Lever Gun Advice

[Bullseye 2620]

I am looking for a deer rifle well suited to where I live here in the Blue Ridge. Shots are rarely over 100 yards. It is my belief that more deer have been taken here with lever actions using the venerable .30-30 than with any other rifle/ammo combination, so I am inclined in that direction, but I recognize my ignorance and am looking for recommendations as to maker, model, and caliber. I'd go up to a grand, if necessary.

Deer hunters in the Appalachians are especially welcome to offer their suggestions.

Thanks so much guys!


Bullseye

 

[bigshot500]

Henry rifles (the big boy is the model your seeking) are a work of art, you can get a 30-30 for the 500-600 area new when on sale. The craftmanship is vastly superior to marlin or winchester of current or recent vintage. Many of my friends hunt with their marlins, winchester levers...they have dropped alot of deer. that being said when one takes out a henry rifle...bring a rag for their drool...oh and to those who say the brass, shiny reciever will scare deer...you can do one of two things, cover it with some camo or black tape or do what I do, ignore them and show them your freezer

 

[Steve in Vermont]

A good Winchester or Marlin in 30-30 or .44 Rem Mag. will serve you well. The most important thing will be practice. Shoot in low light, rain, fog, sitting, standing, etc. The conditions in which you will hunt. And a realistic deer target would be a nice touch.
Also, you might consider a low power (4X) scope with good low light capability and a post/cross hair that will make it easier to see in dense brush. Good Luck.

 

[NFrameFred]

Since Winchester stopped their traditional 94 production prices on the old Winnie 30-30's have jumped 300% in general. Glad I bought mine when they could be picked up used for 75 bucks .

IMO the Marlins (336 and like) are the better value, and my personal preference is the 35 Remington over the 30-30. Still good for the range you specify and throws a 200 grain pill with more cross-sectional density/area. Plus, the Marlins are infinitely easier to mount optics on and I think the actions are demonstrably smoother. Used Marlins (many times with optics accompanying) are found in my area in the $275 to $400 range, with average specimens going from $300 to $350.

The 35 Remington has a reputation for being finicky to re-load since folks who don't do proper case preparation the first time they load the empties tend to ruin a few in the bullet-seating stage. The inside of the case mouths should be lightly chamfered and a bullet with a slight or rounded heel works best, but the flat-based bullets that cause neck crushing the most work fine if the proper care and time is taken.

Unless you intend to use it as you would when hunting with a handgun, I'd stay away from the carbines that use the revolver rounds. 100 yard shots with a 357, 45 Colt, or even the 44 mag through a carbine are doable, just not as reliable and, in my book, ethical as a full powered rifle cartridge.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Go and pick up a good used Marlin...or Winchester if you can find one in a decent price range- the older the better on the Winchester, but even the post-64 rifles will shoot fine- they just hadn't held any value until the 94 was discontinued.

The Henry is a nice rifle, but it's the heaviest lever-action deer rifle money can buy- it's much heavier than the Marlin, which is heavier than the Winchester. It may shoot like a house-a-fire, but I'd hate to tote it- it's a range or treestand gun.

I've still got my father's pre-64 94, and he toted it more than he ever shot it, which is why a very light rifle is what you want. A good used Marlin with a clean barrel that hasn't been "monkeyed" with will be the best value- likely between $150 and $300, with emphasis closer to the first figure- but I don't know if you have them in droves in most shops like we do down here. I haven't seen a Marlin yet that wouldn't shoot with factory ammunition- unless the bore was allowed to rust.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I bought a Marlin 336. Then I bought another Marlin 336 because I like the first one so much. I wanted one with a decent wood stock and to stay with a classic look, and I wanted to put on plastic stock set and a scope. I want to add a more weather resistant finish to the plastic stock rifle. Both of them are in .30-30 although I now wish I had bought one in .35 Remington just for a difference. I have a Winchester 1892 in .357 and a 1894 in .30-30 and I like the Marlins better. I have a Henry .22 lever and I am hoping that the .30-30 rifles are leaps above the .22 versions in quality. The only real benefit I see to the Henry design is the mag tube being so easy to remove ammo and minimize the risk of deforming a bullet. I just hope they aren’t full of the same plastic and pot metal internals that my .22 has. With the Marlin you get a strong action, proper ability to mount a scope, and a truck load of third party options. I also love Mad Ogre’s shorty “tactical” Marlin. I may one day do the same to my plastic stock rifle.

One last time, I say MARLIN 336!!!

 

[Raider]

I would go with a Marlin 336 in 30-30. They areeasy handling, accurate and oh so easy to carry.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

If you want to scope it, find a good deal on a used Win 94 AE or a Marlin 336, or 1894, in whatever chambering you like. I prefer pistol cartridges in carbines, like 44Mag, or 45 Colt or 357 Mag in suitable handloads if ranges are under 100 yards.

If you don't care for scoping it, then you can add one of the repro Win 1892s in 44Mag, 45 Colt, or 357Mag with the right handloads.

Then there is always the Browning BLR, one of the ultimate lever actions. I've seen some good used deals lately on them. They handle modern bottlenecked cartridges, increasing your range and power, are bolt rifle accurate and are easy to scope.

My personal favorite lever action for deer hunting? It is a Winchester 1894 Trapper AE in 45 Colt. I have it set up with a compact Burris 2.5 power scope. With a 250gr Hornady XTP-HP (or 300gr if you prefer, they feed fine if crimped in the top groove) and a good handload using Ruger level charges of WW296, it will give me 2.5" accuracy at 100yards will hit like a 45-70. Plus, the Trapper length is very easy to carry.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I'd rather spend $400 to $600 for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 carbine in good to excellent condition. Great little rifles for the conditions you have described, and the value will always be there (and growing every year).

Good service and great investment. Excellent combination.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I'd rather spend $400 to $600 for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 carbine in good to excellent condition. Great little rifles for the conditions you have described, and the value will always be there (and growing every year).

Good service and great investment. Excellent combination.

Lobo,

Where are you finding pre-64 Winchester anything at those prices???

 

[35Rem]

Marlin 336 in 35 Remington (of course!). Hits like the Hammer of Thor!

 

[NFrameFred]

Since the subject has come up regarding the use of optics on a lever gun, many of us don't have much choice anymore since passing the mid 40's and the onset of presbyopia, but, (PERSONAL OPINION/PREFERENCE warning!) I can stand a scope on a Marlin lever rifle if necessary, but a scope on a model 94 Winchester is just plain wrong ! Oliver's lever rifle was made to be fired with iron sights, while standing on your hind legs like the good Lord intended.

And the ones who mounted those abominable off-set scopes on the pre-angle eject 94's are the worst offenders. Same kind of guys that used to put curb feelers on their huge sedans, I guess . . . . should be classified as a crime against a classic gun. I'm just waiting for some tacticool fool to market a bi-pod for a '94

 

[Andy Griffith]

I thought '94s supposed to be shot off horseback?
Why would I not want to use a perfectly good horse?

 

[NFrameFred]

I thought '94s supposed to be shot off horseback?
Why would I not want to use a perfectly good horse?

Ok, I'll give ya that one

 

[yaktamer]

I have a Marlin 30AS (cheap version of the 336) in .30-30 that I love. Shoots decent groups with iron sights and my lousy eyes. Hornady's "Leverevolution" ammo significantly increases the effective range.

 

[Snapping Twig]

All brands have their plus's and minuses. IMO, Marlin is the best bang for the buck with top mouting points for a scope and ease of maintenance with simple bolt removal.

Out to 100 yards, all are accurate and effective. Marlin bores run fat, so for cast bullets you need to match the bullet to the bore, but once done, they are bolt gun accurate - no joke.

Caliber... up to you really. I chose a .44 and a 45-70, so I have all my bases covered, but you may like a more traditional 30-30 or the .35 Rem or whatever.

Pistol calibers in the long barrel of a lever gun accelerate due to use of the extra barrel and a .44 load that goes 1200fps in a revolver leaves the lever at 1800fps - please note the extra horsepower therein. At 100 yards that's still several hundred fps faster than at the muzzle of a revolver. Name me the animal that can hold up to a point blank .44, then add several hundred fps and ask the same question.

Same applies to all pistol calibers in a lever. Reloading exploits this feature.

Good luck with your search.

 

[NFrameFred]

Pistol calibers in the long barrel of a lever gun accelerate due to use of the extra barrel and a .44 load that goes 1200fps in a revolver leaves the lever at 1800fps

I've A/B'd quite a few rounds through a chronograph with a handgun and then the same load through a carbine and have personally not found this to be the case - an additional 600 fps without increasing the load is quite a bit. I have seen over 250 fps gain on such but not the numbers you cite.

Reloading exploits this feature.

That we can agree on. You can load a 44 mag for carbine I would not want to shoot in my 29's.

 

[Hofstet]

Check out the Browning BLR Lightweight in Stainless Steel/Laminate.
I like either the 7mm-08 Remington, .270, or .270 WSM for deer.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Just as a follow-up, my first deer rifle was a Marlin 336 in .35 Caliber. As others have said, a great rifle and cartridge (comes in 150 and 200 gr. if memory serves) but stick with the 200, and the rifle easily accepts a scope. I have to say this would be my first choice. And you could start out w/o a scope but as you get older (speaking from experience) add one. Again, consider the post crosshair as it stands out nicely in dense brush and low light.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I know I'm wrong, but I never think of the BLR as a lever rifle. I'm only 32 but it just feels too modern to be in the same family. Not that any of us alive are old enough to have rubbed shoulders with John or Olin... Just saying. But a BLR in 7mm08 would be one sweet rifle. I would scope it with one of the new Redfields in 2-7 power.

But it still wouldn't feel the same...