"IF" you had to take a lever gun into combat

A levergun as a battle rifle? As opposed to a tactical carbine?

I think, and this is JMO, that there is a world or difference between the two. A battle rifle is just that. Something that can be used at short, intermediate and long range. No levergun fits that definition.

However....

As a combat vet, I have to say that most encounters with the enemy occur at moderately short ranges, 100yds or less. That is where the carbine shines. The military has recognized this and has for many decades now, designed their main rifles for just such close combat situations.

As a tactical carbine in 30-30, 357 or 44, a levergun would most certainly fit the bill as well as any other modern rifle.

Besides, my Marlin 1894s is a perfect match to my Vaquero! :eek:

I would not feel undergunned using this combination in 90% of the combat situations that I could envision, assuming for the moment that I didn't have access to a real battle rifle...something in, let's say, 308 or so.

The real disadvantage to using leverguns would be the ammo itself. Because the cartridges are not what the opposing forces would be using, you would have to carry all of your own ammo. No field pickings to be had, in this respect. Resupply is always a consideration.

Realistically however, my choice of weapons would depend upon whom I was engaging in combat. YMMV.
 
Antipitas,

"........short, intermediate and long range. No levergun fits that definition."


Are you saying that a Browning BLR in 300 Win Mag is NOT a long range weapon?

I know that a lever action rifle is not the first pick of most sportsmen who want or have to shoot long shots. But some are capable of the same accuracy as your standard bolt action! Some better!!! I've got a friend who has a Marlin 30.30 that will outshoot a Remington 700 in 30.06 that I had all day long at 100 yards.
 
Danny45, you are, of course, correct.

In my defense, I simply didn't think of this. My thinking, as regards leverguns, runs more along the lines of the 30-30's and 45-70's (along with the newer pistol cartridge guns: 357's and 44's).

I apologize for overlooking the obvious exceptions.
 
.307

has every body forgotten about the win mod94 in .307? its a .308 with a rim. it would fit the bill better than the 30/30. longer range and better balistics at least 400 - 500 fps better than the 30 /30 and only 150 - 200 fps slower than the .308 with 150 gr. bullets. it would be my first choice. if ammo wouldnt be a problem.
 
A Savage 99 in .300 Savage or .308. The 99 is THE rifle of all time. A distant second place is a tie between the Winchester Model 88 or Sako finnWolf in .243.

On this hypothetical battlefield, there will be two kinds of men. Men with Savage 99's and dead men.
 
NO way

I can not even think of combat with a lever action weapon....I have over 30 weapons and the only lever action is a m94 30-30...That my father gave me, when he died.....


Thanks Chris :cool:
 
Gentlemen,

A Savage M99 in .308 Win. This will be a great battlefield weapon under SOME conditions, and those would be any conditions that any lever gun would be useful.

I have one in my home right now, and I trust it with my life..

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm
 
A Silly question...but Since You Asked...

I do happen to have a Marlin 94 that's done duty as my 'Backporch Gun' for over 10yrs. I wouldn't hesitate to grab it and the 10 .44Mag rounds stuffed in it, out the back dooe to do battle with ...whatever in my back yard. So far it's been with me when I've had to deal with a wolf/rottweiler fight on my back porch (neither one mine) and the local Momma mountain lion that cycles through the neighborhood each year teaching her newest cub to hunt poodles in my neighbors backyards.:D
 
A Browning BLR or Savage 99 in 308 would be my first choice. If I can't have one of those I will take a Marlin in 30-30. 44mag would be ok for close range stuff and the magazine capacity would be nice, but I just don't think a pistol caliber rifle is the way to go in this part of the country. Watch-Six
 
I have a pre-1964 model 94 in .30 W.C.F. and have shot many, many rounds through it with both factory ammo and my (mostly) own reloads.

Never had a jam. NEVER, not once! Ever!
 
Are we talking combat like in war? If so, I’d select almost any bolt-action over any lever action.

The biggest disadvantages to a lever gun are (1) lack of firepower compared to modern select-fire weapons – bolt actions share this weakness - and (2) that it is difficult to fire from a low-prone position, which is where you’re going to want to be when the rounds are flying both ways. At least with a bolt-action, you can fire from a low-prone position.

Now, for the most part, you _could_ replace all or most of the M9s in the combat arms and combat support units with pistol-caliber leverguns and that would be fine, but an infantry squad armed with leverguns, whether in .38 Spl or .300 Win Mag, would be at a tremendous disadvantage facing a squad armed with 3 SAWs, 3 M16A2s with M203s, and 7 more M16A2s. A humongous disadvantage.

If I was in combat, my primary weapon would be the radio, for calling in CAS and indirect fire. Any shooting I’d do would be “defensive.” So I’d be just fine with even a pistol-caliber levergun.

Assuming I was transformed into a snuffy, and/or radios disappeared with all non-lever-action weapons, I’d want a levergun in 40mm with an assortment of buckshot, HEDP and so forth. Hey, we’re dreaming, so may as well have a good dream!

Semper fi,
Bruegger out.
 
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