of it. Out of the six powder charges I loaded up two shot sub MOA at 100 yards with max jacketed loads! So I have to say JM Marlin. My buddy has an old 1950’s Winchester 30-30 I was trying to get from him last year. He inherited it and was having feeding issues. I cleaned it and it seems to be shooting great now. I did get two lee enfield for free and I traded a pair of Warne scope rings, some gun smithing, and another $40 to boot for a Winchester 1917 from him. I guess I can’t get them all.

[foesgth]

Shooting: Winchester then Marlin

Cleaning: Marlin, then way down the line Winchester.

I have a Rossi M92 it is a good gun but took a bit of tinkering to get it to work smoothly.

[Mr. Crumbly]

Winchester, Browning/Winchester, and Uberti/Winchester. Yes, Winchesters. Never tried any others because I just don't care for their looks. Not saying they are bad, just saying Winchester.

My sentiments exactly!!!

[DW475]

JM Marlins in 38-55, 444 and 4570, Winchester 1886 45-70 and Henry 41 & 44 mag.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Pedersoli 1886 in 45/70 Sporting rifle. Of all the '86 clones on the market this rifle has the Pedersoli match grade barrel and it will feed a 500gn boolit through the action unlike Marlins which are very limited.