Looking for a levergun

[redneckdan]

Jen and I are planning on actually getting around to doing some deer hunting this year, its been a couple years. Jen used to use my 20 gauge 870 when we were down in the shotgun zone, I don't load much for shotguns anymore and jen doesn;t yet have a centerfire rifle. Originally she was okay with using my ar-15 in .300 whisper but after practicing with it she relized she doesn't at all like the apeture sights and thinks the gun is ugly. She really likes the looks of lever guns. Can anyone recommend a model and caliber? Shots will be 100-150yds or less in dense timber.

[jlchucker]

30-30 Winchester, Model 94. Or 336 Marlin, caliber 30-30 Winchester or 35 Remington.

[45r]

I have been happy with my 357mag and 45colt Cowboys.I would use the 45 in dense brush and have confidense it would do well.The Marlins are easy to clean and scope ready.

[WyrTwister]

Jen and I are planning on actually getting around to doing some deer hunting this year, its been a couple years. Jen used to use my 20 gauge 870 when we were down in the shotgun zone, I don't load much for shotguns anymore and jen doesn;t yet have a centerfire rifle. Originally she was okay with using my ar-15 in .300 whisper but after practicing with it she relized she doesn't at all like the apeture sights and thinks the gun is ugly. She really likes the looks of lever guns. Can anyone recommend a model and caliber? Shots will be 100-150yds or less in dense timber.

If she can handel a Marlin .30-30 , she could probably handel a marlin .444 or , even better brush buster , the .45-70 .

Recoil is not that bad with the traditional Remington & winchester .405 grain loads , held to Trap Door Springfield pressure levels .

And the shorter barreled guide gun might be even better for brush .

To me , such loads in .45-70 kick less than full house .44 Mag loads in a Marlin .

My .45 LC Puma with 230 grain cast lead & 8 grains of Unique is very pleasant to shoot , also . A 250 grain or a little heavier might be better for brush ?

God bless
Wyr

[ktw]

I have two Winchesters 94s (30-30, 45 Colt), a Marlin 1936 (32 Spcl) and temporary custody of a Marlin 1894 Cowboy 357 Mag. You are welcome to stop by and have her try them out.

But I'll warn you, if you take her down here to go shooting she's going to leave wanting to hunt deer with a flintlock.

-ktw

[redneckdan]

I have two Winchesters 94s (30-30, 45 Colt), a Marlin 1936 (32 Spcl) and temporary custody of a Marlin 1894 Cowboy 357 Mag. You are welcome to stop by and have her try them out.

But I'll warn you, if you take her down here to go shooting she's going to leave wanting to hunt deer with a flintlock.

-ktw

Sounds like a plan. She gets back on the 3rd of august and has 2 weeks before fall camp starts. We wanted to go wander around sturgeon gorge anyway, have to plan for an evening at the range.

Okay, you gonna have to explain the flinch lock comment to me.

Ps- you been harassin the turtles again? Did a 500 miler yesterday....hit a painted turtle just outside wakefield on the way south from the porkies and then narrowly avoided a huge snapper in front of alberta.

[9.3X62AL]

Arguing against a 30-30 WCF in the Michigan deer woods would be a tough debate. I would choose the Marlin 336 over a Win 94 due to ease of maintenence/takedown and ease of scope mounting (if that's in the cards).

There is certainly nothing wrong with Marlins in 44 Magnum, 444, or 45-70 for the application you indicate. Of the 3, the 45-70/1895 Marlin combo would get the nod for the same reasons as above (compared to a 1886 Winchester) AND the wide range of performance possible in the Marlin 45-70 over the 44 and 444. Case capacity in the 44 and twist rate in the 444 kinda hamstring both calibers in my view, but all three are certainly deer-capable.

[HEAD0001]

If she wants a scope then I would recommend the Marlin over the Winchester. The Marlin is easier to scope. The 44 Magnum would make a great rifle. It is very effective on deer to the distance you want, and IMO the felt recoil for her is less than the 30-30. Also the 44 magnum would be cheaper to practice with. Get her a good Marlin Model 1894 in 44 magnum, and put a good quality 4X scope on top of it. Tom.

[carpetman]

If you can find a Win 88 in either .243 or .308. While it is a lever gun, the bolt actually twists and locks in place in the last little bit of travel. It has a detachable box magazine so you dont have the pointy bullet problem. I said .308 or .243 if elk in your plans go .308 uinless recoil an issue---then .243. Either one put bullet in right place---have sharp knife handy. No issue whatsoever about mounting a scope---Grandson has the compact 2x-7x Leupold on the one I gave him, also has the Pachmayr decellerator recoil pad and it's easy shooting.

[ktw]

Okay, you gonna have to explain the flinch lock comment to me.

I will admit that I do not know Jen all that well, but we are talking a female here, and in my experience they take form just as seriously as we take function.

-ktw

[357maximum]

Marlin 336 in 35 remington...........cannot believe a flatlander/troll has to tell a yooper that....discraceful simply discraceful:-D....a 30/30 comes in a close second.

[OldBob]

Marlin 336 in 35 remington...........cannot believe a flatlander/troll has to tell a yooper that....discraceful simply discraceful:-D....a 30/30 comes in a close second.

I'll second that, specially if its one of the older ones with the thin forearm ! Great little rifles.

[Lloyd Smale]

dan there probably isnt a gun shop in the UP that doesnt have a good used marlin 3030 on the rack. More deer have been killed by 3030s up here then all the rest combined.

[waksupi]

Geez, don't be shooting elk with a .243!

[redneckdan]

I will admit that I do not know Jen all that well, but we are talking a female here, and in my experience they take form just as seriously as we take function.

-ktw

Okay, I get it now. Musta had a bit too much beer last night.:drinks:


Geez, don't be shooting elk with a .243!

he's right you know. as any fu kno, .375 holland and holland is the absolute minimium for elk....best to use a .458 Lott just to be on the safe side...:kidding:

[Scrounger]

Arguing against a 30-30 WCF in the Michigan deer woods would be a tough debate. I would choose the Marlin 336 over a Win 94 due to ease of maintenence/takedown and ease of scope mounting (if that's in the cards).

There is certainly nothing wrong with Marlins in 44 Magnum, 444, or 45-70 for the application you indicate. Of the 3, the 45-70/1895 Marlin combo would get the nod for the same reasons as above (compared to a 1886 Winchester) AND the wide range of performance possible in the Marlin 45-70 over the 44 and 444. Case capacity in the 44 and twist rate in the 444 kinda hamstring both calibers in my view, but all three are certainly deer-capable.

The newer 444s (last 7 or 8 years) have an 18 or 20 inch twist so that problem doesn't exist anymore. If .44 Mag is the choice, look at the Rossi Puma, I think it has a better twist than the Marlin.

[Larry Gibson]

If your daughter prefers the slimmer and lighter M94 Winchester to the Marlin's 336 then look for a M94 AE. The 30-30 cartridge will do quite well. They are just as "easy" to mount scopes on as are Marlins. They come D&T'd and standard Weaver bases (pictured) are available as are one piece Leupold and Weaver bases. The stocks are also well designed for the use of a scope on the rifle. I recently found and bought a M94 AE Black Shadow in a gunshop. It was in excellent condition and you can't tell it was used at all. I got it for $320, at a gunshop no less!. The barrel is 24" with a 12" twist which is very condusive to excellent cast bullet accuracy at maximum 30-30 velocities. This rifle with the 24" barrel also will maximize the velocity of Hornady's new pointed ammo made for lever guns.

With the half magazine the rifle is very slim and trim, handles well (even in brush) and weighs less than 7 lbs. There also is a rubber recoil pad on the rifle. With the older Weaver K4 (has range finder reticle) this M94 weighs in at 7.8 lbs. The Carbine probably weighs a little less. Anyways some prefer the cleaner lines of the Winchester vs the Marlin and don't find maintenance to be any more difficult with the Winchester. Just an option to look at.

Larry Gibson

[bigbear]

Find a non-collector Savage99 in 250-3000 Savage, scope it and voila!! Negligble recoil, quick on target or get same rifle in 300 Savage. You won't be sorry, I promise.

[redneckdan]

dan there probably isnt a gun shop in the UP that doesnt have a good used marlin 3030 on the rack.



Found one! Freemans gun shop in hancock, mi. They had a couple older 94s, none under 700; worth about $300 for the gun and +$400 for the story....or so they say. Not my first encounter with them, they're about as useless as tits on a boar hog.

[Uncle R.]

Browning BLR in .243 - it LOOKS like a lever gun but SHOOTS like a bolt rifle, and easy to scope as well.

[Scrounger]

Here are links to 3 businesses that each run about 100 guns a week through AuctionArms. Just check these three links every week and you'll be looking at 25 or 30 lever actions for sure. I have found it is usually cheaper to buy on the internet than local gun shops. Shipping and $10 or $20 to the receiving dealer still leaves the guns cheaper than most local dealers. Best places to buy are usually pawnshops, but you got to negotiate.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/auctions.aspx?&ad=SuperPawn

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/auctions.aspx?&ad=CAF%20Sales

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/auctions.aspx?&ad=NWARMORY

[ktw]

You are going to have a problem finding a good one locally for less than $400. You see them from time to time for $275-$375 but those tend to have issues and can be pretty rough. Your best bet for a good deal may be to put an ad in the paper.

For the money, you may be further ahead putting together a Contender Carbine in 30-30 for her, particularly if you already have a frame and plan to scope it anyway.

-ktw

[Scrounger]

Seems I never run out of advice, have so much of it I give it away free.... If you go the Contender Carbine route, that is a good way to go. With one frame you can acquire half a dozen barrels to play with, anything from .17HMR, .22 LR, .22 Hornet, all the way up to .45-70! Problem is Contender Carbines are hard to find and run considerably higher than pistols. I have 3 frames, all set up as carbines, and last week I bought another frame to use as a pistol. Cheap SOB that I am, here's the route I went to keep the price as low as possible. I checked all the Contenders listed on AuctionArms and GunBroker. I didn't care what caliber it was because I was going to sell the barrel anyway. If I could get any Contender under $400 including shipping, I'd sell the barrel for $150 or so and end up with my frame and grip for $250. There were half a dozen or so candidates but some fools kept bidding the price too high. Finally one with a .22LR barrel apparently didn't appeal to them and I got it for $331. Bonus! There's a 3X Contender scope and mount on it too. So when I pick it up and part it out, I'll get $200 or more for the scope and barrel, and end up getting my frame and grip for a tad under $200. If you find a pistol for $350 to $400, that's a good deal; a carbine will likely run you close to $500, but their versatility makes them worth it. For a bit over $200, you can set her up with a HandiRifle, that might work for a while.

[HEAD0001]

I agre with the above poster about buying off the net. I have bought and sold several firearms off the net, and all the experiences have been great. The prices some people quote on lever actions is "NUTS". Just shop around on the net, and do not get in a hurry. I just sold a Pre-64 Winchester 94 in 80% condition for $450 on the leverguns site. I also just bought a beautiful Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. that is in close to 100% condition. As close as a used rifle can get. The rifle also has a really nice piece of wood. I bought it from "Kitterlings"(spelling) in Maine. Shop the net. Tom.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/HEAD0001/IMG_0217.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/HEAD0001/IMG_0132.jpg

[Scrounger]

Beautiful! And it's a later one with Ballard rifling, too. Want to sell it? Was it over or under $400?

[Lloyd Smale]

a 94 even a pre 64 at 700 bucks would have me laughing in his face dan. I still see them for under 300 bucks around here.
Found one! Freemans gun shop in hancock, mi. They had a couple older 94s, none under 700; worth about $300 for the gun and +$400 for the story....or so they say. Not my first encounter with them, they're about as useless as tits on a boar hog.

[HEAD0001]

I bought that Marlin off the net from a dealer in Maine. The price was $390+shipping. However I do not want to sell it. I have been shopping for 6 months for one with better wood, and I found it on the net. Tom.

[PatMarlin]

Bought my wife a nice used (but hardly) BLR in 308 win. We haven't even shot it yet.

Hope it actually shoots.. :mrgreen:

[9.3X62AL]

Art--

I didn't know that Marlin did the right thing with twist rate in the 444. Good to know that, it makes the caliber a LOT more potentially useful.

[Bret4207]

Find a non-collector Savage99 in 250-3000 Savage, scope it and voila!! Negligble recoil, quick on target or get same rifle in 300 Savage. You won't be sorry, I promise.

Ditto. Why mess with those antiquated exposed hammer designs when you can have a truly modern, sleek, streamlined Savage?:kidding: At least let her get a look at a Savage before she limits herself to a hammer gun.

And she's right, AR's are ugly!:mrgreen:

[Scrounger]

Art--

I didn't know that Marlin did the right thing with twist rate in the 444. Good to know that, it makes the caliber a LOT more potentially useful.

The question is, why didn't they change the .44 Mag at the same time?

[PatMarlin]

I'd love to have a rifle in 300 Wisper though. I wonder why more cast shooters haven't built these? Seems like it has cast written all over it. And you wouldn't have to stay in the subsonic speeds.

[srayc]

I have a .356 Win up for sale in excellent condition..... you can load it up for Elk or load it down for deer...

[chaos]

I purchased an "EL-CHEAPO" marlin 1894 in 44 magnum as a companion to my many Super blackhawks. This little rifle came from the sporting goods store "BIG-5" it was only $320 or so out the door as it was on sale. It has Ballard rifling and a cheap Birch looking stock. Marlin does not catalogue this gun with the birch stock as it's a special run for that particular chain store.

I would not take $1000 for this gun. I have a 250gr keith mold that I got from carpetman. This gun is not supposed to chamber rounds loaded with this slug as it's too long..... It's what I keep reading anyhow..... I load them right in the crimp groove and she puts them ALL into a golf ball sized group at 50 yards off a bench ( not bagged) . It doesnt seem to matter what powder or the charge that I load it with. The rifle simply loves this bullet.

I wish she were prettier, but it's plenty good for dragging around the brush.

[redneckdan]

I obtained a savage 99 in .300 savage from a board member, with dies and enough brass to get me started. Thanks for all ya'lls help

[Tristan]

I obtained a savage 99 in .300 savage from a board member, with dies and enough brass to get me started. Thanks for all ya'lls help

Oh, that's sweet!

I love those Savage 99's...

- Tristan

[Lloyd Smale]

now theres one for you dan. My 356 is probably my favorite lever gun. It hits like a freight train loaded up to the max and is like a 22 with light cast loads.
I have a .356 Win up for sale in excellent condition..... you can load it up for Elk or load it down for deer...

[Just Duke]

I loved my 356.
I really like the name Red Neck Dan. Cool!!!!

[218bee]

My .02. Get a Marlin in 35Rem or a Savage 99 1n 243, 250-3000, or 300Savage. I know there are many options and opinions, but these are mine for a decent knock around deer rifle.

[redneckdan]

My .02. Get a Marlin in 35Rem or a Savage 99 1n 243, 250-3000, or 300Savage.

The savage 99 in .300 I found should be here early this week.


now theres one for you dan. My 356 is probably my favorite lever gun. It hits like a freight train loaded up to the max and is like a 22 with light cast loads.

I'm sure the first time jen saw me launch a freight train load out of her gun she'd never touch it again.:roll: I'll have to keep and eye out for one for me though...

[bigbear]

I obtained a savage 99 in .300 savage from a board member, with dies and enough brass to get me started. Thanks for all ya'lls help

:drinks:There you go!:-D

[MakeMineA10mm]

Jen and I are planning on actually getting around to doing some deer hunting this year, its been a couple years. Jen used to use my 20 gauge 870 when we were down in the shotgun zone, I don't load much for shotguns anymore and jen doesn;t yet have a centerfire rifle. Originally she was okay with using my ar-15 in .300 whisper but after practicing with it she relized she doesn't at all like the apeture sights and thinks the gun is ugly. She really likes the looks of lever guns. Can anyone recommend a model and caliber? Shots will be 100-150yds or less in dense timber.

UGLY?!? That upper was beautiful!!! :mrgreen:

If she really likes lever guns, and deer are the biggest critters she'll be shooting, you should look into a 44 Magnum or 357 Magnum Marlin. I'd get the 20" barrel version, myself, because it's just heavy enough, yet just light enough... It also will probably keep the Fish & Game Dept. happy, as some states don't like the short barrels, and she may not want to lug around the long cowboy-length barrels (heavy).

Recoil for both of these calibers will be fairly negligible, but if it is a problem, a Sims Limbsaver recoil pad should take care of it all, without going to extraordinary lengths.

Another factor on caliber is how big the deer get in your hunting locale. Around here, you really need a 44 Magnum, unless you're willing to be patient to wait for bow-hunting distances and you're a good game shot. (My great-uncle was both, and he hunted deer with a break-open Savage in 22 WMR. I, on the other hand, can NOT pass up a shot at 125-150 yards, IF it's a good deer...) Our deer get really big. (They love that we make the biggest and best corn crop in the world here.) But, if you hunt West Texas deer, a 357 Magnum is a "big-bore" for them.

[MakeMineA10mm]

Doh! Shoulda read to the end of page 2... Congrats. A nice Savage in a sweet caliber. You didn't do wrong. That's a good 'un!

[redneckdan]

UGLY?!? That upper was beautiful!!! :mrgreen:



My thoughts exactly. Guess i'll get to use it after all....though I'm thinking about carry the contender this year.