If you had to pick one Lever Action Rifle, what caliber who you choose?

[Bowdrie]

No question for me, a .45-70.
From a round ball gallery load to something that wants to dislocate your shoulder, the fun factor is off the charts.

[tigweldit]

Winchester '94, 30/30. Lyman peep sight.

[gc45]

Having hunted large game like moose and such, the 45-70 was always my 1st choice.

[Svt40]

1886 Winchester with hard cast 405 grn. Flat tip over 14.5 grn of Unique

[JFoster48386]

I voted for the .45-70 but the .30-30 was my go-to lever for decades before moving to the .45-70.

Jon.

[oldbear1950]

I have four real favorites, (1) Henry GOLDEN BOY .22, (2) Henry 45-70, (3) Rossi 16 inch barrel 38/357, (4) 45 colt/454 casull

[1895gunner]

Good to see that the .45-70 continues to win the poll. After 150 years, the cartridge is still going strong, maybe strongest yet. I have so many .45-70's that it dwarfs the rest of my collection. Rossi's, Henry's, Marlins, David Pedersoli's and I can't get enough of them. While I shoot almost every caliver of lever gun, I always prefer a straight wall cartridge. "Long Live The Lever Gun"!

[The_Doctor]

I have a few lever guns... I chose the 45 Colt caliber because it was the only one on the list that I own, LOL!

Others are 38-40, 38-55, 25/35 and 22WRFM.


Certainly I love lever guns!


The_Doctor

[Griff]

Good to see that the .45-70 continues to win the poll...

You might want to look at the numbers again... the .30-30 is 3 votes up on the 45-70. As befitting "America's Deer Cartridge"!

[wilecoyote]

without if: I wanted a lever, and I wanted a .444_
and that's what I chose_

[AK Islander]

Since I have a buncha lever guns I had to ask myself which one would be the last to go, if I had to sell them all. Easy answer: JM Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun.

[Juhosaphat]

45-70 for sure. I need to get another one. Had TWO Marlin STP's at one point. Regret not keeping atleast one.

45-70 is just too versatile with too many bullet choices. Besides, who doesn't like a big boom? That and it matches my BFR.

[Ntropy]

Amen Brother

[450 Fuller]

Just to spice the mix: I have 4 smokeless-era 1886 original Winchesters in 33 WCF. But to balance them out, another 3 pre-war Model 71s in .348 ...
But there is another 1910 1886 half-magazine 45-70 nickle steel barreled rifle guarding the rest.

[ttd444]

a 1972 Winchester m94 in 35/30-30 (JES Reboring)

[Rockindaddy]

A Winchester 1886 original not a rice grinder reproduction in 45-70. Second would be the 1895 Marlin (pre lawyer safety model) in 45-70. These two rifles have put more venison in the freezer than any other rifle or caliber!!!!

[Kai]

Well, as one who collects Winchester leverguns and has several different models in different configurations and many different calibers/cartridges, I have a favorite however, it does not fall into any of the cartridges you have given us as choices. It's not just the caliber/cartridge that is my favorite but also the rifle I have chambered in said caliber/cartridge. The rifle is a model 1876 made in 1877 and in caliber 45-75. The gun is in beautiful condition special ordered with a set trigger and dust cover, has a great bore, is quite accurate and a blast to shoot. Plenty for deer and bear.

[shdwlkr]

Thinking about this question and as I age just how much recoil am i going to accept. For me if I were forced to pick and then go buy I think I would be looking at .357mag/38special or 30-30 or maybe 25-35 or even 32-20 or even the old .256 win mag. All of my choices can handle at least 86 grain bullet, have low recoil and not to heavy to carry, can hold enough rounds. Now to figure out how to get the right one and find all I need to be able to use it. When I was much younger a full house load in a 45-70 was fun now not so much and that is why I am rethinking what lever should I look to get.

[veeman]

My tastes changes every summer it seems. The last few summers have been focused on my Uberti 1876's. This summer has been mostly with my Winchester Chief Crazy Horse in 38-55.

[popper]

Got a Marlin in 30/30 but really liking the Henry in 308.