lever action work expensive help..

[REVL33]

ok I'm picking up my 1894 in 357. tomorrow and if any of you have followed my thread on the search for a lever action you will know I wanted this rifle as defensive carbine as my #1 reason for buying as I live in ca and will not own any nuetered self loading any thing until laws change or I move I have two 357. revolvers so I'm sticking to keeping the only caliber for now.

my question for all of you in lever land I would like to make this rifle more on the tactical side I know bad word around these parts but find doing so is very expensive if I send it off to wildwest guns or grizzly to have the work done I don't have that kind of money around heck it was hard enough to fund the purchase alone.

here is what I would like I don't like blue guns at all so I would like to have it refinished in a black duracoat or something very durable and corrossion resistant #2 synthetic stocks in black with pistol grip style #3 some good sights like skinner or ghost ring #4 and last but not least just reliable real simple works everytime rifle is there any work I could do myself to keep cost down or parts I could buy and install myself ive searched the webs and it's tough to find stocks and parts that don't cost a small fortune.

any and all help is appreciated ideas links services stuff you've done yourself that might help.

 

[jimmyj]

K.I.S.S.
Why not leave it "as is". A "Lever" has worked from the factory "as Is"
for over 150 years. Put your extra coins toward ammo.

 

[kwselke]

The idea of a pistol grip tactical plastic stock on a 1894 seems like it would make the thing difficult to grip and cycle. I'm with jimmyj, leave as is.

 

[Faulkner]

I don't particularly like ghost ring sights for low light situations, you might want to check on that.

Aftermarket synthetic stocks are available . . . try Cabela's or Brownell's.

 

[DeadAye]

A pistol grip on a lever gun would just slow cycling down considerably....
The 1894 platform works great as is so why try to mess it up?

 

[ladder13]

I use Skinner sights on my levers, they're much easier to focus on for me and improved my shooting leaps and bounds over the factory sights. Scopes don't look right on lever guns, imo.

 

[redhawk]

+1
XS has ghost ring sights if you want them. But as Jimmyi said, its worked well for many years and under some very difficult conditions. Blueing and wood stocks hold up just fine. Put your money into ammo and practice, its the guy pulling the trigger that's important.

 

[doublesharp]

why try to re-invent the wheel?

 

[REM 3200]

Lots of range time will "slick up" the action. I would add a red-dot rather than a ghost ring sight.

 

[Bullet Bob]

It's the fashion among the younger set to change everything as soon as they get it - not just guns, but watches, phones, anything and everything.

I'm okay with that, it's your money and property, do what you want.

But most of the things you mention will lower the value, but that may not matter to you. Personally, I'd put a fixed 2x Leopold on it and shoot it for a while before making any changes.

 

[Grayfox]

Shoot it first. Then make only the changes you feel are absolutely necessary. Who knows, you just might be happy with it as it is.

 

[Wingmaster]

Spray paint?

Wingmaster

 

[redlevel]

Get the Skinner sights, or not.
Forget everything else.
Spend your money on ammo.
Shoot a bunch.
The 1894 is a wonderful platform for aimed,
effective fire as is, either in the traditional calibers,
or most any of the pistol calibers.

 

[buck460XVR]

Shouda bought the Mossberg.......

 

[Cpo1944]

The .357 lever guns are relatively rare and hard to find, why molest a fine rifle? I`m In the leave it alone camp. Protect the finish with a good coat of wax , buy a bunch of ammo and practice practice practice. PS the Skinner sight is a good option.

 

[RonJ]

I have put XS sights on mine. The basic sight serves well as a ghost ring. I ordered a Merits adjustable aperture which screws into the XS which works better in bright light. A LER scope tops it off which makes it about as TACTICAL as I want.
If traditionalists harumpf about the scope that's ok. I need it to see. The XS sights are a nice back up. Short of the caliber I think Colonel Cooper would be pleased!

 

[redlevel]

If traditionalists harumpf about the scope that's ok.

HARUMPF!!

I get the part about needing it to see, but that scope just don't look natch'ul on a lever gun.

Here's my Marlin with Skinner sights. Thing is, I shoot my Winchester 94 Trapper in .45 Colt just as well with the factory sights. I do like the Skinner sight with the large aperture, though. It doesn't look like a camel's hump on a mule, either.
(I'm just kidding, RonJ)

 

[gregintenn]

Tactical and lever rifles don't mix.

At most, I'd get a Williams Foolproof receiver sight. Anything else you do will just be wasting money and ruining a classic and nearly perfect rifle.

 

[Mule Packer]

REVL33, if you're mind is made up, there probably isn't a heckuva lot I can say to change it. But...here's my two cents worth, and it might not even be worth that much...but you asked for opinions, so here goes.

First off, the lever action platform is probably what can be considered as one of the first (if not the first) tactical assault rifles.

In my mind, it is still a very viable assault rifle for a couple of reasons. First, it's lightweight. Second, it's maneuverable. Third, it has a relatively high magazine capacity. (My 1894 pictured below will handle twelve .357 cartridges in the magazine.) Fourth, with practice, you can fire it almost as fast (if not as fast) as a semi-auto. Fifth, it doesn't look like the proverbial "Zombie Apocalypse" gun.

Here's a model 92 Trapper in .45 Colt. It has an eight-shot capacity. It's in stainless and the only thing I modified on it was that I had it bead-blasted. It's my truck gun and in the years that it's ridden in the back seat of my truck or in a scabbard on the side of my saddle horse, I've never felt under-gunned.

Maybe they don't look like the black plastic tactical assault rifles we've all come to recognize, but I've always felt that the bottom line is how well the gun does it's job.

Of course, you probably knew all that stuff anyway, or you wouldn't have chosen the lever action platform in the first place. I guess I'm just sayin', if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

There y'go...just my view from the saddle.

 

[Alpo]

I'm curious.

Everyone, or so it seems to me, thinks by "pistol grip" you mean an AR15-type stock.

Is that what you want, or are you looking for something like a Black Shadow?

 

[Rastoff]

The lever gun is the original tactical gun. Small, light and rapid fire. By all means put a 1-4x scope on that. While all these old codgers are admiring how good their guns look you'll be hitting your target and making them all look foolish where it counts.

Further, .357 lever guns are neither rare or uncommon. I got mine for about $350 and didn't have to look hard. I will probably add some Skinner sights to mine, but wouldn't hesitate to put a scope on it.

The factory stock is probably the best you'll find for your purpose. There are plastic stocks out there, but they don't really add any performance.

 

[REVL33]

I'm curious.

Everyone, or so it seems to me, thinks by "pistol grip" you mean an AR15-type stock.

Is that what you want, or are you looking for something like a Black Shadow?

yes exactly not like a ar stock or sawed off rifle or shotgun stock I think I was misunderstood a little on that one.

 

[Alpo]

Well, if you find a pistol-grip stock (and that Black Shadow is synthetic, and since they were discontinue in 2000 maybe Winchester still has them as parts), you're gonna have to change the lever also. Get a curved one.

 

[REVL33]

thank everyone I knew I would get some very interesting responses first of all pistol grip does not mean like a ar-15 or sawed off type of deal just not straight I like a little bit of a curve like on a bolt action for example also I will be shooting this for a while before I do anything to it I still don't want blue finish I wanted stainless but bought what I could get also ghost ring sights may not have been accurately stated more like a skinner sight I'm more traditional than tacticool just ask all my sig and glock friends about how much they tease me on only having revolvers.

 

[REVL33]

Lots of range time will "slick up" the action. I would add a red-dot rather than a ghost ring sight.

I have given this a thought and I might some time way down the road but for now just good sights no scope just simple that's the way I want it for now just want to have a few things I like better than wood or blue finish.

 

[REVL33]

Well, if you find a pistol-grip stock (and that Black Shadow is synthetic, and since they were discontinue in 2000 maybe Winchester still has them as parts), you're gonna have to change the lever also. Get a curved one.

you know I never thought about that changing the stock to a curved one would involve a lever change I was going to keep the one I have but now you mention that I will have to consider that with the change I do like the bigger curved lever better in looks just did not want to spend money on something if it works for me thx for the tip a oversight on my part for sure.

 

[Rastoff]

Changing to a pistol grip will also include modifying the tang of the receiver. That's a lot more work than you'll want to do and will cost more than the rifle.

 

[REVL33]

Changing to a pistol grip will also include modifying the tang of the receiver. That's a lot more work than you'll want to do and will cost more than the rifle.

ok I guess I'm at loss here what is the tang is that where the stock mounts to the rifle if not can you pls show me what you mean.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You may have trouble switching the straight stock for a pistol grip stock. The lower tang on a pistol stock is curved and often longer. The common sight upgrade on cowboy action shooting is replace the flat blade type rear sight with a "Buck horn" rear sight, it is in the same location. The round "horns" work something like a "Peep" rear for close fast shooting. For distance they help with ranging and with "lead" for moving targets. I've got both receiver (Williams) and tang (Lyman) peep sights on lever actions, but find the barrel mounted sights better for fast acquisition of targets less than 50 yards. The peeps come in at targets at longer ranges (with a tang sight, you can have both.) I also have a Guide Gun with a "Scout" scope setup and use a red dot on it. These are very fast, but you have to have it turned on. With this system I could keep 5 rounds of hot 45-70 in about 1.5" @ 50 yards in about 2 or 2.25 seconds. I have kept 5 rounds of mild 45-70 in about 2" @ 104 yards in less than 3 seconds with stock blade sights but recoil makes a big difference as dose distance. This is offhand, as shooting lever guns of a bench is a pain. For practice with regular or peep sights use a 6" black circle at 25, 50, and 100 yards. Shoot a whole magazine of ammo then inspect your target. You'll quickly see the arched trajectory, and learn to judge your elevation corrections. 6" is good for most "hunting" situations, except varmints, so this is a realistic goal and with time and practice you will do the 2" groups (If you ammo is up to it) Have fun. Ivan

 

[Stevie]

Spray paint?

Wingmaster

This is something I've been considering for my stainless Rossi .44 mag carbine.

I purposely chose a 20" stainless without the saddle-ring as a truck/atv gun.

The stainless Rossi serves well however it is a little 'bright' for the woods...and may soon be olive drab or desert tan from end to end...

As far as sights for the Rossi go...I've been getting along fine with the primitive factory open sights..However Rossi drills and taps for a scout style scope mount(right under the rear sight)...also available is an aftermarket bolt mounted peep sight replacing the goofy bolt safety...