badguybuster
Member
If you really want a good one. A Henry 30-30 cant be beat, the even make a canitlever so you can scope them. I like my Marlin too. Its a 357 mag and its deadly accurate out to 100 yards.
Lever Gun Advice
- Thread starter Bullseye 2620
- Start date
Frizzman
US Veteran
I have a Marlin 1895 .45/70 and a Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt as well as two 94 Winchesters in .30/30. The two Winchesters are from the 60's. They are fancy one's give to me as gifts...a Golden Spike carbine and a Buffalo Bill rifle. I don't hunt with those. Of the lever guns I have, I use the .45/70 for a main deer rifle. I like the cartridge and handload it. Its capable of taking Eastern Whitetail easily and pretty much anything else in North or South America. I have a Weaver 2.5X shotgun scope on it that works perfectly for the type of rifle. I have done most of my deer hunting over these many years in the mountains of Virginia. Most shots have been at closer ranges but there have been a few at 150 yards or more. The Browning BLR would be a good choice for this kind of shooting. The lightweight version in a decent caliber would work well for all types of shooting situations. Its not a traditional lever action but might be more versatile than the Marlin/Winchester/Henry rifles...
Surprised that no one has mentioned the Savage 99. These can be had in a wide range of calibers and can use spire point bullets. Personally, I'd go with a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. I'd try to find an old one without that stupid crossbolt safety. I had one years back and it was very handy for toting in the woods and mountains. The new Hornady ammo ought to be pretty impressive in it for whitetail.
gregintenn
Member
I was just about to. The 99 Savage is the perfect deer hunting machine. There are models out there that would suit most any taste. I currently own 6, and that's just because I haven't found #7 yet. A pre 64, model 94 Winchester comes in as a close second for me.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Heck, for less than the thousand you qouted you should be able to find a winchester 94, 64 or model 88. I have all 3. Certainly you could find anyone of them in excellent condition for that. I bought my 94 new around 1957. You want to stay under 1964 manufactor dates. Not a lever, but probley the finest cheapest gun for the money would be a remington pump 760. Mine is in 30-06.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Here is a couple more that will fill the bill. Browning 92 in 44 mag, and a rossi 92 in .357 mag. I bought the rossi not that long ago for somewhere in the $300 range. The browning 92 will push your $1,000 limit, but I bet you even can find one of those like new for around $700 to $800s. If you look close the browning has the gold trigger. Otherwise you can hardly tell the rossi and browning apart.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Since I showed so many levers, here is my old winchester 95 in 30-40 just for fun. It would be more than a $1,000s though.
I know I'm wrong, but I never think of the BLR as a lever rifle. I'm only 32 but it just feels too modern to be in the same family. Not that any of us alive are old enough to have rubbed shoulders with John or Olin... Just saying. But a BLR in 7mm08 would be one sweet rifle. I would scope it with one of the new Redfields in 2-7 power.
Bob:
I have that exact setup, including the Redfield and it is a hard combo to beat. Light and easy to carry, minimal recoil and Hornady makes an SST bullet that is crazy effective. The only thing I would change about mine would be the straight English stock.
Addressing the question by the original poster, I would go with a BLR in .358 for the limited range shots. One advantage the BLR has is that the trigger rides with the lever, ensuring a quicker followup if needed.
Bob:
I have that exact setup, including the Redfield and it is a hard combo to beat. Light and easy to carry, minimal recoil and Hornady makes an SST bullet that is crazy effective. The only thing I would change about mine would be the straight English stock.
Addressing the question by the original poster, I would go with a BLR in .358 for the limited range shots. One advantage the BLR has is that the trigger rides with the lever, ensuring a quicker followup if needed.
Another BLR owner in 308 and 358. You might not like their non-traditional looks but they carry and shoot like levers with a quick follow up shot if needed. Scoping them is a breeze.
I'd either get a Marlin in 30-30 or 35R (cheapest name brand most likely) or for some more $$ a Winchester 94 in 30-30.
Lots of pre-64 Winchester 94 carbines sell in auction sites like GunBroker in the $400-$600 range. Not pristine collectors examples of course, but some nice hunting guns.
If you really want to spend it all and with a $1k limit, you really have alot to pick from. Most any of the Winchesters, Savage, Browning, etc. L/A model hunting rifles are within reach.
Even the Winchester 95 if you look around a bit,,and get lucky.
If you want to expand the field to pump rifles (great woods hunting guns),,the older Remington Model 14 and 141 rifles can still be found in the $400 to $500 range in very nice condition. Get one in 35Remington to keep ammo problems at bay. The later Remington models seem to be widely available & liked too but I have no experience with them.
Lots of pre-64 Winchester 94 carbines sell in auction sites like GunBroker in the $400-$600 range. Not pristine collectors examples of course, but some nice hunting guns.
If you really want to spend it all and with a $1k limit, you really have alot to pick from. Most any of the Winchesters, Savage, Browning, etc. L/A model hunting rifles are within reach.
Even the Winchester 95 if you look around a bit,,and get lucky.
If you want to expand the field to pump rifles (great woods hunting guns),,the older Remington Model 14 and 141 rifles can still be found in the $400 to $500 range in very nice condition. Get one in 35Remington to keep ammo problems at bay. The later Remington models seem to be widely available & liked too but I have no experience with them.
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Snapping Twig
Member
FWIW, I've never bought a factory load for my firearms - save for .22lr.
My experience is that fast powder loads gain little to nothing from a lever gun, but slow powders do. In a revolver lead moves 50 to 100fps faster than the same charge and bullet weight than jacketed. All I shoot is lead.
I shoot the same rounds in my 29's and 629's that I shoot in my 1894 and the velocity gain is real. I suppose that's a benefit of using W296. Not talking maxed out loads either.
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Freischütz
Member
A Win M95 in 30/06 or 30/40 would be a good choice. You can use any style of bullet you want. If you get a takedown, you'll have a very hand item for travel.
reddogge
Member
I'd lean towards a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. All of my camp hunting companions use Winchester 94s with offset scopes in .30-30. The offset scope is quirky and the .30-30 will not knock even a small Sika deer down quickly. Most have to be trailed and I have been on the trailing details too many times to trust a .30-30. Let the flames begin fromt the .30-30 lovers.
Bullseye, my experience is that the .30-30 is fine with deer, if you do your part. I grew up hunting with a Winchester .30-30. That being said, for lever duty these days, I go with my Marlin .444, or Marlin .35 Rem, both rounds really make it happen... Some people swear by the .45/70, but to me, that's probably overkill in Appalachian deer hunting, but different strokes for different folks... Although, it is a very versatile caliber if you reload.
Overall, I'm a big fan of lever guns. Like everyone else on this forum, I guess I have too many guns, and my appreciation of lever guns has not helped this situation! I've got all sorts of calibers, .444 Marlin, .375 win, .30-30s, .35 rem, .44 mag, .357s (in Winchester, Marlin, and Puma, all great/fun shooters, those .357s...) and .22s.
I've always been partial to Winchesters, as I like the way they handle (light, thin, and very handy...). The pre 64s are great, and you can find some nice later ones, too. My favorite Winny is a .30-30 wartime, 'long wood' forearm 94, in beautiful condition. I've also come to really appreciate the Marlin lever guns. Heavier, nice action, more rugged feel, and just very nice guns. You can find some good deals on shooter Marlins if you look around.
I don't have a Henry, and do not like their painted, pot metal covered receivers on their standard .22s. I do like the Golden Boys, much, much nicer quality (including some nice wood...). Although, the GBs have a funky angle to the stock, and to me just does not fit right. All of the Henry's I've fired have excellent actions; very smooth...
I really like lever guns in .22. I've got a couple of Winchester 9422s, one early model, and one of the last produced in New Haven. If you like lever guns, you have to love the Marlin 36. In fact, I just realized another gun I have to shoot tomorrow!
Merrill, great collection of Winchesters there, beautiful guns, love that 64 and 1895! Envy comes to mind... I've got my eye out for a nice 64, as well as a Savage 99; one of these days...
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Marlin 336 30-30 or........
Hey Bullseye. My husband has used a Marlin 336 30-30 for several years. He also suggests a 35 Rem or even a 32 special. His longest shot was maybe 50 yards at this end of the County.
Shoot us a pm or email if we can be of further help.
Hey Bullseye. My husband has used a Marlin 336 30-30 for several years. He also suggests a 35 Rem or even a 32 special. His longest shot was maybe 50 yards at this end of the County.
Shoot us a pm or email if we can be of further help.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Check out Gunbroker.com. Lots of pre-64 Model 94's show up in various conditions, of course. I've been outfitting my grandchildren, one at a time. Most recently, I bought a 1960-made Model 94 carbine .30-30 in solid 98% condition for $415 delivered to my local FFL. I picked up a 1955-made Model 94 carbine .32 Win. Spl. in 90% condition for about the same money about a year ago.
I also found a really sweet pre-WW2 Model 55 Deluxe Takedown for under $1000, including a fitted hard leather case.
There are lots of dealers who set minimum bids that are in the upper atmosphere, just like there are in every gun store. But there are also lots of folks who actually want to SELL, and good deals can be found with a little effort.
Best regards.
Faulkner
Member
Based on Bullsye's original post I think the .30-30 lever gun is absolutley adequate for what he's looking for. I've deer hunted in the Arkansas Ozarks my whole life and have seldom been undergunned with a one.
Between me and my two sons we've taken dozens of whitetails with my Marlin 336 and very few did we have to trail. Most shot opportunities where we hunt are limited to much less than 100 yard and one shot stops are common.
I've also taken to using a .357 magnum lever gun for deer hunting the past few years. Since it seems many of our shot opportunities are really more in the 50 to 60 yard range I've been using my 'scopeless' lever guns to good success. Between my 14 year old and I we've taken four whitetails with a .357 lever gun and all were one shot stops where they dropped in within 20 yards of the hit.
Back in the late 1800's the 44-40 and 38-40 blackpowder rounds in a lever gun were considered ace deer slayers, the .30-30 or .357 magnum will outperform them.
I'll put my two cents worth in here. In my experience, a .30/30 levergun kicks like a mule. It's just downright painful for me to shoot it very much. This does not speak well for practice.
My vote would go to a Model 1892 Winchester, Browning or Rossi, chambered for .44 Magnum. I prefer the '92 to the 1894 rifles in the same chambering primarily due to its smoother operation, as it's basically an ubersmooth 1886 model scaled down. Now let me tell you that a full-house .44 Magnum will also kick like hell in a 5.5 pound rifle, BUT you can practice all day with .44 specials. Sight in with the .44 Mag and use it for hunting, but for practice that's easy on the shoulder, those .44 special rounds are a godsend.
Here's my .44 Mag Model '92 Browning; in my opinion the ideal closer-range deer rifle.
John
My vote would go to a Model 1892 Winchester, Browning or Rossi, chambered for .44 Magnum. I prefer the '92 to the 1894 rifles in the same chambering primarily due to its smoother operation, as it's basically an ubersmooth 1886 model scaled down. Now let me tell you that a full-house .44 Magnum will also kick like hell in a 5.5 pound rifle, BUT you can practice all day with .44 specials. Sight in with the .44 Mag and use it for hunting, but for practice that's easy on the shoulder, those .44 special rounds are a godsend.
Here's my .44 Mag Model '92 Browning; in my opinion the ideal closer-range deer rifle.
John
Here's one to mull over...........Ruger 96 in 44Mag. Don't let naysayers scare you off from the 44Mag as a practical short range brush cartridge. In the 18.5" barrel of this carbine, a 240gr. XTP clocks 1720fps. Mine will keep 4 shots into 3/4" at 50 yds. I have a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4X scope with the circle-x reticle that is just perfect for this gun. This is a very compact, lightweight package. I did make some mods. I couldn't stand that cheapo 10/22 design curved plastic buttplate. I bondo-ed up the butt, and fitted a proper recoil pad to give me a 14" pull. That small 1/2" Kick-Eez pad keeps the butt snug on the shoulder, and the little gun is a pussycat to shoot. Perfect for me! The factory supplies a fairly heavy, although crisp, trigger pull with this gun. All you have to do is replace that heavy factory trigger return spring with something lighter........along the lines of what you will find in a ball-point pen. Voila.........No takeup whatsoever, and the trigger breaks like glass at just over 2 lbs. Easiest action job I ever did in my life. You would be hard pressed to find another lever gun with such a nice trigger!
sigp220.45
US Veteran
Another vote for the late great Savage 99:
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