Which lever gun- opinions needed..

[Bigbuckeye]

Looking for some help!

I am in the midst of trying to figure out which lever gun I want....

I have narrowed it to 3 choices:

1) Cimmaron/Uberti 1860 Civil War Henry in .45LC

2) Cimmaron 1873 long range in .45LC

3) Puma 1886 26" in 45-70

I have always wanted a Henry, in fact, it has always been at the top of my list. I love the 1873 long range with a tang sight.....and....I don't currently own anything chambered in .45colt.. I am continually told that lever guns in 45colt are terrific fun to shoot.

However, I have a Sharps in 45-70 and I also love the 86 with it's Browning history...

Decisions!

Any opinions welcomed..

[JayinAZ]

One of each? :)

[Boerrancher]

You can't go wrong with a good 45LC rifle. As I mentioned in another thread, I have killed deer drop dead in is tracks out to 150 yards here on the Farm with the 255 grain RNFP boolit. I like the round and the rifle I have 2 of them. One is a saddle ring carbine in a Rossi 92 and the other is a 92 carbine w/o the saddle ring that is still new in the box. The saddle ring carbine is my go to gun. It is the one I grab anytime I head out the door. I would be lost with out it. It has become an extension of me. I have seen folks hunt Buffalo with the 45LC in a good rifle and do quite well inside of 100 yards. A good stiff hand load is as good or better than a factory loaded 45-70. This is however just one man's opinion and you know what they say about those.

best wishes,

Joe

[Greg B.]

I would go with the 1873 Uberti 45 Colt because Uberti has a decent reputation and I like the looks of a 73 with a pistol grip stock, half moon butt plate and nice wood.

Greg B.

[Montana Ron]

Go with a Marlin 22, Win 94 or Marlin 336 in 30-30, and a Marlin 45-70..........You will pay about the same and end up with a lot better shooters and in the event you decide to sell the resale value will be a LOT more then you will get from Italian rifles and foremost..........Parts are available via Brownells where the imports your going to face a nightmare getting springs and
other parts that will drop in without grinding,filing and stoning..........You get what you pay for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rafe Covington]

I have the Uberti 1873 Long Range in 44-40, excellent rifle and very accurate, I have a 45 colt rifle in a '94 Winchester and its a great cartridge in a rifle also. JMHO

Rafe

[Bigbuckeye]

I think it is down to the 73 and the Henry.... It might come down to what's more available which appears to be the Henry. I can't seem to find the 1873 with the 30" barrel anywhere..

[Bigbuckeye]

Also, I probably should have said which of the three should I get first as I WILL most likely end up with all 3

[btroj]

This is a personal decision. I would go with one of the above. In a 45 Colt I would prefer a Marlin 1894. Easier to clean from breech, stronger action, better looking in my opinion. Then again, those are just my opinions.

[kliff]

I loves my Henry 45LC...

[Freischütz]

What do you want to do - targets, plink, hunt? The 45/70 offers all the powder you'll need for hunting.

[Bigbuckeye]

Purely for plinking fun...

[WinMike]

I recently bought a Uberti 1873 "Sporting Rifle" (20" barrel, .357 Mag), and the quality is almost breathtaking.....it's made the way 19th century guns were made, only with stronger steel.

It's got great wood, case-hardened receiver, hammer and lever, and true-to-the-original brass cartridge lifter.

It feed and fires without flaw, is accurate, and the toggle linkage is kind of cool, especially since I'm accustomed to later Browning and Marlin designs. As I've noted on other threads, it won't feed SWC nor cartridges with bullets that have driving bands in front of the crimp groove (probably because Elmer Keith hadn't been born yet). 8-)

And yes, the price is a little breathtaking as well....close to $1200. Yeah, I had to search around....finally found some through Gunsamerica and Gunbroker.

I'd have to disagree with the above remarks by Montana Ron: the Uberti is significantly better quality than most other factory lever rifles (except for the Miroku Winchesters....there's irony for you....), and its popularity is well-documented, mostly because of the demand from the cowboy action group.

[Bigbuckeye]

Well....I ordered the 1860 Henry...

The 1873 is still definitely on the list..

[beagle]

Darn fine advice. You can get by with that battery about anywhere in the US but unfortunately, I have a few other calibers mixed in between those but that's my problem./beagle


Go with a Marlin 22, Win 94 or Marlin 336 in 30-30, and a Marlin 45-70..........You will pay about the same and end up with a lot better shooters and in the event you decide to sell the resale value will be a LOT more then you will get from Italian rifles and foremost..........Parts are available via Brownells where the imports your going to face a nightmare getting springs and
other parts that will drop in without grinding,filing and stoning..........You get what you pay for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[405]

Gotta agree with Montana Ron and beagle-- so they don't feel like the lone strangers. But hey, not my money nor purchase so have no quarrel with an Italian decision. But then again I don't view a gun as a common tool in the same way as I view a wrench or hammer. But have to think that sometime in the future the value or lack thereof with any purchase will reveal. Would be interesting to have a crystal ball and look into the future maybe no more than 10 years! Resale or used values of leverguns, revolvers and "Sharps" rifles would be especially interesting.

[Sixgun Symphony]

I recommend getting a '73 chambered in .44-40 WCF, especially if you intend to shoot blackpowder.

[boommer]

I have a UBERTI Henry 20" 44-40 steel receiver and the rifle shoots great you will really like it Buckeye. Had the action re-worked and its with out a doubt the smoothest lever rifle I own and I have a few that are reworked. The biggest thing is to get used to is no forearm and shell follower loading tab for the tube getting in the way.
The value of guns you will lose money on them if you buy them new and sell them in them in the near future for the most part, remember that tax you paid on that gun. The way these prices are going up on these guns now. who knows how long it will take before you can get out and even on it. I think in the near future the price jumps are going to level out. obommaa got into office and every thing went crazy in the shooting world! people who never dreamed they would own a gun bought one. Reloading exploded 500% or more, concealed carry, steel copper lead went crazy.

I live in the used gun world if you cant make money on it I don't buy it, sooner or later what you want will come by for the right price and if it's the right price and you don't want" buy it. I don't buy and sell a lot of guns but if I can pick up a gun and play and shoot with it awhile then make few bucks or break even.

[Bigbuckeye]

I bought this one just for fun and not as an investment. I have several 1903's, 1917's, USGI 1911's, Carbines and Garands that are my "investment" guns.

I will never be in a position to own an original Henry....and even if I did, I would never shoot it.

I don't currently reload, so I went with a 24" chambered in 45Colt.

I think this is going to be BIG fun....can't wait. FIRST LEVERGUN!!

[pls1911]

Nice guns have been mentioned.
However, you may be assured that a well cared for, unmolested, pre microgroove Marlin embellished with the fine patina of years will have you foresake all others.
1893, 93, 1936, 36 or 336 before 1955.
Sweet, durable, simple, and accurate.
Normally cheaper than those mentioned above.
But be prepared for addiction.

[6pt-sika]

While I liked all the pre 1920 Marlin Model 1892, 1893 , 1894 and 1895's I had .

Now I'm pretty well satisfied with a Marlin 336-44 circa 1967 in 44 MAG for my LIGHT RIFLE , a whole covey of Marlin's in 444 manufactured from 1964 to 1975 for my MEDIUM RIFLES oh and one from 2001 to handle the 400 grainers , and finally for my HEAVY RIFLE a Marlin Model 1895 circa 1972 in 45-70 .

Of the 100+ Marlin's I've had over the last 10 years , one that I never acquired and have decided I need is a Marlin 39A Mountie made from 1960-1967. The one could be my ULTRALIGHT RIFLE LOL's !

[Bullet Caster]

I have a Winchester model 94 chambered in .45 Colt. It's a little carbine, 16" bbl. but it is fun to shoot. I wanted an Uberti 1873 with a 24" bbl. but could not afford the Italian import. My Winchester is post 1964 but it is a companion to my Uberti 1873 SAA with a 4 3/4" bbl. and chambered in .45 Colt. What a great pair. If the funds ever become available (like winning the lottery or something) I would definitely buy the Uberti 1873 Lever action in .45 Colt. I like the looks of the 1873 lever action and I've heard that it was the gun that tamed the west. BC

[singleshot]

Well....I ordered the 1860 Henry...

The 1873 is still definitely on the list..

You done right! I was gonna say if you can swing a Henry, get one!

[bandit7.5]

Nice guns have been mentioned.
However, you may be assured that a well cared for, unmolested, pre microgroove Marlin embellished with the fine patina of years will have you foresake all others.
1893, 93, 1936, 36 or 336 before 1955.
Sweet, durable, simple, and accurate.
Normally cheaper than those mentioned above.
But be prepared for addiction.

A marlin 94 in 32-20 pre micro groove. or a newer one in 45colt

[Rafe Covington]

I have 3 Uberti rifles, 1873 in 38 WCF, 2 1876 rifles in 40-60 WCF and 50-95 WCF. All three are accurate and well made, only shoot smokeless loads in mine.

As to what they are worth if I sell them, never bought a gun with the idea I was gonna sell it. JMHO

Rafe:redneck: