Lever action rifle

F

f-2175

Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Messages
110
Looking to get first lever action rifle. I am interested in the new Mossberg 30 30 has anyone tried it? Or can you suggest something better.
 
I think you've come to the wrong place, amigo.

One of the moderators will probably move this on over to Gadgets & Gear.

Until then, I very much like Marlin's lever action rifles. :thumbup:
 
Here's one of the reason's that I liked the old Savage:
 

Attachments

  • takedown_savage_99.jpg
    takedown_savage_99.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 54
If you are talking New and Centerfire, Marlin is a good choice, However, Browning make a good lever gun that does not use a tubular Magazine thus allowing pointed bullet use. It also comes in some Magnum calibers as well,
 
Marlin 32Win Special, 30+ years old and taken tons of whitetail deer. Marlin is the only way for me...:thumbup:

DSC03472.jpg
 
Another vote for Winchester,unless your looking to buy new,but you can't beat a used model 94 as long as it was taken care of.:thumbup:
 
The Mossberg is a copy, more or less, of the Winchester 94 design. This means it is an open top receiver. If you plan on scoping the rifle I would suggest a Marlin instead with it's closed receiver. It is rare that the open top causes a problem but occasionally with a scope mounted it has. One example happened to a well known writer when a peice of brush got stuck between the scope body and the bolt on his 94. It was just a small twig that had wedged in at the scope ring but when he fired and worked the action the twin cause a failure to eject...cost him a nice buck. I know things like this are rare but seeing as Mr Murphy lives in my back pocket I never leave things to chance...lol.

btw...you can use the ballisticly superior pointed bullets in a tube fed magazine provided you are using the new LEVERevolution ammo from Hornady. This ammo employs a elastomer flexible tip that allows the use of spire point bullets in lever action rifles.
 
I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum that I am very happy with. I am getting a little over 1800 FPS with 240 grain Hornady XTP (over 24 grains of H110). I am able to fit 10 rounds in the magazine vs. 6 for the .30-30 version. I have been very happy with the fit/finish, accuracy, and reliability of the Marlin. Very solid gun.

As a side note: Whatever gun you get, and if you decide to go with open sites, I'd recommend the XS Halo sights. They are the quickest and easiest sights I've ever used and they are amazingly accurate. Very robust and straightforward sights.
 
I have several different leverguns. Although the Marlin is not the smoothest action, it is strong and reliable (and can be slicked up). If you get a Marlin, consider the "Happy Trigger" kit made by Wild West Guns of Alaska and sold by Brownells (and perhaps others). It's a quick, easy trigger job that makes a big difference.

DancesWithKnives
 
Jeff Clark said:
Here's one of the reason's that I liked the old Savage:
Click to expand...

i have a breakdown 99 like that, no box though, in .250-3000, which i have never shot, but i have put a lotta rounds thru my 99 .300 savage and i agree as far as lever rifles go the savage is my favorite, with the browning BLR a close second.

the winchester '94 and marlin are also fine rifles, but the savage and BLR shoot better calibres more accurately.

i have seen a lotta old 99's for sale fairly cheap, ya dont see many BLR's cheap though.
 
steelscout30 said:
I think you've come to the wrong place, amigo.

One of the moderators will probably move this on over to Gadgets & Gear.

Until then, I very much like Marlin's lever action rifles. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

This is gadgets & gear.





I opt for a marlin, I've shot my uncles 30-30, it is sweet. Really smooth action, recoil feels like an AK.
 
Absintheur said:
The Mossberg is a copy, more or less, of the Winchester 94 design. This means it is an open top receiver. If you plan on scoping the rifle I would suggest a Marlin instead with it's closed receiver. It is rare that the open top causes a problem but occasionally with a scope mounted it has. One example happened to a well known writer when a peice of brush got stuck between the scope body and the bolt on his 94. It was just a small twig that had wedged in at the scope ring but when he fired and worked the action the twin cause a failure to eject...cost him a nice buck. I know things like this are rare but seeing as Mr Murphy lives in my back pocket I never leave things to chance...lol.

btw...you can use the ballisticly superior pointed bullets in a tube fed magazine provided you are using the new LEVERevolution ammo from Hornady. This ammo employs a elastomer flexible tip that allows the use of spire point bullets in lever action rifles.
Click to expand...

I've never had a problem with the side mount scope and I like the fact that the iron sights are open.I have a 30.06 with a high mounted scope,it's a little harder to find the iron sights if your trying to shoot quick.
 
An old Winchester '94 is probably sitting in a rack within 30 miles of you. Mine's an October of '64 - the unjustly cursed New version according to collectors. It shoots very well, functions with 20 year old dried grease, and looks like - well, like what it is, a pickup truck gun, saddle ring and all.

With the new Leverevolution ammo you can stuff the tube mag full, shoot spitzer bullets, get a couple of hundred fps more with half the bullet drop. That extends the point blank hunting range another 75-100 yards, making it an effective 250 yard gun.

Winchesters are no more, but someone new has bought the name and they will be available again this year (Mossberg?) I'd buy a Winchester now if you want to get one before they are all collected - that started last year with all the special models on the used market disappearing.

Caliber? .30-30 is the best all round, very available, and inexpensive to plink. A rimmed .308 is offered in the Marlin line, it does offer more knockdown power, but ammo is pricey, like all wildcats or varmints.

Sam Fadala wrote a good book on Winchesters, if it's at your public library, it would be a good read to get you up to speed, especially the chapters on accurizing. You can out shoot some bolt actions with a lever.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top