Best Lever Action Rifle

[Ivan the Butcher]

People who hunt deer or bigger, probably don't average 20 rounds a year! In Ohio we are allowed slugs, My best friend bought a 5 pack one year;2 to sight in both barrels and 1 for a deer, next year 1 for a deer third year bought a second 5 pack, so both barrels would be loaded but didn't get a shot, then his wife's family sold the farm and he hasn't been out for deer since. As to levers. I have a BLR-81 in 308 shoots fine but I haven't had it out of the safe in 25 years! I have a Browning 1886 (45-70) I bought in 1987 I shot 50 to 100 times a year the first 11 years I owned and still shoot a few times a tear (A phenomenally smooth action) I also have a recent Winchester 86 Take-down in 45-90 that is the worst lever action and I think worst rifle action I ever shot! It came out of the same factory as the Browning 1886 but the assembly people must have retired! I have a 1873 Italian repo in 44 Special, that someone did an action job on, and it is so smooth, but 66's and 73's are a smoother design than John M. Browning or Marlin designs. I really like the Rossi 92's, have owned several and kept 2. I think they aren't made anywhere near as well as old Winchesters but are fairly easy to smooth up in about an hour or 90 minutes. The modern Marlins smooth up easy also, but to get the best out of them you need to replace the 2 piece firing pin with a one piece. Did that to one of my 4 pistol caliber Marlins and not the others, it will make a difference. My Guide Gun is a early one that is ported. and was smooth when I picked it up used (it is the reason I don't shoot my Browning 1886 much any more). I never owned a 22 lever gun, but the BL-22 I shot was fantastic. However; two summers ago I saw a pre-teen shoot 27 duck (arcade style moving ducks) targets in 30 seconds and no misses, with a stock 1970's 39A Marlin. I had a late friend that owned a 1895 U.S. marked cavalry carbine in 30/40 it was very smooth after a hundred years. All the WWI 7.62x54R 1895's I've seen were smooth also, and they were made in a hurry. But the one that I drool over is dad's 1950 made 94 in 30/30 it has a lyman receiver sight and is so smooth. Back in the 1970's, I watched dad shoot silver dollars (Eisenhower's) off a fence at just over 100 yards offhand. I don't think today's ammo is good enough to do that.

 

[Rastoff]

Some people don't only use their guns for hunting. Some of us simply have fun shooting. I find it easy to put a lot of rounds down the barrel.

 

[mtelkhntr]

I have a couple 94 30-30's but much prefer either the 1899 or 99 Savages built prior to 1960. Very well built, multitude of calibers, wonderful lines, accurate and you can use spitzer bullet's.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My personal favorites in no particular order:

Winchester Model 1886 Takedown .45-90.
Winchester Model 1892 .32-20.
Marlin Model 39A Mountie .22 S,L,LR.
Winchester Model 55 Takedown .30WCF.

At one time or another I have used these for rabbits, grouse, pigeons, turkey, coyotes, bobcats, deer, and elk. Hope I never have to choose just one to keep!

 

[bgrafsr]

Winchester Model 1892

Marlin Model 1894 from early 1900's

Both are in .32-20 W.C.F.

 

[Smithsrevenge]

I lik emy pre 60's Winchester 94 pretty dang well.

Traded a star BM 9mm 1911 for it "only paid 180 for the star".

 

[Horseless Trooper]

Although I think it is tough to beat a Marlin overall I still prefer Winchesters. Years ago I had a 444 Marlin that was great but I foolishly traded it( I mean really foolishly. I will never divulge what I traded it for). I have a 1886 in .33 that I inherited from my father and a 94 in 38-55 that are my favorites, also my father's Savage M99 featherweight .308. Funny thing about the .33, my father never shot it and he would not clean the sewer pipe bore as the did not want to know what it looked like underneath. I finally cleaned it a couple of years ago and it is not all that bad.

 

[samandglove1]

I like the older Marlin lever guns. I have a 39A in .22 and 336SC Waffle top in 30-30 from the 1950's; and a 1894C in .38/.357 and 1895 in .45-70 from the 1970's. They all function flawlessly, but the actions on the 1950's rifles are slicker.

 

[feralmerril]

This 94 winchester in 30-30 was my first centerfire rifle. I bought it new when I was about 16 years old in 1957. I shot a number of deer with it. Right after buying it I had a williams foolproof peep and a pad put on for LOP. I made my longest shot on a buck with it, around 220 yards many years ago. It sat in the back of the safe for many years as a lot more "sophisticated" rifles came and went. Last year I finaly took it to the range to see if it needed resighting. It still is spot on and I have never had to readjust that peep in 55 years. I belive it will stay inside 2 1/2" at 100 yards.
I would guess in all those years I havent shot over 200 or 300 rounds through it.

 

[Arik]

For a short time i had a lever action, a few years ago. Bought it to go hunting. Late 60s Marlin 336. Nice gun i suppose, im not into lever action rifles. Sold it a short time later when i picked up a Ruger 30-06

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[mjr]

Back during the January Madness I bought a used but unfired Winchester Legacy Model 94 in .45 Colt instead of buying an AR like most of the rest of the country (well, it seemed like it).



The photo, cropped from an old advertisement, isn't the one I bought but closely resembles it. Is this a rifle by virtue of its 24" barrel, or a carbine because of the barrel band? You got me.

I really like how this one handles--better, in my opinion, than my 1957-manufactured Model 94 .30-30, and it's actually smoother. It does have the short-lived push button safety in the receiver, but I surprised myself by learning to like it. For one thing, with the safety applied, you can use the lever to eject all the cartridges in the magazine with no danger of dropping the hammer on the firing pin, and in theory you could carry this rifle cocked and locked--although there wouldn't be much point in doing that.

My bitching a bit about that safety, BTW, caused the LGS guy to knock $50 off the price after I'd already agreed to the original asking price. This guy is mainly focused on "tactical" stuff--Glocks and ARs and such--and, I suspect, views my interest in lever guns and revolvers with amusement or sees it as evidence of premature senility.

Ammo is expensive, when I can find it, but what the heck. I intend to order some souped-up Buffalo Bore ammo, so I can use this gun in those fantasy bear hunts so many folks indulge in.

 

[feralmerril]

I like it! I would definetly call it a rifle due to barrel length. I also own this model 64. I lucked into this one about 30 years ago for $200s. It appeared unfired and I have only put a box or so through it. Think it was made around 1952. Its a safe queen. 30-30. My dad had one like it in .32 special.

 

[feralmerril]

A early browning 92 in .44 mag.

 

[aphelion]

"Best" is such a highly abstract term as to be almost meaningless, but I sure like the Winchester 92 action, followed by the 1886/M71. I like the design and I like the function. I am a fan of the 25-20. We have a 24" M92 here with a tang sight. It is too much fun. With plenty of sight radius, if you can see something and it is in range, you will hit it. We also have a first year M71 here with a level of fitting that still impresses me, even after all these years. Just watching it move those .348s smoothly through the feeding cycle is entertaining all by itself.

 

[feralmerril]

This is a 95 winchester carbine in .30 army. (30/40). When I got it, it didnt have the rear sight. I found this non original that fit. However, the handguard wont fit over it. This COULD have been a texas ranger or arizonna rangers rifle. I like to dream.

 

[mjr]

feralmerril, that Model 64 looks beautiful. I'd love to stumble on one of those that an old retired pensioner could afford. (The last Model 64 I bought was stainless, had a 4" barrel, and holds six rounds. Don't tell Lee, but I'd rather have bought the Winchester 64.)

 

[BobC357]

I sure enjoy the 300 Savage (complete with gold trigger)

It's taken lots of deer, antelope and a few elk.

 

[gregintenn]

Another vote for the 1895/1899/99 Savage!

 

[Faulkner]

If I had to choose between a new Marlin or a new Henry lever gun, I'd go with a new Rossi model 1892. I have a EMF (made by Rossi) model 1892 saddle ring carbine in .38/357 that is a fine shooter, is plenty accuate and has been 100% reliable. There just not hardly anything smoother than a '92 lever gun.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

"Best" is such a highly abstract term as to be almost meaningless, but I sure like the Winchester 92 action, followed by the 1886/M71. I like the design and I like the function. I am a fan of the 25-20. We have a 24" M92 here with a tang sight. It is too much fun. With plenty of sight radius, if you can see something and it is in range, you will hit it. We also have a first year M71 here with a level of fitting that still impresses me, even after all these years. Just watching it move those .348s smoothly through the feeding cycle is entertaining all by itself.

This is a 1893 vintage 1892 take down model that was re barreled to 25-20. The action is smooth and I like the 25-20 too. This gun was put together with parts so I do not have a problem shooting it. I do like the wood on it.