Author Topic: Is it me or...... (Read 732 times)

Qtip · « **on:** September 19, 2004, 02:33:12 AM »

Is it me or is there something alluring, "classic", or addictive about lever guns? I'm not a collector or owner of a large number of guns. I have two centerfire hunting rifles; a Mod 94 30/30 and a 7600 '06. The '06 shoots 1 1/14 w/scope. The Mod 94 has a Lyman peep. But I have to admit that the lever has it all over the '06 when it comes to fun and portability. I'm seriously thinking about trading in the '06 and going up to a Mod 94AE or a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem so I can mount a low-powered scope. Even thinking about a lever .22. There is just something about lever guns that's getting under my skin. When I see all the different rifles at gun shops I get turned off by all the synthetic stuff and whizz-bang magnums and huge scopes. Seems like today everything has to be bigger and faster. Far from the truth. Is it me or is this the start of an illness? :?

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!
Top God Alone Be The Glory!

Cabin4 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2004, 03:34:18 AM »

Qtip,

I know what you mean about lever guns. They are really addicting to the style and the old fashion look. The bottom line is also that they simply continue to work and work well.

I know what ya mean man, I find myself doing strange things with my lever guns that you won't find me doing with my bolt, shot guns, pumps or hand guns. Not really all that strange !! I do like to show them off and will occasionally just take one off the rack the look at how great it looks.

Unfortuniatly there is a practicale draw back when it comes to lever guns and that is cartridge selection for long range use/higer velocity rounds. The only exception is Browning BLR's. These are not a traditional lever gun, but they are lever and come in some of the higer velocity and even mag rounds like the 300win mag, 7mm mag, ect. The day will come when you will find a BLR in 7mm mag or 300win on my rack. By the way, they chamber it in 30-06. So if you want to keep an 06 but want it in a lever gun, take a look at a BLR.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=003B&cat_id=034&type_id=006

I have been very fortunate to have come accross the following lever guns that are not only great looking but are great shooters.

Marlin 45-70 guide gun
Win 94 pack rifle in 44mag (this one is unique. If any lever gun fan saw this one they would be in love with it. The wood and blueing is hard to believe. Don't know were it came from. Got it used and was never fired from a collector/dealer)
Win 94 trapper in 30-30
Win 94 Traditional in 30-30

What I would like to add to the rack. $$ permiting of course.
Marlin 336 in 444
Win 94 trapper in 357
Marlin 336 in 35rem
Win 94 in 375 win
480 ruger in a lever gun. Marlin or Win
Win mod 88 in.
Win 9410
I could go on and on. There all so darn good to look at and hunt with.

tscott · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2004, 04:23:05 AM »

I have a number of fine guns. Even finagled a retirement Mark V some years ago... I am addicted to health and exercise, primarily to deer hunt!
My go to deer rifle is the Savage 99 model "f" Featherweight. Made in 1955. They are still moderately priced at shops and shows. I cheated a little by mounting a 1.5x5 leupold shotgun scope. My Marlin.444 is a terrific deer rifle, and far more accurate than one would expect from such
a large bore!!! BUT!!!! nothing I have carried feels like the 99...
The local gun store has a nice supply of these rifles from a collection,
every so often I go over and fondle a nice Savage takedown in 250-3000
Hope somebody buys it, don't know if I can control myself much longer..

leverfan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2004, 08:40:00 PM »

I agree 100% that classic lever guns have a mystique all their own, and while I've never regretted trading away a bolt action, I've always ended up missing the lever rifles that I've sent down the road.

If I was looking for a lever gun to put a scope on, I would start looking at rifles that chamber rounds that really benefit from the use of a scope. I would also look at lever rifles that can still look right with a scope riding on top. To my eye, the Marlin 336/95/444 style doesn't look right with a scope, nor are the available chamberings usually used at long ranges. Peeps serve pretty well, here. The same goes for the Winchester 94. A scope just doesn't look right on top of that gun, and the only thing that looks worse is the monte carlo style butt stocks that Winchester uglied some up with in order to make scope use easier.

To my mind, one of the best lever rifles for scoped use is the old Winchester Model 88. It has a modern look, even though it's only available on the used market, so a scope looks fine on it. It was chambered for fast-stepping, spitzer topped rounds like the .243, .284, .308, and .358 (okay, the .358 doesn't step all that fast).

The BLR is currently available, and while a scope doesn't look quite right on top of it, many of the chamberings are such that the rifle benefits from having a scope on it. Who ever heard of not scoping a 7mm mag?

Last, the Savage 99 wears a scope pretty well, and it can be loaded with spitzer bullets to take advantage of long range sights.

Buffalogun · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2004, 02:23:00 PM »

Qtip,

I think it is all three! For some reason I have yearnings for exterior hammers.
I have a Sharps 1875, Browning 1885, Savage M24, Winchester 1894, NEF Handi, Winchester 9422, Browning BL22, three single barrel shotguns and a Contender!

Come to think of it, most of these are levers.

I found a Winchester 1897 shotgun at the local gun shop and I want it bad, but the price is $895. Just can't see it!

Buffalogun

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2004, 12:57:05 PM »

Qtip, trade that '06 for a BLR in .308 with a small scope (Burris compact or at most a 1x5) and you're set. Will handle about as well as the 30-30. If you really need that '06, shop for a Browning/Win 1895 and peep sights. You learn not to miss a scope. Mine will shoot 2.5" groups at 200yd groups so what's to miss? The long action BLR's lose that lively, quick handling feel of a carbine. Long range? How many solid shots do you truly get past 300yds anyway? Your .308 will handle that. Might even trade the 30-30 for something like a .357 carbine. Look for a '92 in a Winchester or Rossi. There's your plinking (38's) and varmint rifle out to about 125yds (with heavier bullet .357's). You'll wind up shooting it a lot more than you ever imagined. A Navy '66 in 38 Spec is my favorite jackrabbit gun, even over my 25-20, 32-20 and 44's. If you quietly slip in a Winchester 9422, I'm sure nobody will notice.