Author Topic: Best lever action for deer hunting with a scout scope mount? (Read 2607 times)

Ridge Runner · « **on:** November 19, 2004, 05:54:02 AM »

Live in Maine. Lots of thick forest and open fields.

If anyone could list the pros and cons I would appreciate it.

Never owned a lever action before but really want one.

I have a big frame. Looking for a good balance of cost and power.

willysjeep134 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2004, 06:04:53 AM »

The classics are a M94 winchester or a Marlin 336. They both can now mount a scope centered over the bore. Winchesters eject out of the top, but at an angle so a scope on see through rings is tall enough for the shell to clear. Marlins eject from the side, so you can mount the scope a little lower. Some people like the feel of one or the other more. Best thing to do is go to a gun shop and handle both, see what you like.

Lots of people like the Savage 99 too. It isn't as classic as the Marlin or Winchester, but it can take the 300 savage cartrige which is a little bit more powerful than the 30-30.

southern utah · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2004, 06:53:18 AM »

I have gone mostly to Marlins. I don't like the ported barrels-to loud. They are already taped on the receiver for a scope and to me would be a better option than a scout scope. You have a bigger variety of scopes available and can retain the stock sights for backup. If you want power step up to the 450 Marlin, sends a 350 gr bullet at about 2200 fps about the same as a 30-30. Other choices would be the 444 marlin, 44 mag, 357 mag, 41 mag, 30-30, 45-70.........etc
They have the new stainless availabe in a few calibers.

Browning has the 81 lever in most rifle calibers and is taped for a scope.

tscott · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2004, 11:21:53 AM »

One of my biggest flaws is my addiction to "classic" deer rifles. I have a lot! My go to rifle is a 1955 Savage 99f featherweight. after 45 years of deer hunting, I have never carried anything that feels this classic.
I have already fileted my favorite type of deer this year... 80 lb doe! 180-gr out of the 99... I trophy hunt for the rest of this year. Tomorrow = 3 miles back in with my 99 all day. Even passed up my workout today, so I'd be fresher for the hunt. Another neat deal is just looking at the 99 in the woods, conjures up thoughts of those long lost
deer hunts with my Dad. To each his own, I certainly live by that, but for me the 99 has always been much more classy in all regards, than my 36 or 94!

Loozinit · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2004, 10:12:15 AM »

With or without a scope, the Savage 99 (especially earlier ones) is superior to M94's and Marlins. And, they are definitely "classics" in every sense of the word. Being designed and built at about the same time as the M94 and Marlins, it was ahead of it's time in the way it functioned. I like all lever guns alot but I keep coming back to the Savage. Mine was built in 1937 in .300 Sav. Very accurate, out shoots any M94 or Marlin at anyrange within it's design limits - and certainly within my ethical hunting limits. I don't scope it. Don't need it in the woods and I don't fire at animals beyond about 80 yards or so - it's that thick around here. Alot of people scope 'em making them effective out to 250 - 280 yards on deer but I find that it's impracticle. You'll never do that with an M94 or a Marlin and be able to look yourself in the eye. For where you live, with the mix of forest and feilds, I'd go with the Classic Savage 99 in .300 hands down. Find an older one with the rotary magazine. They are generally believed to be better quality. Hurry, they're going up in price.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2004, 11:19:58 AM »

I don't know what a "scout scope mount" is, but among current manufactured lever actions, the BLR is head and shoulders above all others. It's fast, accurate, light, points well and is available in many modern cartridges that are unavailable in Marlin or Winchester. The short action gun is a far better "hunter" than the long action.

If you are willing to consider used guns, I'd definitely take a look at the Savage 99 or the Winchester 88. These three guns are the premier choices for lever action hunting.

kutenay · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2004, 12:30:07 PM »

I own several lever rifles and have owned many more in the past 40 yrs., my favourite is the Win. 1886 SRC repros by Browning and the Mod. 71-.348 by them as well. I have Marlins in 336, 1894CS and had a 39A; Winnys in 94, 71, 88, Savage 99s in .308 and .30-30 and I have a Sako Finnwolf in .308 as well as a Belgian Browning in .308. For a practical hunting lever with a scope, the old BLR beats them all, mine is over 30 yrs. old, has been abused by moronic inlaws and re-finished and still shoots tiny groups with a 2.5x Leupy, it's easy to pack around, too.

handirifle · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2004, 07:55:00 PM »

RR
I've never owned a BLR but they are well built rifles. I have owned one Marlin, and currently own two Winchesters. No matter what you get if you have a large frame, you might want a 22" barrel. Most want shorter, but a longer barrel might feel more balanced to a larger guy.

If you go with either a Marlin or Win, I'd favor the Marlin, but it depends on caliber you desire. If you want a close woods gun, I don't think the BLR is offered in larger than 30 cal, but I might very well be wrong there.

The Win and Marlin are available in 45cal (450 Marlin and 45-70 gvmt) and are hard to beat in the 100yd or less category.

Tough call there.

If I had to pick and I had a large frame (I don't) I'd go with the Marlin in 22" barrel in 45-70. IMHO

handirifle · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2004, 07:59:39 PM »

Well I looked at gunbroker and they do indeed make the BLR in big bores. My boo boo. The choices just got tougher for ya :grin:

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2004, 09:00:13 PM »

I have a Marlin 1895 GS with ghost ring sights and a scout scope mount with a 2.5 IER Leupold scope. Its great for fast moderate range shooting. With the ghost ring sights I can pretty much hit a clay pigeon at 100 yards every time and the scope will leave me with 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. It hits about 9" low at 200 yards so a high shoulder hold on a moose or top of back on a caribou is fairly easy. Its about as good as it gets for a fast powerful, backup or close range rifle.

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clodbuster · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2004, 01:37:13 PM »

RR Just made the first batch of jerky from an 8 pointer. Used my Savage99 carbine in .250 and I never killed one deader. Used my .308Win "99" last year and that deer was about the same amount of deadness after one shot, just like this year. My point, dont worry about caliber just get a "99" and you'll like it. Light, fast-pointing, uses pointed bullets in high pressure cartridges. Can't really see why such a superior design wasn't number one in sales. Wouldn't like one as well if it didn't have rotary mag and top tang safety(I'm lefty) Good luck!

tscott · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2004, 03:58:37 PM »

99f.300.......Circa 55'! Shot a nice buck with 180's, a really big deer that had some deformed headgear. As I was fileting the deer, I heard and
then saw another deer approach. A big 8 pointer. I had my 99 some 20 feet away, so that I would not trip on it as I butchered for stash in my back pack. I had a painful crawl on surgical knees, but got there as the deer came to full alert. Another single shot, from the classiest deer rifle I have handled... What fun. With my buck limit filled so quickly, I'm spending the next few nights fine butchering. I'm having a hard time picking up other deer rifles. I have next year to look forward to!

mnblaster · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2004, 04:50:53 AM »

I have hunted in northern Minnesota for 25 yrs using either a Savage 99A in .308, Savage 99CD in .308 or Marlin 1895 in .44. I liked the 99CD the best for a couple reasons, the removable magazine is nice when its below zero weather and the look is still claasic but also modern. The 99A seems to be a bit lighter in weight and has a better trigger pull, the 99CD has gone to Williams for trigger work. The 1895 Marlin is close to being "carbine" perfection.

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2004, 03:46:08 AM »

Ridge Runner - There's nothing wrong with the Savage 99's but for a great scout scope set-up I prefer the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. I hunt in Northern Maine too around the Houlton area. Mine's sort of like the Thebear_78's rifle except I've had it modified by Dave Clay with his big loop lever and a number of other modifications. The rifle worked great 2 weeks ago when I dropped a 10 point 242 pound buck running across an old snow sled trail. It was all over in 5 seconds and the scout scope helped me see this 10 point running behind the doe and the 4 point I was about to hammer! I don't think i would have seen him in time with a conventional set-up, it happened so fast. The scout setup also makes it easier to carry the scoped lever rifle. Good luck with what ever you finally decide on! CEJ...

BKS · « **Reply #14 on:** November 30, 2004, 05:39:13 AM »

The guide gun ictured above is just what I have pictured for my next rifle purchase. It looks great, glad to get to see one that was put together.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2004, 08:38:47 AM »

Err, . . .guys. . .the original question was what is the best lever action for mounting a scout scope, not what is your favorite lever action for close range deer hunting. (Can you even mount a scout scope on a Savage 99?)

For the scout scope concept, I believe the Marlin 336 is the way to go. It has a very solid flat-top receiver, and the scout scope mounts, mounting the scope forward, have proven to be rugged and reliable.

Big Paulie

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2004, 02:35:56 AM »

Big Paulie That's exactly what Thebear_78 and I were doing :? He hunts in thick woods of Maine like I do and I told him how this set up works for me. The mounting of a scout scope on a 336 is no different than on an 1895. You probably can mount a scout scope on a 99 but I think it would spoil the looks of the 99. Just my 2 cents... Have a good one... CEJ..

Big Paulie · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2004, 02:32:39 PM »

Obviously I didn't mean CEJ or The Bear.

Big Paulie

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2004, 03:32:33 PM »

I hope that "santa" will bring me a nice new oversize lever loop and a light mount from WWG this christmas. I think that the GG with a Surefire weapons light mounted on the magazine tube would be very reassuring when tracking/meat hauling at night in bear country, and I really like those oversized lever loops. A WWG trigger kit would be nice too. There is something about walking in the dark with 100lbs of bloody meat strapped to your back in thick brushy/grassy areas known to be crawling with grizzlies that makes you glad you have something as fast handling and powerful as a GG. Talk about major pucker factor.

Leverdude · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2004, 01:20:17 PM »

I'd say either a Marlin or a BLR. The BLR is available in 450 Marlin now so if you want a big bore it can fit the bill.
Me personally I think I'd get a Marlin if I could only have one. Fortunately thats not the case. :wink:

Dand · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2004, 09:04:38 PM »

Hey TheBear, I encourage you to carefully read the Alaska hunting regs before you mount a light - or any electronic sight on a gun. Last time I checked it was my understanding that the Alaska hunting regulations strictly prohibit any use of artificial light - Even red dot sights etc. You might want to get some advice from ADFG or the Troopers - ADFG best bet.

I had planned to use a red dot sight on my Ruger MK2 pistol when a biologist friend reminded me of the regs. That was quite a few years ago and I think the use of lights has been discussed by the Board of Game recently - don't know outcome. I think some folks were concerned about getting in trouble for tracking wounded game with a flashlight.

Don't want to be a kill joy but best to check first. HTH