Why lever actions?

[jmartinson]

Thanks for all the info!  I will definitely try to shoot one the next chance I get.

EDIT- One more question... I've already got a Glock model 19 in 9mm that I love.  Does anyone make a lever rifle chambered in 9mm?   Most of the ones I've looked up so far are only available in "American" calibers like 44, 357 and 38.  I would think you could have a higher mag capacity with a short cartridge like 9mm.

Thanks!

-Jacob

[leverfan]

Thanks for all the info!  I will definitely try to shoot one the next chance I get.

EDIT- One more question... I've already got a Glock model 19 in 9mm that I love.  Does anyone make a lever rifle chambered in 9mm?   Most of the ones I've looked up so far are only available in "American" calibers like 44, 357 and 38.  I would think you could have a higher mag capacity with a short cartridge like 9mm.

Thanks!

-Jacob

The reasons you don't see any factory lever guns in 9mm Luger make a list.  First, rimmed cartridges work best in traditional, tube fed lever guns.  All that inexpensive FMJ 9mm ammo would be dangerous as heck in a tube fed gun.  I don't think the recoil would be enough to set off primers in a 9mm rifle, but I wouldn't want to be there if you dropped it!  And, as sure as the earth is dirty, some fool would load up with FMJ Winchester white box from Wal-Mart, drop the rifle on concrete, and sue the heck out of everybody.  No tube mags means no capacity advantage with the shorter 9mm.  

That leaves box magazine lever guns.  These tend to be scaled for hunting size rounds, so you'd have to design an all new receiver.  That's a big investment for a company, even with the computerized machining we see now.  

Traditionalist lever gun buyers are unlikely to open their wallets for what amounts to a plinking rifle that's more expensive to shoot than a 22lr, especially in a non-traditional rifle, non-traditional chambering, and non-traditional design.

[rodmeister]

I love leveractions because of Mattel Toy Company.  Back in the innocent 1950's, all boys owned toy guns, and I had a realistic Mattel-made Winchester leveraction which actually cycled dummy rounds with the lever.  When I grew up, the lever felt natural and second nature.  I never owned or knew anyone with a toy bolt rifle, so a "rifle", to me, is a Winchester leveraction or copy (I own a .44mag and .357 Browning M92).

[Big Tom]

I enjoy all aspects of shooting and hunting from benchrest to reloading to plinking. While all of my rifles must be accurate, they serve different purposes.
My .300 mag has a 2.8-10 scope and is my Elk choice, a .270 sports a 4X14 and is intended for Western open range game and so on for several others.
I have two lever guns, a 9422, open sighted for plinking and small game and a model 94 in .356 for just about anything under 100 yds in the lower 48.
The levers are compact , quick handling, and dependable. I took my .356 deer hunting a few days ago and killed a fat young buck while still hunting. Even with the 4X scope atop the receiver it swung smooth and quick and in a blink the buck was down and out. I dont even remember pulling the trigger...damn things just about hunt by themselves! :wink:

[Wrong Way]

I had an elderly couple living behind my place for awhile. Talked alot about thier hunting stories. Fella used to be a gunsmith. Hunted all over North America. His rifles of choice? 5 custom built 30-40 Krags. His wife has a really old Winchester 30-30. Her hubby tells me she is a crack shot and has dropped more deer than they care to admit to.
 I met a few hunters a couple weeks ago. Fella showed me cartridge he uses. I'd never seen anything like it. Looked like a .340 Weatherby necked down to 30 caliber. My eyes almost fell out of my head! He laughed when I told him I hunt with a 30-30. I asked him how much deer was left after hitting it with that cannon. He got huffy and told me he could shoot 400 yards and knock a deer or elk flat. Our average shot here is about 32 yards with a 100 yard shot being a long one. I thanked him and went about my way thinking that the day I need something like that to hunt deer with I'd give up the sport. Fella must have a taste for burger meat.

[inluvwithsara]

It reminds me of the Northern VA folks (yes there are some that hunt) that get a 300 win or 338 10+ pound rifle, with a harris bi-pod, a 10-24 scope...to hunt deer around the area...sure...you paid 3k for your setup, and I paid 250 at walmart...
If I was going for elk in montana, sure...great amazing gun, but in these hills...your right 100m is a long shot...30-30 and 35rem is great, so is 44...I under stand the boom (no pun intended) in the 45-70...short, light, great brush gun...

I appriciate great guns...but slinging 12+ pounds of rifle all day up and down hills and valleys has to be anoying... :shock:

[jmartinson]

Well, I'm staying with family in SD for Thanksgiving.... several firsts this week...

I went out with my uncle the other day and shot clays with an Ithaca over/under 12g (GREAT gun, first experience with an over/under), a Benelli semiauto 12g (I'd take the Ithaca over the Benelli any day, it feels better and I hit more clays with it), and the M1 Garand my grandpa used in Korea.

The M1 was the first rifle I fired with peep sights, and the stock rear sight on it seemed a bit large for precision shooting, but I am definitely a believer in peep sights now, especially if the sight comes with interchangeable rear apertures (this M1 didn't).

Then yesterday my aunt let me play around with an old beat up Winchester 250 in .22 S/L/LR.  The wood on the forearm moved around a bit, the plastic rear sight would move from side to side when you touched it, the action was really stiff and looked like it hadn't seen a drop of oil in years... this was probably not the best example of a good lever rifle, BUT this gun did feel really good in my hands and was a BLAST to shoot!!!

I fired the thirty or so rounds they had on hand and went into town and picked up a few hundred more.  If it wasn't 30 degrees out I probably would have used it all up in the same day!!!

Even with the questionable rear sight I had a near 100% hit rate on the bottoms of tin cans at 30 yds (a feat for me with dovetail sights in cold weather... ).  

This was also my first experience shooting a 22.  I found out it is just as fun hitting the target with a 22 as it is hitting it with a .30 cal rifle... probably more since there's just enough recoil to feel it and it's nice and quiet.

I'm sold on the lever action idea... the rifle is really light, thin, and there seems to be a greater vertical distance between the line of sight and the butt of the stock, so I don't have to crank my neck as far to look through the sights like I do on my AK.

Now I just wish I had the money to pickup a nice lever gun in 22mag.

One more question, of the more common models, which lever guns can be reloaded while you still have a round in the chamber and your sights on target?

Thanks!

-Jacob

[inluvwithsara]

I know the Browning lever is 250 cheap...
Most centerfire levers I have used...Marlin/Winchester/Puma...are loaded from a side gate...alowing one to top off the mag between shots...then there are some tube feed models that require you to load it from near the front of the barrel...Henry Big bore is like that too...then there are the mag fed ones...ruger comes to mind, but I know some of the non-1894 type levers are loaded different...

I still think all shooters should own a 22 rifle and a 22 pistol...
my nephews Marlin bolt action 22 is one of my favs...and my wifes Frontier scout colt 22 pistol is a blast...9bucks buys me 500 rounds of fun!!!

[Leverdude]

One more question, of the more common models, which lever guns can be reloaded while you still have a round in the chamber and your sights on target?

Thanks!

-Jacob

Thats easy, all of them. If its a tube feed lever gun with a loading gate on the reciever you can stuff anuther one in whenever you please, so long as its not full that is. Be it a Win 94, 92, 66, 73, 76 or 86, a Marlin 1881, 1889, 1894, 1893, 1936, 36, 336 or 1895 or even the Mossbergs you can top them all off. Dont think you can swing it while keeping the sights on target but I never tried. Most hold enuff rounds that you wont find that necessary anyway. I carry an extra round in my pocket & once on stand I load the chamber & top off the mag. I also usually have a but cuff with 6 more close at hand.

If your leanng to a newer design for pointed bullets, personally I'd recomrnd a BLR. I'v got one in 7mm08 & its a favorite. Even tho I rarely shoot it anymore it comes to camp every year just in case theres a buck way on the other side of the field. I dont much bring it into the woods but keep a loaded mag handy like I said, just in case something happens while i'm not in the woods. If I were to hunt somewhere a shot over 150 yards was likely thats what I'd be carrying.

I just like lever guns, cant explain why, I just like them. Never owned a centerfire bolt action tho I'v got a few semi auto's & 2 bolt action 22's both for my boys as I couldnt find a truly scaled down lever gun & think a single shot is best for teaching kids.

I scope some & most of the others have Williams peep sights, my Rossi 92 I left the factory sights on it because they work well & its mostly a plinking gun, tho I may take it deer hunting next year so it doesnt get a inferiority complex being in the gun cabinet with the huntng rifles.

Welcome to the world of the lever action!

[snowdog]

:grin:   take this simple test.......  Carry a  bolt action, scoped 06, .308,
     
     .243,  Etc,  into the woods.  walk about  3-4 miles up and down the
     terrain,  Can't really use a sling because at least where I hunt the
    barrel will catch up in the vines,  and you need your rifle ready for
    that 3-5 seconds that you have to get a shot off.  carry the bolt
    around for the day.    the next day  take out a lever action 30/30.

          If the game your hunting is shot at ranges under 125 yards, and
   the caliber is big enough for the game you seek..... I almost guarentee
  you'll remember how much easier the lever was to carry.   My  30/30
  is  at home here with these sneaky blacktails  on the fringes of clear-cuts
  I honestly can't think of a better gun than a lever action 30/30 for
  these critters.  I Love my 45/70,  but  that  30/30  is a pleasure to carry.
  I been carrying the 30/30  for over 25 years after deer and Elk.  never
  wished I had anything else.

[John Y Cannuck]

Good post Snowdog, I couldn't agree more

[snowdog]

:grin: