Any old/vintage lever action suggestions?

[Kev18]

Just wondering if anyone has good suggestions if I ever go to a gun show or see something in a gun shop. Im not a big fan of new stuff, mostly old/antique/original Marlin, Winchesters!

Have any good or bad experiences with a model?

Accuracy?

Price Range.

Pictures appreciated!


I have a Winchester 1886, 1873
Remlin(Ew!) .44 mag
Marlin 336 30-30
Stevens High Power M 425 .32 rem

The list goes on. I like shooting what I collect. It jsut so happens most of my stuff is winchester. Even if its not a lever action. .351 semi-auto and .22 pump gallery gun included.

[Tatume]

I like single shot rifles, some of which have an under lever. The lightweight hunting rifles appeal the most, particularly British guns.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Win. 1895 models are a bit different. Box mag instead of tube, and shoot larger cartridges than found in the 1894 model. Also, usually expensive if in good condition.

[sharps4590]

As with yourself, when it comes to lever rifles my preference is decidedly in favor of the older stuff. I've had Marlins and Winchesters from the 1890's to pre-war and other than finding one with a nice bore have had no difficulties. All were "accurate enough" for their intended use and function was flawless if the correctly shaped bullet was used.

Prices...all over the place, depending on make, model and vintage and to a lesser extent where you are. The '95 is an interesting rifle though I've never worked with or owned one. Would kind of like to play with one in 30-40 Krag. Also like the '93 Marlin but those I've found worth owning were beyond my willingness to pay.

Tatume brings up an interesting point reference British single shots but those I see are definitely beyond my means. I did manage to acquire a pretty decent Jeffrey Rook rifle but it needed re-lined something terrible. That done it's been a hoot to play with. The several German rifles I've chased down over the last decade have been a great deal of fun to work with, if you're handy at forming/turning brass and working up your own data.

[pworley1]

If you don't already have one, get a Savage 1899. Everyone should have at least one.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
You would not be unhappy with a Winchester 1892 in any caliber.
Mike in ILLinois

[Kev18]

I have been considering a Winchester 1895. I saw some nice ones at a gun show. I just dont know what caliber. I guy was asking 1400$ for one in good condition but it was in 40-72. Since I already have a 40-82 I wasnt really interested. On another table, a man had one in 30-40 which sparked my interest. It was 950$. I just find it interesting and different to have a "pointy" bullet in a lever.

[Outpost75]

The most under-appreciated lever rifle in my opinion is the Winchester 94 in .32 Winchester Special.

All Winchester .32 Specials were built pre-1964 and are well made.

While it is true that factory ammo is scarce and in many areas hard to find, dies are easy and common .30-30 brass necks up with one pass. Hornady and Speer both make good jacketed hunting bullets, if that is your pleasure. But this IS a cast bullet forum, so be aware that the 1:16" twist rate of the .32 Special is ideal for high velocity cast bullet loading.

In the .32 Special I find it easier to get good "full-charge" results with than a .30-30.

The 32-170FN RCBS mold works well and is widely distributed, but any of the 150-175 grain molds for the .32-40 and J-bore 8mm (.320-.322") work great.

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Yes, you can use .30-30 load data for the same weight bullet and not get into trouble! But easiest is to load a 170-grain GC bullet cast 1:3 linotype/wheelweights, sized .320-.322" and a nominal case full of IMR4895, IMR4064, RL15 or Varget and you have a "deer load."

You DO want to pay attention to bore condition, because a worn or pitted 1:16" twist barrel will not shoot well. But if you come across such a rifle, use this fact to haggle down the price, and then you can have that rifle relined with either a .30 or .35 cal. barrel and have the .30-30 or .35/.30-30 cast bullet rifle of your dreams, or have JES rebore it for you.

Around here a .32 Special Winchester 94 sells for about $100-150 less than a rifle of the same vintage and condition would sell for if it were a .30-30.

[Bazoo]

last I was at the cabelas in Louisville there was an 1886 in 33 Winchester. Man that thing wants me bad. I can't recall exactly what they want for it but it was in the 2 k range.

[smokeywolf]

Have to agree with DerGebirgsjager. Look for a good model '95. Caliber dependent on brass availability, but I sure would try for a takedown.

[Shawlerbrook]

Any older Winchester, Marlin or Savage leverguns put a smile on my face. I definitely prefer pre WW2 vintages, but own many from the 50’s and newer.

[Kev18]

I like to get different rifles. Everyone owns a 1894. An 1895 sounds up my alley. Depending on price and caliber though! Single shots are nice also, but I would really like a powerful caliber. Like 45-70, but I dont think there are any High Walls in that caliber. Anyone know any other brands that made single shot levers in that time period? I looked at Remington rolling blocks but I find they dont look great.

A gentleman at a gun show had a low wall 25-20 in pristine condition, and he wanted 2000$. It just wasn't a big enough caliber for me.

[sharps4590]

I'm with you Kev in that I don't think the old Roller's a very handsome rifle. It didn't stop me from getting a Husqvarna in 8 X 58R from Simpson's, however. After a good clean up the old thing shoots quite well and was a fun rifle to work with. Mine does need a tang sight as the most accurate load is about 6 inches low as compared to the one that shoots to the sights. If a fella could find one with a good bore a Roller in 12.7 X 44R would be a fun rifle and it's about the same as the 50-70. There's always the reproduction Sharps, Rollers and 1885's for bigger cartridges. 30+ years ago I gave up ever being able to afford a good, original Sharps and bought a couple Shiloh's over time. No regrets there.

British single shot rifles in big bores such as the Farquharson and Henry are out there but I've never seen one I could afford that I wanted. REALLY nice ones are REALLY pricey. Lots of German single shot rifles as well but ordinarily they aren't seen in larger calibers.

Around here that $950 price for a '95 would have just about been a steal, if the bore was decent. I had an 1899 Savage in 303 Savage for a couple decades and it was a fine, fun rifle. As was mentioned, a good '92 is never wrong. I just gave mine, in 32-20, to my oldest son and before he made the 8 hour drive to his home I was looking for another but, I'm so fickle who knows where my interest might lead.

[Tatume]

There's always the Stevens 44-1/2 rifle. I like mine.

[georgerkahn]

One of my first thoughts in viewing any pre-owned firearm being purveyed is, "why IS it being sold?" Several years ago I spied a Winchester .444 which looked great, had a quite low price tag, and it followed me home. After a couple of unhappy range trips, I took it to a quite savvy friend, who determined the lever had been bent. A lever replacement was executed, and the carbine then functioned perfectly, it's only drawback to me being the brake holes at relatively short barrel's end made it quite loud when shot. (I later learned -- small world -- that this firearm was dropped ~12 feet as prior owner was climbing into his tree stand). The bottom line is I got the Winchester at a bargain price, but after buying and having installed the replacement lever, came out at about the price -- maybe even a little higher -- than had I bought a similar firearm that had not been dropped.
WHAT may I be suggesting? That perhaps you really try to get the answer re why the firearm is being sold, before you purchase it. Good luck.
geo

[smkummer]

Marlin 39A. Bulk 22 ammo is around a nickel now at wal-mart in several flavors. Working the lever is as much fun as hitting empty soup cans at 25 yards off hand. Last night I was plinking those cans in the backyard of my rural subdivision with CCI quiet. No one could hear us shooting. If you have to ask, you don’t understand. Need I say more?

[Kev18]

I'm with you Kev in that I don't think the old Roller's a very handsome rifle. It didn't stop me from getting a Husqvarna in 8 X 58R from Simpson's, however. After a good clean up the old thing shoots quite well and was a fun rifle to work with. Mine does need a tang sight as the most accurate load is about 6 inches low as compared to the one that shoots to the sights. If a fella could find one with a good bore a Roller in 12.7 X 44R would be a fun rifle and it's about the same as the 50-70. There's always the reproduction Sharps, Rollers and 1885's for bigger cartridges. 30+ years ago I gave up ever being able to afford a good, original Sharps and bought a couple Shiloh's over time. No regrets there.

British single shot rifles in big bores such as the Farquharson and Henry are out there but I've never seen one I could afford that I wanted. REALLY nice ones are REALLY pricey. Lots of German single shot rifles as well but ordinarily they aren't seen in larger calibers.

Around here that $950 price for a '95 would have just about been a steal, if the bore was decent. I had an 1899 Savage in 303 Savage for a couple decades and it was a fine, fun rifle. As was mentioned, a good '92 is never wrong. I just gave mine, in 32-20, to my oldest son and before he made the 8 hour drive to his home I was looking for another but, I'm so fickle who knows where my interest might lead.

Ive seen a couple rolling blocks in odd calibers. My only issue is brass and bullet molds.
look at this shop: https://www.tradeexcanada.com/produits/66

Anything there you would consider buying?

[Drm50]

Back in 70s there was a bunch of 8mm Krags coming out of one of the importers. Most guys never
gave it a thought and were buying them at sales and auctions thinking they were 30/40s. They
got rude awakenings when they went after ammo. I remember them floating around for $15 and
having no takers. I would like to have a stack of them now. Some cartridges are a pain to make
but today there is more tooling and specialty companies than there were back then. A lot of the
foreign military rifles had only Norma ammo available. The kicker was a box of Norma ammo for
one of these rifles was about what the rifle was worth at the time. There was a time when rifles
like the 1895 Wins were very reasonable if not in a popular caliber still being produced. This was
true with a lot of guns that are now collectors items but back then weren't disirable as shooters.
The ammo companies have changed their business plan to only make hi volume sales of popular
calibres. Today with the increased interest in these old odd balls as shooters it has made it profitable for specialty companies to cater to this market.

[Kev18]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFp7ucZyo_CWBqbDFS2vkWA/videos?view_as=subscriber

Theres my youtube link. If you guys want to see some of my rifles.