Did I hear a lever action?

[Drm50]

I have Wins, Mar and Sav levers, all from milled steel days. Cant be bought new so I would most likely be in the market for a Japchester. Caliber would be 30/30 or 35Rem. for all around hunting. The pistol cartridges are ok I just like something a little flatter shooting. I have no trust in new Marlins by Rem. If it were me I would look for a high condition older rifle or even pay the price for a NIB old model. Henry and new Remlins compared to the older rifles is apples and oranges. There was a reason Win, Mar and Sav levers were around for 100 yrs + or -. They were well made, good designs.
There is also a reason they are out of business. The rifles could no longer be produced and sold at a profit. There is a reason for Henry & Rem/ Mar to be successful. Fill the void for new levers. Henry has good business plan. They are using hi tech operations with very good CS. Rem hasn’t got their operation up and running. They have terrible QC & CS and that’s why they are headed down tubes again. If Marlin is saved it still won’t be same gun as JM. I have seen articles of what the price of a milled rifle would have to be to sell at a profit. Most of the old repeaters would be $2k to $3k @.

 

[Erocksmash]

I would go marlin 1895SBL chambered in .45-70gov.

I love mine and is very accurate out to 200 yds running a 430gr slug. big enough for anything this side of the planet...

I'm going to try to bag a Deer this with her

 

[Golphin]

I own a number of lever rifles. I would buy a Henry over a new Marlin. I would buy a pre Remington Marlin over either. 30-30 is a good round. If you reload 35 Remington is a little better round I think. If you go with a new Henry the 308 Winchester is a great round.

 

[Gene L]

I've got 2 Marlins (pre safety) CF, a Model 39, two Savage 99s, and a Winchester 250 .22. I'm not tempted to buy a new Lever gun, so I wouldn't. I would buy a .30-30 for deer hunting at 30-30 ranges. I see absolutely zero advantage to a pistol caliber rifle; that's what pistols are for. Nor for a 45-70...way too much recoil for an old man like me. More than needed for deer or black bear. I say this but don't hunt, so there's that.

I have casually looked at Remlins, and they seem to be better now than they were back when Rem took over, at least visually speaking. In December, after deer season in many places, you can find a pre-safety 336 (my personal prejudice) for less than you'd pay for a new Remlin. I understand Winchesters are better than they were a few years back, but I don't know that. My shooting buddy has a post-64 Model 94, and it's very accurate. So there's that.

Once I had a Western Field copy of the Marlin 336 and it was as fine a Marlin as I've ever owned. No barrel band, walnut stock, very accurate. I don't put optics on lever guns, so our ideas of accuracy may differ.

Older doesn't always mean better, but that's where I'd put my money on in a Marlin. Winchester 94s seem to be "quicker" but that's not an issue with me. Henry came out recently with a side gate 30-30, but the ones I've seen in advertising are brass-looking and I don't want that. I'd like to see how one works; their .22s are butter smooth. I had a Henry .22 pump, it was clunky and large for what it was. The owner after me had an issue with it and sent it back to Henry; wonderful CS...and quick.

 

[duman444]

Ted Williams

If you are looking at older guns, don't ignore the Ted Williams series sold by Sears in the 60's / 70's, be a model 100 or 54. They are Winchesters that don't have the name on them anywhere. Winchester made them for Sears. Based on Winchester 1894 action, I think only available in 30-30. I picked up a model 100 last year that was in good shape for less than $300. You will not get a Winchester branded gun for that price.

 

[jeffrefrig]

OP, could you let us know what you decided to get, how well it shoots and operates, and maybe a picture or 5! Good luck! Jeff

 

[culito]

Browning BLR .308

 

[Cal44]

Did someone mention 45-70?

Here is my Marlin Cowboy in 45-70. Octagonal barrel.

 

[500SNW]

Remington bought out Marlin and they've made nothing but garbage since

Personal experience, or are you just repeating internet chatter you've read? There was a time, for a few years immediately after Remington acquired the Marlin brand, that they did have significant QC issues. But for the last 5 years or so, they have been putting out decent rifles. I know several people with recent purchases of 1895's and they are very pleased with the fit, finish and fucntion. Not really fair to blanket label everyone's rifles as junk...without having personally inspected each and every one. I have a 2017 SBL and the thing is well-fitted and finished, accurate and has had no mechanical problems so far.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have very little experience with Henry. Never cared for their tube magazine loading though.
Marlin makes a fine rifle, I can't knock it. But they always felt kinda chunky to me.

I agree, I never did like the tube fill but Henry recently came out with a lever gun which loads through a side gate. Right now in come in 4 offerings, the 30-30, 35 Rem, the 38-55 and the 45-70. I'm considering buying a .35 or .38-55 but funds are low right now.

Side Gate Lever Action Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Winchester M 94, early to mid 20th century, rebarreled to .25-35. Ridiculous 400 yard tack driver with original iron sights.

Winchester M 94 .375 Winchester Big Bore. Great looking, great shooting, but ammo, well, who knows.....

Pre-USRAC M 94 in .30-30, with Williams peep sight. Death on whitetails.

Not pictured is a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 that's a remarkable shooter at 100 yards.

Also not pictured are the many Model 94s I sold some time ago, mostly .30-30s, one .44 Magnum, and a M92 Rossi in .44-40 that I sold. I was planning a large collection of 94s but for various reasons I changed my mind. Letting go of the Legendary Frontiersman in .38-55 was hard. The NRA Musket in .30-30 was easy because it was sooooo long it was hard to shoot well. I also still have a Navy Arms Rossi M92 with an octagonal barrel,.45 Colt, my primary cowboy action shooting rifle and it has a number of clean matches to its credit. I do like lever rifles.

Thanks for the memories! I enjoyed thinking about those guns.

So, now, a note. The new Winchester lever guns are, AFAIK, all made by Miroku in Japan. Nice guns but NOT CHEAP. I'll echo the sentiments of others above in re Marlin today (I don't have one but I can sense the risk presently) and I can tell you that a side loading Henry would get my attention but otherwise no (they make a tacticool* version now, too!). Henry's are not inexpensive either.

Big Boy XTM in pistol calibers.

So, what to do, OP? For target shooting and deer hunting? Look for an older Model 94 or Marlin 336 in .30-30 caliber - not too old - really old guns are nearly as expensive as new ones.

BUT - pistol caliber ammunition is less expensive than rifle ammunition so don't rule out a .45 Colt, .357 Magnum. or .44 Magnum in a Model 92 from Rossi or Uberti because they'll all take deer and at the range you can have great fun shooting them fast - the short action is great for that!

Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Golphin]

Everything else is old school.

Model 90 - 460 S&W - Big Horn Armory

We have Winchesters in 44Mag and 45Colt to accompany our revolvers.
45-70 Guide Gun?

The older Winchesters are great rifles. For us with older eyes the Marlins work much better for mounting a scope. I had a 45/70 Marlin but sold it after building a 450 Bushmaster as I really don't need either here in Florida much less both.

 

[Xfuzz]

I would shop around for a used/clean Pre-64
Winchester 94 in 30-30.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Secondary note - a pre-64 Winchester M94 can be pretty pricey. A pre-USRAC M 94 might not be nearly as expensive.

 

[bulletslap]

Winchester markets a Miroku built 1892 that is a great little levergun, and in 44 Magnum is a very useful rifle. Usable with plinker 44 special loads to bear buster 44 magnum loads.

 

[Sistema1927]

Personal experience, or are you just repeating internet chatter you've read? There was a time, for a few years immediately after Remington acquired the Marlin brand, that they did have significant QC issues. But for the last 5 years or so, they have been putting out decent rifles. I know several people with recent purchases of 1895's and they are very pleased with the fit, finish and fucntion. Not really fair to blanket label everyone's rifles as junk...without having personally inspected each and every one. I have a 2017 SBL and the thing is well-fitted and finished, accurate and has had no mechanical problems so far.

I agree with you 100%.

Two of the three Marlins in the picture I posted, the 336 and the 39A, are pre-Remington JM guns. The third, an 1895 GBL, recently purchased new, is just as good in every respect.

 

[Dieseltech56]

I have 2 marlins of recent manufacture. A 1895GS and a 1894 CST. Both guns are as good as anyone could ask. The 1895 was a bargain, Remington had a $100 mail in rebate at the time I bought it. The CST was a little high priced but I’m glad I got it when I did. I needed a threaded barrel and it was the first marlin to hit the market with one. They are nowhere to be found now

 

[Jerry_B]

If iron sights are desired, the question of caliber comes down to how good can you see.

I, over the 1/2 century mark, really like my Henry in 357, because the terminal effect matches the 50-100 yards I can confidently shoot with iron sights. At those ranges, 357 is awesome, especially in a good jacketed soft point.

I’ve looked at Marlins lately and they are getting better in the QC department. Can’t speak to shooting qualities however. Winchester’s are also very good. Lots of nostalgia for the old guns, most would probably be fine, but I have seen plenty that where never right to begin with or beat to hell and a shell of their former selves.

Get what you like, what feels good to you, what you can afford. If it doesn’t tick all the boxes the first time out, they are going to be making lever guns for a long time, just get another one.

 

[Dieseltech56]

What can't a 45/70 quality lever gun not do with handloads?
Soft and.... sudden stop!
More range fun for sure.

You’re asking the wrong person. I am hooked on the versatility of a 45/70.

 

[garddogg56]

Find an old Savage 99.Best of the best.