Lever Action gaining in popularity?

I always looked down my nose at them

Found a stainless, rossi, '92 too cheap to pass up in .45 colt and took a chance. I love it. Accurate, hard hitting and handy. Short and lightweight. It goes everywhere.
 
Here's my Tanker 94. I also shoot a 39A, 32/20 94CL, an Uberti short rifle deluxe and shoot them all with my cast bullets....welll...not the 39A.


 
It's rediculas, I've got two shops with orders in to their supplierse trying to find me the SS Rossi I'm after. :(

The Marlin 1895SBL in 45-70 is on my "gotta have it" list too.
 
I never really got the point of lever guns to be honest. Bolts are usually more accurate, semis shoot faster.

Then I held a well-used Winchester 94 at Cabelas a couple weeks ago. I get it, it handles like a dream. I love my Mauser but that gun made it seem clunky by comparison. It was honestly hard to put it down!

Almost needless to say; a decent lever gun is somewhere in my future...
 
I never really got the point of lever guns to be honest. Bolts are usually more accurate, semis shoot faster.
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It's because many of us of a "certain age" have always wanted a revolver and rifle that looks like the guns we saw in the cowboy movies and shows we watched as kids. Both my "cowboy" revolver and rifle are 22lr because I wanted to shoot them affordably and often. I have larger guns for more serious shooting.
 
For me, the charm of lever guns is that they are the ultimate utilitarian rifle. Notwithstanding some of the beautiful examples above, for the most part the lever gun is one you throw in the trunk of your car or behind the seat of your truck, have with you at all times, and pretty much never pamper or baby. It's there when you need it, never complains or is picky about ammo, and you never expect more of it than it can deliver (ie few, if any of us, demand 1 MOA accuracy from any lever gun).

It's just what you need, when you need it.
 
I don't really think they are any more popular. If anything I think they are in decline overall. Marlins quailtiy has been down recently and Winchester's have been out or production for a while. Except for some high end Japanese imports. I think some guys are starting to look for other options. Guns such as the Rossi are filling the gap. They may be having trouble meeting demand, but I still don't think that demand is nearly what it was 30 years ago.

There are roughly 14 million used Marlin and Winchesters out there. Any of those are my prefered choice.
 
Thanks Keg,

I went to Cabelas and looked at some nice lever guns on the used rack.

The Winchester 1895 was a beast, solid, crescent buttplate, solid action, heavy at the receiver, but balanced well.

Remlin 1895 45/70 Govt were ok.. the fit of the stock to receiver was bad.

Savage 99's Pre-60s were slick, they feel heavier than mine built in the 70s, probably due to the extra weight of the internal magazine.

Winchester 1892 was awesome, I'd like to pick up a Rossi 92 or Marlin 1894 to get into shooting pistol ammunition.

Marlin 1895 is also in the works.

As for lever action 22's, didn't see a 39a, 9422, or Henry.

The Browning BLR didn't tickle my fancy, gloss stocks, and just stylized angles of the receiver didn't make it feel like 'apple pie' so to speak.
 
A couple few years ago I got a very good deal on a Puma 92 in 45LC that appeared unfired. No experience with levers except my fathers ancient 94 in 30 30.
 
Picked up my Winchester 94 in 30-30 last year. I've had my Henry .44 for a few years now. Like them both and they shoot great. Now I'm looking for a Henry in the old metal frame in .45 LC.
 

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I'm a huge fan of lever guns. I've got 3 30-30's, a 357, and a 44. A mix of marlins, winchester, and rossi. I find myself looking for others all the time.

I'm right handed, but left eye dominant, so I mostly shoot rifles lefty style. Lever guns are naturally ambidextrous, and they tend to handle and shoulder well.

Pistol caliber ammo is easy and cheap to reload in larger quantities, so having lever guns in 44 and 357 lets me shoot rifles when other ammo isn't common, or just too danged expensive for me to justify.
 
Thanks Vince....I have been collecting since my teen years....These are the ones I kept....I wish I had a couple of those I sold or traded off back....:(
 
Lever Actions

Can't ever have too many levers. Lets see if I can remember all of mine.
Marlin 1894 41 Mag, Marlin 336 35 Rem
Winchester 88 .308 pre 64, Wincherster 94-22, Winchester 94 30-30 Pre 64, Forgot about 94 Saddle Ring Carbine 30-30:)
Rossi 92 44 Mag 20", Rossi 44 Mag 16" SS
Henry H001 22
Seem like there is another one somewhere. I will probably add a few more
later on.
 
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I bought that Winchester 94 High Grade model with all the fancy metal work. Almost too pretty to shoot....I said almost. :D First day I had it, I cleaned it, lubed it up and took it to the range and shot it. I've got to find a large loop lever for it.
 
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