leverguns
- Thread starter shooter43
- Start date
Stu925 said
" As a kid my father owned a couple of old Winchester lever guns and I hunted with a Model 94 30-30. My absolute favorite was the Model 1886 in .33WCF, at the time no one was making brass for it, I remember my father spending hours forming brass from 45-70 brass. The rifle was a half magazine take-down, I can't even imagine what it would be worth now. He sold it along with a Model 92 in .44-40 which he had all redone since it was a basket case when he bought it. Anyone know if there are any reproduction model 1886 rifles on the market, I'd love to have another one and original Winchesters are out of my price range."
You have two routes to go on the "replica" 86 front: Current production--Chiappa (Armi Sport) has started marketing an 86 repro--carbine and octagonal rifle--available through LSI (Legacy Sports) and I believe Cimarron and Taylors--if not yet then soon. Probably too early to tell on function, but like their 1892s are said to be real sweethearts to behold. The 92s reportedly had some early small parts/teething issues for some--I don't know if ironed out. Supposedly they took extra care on the 86s to get them right out of the chute.
There is also the Browning 86 made in the 80s IIRC--in saddle ring carbine (22") and regular and high grade rifle forms. These are real gems, made in the same Miroku, Japan plant the equally excellent Browning 92s were, as well as recent-years' Winchester 86 and 92 levers (but which have the dang lawyerly stuff added).
Neither of the above choices is cheap, but cheaper than an original old Win in good condition, and of modern metals.
" As a kid my father owned a couple of old Winchester lever guns and I hunted with a Model 94 30-30. My absolute favorite was the Model 1886 in .33WCF, at the time no one was making brass for it, I remember my father spending hours forming brass from 45-70 brass. The rifle was a half magazine take-down, I can't even imagine what it would be worth now. He sold it along with a Model 92 in .44-40 which he had all redone since it was a basket case when he bought it. Anyone know if there are any reproduction model 1886 rifles on the market, I'd love to have another one and original Winchesters are out of my price range."
You have two routes to go on the "replica" 86 front: Current production--Chiappa (Armi Sport) has started marketing an 86 repro--carbine and octagonal rifle--available through LSI (Legacy Sports) and I believe Cimarron and Taylors--if not yet then soon. Probably too early to tell on function, but like their 1892s are said to be real sweethearts to behold. The 92s reportedly had some early small parts/teething issues for some--I don't know if ironed out. Supposedly they took extra care on the 86s to get them right out of the chute.
There is also the Browning 86 made in the 80s IIRC--in saddle ring carbine (22") and regular and high grade rifle forms. These are real gems, made in the same Miroku, Japan plant the equally excellent Browning 92s were, as well as recent-years' Winchester 86 and 92 levers (but which have the dang lawyerly stuff added).
Neither of the above choices is cheap, but cheaper than an original old Win in good condition, and of modern metals.
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deezbullets
Inactive
I prefer Winchesters over Marlins for very subjective reasons (looks and handling, though I do have a Marlin Model 39 that I'd never part with). The Winchesters I have are a Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight", chambered in .45-70 Government and a Model 94 carbine, chambered in .30-30 Winchester.
In terms of sights, all of my "traditional" levers are equipped with Williams receiver sights as I think a scope detracts from what a lever-action does best: being a handy, compact rifle for quick shots in heavy brush. My 67 year old eyes don't do so well anymore with "conventional" irons but I have no trouble looking through a peep (some people wrongly try to "center" the front sight inside the aperture of a receiver sight, slowing down the aiming process) and putting a bead on the hair of a deer in the right spot.
Though I generally only put scopes on my bolt-action rifles, the one exception is a Savage Model 99 lever-action, chambered in .358 Winchester, that I have a Redfield "Widefield" 2 3/4 x 5 mounted on, using a Weaver "Tip-Off" mount.
In terms of sights, all of my "traditional" levers are equipped with Williams receiver sights as I think a scope detracts from what a lever-action does best: being a handy, compact rifle for quick shots in heavy brush. My 67 year old eyes don't do so well anymore with "conventional" irons but I have no trouble looking through a peep (some people wrongly try to "center" the front sight inside the aperture of a receiver sight, slowing down the aiming process) and putting a bead on the hair of a deer in the right spot.
Though I generally only put scopes on my bolt-action rifles, the one exception is a Savage Model 99 lever-action, chambered in .358 Winchester, that I have a Redfield "Widefield" 2 3/4 x 5 mounted on, using a Weaver "Tip-Off" mount.
sir_n0thing
New member
While i prefer bolt guns, i have a nostalgic soft spot for lever guns. Partly because i love old western flicks, but moreso because i got my first deer with one... grandpa's old Winchester 98 in . 30-30, w/ iron sights. Two bucks on a ranch in Llano, Texas. Memory I'll never forget.
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I have a Winchester 94 in .30-30 side eject (or up and out to the right anyway) I'm about to drill and tap for a saddle ring. I also have a Marlin in .30-30 and another Marlin in .35. The only one I ever scoped was the Marlin .30-30. I think they are way more fun to shoot with iron sights.