Gate vs Tube

8

'88Scrat

New member
Looking to purchase my first lever gun and I was curious on which style you prefer and why; a loading gate or a tube fed style lever gun.

Right now the front runner is a Henry H009B mainly because the Model 94 Winchester is a whopping $1200 which I gotta be honest seems ridiculous, you're paying for the name.

Thanks!
 
Go with the Henry. They employ Americans and they are great guns.

I prefer the tube. Stuff fifty cartridges through a loading gate and your thumb will prefer the tube. Maybe if I was topping off from a galloping house I'd feel different. But for systematically murdering cans and other range work I actually do I prefer the tube.
 
I guess it is preference, but I much prefer the loading gate for most cartridges. I haven't seen one for the diminutive rimfire cartridges, and I would imagine that it would a quite difficult to use a loading gate with 22 lr.

Advantages include a rapid top-up should you see the need, as opposed to standing up, tilting the rifle vertical, removing the long sleeve, and dropping cartridges in. Too, if you are anything like me, there is a positive "stop" when inserting cartridges through a gate when the tube is full. Often, when dropping them in from the muzzle end I can over fill it (if I lost count of the number fired), and then tipping it muzzle down to remove a certain number of cartridges is aggravating.

My $.02 which is worth even less. :)
 
To use the tube, your hand winds up directly in front of the muzzle.

With the loading gate, there is no such danger.

I will tolerate tube-loading on a .22, but that's where I draw the line.

There are several quality centerfire lever action rifles with loading gates. In fact, Henry is the only manufacturer that does not offer one.

Tube-loading on a centerfire rifle is backward, and introduces an unnecessary safety issue.

These days, Marlin is really your best bet, but the new Mossberg lever action rifles has been getting good reports, and it is economically priced. Looks good, too.

Marlin and Mossberg are both American manufacturers.

http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/464-lever-action-centerfire-rifles/
 
he Model 94 Winchester is a whopping $1200
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There have been about 14 million Marlin and Winchester 30-30's made. Many of them can be purchased used in the $250-$400 range and are better guns than the Henry or new Winchester.

The lack of a loading gate is a deal breaker on the Henry for me.
 
It's pretty much a personal preference. Both work fine.

I own Winchesters and Henry's. The Henry has the smoothest action of the bunch, followed very closely by my 1873 Winchester (Japanese made). I do like the gate better than the tube, but that's a personal choice.

You'd be fine with either.
 
The original Henry rifle did not have a loading gate. While it was a marvelous rifle and revolutionary in its day, it had some inherent problems. By 1866, these flaws were remedied by the addition of a loading gate and forearm.
On to modern times; my brother, who has packed guns in saddle scabbard on horseback more than I have, observed that whenever he rode with his rim fire levergun, upon removal of the rifle from the scabbard, the tube had come unlatched and would eject with all cartridges into the scabbard!!!:eek:
I like loading gates. They are necessary, in my opinion.
 
In regards to a 30-30. Most anything new these days is good and you'll get use to one or the others workings over time.
Each manufactures rifle has its/a quirk. Marlin has its Cross Bolt Safety. Henry weighs 1-1/2 lbs or more heavier than the others. Mossberg are~~~~Mossbergs. Nothing fancy but they do shoot as good as any of the others. If you were looking for something used I definitely have some opinions and preferences on that subject. But this thread is about a new in the box 30-30. So when all opinions are finally commented about dislikes and good things. It all boils down to their prices. And there is where their difference lie.
 
The Henry cannot fire unless the trigger is pulled. Upon firing the last cartridge, simply leave the action open while taking the tube out--arguably this is actually safer than a gate load--which also must be cycled in order to empty unused cartridges. 2 strikes against gate loaders being inherently safer IMO.

But an advantage of tube loads that you don't hear discussed often is that the side ejection allows a scope to be mounted over the trigger--with a top-ejection model that could possibly prevent reliable case ejection; and all other things being equal, a side ejection is going to get the spent case out more reliably than a top ejection IMO in cases of short stroking.

 
Tubes belong on rimfires, gates on centerfires.
I've read on here and other places that heavy recoiling 45-70's can play hell on a removable tube.
I can see if your paper punching or marauding some cheeky tin cans how a removable tube may be preferred but for more serious uses I think a loading gate is the only way to go.
I'm pretty sure cost is also a factor with one method versus the other.
A Marlin can be cycled and emptied without full chambering a round.
Marlin is the original side ejecting tube fed lever gun by the way.
 
I HATE GATES.when firing my .357 rifle, a few rounds in, my fingers are cut up and something bleeding. Jamming that case head all. The way past the lock when your fingers are too large and the gate is small and the spring is hard is not something you want to do when the zombies or the clantons are outside the house.
 
Tubes belong on rimfires, gates on centerfires.
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I despise loading tube magazines without a gate.
I have never liked just dropping round after round on top of each other while having your hands and face in the vicinity of the business end of a gun. I know how to load a tube while being safe, but it is quite awkward. You have to put the butt end on the ground, pull out the follower and find someplace to stash that so it wont get any dirt/moisture on it so as not to ruin your tube or action. Once that is done, then you need to point the muzzle in a safe direction for all (including yourself), then one by one, drop live cartridges down on top of each other. Even with a clear chamber, IF (big if) a round went off in the tube, it will act somewhat like a barrel. You either have one or more projectiles coming out the tube or you have the tube blowing out and possibly making contact with your... legs?
Though I do own a tube fed .22LR, this is the main reason why I will never buy a Henry. I understand they are staying true to historical form, but firearm functions have improved since then.

A Marlin or Winchester are much better options in my opinion for both ease of loading and safety.
 
I HATE GATES.when firing my .357 rifle, a few rounds in, my fingers are cut up and something bleeding. Jamming that case head all. The way past the lock when your fingers are too large and the gate is small and the spring is hard is not something you want to do when the zombies or the clantons are outside the house.
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You don't push them all the way in with your fingers. Push it in until there's not much more than the case head sticking out and use the next cartridge to push it in. You only have to use your finger on the last one.
 
you do not have to completely remove the tube--and there is a side slot to drop the rounds into. I've hunted with a 44 mag gate-load lever for years; and the procedure is always the same--get safely away from the road, get down on the ground, load the magazine (removing fingernail cuticle at the same time) and then hunt all day. Never had to reload over the course of the day--and almost always unloaded at the end of the day most if not all the magazine by the "upside-down partial cycle technique".

A tube gun is basically the same--load once, empty once. In the event I need to reload in desperation after emptying an entire mag (never has happened, but I guess it could) a gate load might be faster--but then you can also practice direct single-feed with a tube gun.
 
...the price of Honorable Nippon Copy John Blowning 1894 mighty high.
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Yes, but every Blowning/Miroku I've owned has been incredible. Maybe even dare I say worth the money :D

A Wrinchester/Miroku with the rebounding hammer can pound sand.
 
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