Dang I love lever guns

Lots of beautiful lever guns in this thread! I unfortunately currently don't own one but still have this photo of the Marlin 1894 .44. Luepold VX2 2-7 and a wild west guns trigger job. Took this photo in 2010 on a black bear hunt near Resurrection pass in AK. Was hunkered down in a bank with a great view of the treeline in spring. I need to dig up more from this awesome but unsuccessful hunt.



Side note: On this hunt a black bear paced back and forth at about 150 yards, just too far for my .44 to be comfortable taking a shot. My friends 300WM suffered a visibly damaged scope on the hike so he couldn't take a shot. I still believe the bear knew lol. Best trip I have ever been on.
 
I only have 2, a Henry Octagon .22 with a Skinner peep and an older Rossi 92 carbine in .357. Both are sweet, smooth and accurate.
 
I have 3 lever guns. My favorite is a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington bought for me while I was still in HS (1977). That one is a pleasure to shoot. The second favorite is another Marlin but in 30-30. This one was purchased about 1965 and is a hand-me-down from my dad. The last is a Western Field knock-off of a Mossberg 472 in 30-30 handed down by father-in-law. All three are as accurate as I am. I reload for all 3, and am working up light 30-30 loads with 110gr and 130gr RN for my grandson.
 
MY model 71 in 348win will put most any thing on the ground, it was said to be the best lever gun ever built, I am 72 and the recoil is getting to be a little much !!!
 
^^^^^^^^^

A gun shop I traded with a long time ago sold me a rifle with issues. They took it back but really wanted to give me a really nice `71 instead of cash. I didn't know much about levers back then and refused it. Sigh.

There's a song called OOH LA LA... the lyrics go "I wish I knew then what I know now".

The consolation prize is my 444 Marlin, it's shoots crazy, stupid accurate, so I'm all good.
 
My marlin 45-70 is incredible accurate. It a 100 yard gun but that’s all this old guy needs. I ain’t chasing nothing lol
 
MY model 71 in 348win will put most any thing on the ground, it was said to be the best lever gun ever built, I am 72 and the recoil is getting to be a little much !!!
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Well, you'll never have any trouble selling it should you want to. :D
 
I have always loved leverguns. I own and or have owned most of them.
My favorite and most used is an old Browning BLR in .308 win, but I have several original Winchesters, and a couple of Browning reproductions, another favorite being a Browning 86 carbine, 45/70.

Of course the Winchester model 94's are favorites.

All of those guns wear open iron sights or receiver sights, except for the Browning BLR. Lately, I have been shooting several hogs at relatively close range with my 86 Browning 45/70 and watching several more being shot by other calibers in bolt guns, and frankly I have been very happy with the knockdown performance of my 45/70, but my eyes are getting older and sometimes I feel the need for a low power scope, so I decided to try one of the new Marlin 1895's in 45/70.

I have owned a couple of the Marlins before, but they went down the gun trading trail years ago. I had been eyeing the some of the Guide Gun variations for a long time and pulled the trigger today and ordered one of the Marlin big lever carbines. This one is blackened stainless and has an olive green laminated wood stock. It has a green textured paint on the stock. I don't know it looks kind of cool, and I like the looks of it better then the grey Laminate stocks and brighter stainless steel.

However, I am crossing my fingers that the craftsmanship will be acceptable, and it will work fairly smooth. I know that for a few years, the Marlins suffered a drop in quality and craftsmanship after they got bought out, but most of the newer ones lately have looked to be better to me.

Anyway, at close range, under a 100yds, the 45/70 has always done great for me so I am looking forward to getting a new levergun and adding a low powered scope to it.
 
Both of my 2016 Marlins have been great. A 30-30 stainless, and the 1895 45/70. A vast improvement over earlier models. But then I noticed that, when I bought the first one. Otherwise, I wouldn't have. It worked out so well, that I bought the 336SS, with a Henry 45/70 in between.
 
I used an ancient 1886 .33 Winchester to nail a running coyote years ago. I missed with shot #1 when he was walking, but got him on #2 as he was running away. Lucky shot! Working that lever fast between shots is cool, as is working a bolt action quickly between shots. I used to own a bunch of vintage Winchesters (94's, 92's, octogons, 38-40's, etc.) and Marlins, back before "her", but that's another story. I managed to hang onto a couple of .30-30's, but now the boy is laying claim to them.
 
I took my Winchester 94 out hunting this evening after using my Ruger Hawkeye all week. It's easy to forget how handy a lever action carbine is for poking around the woods. Truly one of the most classic hunting rifles ever built.
 
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