Which Lever Action for a first?

[Wilson]

I have always wanted a Marlin. Looks like I may be able to budget one in this year, but I've heard things are not going too well with those of recent manufacture.
Who makes the best lever action today?
I mostly hunt deer, with a few hogs along the way. I was thinking 30-30, but am open to other suggestions.
I am a hand loader and boolit caster.
Thank you for an guidance offered.

[jmort]

Depends on what the application is for the "best." I would say that the Winchesters are the best current production for what you are doing. But they cost a bundle. If I were going to get a current production .30-30, I would get the Mossberg 464, in fact I intend to.

[Speedo66]

Can't beat a Browning BLR lever action. .308 would handle your needs.

[Dan Cash]

Look for an older Marlin 336 in .30-30. The guns are nearly indestructable and can be had for $300 or less. You can scope one if that is your desire and the .30-30 is a fine cast bullet cartridge that is easy to reload and ecconomical with powder. There are more powerful cartridges but a 176 grain bullet at 2200 fps will drop anything on this continent.

[Kestrel4k]

+1 on the older Marlin 336's. IMO the pre-crossbolt safety rifles will always be more desirable and will have more upside. Still lots of them out there too.


[...] I was thinking 30-30, but am open to other suggestions.
If you were interested in a different chambering, do you think you might have an inclination / preference?
The reason I ask is that I seem to have accumulated 5 different lever action rifles, but none of them are chambered in 30-30 as I think there are many 'better' choices, albeit none of which has had the longevity of the 30-30 in the classic levers.

.44 Mag
.444 Marlin
.284 Win
.308 Win
.356 Win

[DougGuy]

My first lever gun was a 1950s Winchester 94 in 30-30. The 30-30 is still or was the hands down #1 deer cartridge in the US, it has taken more deer by a hefty margin than any other cartridge we have.

I would vote for an older Winchester in 30-30 for a first levergun were it me. .308 is my favorite rifle cartridge, but the romance is THERE in SPADES with the old Winchester. Something about them. Magnetic attraction when you own and hold and shoot them will bite and bite hard!

[Nicholas]

I will add my vote for an older Marlin 30-30, though around here finding one for $300 or less would be fairly difficult. I bought mine new but it is old now and still about my favorite rifle.

BTW,the April issue of Guns and Ammo has an article on the reintroduced Marlin 1894. The article details some of the difficulties that Remington had with bringing the gun back out. Apparently the acquired Marlin machinery was worn out. MSRP is $729 should the buyer be in the happy state of money is no object. The article also stated that the .357 1894 and the Cowboy models will also be coming out in the future.

[flint45]

I say look for a pre-safety win 94 or marlin 336 both are good rifles .30 wcf will take deer and hogs all day long.

[tdoyka]

winchester or marlin in 38-55

[rbertalotto]

Find an old pre-cross bolt safety Marlin in 30-30 and be done with it. The fit finish and accuracy of these older Marlins is beyond reproach. And there are millions of them so the price is usually only a few hundred dollars. And most will be in good to great condition. Within the few local gun shops around here, there must be over 30 available ap prices from $200 up to just shy or $500.

If you like Winchester because they are smaller a feel easier to carry, etc.....look for a Pre 1978 in the post 1964 versions ...or go all out and look for a Pre-64 version. The current Japan manufactured rifles are VERY nice...but pricey. The best buy is a 1964-1978 model 94...these will have milled parts and much smoother actions and can be had real inexpensive. I've seen them going for as little as $200 often.

30-30 will be by far the easiest cartridge chambering to find....and a GREAT cartridge for deer and hogs and smaller bears.......

But be aware...You buy one and they multiply!!! Leveritis is a near fatal disease! (Your wife will want to kill you!)

[btroj]

Get an older 336 in 30-30.

[Wilson]

OK. I'm going after an older Marlin 336, 30-30. The lack of a safety is the indicator that I have the desired model?

[Artful]

Yes, lack of the cross bolt safety is what you want.
Makes the gun pre-1983, the year the cross bolt safety was added on Marlin rifles.

And I agree you usually can't stop with one lever gun.

.30-30 is a standard cartridge that has stood the test of time so have no fear - but if you stumble into a good deal on any other presafety Marlin in another cartridge (44 mag, 357 mag, 45-70, 38-55) have no fear - snap it up.

[targetfreak]

Depends on the cartridge one wants. I have .357 handguns, so I chose a .357 rifle to keep things simple (don't hunt anymore). I got a Henry Big Boy in .357. What a gun. Heavy, rugged, made in USA. Ejects from the side, so can be scoped.

[stormingnorm]

I have a marlin 357 cowboy and a winchester 218 bee. When you are standing under that snow filled tree and it drops a snowball in your open top winchester action you will like your side ejection marlin much more.

[stormingnorm]

My next lever buy will be a marlin 45-70.

[EDG]

Even better than no safety is a Ballard rifled Marlin 336. However I don't they were not drilled and tapped for a scope. At least mine was not.

[dragon813gt]

The crossbolt safety is of no concern to me. I have them w/ and w/out them. There are different models of the 336. The older 336W comes w/ nicer wood w/ wraparound checkering. Prices range for $300-$500 around here. I picked up a mint 336W for $380. It has a crossbolt safety which made it the ideal candidate to bore out to 356 Winchester. There is some advantages to the safety models and price is one of them :)

[rond]

If you can find one in 35 Remington grab it.

[OverMax]

Maybe you should consider a used Savage 99. "considered by many as a no nonsense get down too business gun." I have all three here. Marlin 36 30-30 a couple pre-94s in 30-30 & 32 Sp and a few Sav 300s in rifle, carbine & TD versions. I always choose the old 300 to accompany me in the woods over the others. 300 it's just a outright more powerful cartridge for hunting Big Game with than my others are. Kick's a whole lot easier than those model 94s do too. If your into casting. There is no limits on boolit profiles concerning the Savage Lever. SP_HP_RN_ FP_ whatever can all be used in its magazine. Now to answer your question.


Who makes the best lever action today? Nobody!!

[RobS]

Haven't done much research on Rossi but do have their 92's in 45 Colt and 454 Casull and they are nice shooting little rifles.

Here is Rossi's 30-30
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_385/products_id/61515/Rossi+RIOGRANDE+30-30+SS+20

[Foto Joe]

The Rossi 30-30 is acceptable but if you've got a hankerin' for a Marlin a Rossi is a poor substitute. Kind of like a shotgunner wanting a Perazzi and settling for a Mossberg riot gun. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

On the other hand only one person has mentioned the name Henry which surprises me. I've got a '94 Marlin, a pre '83 336 and a Henry H009B 30-30. For fit, finish and all around workmanship the Henry sits way on top of the food chain. As an everyday shooter the Marlins are my first choice simply because the Henry is so purdy I'd hate to ding it up.

Chances are after you start shooting lever guns you'll never buy your last lever gun.

[dragon813gt]

There is a reason people aren't recommending Henrys for field use, weight. They are significantly heavier than the competition. They're also tube fed. I personally hate tube fed rifles. They are built like a tank and will last a long time. But they don't handle like a Marlin or fit in the palm of your hand like a 99 receiver.

[MBTcustom]

I work on lever guns all the time, and in truth, they are my favorite style of rifle for mid range firepower.
The Marlin is the best IMHO, however, they suffered from horrible quality control when they moved to NY.
The good news is that they have pretty much solved their quality problems, and other than the fit of the wood stocks and the trigger pull being often around 8lb, it's my opinion that they are now making some of the finest rifles ever to wear the Marlin name.
I actually prefer the cross bolt safety. It does nothing to hinder function, and follows the 1911 philosophy of redundant safety.
In my opinion, the old JM plant realized their finest quality right around the years 2000 and 1999 (I own several Marlins of this vintage). The wood was fitted better than any time in history, the checkering was cut sharp, the trigger pulls were set at about 5lb, the actions were fairly tight, the metal finish was good, the rifling was well buttoned, and most importantly of all, they shoot very well.

BTW, you can instantly tell the year of manufacture by looking at the serial number (1969-1990). Subtract the first two numbers from 2000 and the resultant number is the year that rifle was produced. For instance, a rifle made in the year 1990 will have a serial number starting with 10, a rifle with a serial number starting with 23 will have been made in 1977 etc etc etc. If you are interested, here is a good link that will explain it pretty simply:
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/marlin-serial-numbers-dates-of-manufacture-1664.html

Other than that, almost anything coming from the JM plant was very serviceable, except for brief moments in history when quality suffered (as tight as they are, and as well as they shoot, many of the Marlins made in the 50s look like they were hacked out of cold rolled steel with a bench grinder once you get inside them.)

The next choice on my list would be the Rossi 92. Excellent rifles, and you get a lot of quality for the money. These rifles are a favorite among cowboy action shooters for a very good reason.

Just after the Rossi 92, I would recomend the Savage 99. Quite possibly the finest lever action rifle this country ever produced, the Savage 99 is a fantastic rifle that can handle a different breed of rimless cartridges. They point like a shotgun, they are sleek, they are elegant, and they are worth every penny.

As to cartridge selection, you cannot go wrong with the following options for cast lead:
30-30
357 Magnum
356 Winchester
35 Remington
41 Magnum
44 Remington Magnum
45 Colt
45-70

I wish I could say I have a preferance for one of the above cartridges, but I don't. By far, I have shot more 30-30 and 45-70 than any of the other options, but each one has it's own unique personality.

[RobS]

Has anyone actually seen, handled or shot the Rossi Rio Grande 30-30? I haven't but as I look at their current 92's they have turned our a nice firearm.......or at least mine anyway.

[725]

Good info abounds, but it's similar to "Do you prefer Chevy or Ford?" Don't pass up on the Henry's. US made. Good quality and great service.

[minmax]

No matter what you pick you'l be happy. Then the bug will hit and you will want another and an another.....

[jmort]

I agree. Good information herein. The Mossberg 464 is made in USA, current production, good design/fit/finish, reliable, and a great value. Here is a detailed review
http://www.realguns.com/articles/346.htm

[MarkP]

Picked up a few NIB Win 94 Canadian Centennials for $500 or less a few years ago, IMO they are the least gaudy of the commemoratives and they have the nice octagon barrels either 20" or 26". These were sold in 1967. I think you can still find them at decent prices.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Good Savage 99's in 300 Savage are relatively inexpensive. Brass is cut-off .308. Don't believe the folks who say the .300 Savage won't shoot cast. Will do anything a .30-30 will do, then close to .308 if you need it. I shoot the 311 332 190 grain in mine due to windy conditions. 3" to 4" groups at 200 yards.

[TXGunNut]

Might as well get a good used Winchester or Marlin. Sooner or later you'll have a 30-30 so that's as good a place to start as any. Keep an eye out for a good Savage as well but it took me awhile to find mine, a nice one doesn't cost much more than a well-used one. With all the good used leverguns around it would be very hard for me to buy a new one these days.

[gondwana]

I have always wanted a Marlin. Looks like I may be able to budget one in this year, but I've heard things are not going too well with those of recent manufacture.
Who makes the best lever action today?
I mostly hunt deer, with a few hogs along the way. I was thinking 30-30, but am open to other suggestions.
I am a hand loader and boolit caster.
Thank you for an guidance offered.

Pre-Remlin Marlin or current Winchester made by Miroku in Japan.

[Lead Fred]

A Winchester from 1894 to 1963 are the best (I have a 1949) The 1964 to 1979 are acceptable, the 1981 and newer are garbage.
They are lighter and have a tad bit more recoil than the Marlin.
Marlins from 1936-2006 are all good, weigh a bit more, have a bit less recoil.

They all shoot the same per year made.

[Garyshome]

Marlin 30-30

[NavyVet1959]

Like many, my first deer rifle was a .30-30 levergun. It's been a long time, but I think it was a Winchester since it was a top eject model. Back then, the only choices were Winchester or Marlin. I don't remember what happened to that rifle, but I took my fair share of deer with it when I was a kid. These days, my only levergun is a Marlin in .45-70. Since the weight of lead in the bullet is a major contribution in the total cost of loading a bullet, the .45-70 is inherently more expensive to reload for, but it's probably only $2 more per 50 rounds. The .45-70 can be loaded from mild to wild. Using "The Load", 14 gr of Red Dot will give you 1157 fps, for 1203 ft-lbs. That's plenty for anything you're likely to find in Louisiana. When I hunted in Louisiana, the underbrush was such that long range shots were not an option, so the high velocity rounds like the .30-06 were kind of wasted.

[BrentD]

Marlins like an 1893, for example, have an advantage in that they are more easily taken apart and cleaned from the breech (1 screw).

A vintage Marlin in any caliber is a mighty fine rifle.

[JimA]

There is a reason people aren't recommending Henrys for field use, weight. They are significantly heavier than the competition. They're also tube fed. I personally hate tube fed rifles. They are built like a tank and will last a long time. But they don't handle like a Marlin or fit in the palm of your hand like a 99 receiver.

That's exactly why Henry is bringing out a steel Big Boy in 357, 44 mag and 45 Colt. Round barrel and much lighter.

[Foto Joe]

I hunt with my H009B and yes 9 pounds is a tad heavy but it's manageable for me. On the other hand when I'm sitting at a bench running rounds down range that heavy rifle definitely absorbs a good portion of the recoil.

[Bphunter]

I'll put my vote in for 38-55 since you like to handload and cast. The 38-55 doesn't kick any harder than my 30-30, but is does seem to smack things a bit harder. No problem finding brass or good bullet molds either. Just seems to work.

[dlbarr]

45/70 Marlin. You'll need nothing else ever again.

I have nothing to back up this statement, just my own petty prejudices.

But if you go with this....you'll end up agreeing with me. :razz:

[Bphunter]

Lever guns are like potato chips....you can't stop at just one! I like to think of them like golf clubs, you need a different one for every situation. :razz: Don't overthink your first one because after the first, you will start rescueing them from gun shops at an alarming rate!

[TXGunNut]

Lever guns are like potato chips....you can't stop at just one! I like to think of them like golf clubs, you need a different one for every situation. :razz: Don't overthink your first one because after the first, you will start rescueing them from gun shops at an alarming rate!

Yes! You'll eventually need a thumper, a rifle, a carbine, a Trapper, a plinker, a midrange brush/truck gun, a rimfire, a nice older rifle, a nice older carbine, nice older plinker, a Winchester 1873, 1892, 1894, and 1895, Marlin 93, 36, 336, 1894, 1895...broiled shrimp, boiled shrimp, BBQ'd shrimp....;-)