New lever rifles

[wcat94]

The rifleman

Would someone please explain the reason behind those big goofy levers?

They worked for Chuck Connors.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

They worked for Chuck Connors.

The large lever loop worked for John Wayne first.

Thanks for the commentaries - I hope we get more.

I have several lever rifles, I had a bunch more that I sold, but the ones I really liked I still have.

Winchester Model 94s: .25-35, .30-30, .375 Winchester,

Marlin Guide Gun: .45-70

Navy Arms/Rossi M92: .45 Colt

I don't need another but some of these new ones just really tempt me!

 

[Rodan]

I also have a "Triple Black" Rossi; mine's in .357mag... I bought it as a knockaround carbine for our property, and it might go in the RV for trips to states that aren't friendly to ARs (if we go there at all).

I added a 3 lug (HK) QD suppressor mount, and a handgun red dot. It's accurate enough out to 100yd and very quick handling. .38s through the suppressor are 'hollywood quiet', and laugh out loud fun, though it's a bit unwieldy with the can mounted.

I tried to keep the sleek and quick handling nature of a lever carbine, which IMHO is where the 'tacticool' levers really lose the plot. I've handled a couple of lever guns with rail forends and adjustable stocks and they're just clunky and awkward.

In all reality, it's more a toy than a serious rifle. 99 times out of 100, in a real SHTF situation, I'm going to grab an AR because it's a lot more effective in a real fight.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

To be able to fit a fully gloved- big glove- hand into them in the winter, when hunting.

Only work if the trigger finger is cut out.....You'll get premature ignition with a fat fingered glove...........Been there......Done that.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

They worked for Chuck Connors.

Only with a screw and a lever in the trigger guard.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

*
It seems to me that the reference was to AR platforms, which have bans and restrictions in several states. There is no question that these bans are of questionable constitutionality, as with the bans on standards capacity mags (the 30 round Mag is the standard, but some states get their bloomers in a bunch about them). For the resulting legal and political reasons (some low quality prosecutors will analyze an otherwise justified shooting with an AR differently), if one lives in such a place or travels through them, there is a lot to be said for a lever gun. I am waiting for mine, and have what I need to set it up as much like an AR as possible (RDS, light, sling). I am likely to add a SxS 12 gauge with a light probably a Stoeger) for similar reasons. With a minimum length barrel and 000 buck, it is a serious close range weapon.

Is there a legal difference from the platform used? Not in terms of assessing the use of force. Any other assertion is misconduct, but I do this stuff for a living and want all the silly issues on my side.

Thought this was a lever gun thread. Need a pic of your lever gun set up like an AR.

 

[wcat94]

Only with a screw and a lever in the trigger guard.

And in Hollywood.

 

[S-W4EVER]

The large lever loop worked for John Wayne first...

That’s why I have large loop levers on some of my Winchesters & Rossi’s, nostalgia!

 

[TheTinMan]

I love lever action rifles. Relatively lightweight, shorter than most bolt actions or semiautos. And I grew up on John Wayne movies and The Rifleman.

If you want a classic, it’s hard to beat this Winchester Model 64 Deluxe Deer rifle in .30-30

However, I really like the new Marlins made in Mayodan, NC. The hammer forged barrels with normal rifling are more accurate (in my small sample size) than older, JM Marlins, and you don’t have to worry about shooting lead bullets. Fit and finish are excellent IMHO. This is a new 336 Deluxe (also .30-30). My only complaint is that it has a 7 pound trigger pull that appears to be outside of normal.

This is a Mayodan-made 1895 Guide Gun. Ruger has smoothed the edges on the lever, and this isn’t stupidly big - big enough for gloves though.

I think the laminated stock looks good, and I won’t worry about taking it out in the woods in rain, snow, etc. As far as threaded barrels go, you need to try shooting 400 grain bullets at steel at 100 yards with a suppressor .

Then there’s the Browning BLR. Made in Japan. Please don’t even think about taking it apart - apparently getting the rack & pinion lever mechanism back together and timed right is a major challenge. However, the takedown version I have is easy to clean

Four .308 Winchester cartridges fit in the flush magazine (no one in the US markets larger capacity magazines for it). Now it’s got an older Leupold 2.5x Scout scope mounted on the barrel - a very quick and accurate setup. I like it so much that I had a case made for it:

Speaking of Miroku, this is a”Winchester” 1892 Trapper Deluxe Takedown in .45 Colt. It’s an absolute hoot to shoot… but it is so pretty!

I won’t offend your sensibilities with the Rossi R-95 (Marlin 336 derivative) that I went full Ranger Point Precision on. The factory stock looked terrible, and the adjustable stock lets me get a cheek weld with a taller optic. I did go too far with that project and am thinking about selling it.

I have handled but not shot a Smith & Wesson 1854. It’s an odd derivative of a Marlin with a couple of Henry features thrown in. I don’t especially like the plastic stock version, and the real wood version is too expensive compared to available alternatives.

 

[Faulkner]

I'm a big lever gun fan, I just don't care for the so called "tactical" lever guns.

 

[mtgianni]

Please show an area and explanation of where carbine style rifles are "banned" for usage.

I think the OP was referring to the States that have straight wall cartridge of a certain length as their standards, banning cartridges with a shoulder.

I have a modern lever, the BLR in 308, and have sold a few others leaving me with a couple of 92's, a 94 and a 336.

 

[Doug M.]

Thought this was a lever gun thread. Need a pic of your lever gun set up like an AR.

*
Still waiting for delivery, so no pix. I might have an adjustable stock; the RDS/1000 lumen SureFire/sling will be as similar to my AR as possible. My primary use for all firearms is fighting, so they are generally set up accordingly. Any configuration otherwise is not really of value to me.

I understand a little more easily the affection for relatively traditional appearance in a lever gun than some of the things I see about wood stocks on a revolver, but function matters to me far more than anything else.

 

[Puller]

Try as I might, these tacticool lever guns just don't melt my butter.

 

[rockquarry]

Try as I might, these tacticool lever guns just don't melt my butter.

Is that a joke or a real gun?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I think the OP was referring to the States that have straight wall cartridge of a certain length as their standards, banning cartridges with a shoulder.

That wasn't me and I agree, I think that the writer meant ARs in a general way, not carbines.

And, as long as we're sharing pictures:

Pre USRAC Winchester Model 94 .30 30 with Williams peep sight:

Winchester Model 94 Big Bore in .375 Winchester:

I think that one there is just gorgeous.

 

[bgrafsr]

I like the older ones. Have a Marlin 1894 with octagonal barrel in .32-20 WCF, and in the process of buying a Winchester Model 92 with octagonal barrel, also in .32-20 WCF. Both are pre 1900.

 

[boykinlp]

Try as I might, these tacticool lever guns just don't melt my butter.

MY EYES, MY EYES!!!
Larry

 

[WR Moore]

If your juries are populated by soccer moms, lever guns are less threatening than ARs. Wood stocked semis less threatening than the EBRs. Or, come to think of it, most folks.

Decades ago, the local paper did a surprisingly diverse & large survey about self defense-with thumb nail info on respondents. The general theme was: "You don't need no A-Salt rifle to defend yo home. Git you a shotgun!" Paper has since changed hands and they imported a New Yorker (with an agenda) as editor.

 

[Puller]

Is that a joke or a real gun?

Believe it or not, it's a real deal. In 2023, POF-USA, known for its lineup of AR-style rifles, shocked the industry with its Tombstone, a lever-action, pistol-caliber carbine that accepts a detachable box magazine.

The POF-USA Tombstone is chambered in 9 mm Luger and feeds from a standard 20-round magazine.

 

[Empe]

When I think of lever action rifles I think of traditional blue steel and walnut stocks . I think they possess a real beauty and simplicity.
However there is a whole generation of younger shooters who have been raised on Polymer stocks and flat/matte black barrels and receivers who may very well be attracted to the modern lever guns.
So to each his own .