Pistol-caliber lever guns: most fun for the buck?

[PALADIN85020]

Got to thinking recently that I have a LOT of fun with my pistol-caliber lever-action long guns. More accurate at range than most pistols in the same caliber. Easy and quick to operate as repeaters. Good self-defense guns without the "black gun" image. A whole lot easier to reload for than most rifle calibers. Cheaper to shoot than most rifle calibers. Fun to handle in the "old west" tradition - conjuring up the memories of guys like John Wayne and Chuck Connors using them. I think these guns merit consideration for the"most fun for the buck" award among long guns.

Top to bottom:

Winchester 9422. .22 LR. Fun to shoot, and economical.

Rossi/Puma Model 92. Fun to shoot, in .357, good self-defense gun. In .38 special, economical to reload for.

Winchester 94 Trapper in .45 Colt. A real stopper when handloaded to potential. Very handy. Manageable recoil. Fun big-bore blaster.

Browning 92 in .44 magnum. Better to shoot .44 special in it - the maggie KICKS like a mule in this light rifle!

Anyone else like these carbines?

John

 

[ladder13]

John, I love the levers in pistol form. Have no pics but own a Browning 92 in .44, a Marlin 1894C in 38/357, and a Winchester 94 in .44.
A friend has been trying to pry the Marlin from me, but no dice.....unless I find one without the X-bolt safety. Both the Browning and Winnie are X-bolt free.

 

[JOliver]

I have played with just about everything out there EXCEPT for lever guns and they are my newest have to have....I will start buying when money comes around.I do ALOT of .38 shooting and thats what I planned to start with,Thanks for this thread hopefully others will chome in and give me some good ideas...Nice Levers BTW looks like you already own the ones I want!

Jason

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Probably because they are "traditional" they give me the feeling of going to back to what in someways was at least a saner time.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

DO NOT let the Wife shoot the 357. Especially if she's a shooter.

That's how I lost my 357 Winchester Trapper. Made the mistake of letting her try it out. Her next words were, "MINE".

I later got a 94 Trapper in 45 Colt. Almost as sweet shooting with Cowboy loads.

NOT letting her shoot that one.

I like the short Trappers. Now to find one in 44 mag, may let her shoot mags, just to see.....

 

[DGNY]

Great question. First thing that comes to mind is the Marlin 94c that was born in '80 and shoots great in 357 Mag. [Loves inexpensive Independence brand 158 gr JSP.] Right here by my side to take to the lower Tug Hill plateau tomorrow [NE of Camden, NY] for some plinking duty.

Also on board, Marlin 39 24" bbl from ca. '95 to try with new peep sight. Not to mention the 45-70 Marlin 1895, but that's a stretch to call a common pistol round...

Regards,

Dyson

 

[RonJ]

My 1894c (.357) is my second most fun gun to shoot. The Mini-14 is more fun but it ain't very accurate.

 

[Centenniel]

Lever action rifles chambered for short centerfire handgun cartridges are very sensible firearms. The Browning B-92 in 44 magnum is a favorite of mine.

 

[Faulkner]

I'm with you on this one, I love shooting and hunting with my pistol caliber lever guns.

I've got two in .357; a EMF model 1892 saddle ring carbine with 20 inch barrel and color case hardened finish, and a Winchester 94 carbine with 16 inch barrell.

Also have a Browning BL22 Deluxe, and there's no telling how many squirrels and rabbits this one has put in the frying pan.

 

[Frailer]

I love 'em, even though my only lever gun at the moment is a Henry .22. There is a stainless Marlin in .357 at a local dealer that has been calling my name...

 

[Len]

Yep, I'm with you on this one. I've had multiple offers on my Winchester Legacy in .357, and won't part with it.

It's just a great all-around rifle. I like the fact that it'll take 357 and 38, calibers I also shoot in revolvers.

Even though they are different manufacturers, it looks good on display with a Ruger .357/9mm combo in western rig.

Len.

 

[Nathan Forrest]

Were the late 1800s guns chambered in .45 Colt and .44 S&W?

 

[BUCKAWHO]

Pistol caliber rifles

Here's mine, all Winnies....A model 92 in 38-40, a .357 Trapper, a .357 Trails End carbine, a .44 mag Trapper, a .44 mag XTR carbine, a .45 LC Trapper, a .45 LC Legacy w/ 24 in. barrel, a 44-40 carbine, all legal to hunt here ! BT

 

[Texas1941]

Marlin man, my own self. 357 and 44 Mag 94 Guide Guns and a 336 in 30-30. But of course we all know it's mentioned in the Constitution (I forget which Article) that you have to have at least one Winchester 94.

The 357 is the rifle I shoot the most by far. It's ported, which is unnecessary and way too loud, but I can live with it.

 

[semperfi71]

Yep, they's shure funn!

Uberti Winchester 1873 clone in .44/40.

 

[Snapping Twig]

When you consider the extra barrel length benefits taking a 1200fps magnum and turning it into a 1700fps screamer, it all starts making sense.

Even a 900fps special gains 200fps. Soft recoil like a BP rifle w/o the smoke.

I fell into a Marlin 1894 44mag. Couldn't get the 45-70 I was looking at and the 1894 was sitting lonely in the used section.

I can sit and cycle it for long stretches. Sounds good and feels smooth. Definately a sensory treat. Easy to get into the action for service, few moving parts, and those that do are large. Love the way these things are made.

Add to this, easy to reload for, low cost and damn effective on game. I wish I had bought one many years earlier.

 

[oldman45]

Lever action rifles are fun to shoot. I have them in .22, .357 and .44 mag. They are great for taking out critters around the yard, especially the .22 due to being able to shoot shorts.

But I still prefer the handguns.

 

[Faulkner]

Were the late 1800s guns chambered in .45 Colt and .44 S&W?

Not .45 Colt, that's a relatively new chambering in lever guns. In those days it there were a lot chambered in .44-40 and .38-40.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Hey, if Duke liked 'em, how can I argue? These are a couple of his guns held by me at the 2009 NRA convention. That '92 has been around the block a few times in the movies!

 

[ACP230]

I have a Marlin 1894 FG .41 Magnum. I had an XS Ghost Ring peep sight installed and can hit with it out to 100 yards now.

Fine rifle. My son likes it too. Let him get his hands on it and a box of .41Magnum LSWC reloads and the range is soon littered with fired .41 Mag cases.

I haven't hunted with the .41 Marlin yet but may one of these days.