Lever Action Accuracy

[Drollerindy]

Opinions are like noses: everybody has one and most of them smell.
Tell me about your experience!
What is good accuracy from a lever action rifle and which is most accurate?

Thanks,
Doug

[Lloyd Smale]

ive had marlins and winchesters that shot one inch at a 100 yards and ive had them that would only do 5 inches. More luck of the draw that which brand.

[Rangr44]

I've found BLR's to be the most accurate, hands-down - with the Savage 99 second, followed closely by the Win 88.

I've never shot a Sako levergun.

Given good bores/muzzles AND shooters, most Winchesters & Marlins (both long & short cartridge actions) are fairly equal fouth-place runners - although scoped/scopeable versions (like a 94AE) can sometimes show slightly better accuracy than iron-sighted rifles.

It doesn't REALLY matter, though, as minute-of-deer will generally suffice - These are HUNTING guns, and NOT bullseye pieces, no matter how many folks shoot them at paper targets.

IMHO, it's more important that any rifle place it's first shot to the POA - as most animals don't stand around awaiting a shot grouping, if missed with that 1st shot. 

.

[Drollerindy]

Good point about use of the rifle and first shot placement.

Doug

[Dee]

The target in the picture was shot at 100yards from a rest. The rifle is a 52 year old Winchester Model 94 3030 bought new in 1958. The load was a 150 grain Remington bulk bought round nose loaded at 2400 fps with 748 powder. I have been shooting this load about 40 years. I recently replaced the Lyman 66 receiver sight with a Marbles tang sight, because my 60 year old eyes could no longer focus on the front sight, so this tang sight moved the aperture closer to my eye clearing up that problem.
The second pic is an unopened 12 ounce soda can laid on it's side about 2 feet off the ground on forked sticks to avoid "skipping" the round into the can. The bottom of the can was facing me, and was used for the target. This one was shot out of my Jeep window at 110 yards and is almost dead center.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

[Dee]

Sorry for the two posts, but my computer would load the third pic. This one is another unopened 12 ounce soda laying on it's side on forked sticks with the bottom of the can used as the target. I shot this one from a sitting position using shooting sticks for a rest and made the shot at 200 yards. I will say, that because of the not so steady rest I hit it on my fourth shot, but it wasn't the rifle's fault, it was mine. Saturday I made the same shot first time on a 4" square water bottle l" above dead center from the same shooting position at 250 yards.
Many lever action rifles will shoot this close but,it takes practice and you have to look for the right load for that rifle. Also you have to be realistic in your expectations of what your actually gonna get.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

[Drollerindy]

Dee,

Thanks for the reply and pictures.
It looks like about a 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards with your "pet" load.
I have a Marlin '94 in .44 Mag and I need LOTS more practice.
When I get more cases and my bench set up, I'll start load development.

Thanks again,
Doug

[AtlLaw]

ive had marlins and winchesters that shot one inch at a 100 yards and ive had them that would only do 5 inches. More luck of the draw that which brand.

+1

I've got Marlin, Savage, Rossi, Winchester and Uberti lever guns.  All are good enough for hunting and some are better then others.  My experience convinces me that lever guns are not, as a rule, as accurate as bolt guns.  Now there's a real news flash!  

Of all of them, the Rossi and Uberti seem to be the least fussy and most accurate.  They are also the only two I have in handgun calibers (44 Mag & 45 Colt).

The worst is a M99A in .308.  I've never been able to get that thing to shoot well.  Killed deer with it though...  

[OLDPUPPYMAX]

I've never had much to do with rifles, always preferring pistols. But it seems to me if you can keep a .45 Colt within a 4-5" diameter at 100 yards, you should be pretty happy. That's free standing with no scope. Anything from 150-200 yards is going to require a scope, I would think.

[Swampman]

I don't believe any of my Marlins shoot worse than MOA.  In fact some will shoot 1/2 MOA.  I can't do it without the scopes but I can shoot dime sized groups with my Marlin 39 at 25 yards with open sights.

[Keith L]

My Marlin 30 AW 30-30 will do five shot one inch groups at 100 yards after I did a trigger job on it.  Before the good trigger it was more like three inches at 100 yards.  I have a 2.5X5 Japanese Tasco on it, not iron sights.

[Mikey]

I have five levers, all Winchesters. My three Big Bore AEs in 444 all shoot to moa at 100m, from a bench.  The oldest 30-30 (actually, 30WCF) has a bead front sight that just about covers a 4" circle at 100m but it will put all five into the black at the same distance; haven't really played with the new one yet, a 1975 production, but its time is comin'......

I feel the Browning and Savage levers are high quality pieces and those chambered in rifle calibers should shoot very well, but a properly 'treated' Marlin or Winchester should shoot as well or better.  jmtcw.

[teddy12b]

My experience with Leveractions:

Marlin 336W 30-30; It shot about 1 1/4 give or take a 1/2" at 100 yards depending on the ammo.

Marlin 1895 22" 45/70; It shot about 2" at 100 yards regardless of ammo.

Marlin 1895G Guide 45/70; It shot about 2" at 100 yards regardless of ammo.

I sold all of these marlin rifles.  Sold the 45/70's because I just can't live with 2" groups.  Sold the 30-30 just because I couldn't hunt with it in my state.  All the marlins were scoped when I shot them for accuracy.

Puma 92 20" stainless 44mag;  Though I've never measured with a caliper, it's around 1 1/2 at 100 yards.  It's my go to Indiana deer gun now.

Puma 92 20" blued XP 44mag;  Shot as well as the 20" stainless but sold it to an uncle who just had to have it.

Puma 92 24" case hardened blued 44mag;  This shot about the same 1 1/2 as the stainless, but I just put completely new sights on the front and rear and this weekend will be the first time I can get out with the new setup.

All the puma 92's have been open sighted and shoot just as well if not better than the marlins in my experience.  They would be my suggestion.

To answer your original question, I consider less than 2" to be good accuracy from open sights.  Less than an inch with a scope.  As far as what to buy, there is the new marlin 308 that would probably be the best odds of something really accurate if you don't mind paying through the nose for ammo.

[Swampman]

I found the Rossis to be so poorly made I wouldn't buy another one.

[Dee]

That's a good one. My Rossi 1892 Deluxe Model in 357 mag, I ordered about 6 years ago from Navy Arms is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned.

[Swampman]

I didn't say they weren't accurate.  They are fully the equal of a post-64 Winchester 94 IMO.  Just not interested in that sort of quality.

[Dee]

Well Swampy I'll take mine with it's "quality" over anything you've posted pics of in your stable of rifles. Mine sands the wear, I have put on it, is a beatiful rifle, and has excellent wood, fit, and finish. You can, as I did buy the nicer rifles they make, or you can buy the cheaper ones, just like in the Marlin line.

[Swampman]

It's the improperly hardened pot metal parts I have a problem with.  I guess they can't get good steel in Brazil or they just don't know how to properly harden it.

[dpe.ahoy]

HMMMMM, so both of my 454 Casulls are not strong?  Swampman, I got several Marlins and several Rossi's and both have good qualities and some could be better.  HOWEVER,  Name me another lever from the factory that can run several thousand rounds of loads at the pressure of the Casull and still not have excess headspace.  Ain't one that isn't a custom unit.  Please don't make blanket statements like that, it just isn't true.  DP

[Swampman]

I was commenting on workmanship based on the Rossis I've owned and looked at.  True grit comes to mind when you operate the lever.  But this is about accuracy and they are accurate enough.  My Marlins shoot like boltguns with factory ammo.  I do know that.

[Drollerindy]

I sincerely thank everyone who has replied.
More opinions and knowledge are always welcome.

Doug

[dpe.ahoy]

I will admit I have a 357 Trapper Rossi that is not smooth operating, but the other 4 are as smooth as most of my Marlins.    DP

[Dee]

I have an 1892 Rossi in 357 mag that is as smooth as any Marlin I have ever owned, and accurate too, and is as smooth as my 52+ year old Winchester 94. The metallurgy is far better than it was back in the 80s and I have had no problems with the rifle at all, after hundreds of rounds of 38 specials, and hundreds of hot 357 mags.

[olydraft]

I just got a ROSSI M-92 last month, Stainless .44 mag NIB. @50 yds open sight using a tree to steady, it hit 1moa or just a hair less right out of the box. Needless to say I was quite impressed. I would have never expected anything close to that. As far as quality goes, I thought it was quite good. The only thing that could have used a little work was the wood, could have been finished a little better. The action runs very smooth also. I guess it has what would be called a 20" bbl, it measures 19 1/2 from the end of the bbl to the front of the reciever. This will be my new Indiana Hunting rifle, Hate trying to hunt with a shotgun. I won`t be shooting much over maybe 75 yds. 100yds max but more like between 50yds & 75 yds.. I forgot, the ammo I was shooting  no name 245gr swc gun show table ammo. I just looked at the cases and I see what I believe is an Isreali star of david, go figure, I couldn`t tell you what it is. If it shoots that good with no name I hope it will do as good with name....  Gary

[Dances with Geoducks]

Opps already posted to this thread, My bad 

[454Puma]

Well I was going to link you the the Ranchdog postal match but unfortunately the Targets are no long available (lever gun shoot) . But take my word for it there were many sub-MOA groups in the top ten at 100 yards the winner had a .328" 5 shot group at 100yards to win! Shooting a 45-70 no less! The top 5 shooters all had one ragged hole targets!  All shoot 444's 308 and 32 Sp, 30-30!  Not one was a Sav 99, nor a Browning! All Win or Marlins!

[temmi]

I have only a Marlin XLR in 450 Marlin. With Brockman Peep sights I can keep a 300gr bullet (about 2250 ft/sec) in a 2inch group at 100yrds.
That is sitting but not sandbagged… Elbow on the bench.
IMO that is accurate enough

[SHOOTALL]

I shoot more deer at 50 yards than 100 so i pratice at that distance . With open sights off a rest my 7X30 can have tight groups if i have a good day under an inch for 3 shots sometimes. I can set clay targets on eadge and hit them at 50 yards . I can hit them face on at 100 most every time . I have had 30-30's that would not give 3 inch groups at 50 yards and one with a 18 inch bbl that would match the 7X30 . All killed deer just fine.

[Daman]

I have a few:

Henry Lever 22 - 3/4" @ 50 yards open sight with my wife shooting it (I can't see the irons good enough)
Winchester 9422M w/Tasco World Class 3-10x44 - <1" @ 100 yards shooting Remington Ballistic Tips
Winchester 94 30-30 - ~1" @ 50 yards with handloaded silvertips
Marlin 30AS 30-30 - 1" @ 100 on a great day, 2" @ 100 on most days
I am in the market for a Marlin 1894C 357 Mag and have a Rossi 357 16" barrel on order.

Daman

[SHOOTALL]

Daman , do you know where i could order 150 gr silvertips ?