Smooth levergun

couldbeanyone

New member
Who makes the smoothest out of the box levergun that will fire 38 specials? My wife enjoys shooting my Rossi 92 clone, but she has a real tendency to short stroke and not run the action with authority. I'm not looking for a cowboy action or speed gun, just need something smoother and more forgiving of gentle manipulation of the action. Any input would be appreciated.
 
Henry has the smoothest action money can buy in a factory rifle. Their "Big Boy" model can shoot .38 and .357 mag. Nice looking rifles but weigh a ton!

If it was me I'd spend a little more for a Marlin and have a gunsmith polish and tune it. It's worth every penny when done right!
 
I think the Henry is the best out of the box. I don't think you should have to have a new gun worked on to make it as smooth as a cheaper gun.
 
i have a marlin 1894 one of my range buddies has a henry (both 357mag). The action of the henry is definitely more smooth then the action of the marlin.
I dont like the way you have to load the henrys tube though.
 
My Henry is pretty smooth out of the box but they aint cheap! Your local gunsmith should be able to make that 92 pretty slick! I had mine done and I can run the lever with my little finger, its the slickest lever Ive ever thrown.
 
Slick that Rossi action up and it will smooth and easy to run. I slicked mine up just by filling the action with white lithium grease and working it a couple or three hours. I can run rounds through it with one finger now. You can send it to Steve Young and have the springs changed and an action job done on it and it will be slicker than snot on a porcelain doorknob. http://stevesgunz.com/ActionSG.htm
 
Can't say for sure but ill just put in my .02 cents. All the horror stories about poor CQ, fit, finish, and function, I hear about the newer marlins make them a tough buy IMO. Sounds like Henry is the way to go.
 
I agree that Henry's have some of the smoothest actions out there, but their triggers are nothing to write home about.
 
My Winchester 94ae runs pretty smooth, still a long action on it, but takes both .357 and .38 with no problem. Was picking off clay at 100 yards with 158gr round nose Remington ammo. Found it at a pawn shop and had to have it, no regrets at all.
 
Have a fine Henry in .45lc. Great action and very accurate. I bit on the heavy side, but would recommend highly.

Great shooting and good looking gun. My nephew used to see it hanging up in my Dad's living room, so as soon as he turned 9 or 10, he bought him a Henry single shot youth model.
 
Thanks for all the input. Seems everyone pretty much agrees the Henry is smooth. I'm going to have to give one a look as the tube loading might be a good thing as well. The side loading gate of the Rossi is the other thing that gives the wife a little trouble.:)
 
"The side loading gate of the Rossi is the other thing that gives the wife a little trouble."

I have a solution for you. In cowboy action we use a gizmo often called a "rifle speedloader". A friend made one for me using a piece of PVC pipe (just large enough to hold five cartridges) with a dowel in a handle run through a hole in an endcap. The tip of the pipe is cut at an angle. It looks like a syringe to me. I like showing it to spectators and asking them to guess what it's for. Some people think it's a slide whistle. No one has guessed it right yet, but it's clever and simple.

Just drop five rounds into the PVC tube, base first, then press the tip of the pipe into the loading gate. Push the plunger and the cartridges run into the magazine. If you hold it right they go in with a sound like "ZIP!"

No more sore fingers or torn nails.
 
HENRY! I have spent a lot of $ trying to make Marlins & Winchesters as smooth, got close, but not al the way. Go with Henry!
 
Back
Top