"Best Overall Lever Action"?

R

ReserveCop

New member
I just received a gift certificate to my local WalMart.

I'm thinking of getting a lever action rifle.

Which specific brand/model rifle is the BEST overall lever action factoring in the following:

1 -- Quality

2 -- Reliability

3 -- Value (cost)

4 -- Capacity

5 -- Calibre (rifle or handgun round)

The rifle will be for general purposes...everything from plinking to possible self-defense to almost everything in between.

Thanks for your opinions.

[Edited by ReserveCop on 05-16-2001 at 01:01 AM]
 
Well, quite frankly, there really isn't a bad lever action on the market right now.

Winchester, Marlin, and Browning all produce excellent lever guns.

You should be able to find Winchester and Marlin at Wallyworld, but I don't know about Browning.

The Browning guns are normally a lot more expensive but, given their lock up (a rotary bolt action operated by a rack & pinion gear system attached to the lever) they are, in most cases, as accurate as a comparable bolt action rifle and normally a LOT more so than the Winchester & Marlin guns.

Also, because they are box fed, as opposed to tubular magazine fed, the Brownings can use pointed bullets.

Finally, the Brownings are chambered for truly high-intensity cartridges like the .308 & .30-06.

All three makes are excellent quality.
 
Limited to WalMart, you will probably have a choice between Winchester and Marlin. Get the Marlin. It is easier to mount a scope or Ashley Express sight on the receiver because it is a solid top. The caliber you choose will be limited to what they will stock/order.You did not say what type of shooting/hunting you plan on. They offer the 336 in
45-70, 30-30, 35 Rem, 444 Marlin, .450 Marlin. The 1894 in,.41Mag: 45 Colt. Marlin also offers most of these calibers in the "Guide Gun" style some in stainless. Stay away from the .444 it is hard to find and is expensive.

I could go on but do not have the time. You can Get a catalog from Marlin. Just look for their add in any gun magazine. They offer a lot of models in lever actions.

What ever you choose shoot and enjoy.

Cheers,

ts

P.S. I HIGHLY reccommend Ashly Express sights!
 
I had a Browning BLR .308 in the eighties. It was SWEET. I had "heard" through the gunstore-know-it-alls that they were defective because the barrels were to thin and the bullet's torque against the rifling would cause the barrel to twist:rolleyes:, so I sold it:(

Ah the stupidity of youth.
 
You can't go wrong with either a Winchester 30-30 or a Marlin in the same calibre. I like the Winchester because it's a bit lighter and handier. Calibre wise, I'd go with the 30-30. It's a great all-arounder. Very common (available everywhere), reasonably powerful, and affordable. A box of 30-30 just before deer season runs about eight bucks. 45/70 or 444 Marlin run about twenty bucks. The Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70 is a slick piece but the ammo is gonna cost ya. I like the 35 Remington calibre but it's not very common. It hits harder than the 30-30 but factory offerings aren't many. Cost is about 13-14 bucks a box. As far as reliability is concerned I've never had feeding problems with a 30-30 and I've owned both Win. and Marlin. Handgun calibre's through long guns might be a different matter. I have heard of reliability problems but not many. Good Luck, J. Parker
 
Definitely look at the special order catalog!!

I like all lever-actions so it would be hard to decide, so let the size of your gift certificate be a guide.

In value for cost, the Marlin M-336 in .30 WCF is unbeatable.

For a plinker and small game rifle, the marlin M-39, in whate ever the current version is called, is the best lever-action .22 LR rifle evere put on the market.

If your gift certificate stretches far enough, The Browning BLR is the last word in state-of-the-art lever-actions. I strongly suggest the .308 Win. would make the best all-around rifle.

Doc Hudson
 
I prefer the Marlins

They just feel like they fit together better than the Winchesters. The levers on the Winnies don't lock closed as tightly as the Marlins (there's a gap between the lever loop and the bottom of the stock), they have a Gawdawful spring-loaded trigger slack thing going on (handle one in a gun store and try the trigger, you'll see what I mean) and I like the Marlin's basic sites better than the Winchester's.

However, it's really hard to go wrong with either. You can get a Marlin 336A for less than you can a comparable Win 94 in .30-30, though.

If you want a little carbine, both Marlin and Winchester make short-barreled (16") versions in .357 and .44 magnum. The Marlins have 8+1 capacity, the Winchesters have 9+1. A Winchester 16" carbine is also available in .45 Colt.

You can get a Marlin in .45-70 Gov't or .450 Marlin, though. Or you can send 'em in to Jim West (www.wildwestguns.com) and have it rechambered to .50 Alaskan if real big bore is your thing.

.30-30 is a good all-rounder cartridge, though. It works against anything from coyotes to deer to bipedal predators if necessary, and with 6+1 capacity, you could empty the magazine on a bear and run like hell if need be. (I'd recommend it, 'cause one shot of .30-30 ain't gonna cut it with a big bear.) But, if you're more worried about bears, then get the 1895. It's available (with slightly different names) in two barrel lengths (22" and 18.5" ported) and three chamberings, .444 Marlin, .450 Marlin, and the elegant old .45-70 Government.
 
For mostly plinking and a fun gun I would recommend the Marlin in .357. You can shoot cheap .38 ammo through it when just plinkin' but can use it for self defense, deer, etc..
 
Marlin----I don't like how when a Winchester is cycled---how both the top and bottom come off the receiver. The Marlin just feels solid to me while the Winchster doesn't.


Just an opinion.
 
Are you interested in cowboy action shooting?
If so the best lever action is the Marlin Model 1894 Cowboy in 357 Mag./38 Spl.
The balance for this gun is amazing it points perfectly, and it looks beautiful.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894Cowboy.htm

Model 1894 Cowboy

This handsome rifle, available in 45 Colt, 357 Mag./38 Spl. and 44 Mag./44 Spl., was created for use in the fast-growing game of "Cowboy Shooting". Working closely with the Single Action Shooting Society, we have designed a rifle that specifically meets the needs of Cowboy Shooters. From its elegant 24" tapered octagon barrel with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling, to its handsomely checkered straight-grip walnut stock and squared finger lever, this rifle is pure Old West.
 
I just wish...

Marlin would make a version of their 1894P carbine in .41 Magnum. :(

And I'm curious...am I the only one that is irritated a little by the slack triggers in the Winchester 94s they make these days? I mean, it's not bad, but it bugs me a little.

[Edited by Nightcrawler on 05-16-2001 at 11:34 PM]
 
I own a Win94 Ranger in 30/30. Get a Marlin 336 in 30/30 instead. Both are great guns, but I don't particularly care for the Wins, trigger or smoothness of action.
 
I have owned and shot just about all of the different leveractions Made at one time or another. Since you haven't shot rifles much I would recomend getting a 22rimfire first. The Marlin 39 is very good but the Winchester 94/22 is also and they haven't put a lawyer proof cross bolt safety on it yet which makes it my favorite choice on a new gun.I also own a Browning BL22 leveraction and it is a very good gun also. however if you plan to scope it get the Marlin it is easier to scope in my opinion.You do have to buy a base but it gives you a better mounting platform than the tiny dovetails on the Winchester and Browning.If you have to have a centerfire than get a Marlin 30/30 for your first gun. If you have to get a pistol caliber stay with 357mag in the marlin.The Winchester 44mags seem to work OK.But the marlin 44s are known to give more jamming problems.I got these opinions the hard way, by buying and trying all of these guns. Also a Browning BLR in 308 espacally an older steel receiver model is a safe bet and a very good choice for a deer rifle.I have seen lots of out of the box boltactions that couldn't stay with them in the accuracy department.
 
Ok I'm totally biased towards marlin, as my first hunting rifle was a 336 in 30-30, and one of the first rifles i ever learned to shoot was a golden 39a.. and dad's new 1895 45-70 Marlin is a beast and just gorgeous to play with.

What ever you pick, beit rifle or pistol caliber, the Marlin will always be my fave.

OK, now having said that an 1895 winchester in 30-06 or 405 would be just dandy too. But i blame my love of this rifle on teddy roosevelt.
 
How about a real Hi-Power lever gun as in the Savage 99? All the handling advantages of the others but in real reach out rounds. I would think the Savage would be the ticket for all 5 reasons you list plus you can put a good scope on it and have a 300yd deer or elk rifle. The new version uses a detatchable magazine and comes in 250-3000 and .308. The old ones in 22,250,300 and 303 savage are still impresive rifles today not even considering that it was the first rifle chambered in a round to hit 3000fps. Not a small feat for any rifle in 1915 not to mention lever guns.
 
Nightcrawler- Unfortunately Savage discontinued the model 99 some years back. It is a fine rifle and you can find some good used ones, the kind where some fella bought one and made sure it shot good with 3 rounds and then killed 17 deer @ 50 yards with the leftovers over the years :D hehe
 
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