New lever rifles

[Mike SC Hunter]

Yep.......The double shotgun died.........So in 50 years or so probably so will the lever gun...........SADLY


By then most us that appreciate the fine older guns will have crossed the big river.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Yep.......The double shotgun died.........So in 50 years or so probably so will the lever gun...........SADLY


.

Well, as long as there is cowboy action shooting the SxS double gun will never be totally gone and you do not have to shoot antiques, there are some new model coach guns out there. Moreover, the double gun is still being made in significant quantities for wing shooting and for REAL dollars, too. Supposedly, millennial generation bird hunters have taken to using them and the Beretta Parallelo retails for over $6,000. CZ makes them, as does Weatherby, and Stoeger makes one for $500. Likely, made in Turkey but it will do the same job as a Parallelo. So, "died" is not really correct when it comes to the SxS shotgun.

As for lever action rifles, I can make the same comment in re cowboy action shooters but, additionally, these new "tacticool" models will attract Gen Yers and Zers so I disagree, they'll still be around 50 years from now. I'm pretty sure there are very few of us here, if any, who will be around to check that.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have a couple "older" lever actions. They are fun to shoot and look cool with all that beautiful wood.

I was anxious to see what the new ones would look like. The first pic showed a pica-tinny rail on top of the receiver. That was enough for me. You've got to be kidding was my yhought.

 

[Doug M.]

Most of my training with rifles is with AR platforms. A quality RDS is your friend when it comes to fighting, especially with a long gun. For someone with my eyes, a good RDS is not really an option. I have one on a 590, along with a flashlight fore end; same reason. When my lever gun comes, it will have one too, along with a flashlight. Function dictates form.

The rail dislike is a cosmetic, not functional matter. If you don't value an RDS, the rail is likely not necessary. I do, so the rail is not an option for me.

 

[SWFan27]

I own a Henry Big Boy Classic lever action rifle chambered in 357 Mag/38 Spl. I absolutely love the thing. It is my cowboy AR.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzE1VgZPrKU"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzE1VgZPrKU[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_9Ahs0CTaI&t=13s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_9Ahs0CTaI&t=13s[/ame]

 

[wcat94]

I have lever actions from every decade except pre 1900. These include Marlin, Winchester, Browning, Mossberg and others. It's hard to pick favorites but the pre 64 Winchester's are up at the top. Maybe the 1895 in 30-06 is a favorite. The older JM marlins are nice also. All this being said the current models out there also have their place.

 

[wcat94]

Just something to ease eye pain from looking at new stuff. Model 1895 30-06

[url=https://postimg.cc/0b9WrT7y]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/ncD6SZzB/IMG-2157.jpg[/url][/IMG]

 

[45Smashemflat]

I’m always watching for an 1895 in ‘06. Nice example above!

 

[stykshooter]

In the last year I have picked up two of the Ruger made Marlin rifles, one in .44 and most recently one in .357. I had older JM guns in both calibers, and they were aggravating as all get out. Constantly jamming and you had to carry a screwdriver with you to pry the jam out. These new guns are stunning. Beautiful walnut and the fit and finish is great. I have about 400 rounds, both lead and jacketed through the .44 and about 250 through the .357. I haven't had the first hiccup yet. They are pricey, but so is everything else worth having now days. I think Ruger is putting out an outstanding product.

I hope they decide to tackle to model 39.

 

[TheTinMan]

Most of my training with rifles is with AR platforms. A quality RDS is your friend when it comes to fighting, especially with a long gun. For someone with my eyes, a good RDS is not really an option. I have one on a 590, along with a flashlight fore end; same reason. When my lever gun comes, it will have one too, along with a flashlight. Function dictates form.

The rail dislike is a cosmetic, not functional matter. If you don't value an RDS, the rail is likely not necessary. I do, so the rail is not an option for me.

You do not need a rail to mount a red dot sight on many lever action rifles. EGW makes mounting plates for Marlin, Rossi, and Henry rifles. This is my 336 Classic. The red dot is low enough that I get lower 1/3 co-witness on the iron sights and my cheek weld is fine.

I had to move the RDS to the 1895 Guide Gun to see over a can. This setup is just barely high enough - which is perfect IMHO.

 

[gwpercle]

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

... John Wayne started it on the big movie screen ... then Josh Randall - Wanted Dead or Alive and Lucas McCain - the Rifleman , appeared on the small black and white TV screen .... and every one had a Large Loop Lever action rifle ...all us children of the 1950's - 1960's ... were sold on them ...
Now I get my chance to turn in my cap rifle and get a real one !
Marketing ... It's all about Marketing !
Gary

 

[Bald1]

They look dumb to me, but might make more sense in a restricted area where carbines are banned.

This exactly. I know a guy with a Henry lever in .357. He doesn’t have a NY pistol permit or semi auto rifle permit (which is an endorsement on pistol permit) so he has a black tactical cowboy gun lol. It’s his only firearm. I’d have gone the shotgun route but him and his daughter enjoy target shooting with it.

 

[Bald1]

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

Not banned but if it’s a semi auto you need a permit for it in NY.

 

[boykinlp]

... John Wayne started it on the big movie screen ... then Josh Randall - Wanted Dead or Alive and Lucas McCain - the Rifleman , appeared on the small black and white TV screen .... and every one had a Large Loop Lever action rifle ...all us children of the 1950's - 1960's ... were sold on them ...
Now I get my chance to turn in my cap rifle and get a real one !
Marketing ... It's all about Marketing !
Gary

Will you try the “fancy cocking” like McCain and Wayne?
Larry

 

[SS336]

Suprised no one has mentioned the king of lever action rifles. The Savage 99.
Here is one from 1952 an EG in .300 Savage.



The only company to make Marlin lever action rifles is….well…Marlin. Not Ruger not Remington. Marlin. Everything else is a clone.



Lever guns are not plastic posers trying to be an AR.
YMMV

 

[GypsmJim]

Most of my training with rifles is with AR platforms. A quality RDS is your friend when it comes to fighting, especially with a long gun. For someone with my eyes, a good RDS is not really an option. I have one on a 590, along with a flashlight fore end; same reason. When my lever gun comes, it will have one too, along with a flashlight. Function dictates form.

The rail dislike is a cosmetic, not functional matter. If you don't value an RDS, the rail is likely not necessary. I do, so the rail is not an option for me.

A lever action is the quintessential rifle for the ages. It goes back to the 1800's. A RDS and a picatinny are fine for modern rifles (and I have a few), but IMHO putting that on a classic is nothing short of blasphemy.

It's like putting black sport wheels on a classic 1968 GTO, instead of Cragar SS mags.

But.....nevertheless, just My Humble Opinion. Y'all can do as you like. We old guys simply revere the old days.

 

[Patrick L]

The death of the lever action was predicted back in the 1950s, when bolt actions and scopes really took off. Didn't happen. And it's not the cowboy action shooters. They keep cowboy costumes and handlebar mustaches alive, that's it.

 

[Tom K]

I like my handgun caliber carbines, but I think in a real SHTF situation, I would prefer a rifle caliber lever action for its versatility. I wouldn't feel too under gunned with a synthetic stocked Browning BLR in .308 with an 18 inch barrel, a dull finish, and 15 / 20 round detachable box magazines. A 1x8 illuminated optic mounted.

Remington once made a similar version of the 7600 pump rifle, a gun probably before its time.

Larry

The question that I have is, why doesn't anyone make a pump built on an AR receiver? Seems like it would be relatively simple to accomplish.

*Google* Sporting PAR 16" 223 | TROY Industries

Okay, looks like someone does. Why aren't there more makers of them? And in pistol calibers?

 

[Neumann]

The American Rifleman magazine described "tacticool" lever guns, with AR-style and thumbhole grips. The design must overcome a basic problem, interference between the lever and a box magazine. Some may find this entertaining, but I'll stick with straight-grip carbines with side-loading tubes.

The military never adopted lever guns for two reasons - too much ammunition leads to waste, and it's hard to work the lever from a prone position. While Custer's unit had conservation in mind with rolling block rifles, the Sioux had Spencer carbines, and shot from horseback.

 

[SWFan27]

I'm not a lever action expert or guru, but have handled the new S&W, Marlins, Rossis and Henrys. They all seemed like quality guns to me. I've had a Winchester 30-30 and Marlin .44 for years, and recently acquired two Henry .357 carbines. Even though both of mine are the shorter barrel versions, no way around it, the Henrys are heavier than the others. Especially the one with the octagonal barrel. Can't say the Henrys are better than some others, but can say they seem to be good rifles so far. One of the Henrys, with the semi-buckhorn rear sight, shot so high at 25 yards as to be all but unusable. I called Henry about it and explained the issue. The nice lady at Henry said she would send me their tallest front sight at N/C. She did, and that fixed the issue.

I've read that some .357 lever actions balk at feeding .38 Spcl. ammo, but both of mine fed the several types of factory .38 Spcl. I've tried just fine. That's about the sum total of my knowledge about the new lever actions..

I love my lever action 357 Mag Henry Big Boy Classic with the octagonal barrel. It had a hairline crack in the forearm wood at the barrel band when I bought it new. After speaking with Henry's customer service department, I received replacement set of wood. I believe they buffed me out with one of their Fancy Stock sets. They sell the sets of really eye-catching grain patterns for a couple hundred bucks or more.

My Henry was accurate right out of the box. I bought a fiber optic sight for it that I never got around to installing. It just doesn't need it, and it would kind of wreck some of the old school vibe of the rifle. If I need to reach out more than a hundred yards I would grab a better tool for the job.