What is your favorite lever action rifle and favorite game to hunt?

[huntersdog]

Since joining Cast Boolits, I have become a lever action addict. I only really shoot and hunt primarily with lever action rifles now.

I love the Marlin 357 lever action both for small game and deer and plinking targets. I hope to give the 45 Colt a try out in the woods deer hunting this year.

[18Bravo]

The only hunting I do these days is yotes, prairie poodles once a year and when I head out east hogs. My favorite hog gun is my 45/70 lever with the 45 Colt lever coming in a close second. Either one will roll up a pig in short order.

[Texas by God]

My 1954 Winchester 30-30, loaded with 150cast fp at 1600 fps has been my favorite turkey gun for years. Stalking or calling it just works.

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[quilbilly]

My favorite lever is currently my Mossberg 464 30/30 and I have been hunting coyotes with it using the Lyman 130 gr PB boolit at 1350 fps. It really likes that boolit for the short range quick shots in our local tree farms. If I don't connect on a deer during the muzzleloader season next week, I will use that rifle for deer for the first time in the modern season using the Lee 150 gr FPGC at 1650 fps (same point of aim with the Skinner sight at 100 yards).

[Baja_Traveler]

My favorite levergun to shoot is my Marlin 32-20...

If I was going to hunt everything from rats to Yotes I'd get it's twin out of the safe in 218 Bee...

If I was to hunt anything bigger I'd probably reach for the Marlin Cowboy 45-70 (but I also have a 30-30, 38-55 and a 32-40 to choose from)...

[Reverend Al]

I have Winchester and Marlin lever actions ranging from .25-20 to .45-70 in model 1892's, 1893's, 1894's, 1895's, and 1886's, and I love them all. I would be really hard pressed to just pick one that I like the most. Not much varmint action around here, but I have hunted deer, moose and elk in the past when my health was up to it. Truth be told when it comes to hunting I was always the happiest walking behind my German Shorthaired Pointer carrying a good SxS shotgun hunting upland game birds.

[rking22]

Favorite lever would be my BB94 in 375Win. Favorite game animal is a squirrel!! I just love hunting them but its most often a scoped 22lr spotter of some sort. Love to bird hunt, quail and Woodstock, vintage pumps get the nod there. Favorite with a lever is deer, that BB94 is perfect . Light and handy to carry thru the woods and pokes a nice big hole, deep too!

[junkbug]

For some strange reason, my favorite lever rifle is a 1915 vintage Winchester 1895 SRC in .30 cal 1903. It can be used safely with 30-06 ammo. I shoot reloads almost exclusively in it, probably somewhat less powerful than 30-40 Krag factory loads. Cast loads of course, the two are almost equal. But I really like this rifle.

I bought it missing the rear sight and handguard (very common for this variant). A gunsmith minimally modified an repro 1879 trapdoor rear sight to fit the screw holes on the barrel, and I just live without the handguard.

I seldom hunt, but will try to take a deer with it one day.

[OlDeuce]

Any of my old 1894s ..............and depending on the hunt !!!!! Lion..trapper .44mag!!! Ol Deuce

[Smoke4320]

4 45/70's .. a Henry, 2 Marlins and a contender
deer, hogs, burglars.. not necessarily in order.. word has gotten out so the burglar pickin's been slim lately

[Randy Bohannon]

Sunday is opening of Antelope/Deer season here in my part of Wyoming,been out looking the past few days,Antelope are rutting and Whitetail bucks are cruising fence lines with the girls out in the alfalfa.It has been a nice start of fall with rain and snowing the mountains.Have spent the past several weeks with a Win. 94 32 Special and 180 gr Accurate G/C bullet and 10 gr Unique for 1400 fps.it shoots very good.Also a 94BB 375 Win.250 gr. Accurate C/G 20 gr IMR4759 for 1500fps,Deadly accurate.

[bob208]

Winchester 94,92,73,95 and 86. I use a 94 in .30-30 or .32 spl. for deer. I keep a 92 by the kitchen door in .25-20 for pests on the other side of the house it is a 92 in .32-20 for pests. gong to the barn to work I carry a rossi 92 in .357.

[Kevinakaq]

Lots of favorites depending on the day of the week and intended purpose. Today my favorite is a Interarms Rossi in 44 mag I picked up last night as a birthday present to me...sweet little outfit and impressed by build as compared to my newer Rossi 92 in 45 colt. It's no Winchester but it ain't bad either...happy to have found her.

204717204718

[buckshotshoey]

Deer...... Henry 45- 70. Anything else gets a .22 LR, a .243, or a 28ga, 20ga, or a 12 ga. It's all in picking the right tool for the job.

[huntersdog]

4 45/70's .. a Henry, 2 Marlins and a contender
deer, hogs, burglars.. not necessarily in order.. word has gotten out so the burglar pickin's been slim latelyI got a chuckle out of it, when I read across the "burglars" part. :grin::drinks:

[marlin39a]

Marlin 39a used to hunt Alberts Squirrels.

[Rcmaveric]

I only have the Mossberg 464 in 30-30 with Lee 150 grainer for lever guns. It will be used for deer and hogs only hopefully.

[DerekP Houston]

My only one right now is a rossi 92 in 357, quite accurate at the range but it's never taken any game. I'm seriously eyeing a 30-30 now but haven't been able to justify it without a deer lease to visit =). Maybe next year will be my first year to take one.

[pietro]

.

My faves were a .22Mag Winchester 9422M-XTR for small game and a .356 Winchester Big Bore 94 Carbine for everything else - but these days, for deer/etc, I use this 1914 savage 1899H lightweight carbine in .303 Savage ( a .30-30 class cartridge), which is much easier handling for me.


https://i.imgur.com/B5v1LLLl.jpg


.

[Eddie Southgate]

BLR in .358 Winchester. Deer but would love to try it on a big old bear . Also have the cowboy versions by Marlin in .45 Colt and .45-70 . Might get a 30-30 to rebore to 38-55 as a mate to my dads High Wall . Never shot cast in the BLR , anybody want to suggest a good bullet (deer ) and load to start with ?

Eddie

[Bzcraig]

Funnest Rossi 357 trapper, best Rossi 45LC 26"

[Texas by God]

Pietro- that's a nice 99 and Bowie! The drill&tap police will be looking for you, though......

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[pietro]

.

Thanks, but I bought it like that - D/T'd, paint blotches & sticker adhesive all over the stock & metal, broken front sight blade, etc, etc.

Due to the poor condition, I was able to buy it for chump change @ Cabela's.

Once I got it home, it took me all of a half-hour to clean/restore it.

.

[wbrco]

My .357 1894 - stops anything on my Missouri farm to 100 yds except the cows. Even the occasional mountain lion (seen, not shot). It's my go to gun.

Bucket list includes a Savage 99 in .308, .243 or maybe 250-3000.

Don't care what MDC says, there is a permanent mountain lion population in northern MO. But at least we don't have hogs.

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[blikseme300]

My favorite is a trusty Marlin 444. White tail, Nilgai and hogs are the menu items.

[Speedo66]

My Browning BLR in .308 was my proven deer rifle, but now in a straight wall cartridge only state. Hoping to blood my .357 Rossi 92 this season.

[TXGunNut]

I collect old Winchesters so one of them generally gets the nod when I go hunting. If the situation calls for a scoped rifle I'll often opt for a Marlin or maybe a Savage. I really enjoy hunting hogs but I'll settle for a deer now and then.

[Snowbelt]

Love my Marlin 1894CB in 45 colt. Very accurate with Lyman 452424 and Unique. Great woods deer rifle!

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Savage 99 358 - Elk

[wbrco]

Savage 99 358 - Elk[emoji106]

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[brass410]

I have an old Winchester that I found in a abandoned foundation, have never fired it, to say its rusty would be an uber understatement,maybe tis winter I will throw it in the beader cabinet and give it some love,its a 94 looks like might be 30-30, will make a good project gun oddly enough when I poked out the mud daubers the barrel didn't look to bad.

[Drm50]

I have a few Levers, 4 Marlins that are nice guns but they were made between 1950 and 1970.
I get a bigger kick out of hunting with the older ones. If I had to pick my favorite lever for deer
hunting it would be my old 1895 Win in 30/06. 204793

[sparky45]

Funnest Rossi 357 trapper, best Rossi 45LC 26"

Both my Rossi's are as good as any I've used (357 and 44/40), after slicking them up with Kiowa Jones help; then the 1970's Marlin 30-30 (hasn't even had a box of 20 down the bore). For pure fun my Browning BL-22 can't be beat.

[rintinglen]

My favorite lever these days is a 111 year old Savage 1899 in 303 savage. I have had it out several years now looking for deer, but it has yet to make its bones.

[quail4jake]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]205038Winchester '92 SRC .32 WCF used to hunt any disagreeable vermin, gray squirrels our specialty!

[500Linebaughbuck]

30-30 win in a m94. it was made in the '50s

[gnoahhh]

I'm partial to Savages. My favorite is a custom 1899H I built from accumulated parts- with two barrels, a .22HP and .303 Savage. The next project is also a Savage: I acquired an 1899 Model .250-3000 (all were takedowns, made from 1915 to 1919, and debuted the .250 cartridge), minus the barrel but with the complete beautiful action, perch belly pistol grip stock, and the all-important complete fore end. If I can't find an original shootable barrel, I'll just fit a spare .30 blank to it and chamber it for .30-30 as a primarily cast bullet shooter.

My favorites are definitely the M1899H TD carbines. I have 6 of them now, including 3 .22HP's- good for squirrels through deer, depending how I load for them. Lyman 30½ tang sights reside on each one.

[rosst]

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz/attachments/f12/75122d1504931834-45-70-subsonic-20170909_103018.jpg

at the moment Marlin GG .45/70 subsonic on Fallow Deer n Goats

[lar45]

My favorite lever gun is a Rossi M92 24" octagon, stainless, 45 Colt. It has never had a fail to feed or hickup of any kind.
My favorite game to hunt is Elk, but for Elk with a lever gun, it would be either a Win BB 375Win, or 1895 405Win. I have killed many Elk with my trusty ol 06', but have never had a shot when carrying the 375 :(

[MT Gianni]

My BLR pre 81 in 308 has killed Deer, Elk, Moose, Antelope, Coyotes and Jackrabbits. More Whitetails than anything else.

[Shuz]

For deer I choose a Winchester 94 Trapper in .44 mag with a 4X Leupold.
For elk I choose a Marlin 444XLR in .444 Marlin with a 2x7 Leupold.

[pls1911]

Any of many...1936's though mid-50's 30/30 Marlins, and cast bullets ( RCBS, Ranch Dog, or SAECO)
Hogs...sneaking through mesquites or stalking across fields at dusk.
It can be like flushing 200 pound quail with teeth!!

[Mgderf]

I have levers that range from squirrel caliber to cape buffalo.
Everything from .22short to .45-70.

I hunt mostly whitetail deer.
Though I haven't had it long enough to try hunting, I'm hoping to get a good shot on a deer this year with my new Henry Big Boy steel .327 Federal magnum rifle.
Such a sweet little caliber...

I also just picked up a new Marlin 336 in .35Remington.
I plan to try it out as well.

So many choices, so few tags...

[RenoDave]

Well I'm down to just two right now, both original Winchesters, but would cover most anything I would want to hunt, An 1892 in 32 WCF and 1886 in 45-70 Gov.

[oldsalt444]

First - Winchester 88 in .243. My first deer gun as a young teenager. It was heavy as hell for me, so my dad traded it for a Rem 660 bolt gun in .243.
Most fun - Browning BL22 in 22 S, L, LR. Literally hundreds of ground squirrels and rabbits taken with it. Amazingly accurate.
Most practical - Mossberg 479 in 30-30. Have yet to take game with it, but it's a good shooter. It's marked "Matermag Model CC779 Coast to Coast Stores".

[buckshotshoey]

I have levers that range from squirrel caliber to cape buffalo.
Everything from .22short to .45-70.

I hunt mostly whitetail deer.
Though I haven't had it long enough to try hunting, I'm hoping to get a good shot on a deer this year with my new Henry Big Boy steel .327 Federal magnum rifle.
Such a sweet little caliber...

I also just picked up a new Marlin 336 in .35Remington.
I plan to try it out as well.

So many choices, so few tags...

What State are you in? Was just curious. In Ohio, no less then .357 allowed for deer.

[chuckerbird]

Just acquired a savage model 99 in 300 savage. 1954 vintage. Got bases, rings and a scope on the way. Have shot her with the open sights. Got a fair group at 100 yards. Hope to have her up and running for deer season next year.

[ironhead7544]

1894 Cowboy 24" 44 Magnum covers any larger game I might hunt at the proper distance. Only lever I have right now. I keep thinking I should get another one, but it just doesnt seems necessary. I do admit that I know where there is a blued 308 Marlin Express that I am temped to get, just for longer ranges.

[OverMax]

Depends?
Easing quietly down a old skidder road early in the AM. My 300 Savage carbine get the nod.
But when on the scout for my deer in terrain where there are no trails or roads to follow just brush and the occasional wet swamp to huff & puff thru.
Although I have a few choices in my tote's. (32 special 300 savages and a 30-30 or too.) One rifle I'll grab for that one purpose alone. Its a savage 1899 t/d in 30-30 cal. Only because its a dandy for tough terrain and close in aim's.. Small_ light_ quick pointing_ and it has a Foolproof peep mounted having no aperture. The perfect optic for those occasional times when a quick snap shot is called for.

[Prodigal Son]

Lately it my Westernfield rebored to 405 Jess, 205863 got a nice buck last year going out again in the morning we are in an antler less 5 day hunt right now in Arkansas!

[Prodigal Son]

Sorry that's my Marlin 30aw rebored to 38-55! 205864 this is my Westernfield 740 made by Marlin rebored to 405 JESS with last years buck opening day!

[JimP.]

only lever gun that i own, Winchester 1876 45-75 centenial, 350 cast with 28.0 grs AA 5744, 1300 fps. JimP.

[fiberoptik]

Marlin 39a--tree rats! Next would be Win 94 30WCF, barrel marked "48". Deer beware!


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[dnepr]

When it comes to hunting my Marlin 444 is still #1 and Whitetail is the game I am usually after, but I do keep a couple cases loaded as shotshells in my pocket to bag grouse.

[osteodoc08]

Love my 1886 models. But my go to is my JM 1895 stainless guide gun. It's super accurate, handy and packs a punch.

[40-82 hiker]

Since I have only one lever action it HAS to be my favorite (sure it would be anyway): 1886 Winchester my Dad got me in the mid-60s. Love that gun, but never got a deer with it. Used a bolt gun when I could hunt years ago, as I was worried about damaging the '86 (rain, falling, etc.). Now I can't get anything larger out of the woods than a squirrel. :holysheep

However, there are some nights I can actually see a Savage 99 in the house and at the range. Wanted one for so many years I can't stand it. No $$, but would love to have one. Have sights on a particular pistol one day, but the '99 is a very close second (or, some nights, FIRST).

Nice thread. Thanks to all. :drinks:

Bob

[comprschrg]

Favorite lever is 1886

Favorite game is squirrels with a 39a.

During summer, it's ground dwelling vermin with a 39a. Best way to cook, wait till neighbors are having a bbq. toss it on their grill when distracted and not looking. RUN

[fiberoptik]

Favorite lever is 1886

Favorite game is squirrels with a 39a.

During summer, it's ground dwelling vermin with a 39a. Best way to cook, wait till neighbors are having a bbq. toss it on their grill when distracted and not looking. RUN

[emoji106][emoji122][emoji457]


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[Goshawk]

JM 336 35 Rem, Accurate 360-245S, moose!

[Camba]

Marlin 336 in 30-30 Win,
BLR 358 Win,
BLR 7mm08 Rem,
Marlin 39a 22 LR,
Winchester 9422 XTR 22 mag

Deer and squirrels
I love them all

[jeffs4wheeler]

My favorite is a marlin in 357. Fav0rite game is white tail deer..........

[rickys2]

My favorite is a Marlin 41 mag for wild hogs.

[44 flattop]

Favorite levergun--.44 Marlin Cowboy.

Favorite game to hunt, probably mule deer using a Marlin Cowboy in .38-55.

[Hootmix]

Mine's a 40/60 chaparral,,26" oct.barrel,,flip-up open sight ,,shoot both TB,,4198,,210gr,& 245gr ,,CB,,"favorite game",,paper or steel,, target's,,i try to shoot'm "right in the eye". coffee's ready.


Later,,,,Hootmix.

[Bazoo]

My only lever action at present is a 70s vintage winchester 94 30-30. I had a marlin 1894 before that I really enjoyed. I'd like another, but I'll end up getting one in 44 mag when I do most likely. We cant hunt small game like squirrels with center fire here in ky. I havent ever handled one, but I sure like the look of the 71s in 348 winchester.

~Bazoo

[stubshaft]

It's a toss up between my 1895C and 1895GG (.357 and 45/70 respectively). I use the both for hogs and goats and just depending on my mood of the day one or the other will jump in my hand as I leave the house.

[55fairlane]

My 94 Winchester, made in 1942, barrel is stamped 30 W.C.F. ( 30 Winchester center fire ) has patina on the receiver in the shape of someone's hand,you can clearly see how (some ranch hand?) Carried this rifle often, it's a fun shooter, and best part is......my wife scored it for me (from a friend) for $400 ......gave it to my as a Christmas present a few years back.

Aaron

[KMac]

208825

Right now my favorite lever action rifle is my 1947 Marlin Model 36.
It was in pretty sad shape when I got it. Had rust on the bluing and the stock had been shortened and some one added a ugly red shotgun recoil pad on it and used floor stain on the stock. It had some places where it had wood filler on it also.

Sanded it down and then cleaned it with paint thinner so many times I lost count trying to leech out the stain it had been soaked in. I applied 7 hand rubbed coats of Tru oil and added a Black Recoil pad. Replaced the loading gate which had a wallowed out screw hole and gently got all of the rust off of the bluing.

She is buttery smooth and has a fantastic trigger. Just started shooting it so looking forward to working up some loads for it. And deer would be my favorite hunting.

[halvey]

I had a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. Loved it, but I sold it as I wasn't hunting deer much at the time.

[Lonegun1894]

My favorite game is hogs, because they taste great and having no closed season and no bag limit helps too. As to favorite lever rifle, I really don’t know. My most used over the years is a Winchester 1894 in .30-30, but I use several others ranging from Rossi ‘92s in .357 Mag, .44Mag, and .45 Colt, to Marlins in .30-30 and .45-70. Just depends on what I feel like that day and what ammo I happen to have plenty of.

[Iron Whittler]

My favorites is a toss up between Savage 99 and Winchester 88. The Savage 99 is 250-3000 and Win 88 are 243 & 308. Deer is main big game followed by elk. [smilie=l:

[D Crockett]

I would have to say that my Henry 44mag would be my favorite lever gun what do I like to kill with it wild pigs D Crockett

[AllanD]

Lately due to the colder weather I've taken to carrying my Winchester 1894 in 30WCF on the walk to my mailbox,
where I live this universally fails to raise and eyebrows, I live on "Gun Club Road" and the road is appropriately
named.
Why I do so, is because we have a neighborhood bear, which I've only seen rapidly receding backside on Garbage night.

As long as it runs away it is in no danger from me, but the day it doesn't run I'll kill it dead, Dead, DEAD!!!
I know you cannot run from a black bear and trying to climb a tree to get away from one is a fools task, and I neither have any climbable trees,
nor could I climb them anyway Since I had a minor stroke three years ago....

[dale2242]

Marlin 218 Bee.
Shooting sage rats....dale

[izzyjoe]

My 35 Marlin is my favorite, it has taken a couple deer.

[FergusonTO35]

I love hunting whitetails with my 1967 Marlin Glenfield 30 stoked with 30 grains IMR 4064/150 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter. It's the cheap lever action that shoots like a quality bolt gun!

[CastingFool]

My favorite lever action is simply my one and only, a Henry BBS in 45 colt. Hope to take a deer with it soon.

[44Blam]

My Henry Steel Big Boy in 44 Mag - I can snipe clays and empty beer cans at 50 yards with pretty good accuracy! :)

[pls1911]

Pre 1948 Marlins... 30-30, hogs.
160-170 grain cast bullets...SAECO #316, RD 165, Lyman 31141.
Reloader 7 or 3031...see manuals.