Author Topic: Why lever actions? (Read 2667 times)

jmartinson · « **on:** October 30, 2004, 04:34:20 PM »

I don't know anything about lever actions except that I've heard some people say it is easier to cycle the action without losing your sight picture.

What is it about lever actions that you guys like so much?

Thanks!

-Jacob

leverfan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2004, 06:21:41 PM »

A lot of us grew up using lever guns, and we got used to seeing game animals over iron sights. My dad is left handed, and lefty bolt guns were outside his spending limits, so he shot lever guns. That means I grew up shooting them, including my great-grandfather's 30-30. Family traditions have plenty to do with how we view shooting and hunting.

Lever guns are also all-American type rifles, so there's a lot of national history and pride when you're looking at a lever action. Traditional lever guns have a solid, dependable, yet classy mystique.

Light weight is another big plus. Perfectly good, dependable lever guns have been available at 6 pounds or less for a long time, long before ultra-light bolt guns became all the rage. Combined with the easy, quick handling properties of most lever actions' stocks, that makes for a very handy hunting gun, especially at the close ranges where most game falls.

Price has always been a big plus, too. The basic Winchester '94 or Marlin 336 won't break the bank, and they're ready to use as soon as you've cleaned off the packing grease and sighted in with your hunting loads. I prefer a peep sight on my lever guns, as weight and bulk remain unchanged, the sight only costs about $35, and it offers "minute of venison" accuracy out to sane hunting ranges.

Lever actions appeal to traditionalists, cheap skates, sticks-in-the-mud, history buffs, brush hunters, walk-in hunters, and horse back hunters. In 444, 45-70, 405, 450 Marlin, and other heavy calibers, they appeal to folks that hunt big game that's kissing close. They also appeal to hunters that don't fall for the "latest and greatest" rifles and wonder calibers being sold to us by the gun magazines.

Lever action users know that you still need to be a good hunter, first, and a 180 grain spitzer bullet going 3500 fps out of a $900 bolt gun won't make you a better hunter, even with a scope the size of a pringles can on top of that rifle.

That slick working lever, and the stock staying glued in place while you operate it, are just the cherries on top.

jgalar · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2004, 06:27:33 PM »

I'm not a lever expert, I only have 2. One is a 22 the other is a 30-30. I have and have had a bunch of other guns - muzzleloaders, autos, bolts and single shots. To me the lever guns I have feel better and more balanced in the hands than any of the others.

Savorino · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2004, 06:57:14 PM »

Went to a "one gun for everything" bolt action, even though it was fairly light(A-bolt 6.75lbs) it didn't carry, shoulder and cock as well as the lever gun I sold for it. So bought another lever that sadly doesn't shoot as good as the original. Lots of bolt, auto, pump lovers out there too though, just preference or what your comfortable & confident with.
Sav

CharlieinKansas · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2004, 02:23:22 AM »

Ditto to leverfan's writings. As for myself, my Marlin 1895GG 45-70 was shooting 1 1/4" groups on the bench out of the box at 100yrds. Oh and there is also the romance of the levergun and the history that it was an American invention.

Buffalogun · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2004, 03:53:08 AM »

jmartinson,

The lever-action rifle is the working man's rifle. Most are short, quick handling, flat-sided arms that lend themselves nicely to carrying by hand or by horse. Remember, they came from the horse era. They are plenty accurate. They balance well in the hand. They offer several follow-up shots which is important when in a dire need. They have been chambered to some powerful rounds and have taken many big critters.

Oh, yeah........and 'cause The "Duke" used one!!!

Buffalogun

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2004, 08:00:49 AM »

Handy, handy, handy!!!

I just love mine because it feels good in my hands, is extremely quick to shoulder, and point, is compact enough for sneaking through the thick stuff, and is plenty accurate enough for hunting. Combine all that with the whole nostalgic feeling of what hunting must have felt like to the old timers, and it just makes for a way more enjoyable hunt for me.

A nice smooth lever action is just about the handiest "real world" hunting rifle you could ever carry in my book.

jmartinson · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2004, 10:03:05 AM »

Is there a limitation on what types of bullets you can use since the bullet point of one round is pressed up against the primer of the next one?

Thanks!

-Jacob

leverfan · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2004, 10:17:15 AM »

Quote from: jmartinson

Is there a limitation on what types of bullets you can use since the bullet point of one round is pressed up against the primer of the next one?

Thanks!

-Jacob

Jacob-

In the tubular magazine rifles, you must use flat nosed, or, in some cases, round nosed bullets. Stay away from full metal jacket bullets, even if they have flat points. Factory ammo will be properly loaded with safe bullets for tubular magazine rifles in appropriate calibers.

Many lever guns can be safely used with pointed "spitzer" bullets, if the magazine allows it. Some examples of lever actions that use fixed or detachable box mags, rotary, or other spitzer-friendly designs are: Savage 99, Winchester models '95 & 88, Browning BLR, and so on. If you love lever guns, but you want a flat-shooter whiz bang type of cartridge, you can get a BLR in 7mm Remington mag, or whatever floats your boat.

Steelhead · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2004, 02:48:51 PM »

Try to find a bolt action as trim, sexy and just plain fun to shoot as a little Marlin 1894 in 25/20. :-)

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2004, 03:09:44 AM »

Many of them are very practical, like the Winchester 94. It's so compact and easy to carry compared to most other rifles. The world doesn't seem to have much patience for bad gun designs so when something endures as long as the lever action it's because it has something to offer that fills a valuable niche. If it didn't do quite a few jobs well, it would be long gone.

jmartinson · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2004, 04:53:43 AM »

Is it considered "bad form" to scope a lever action rifle?

-Jacob

Questor · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2004, 07:51:02 AM »

It's bad form to wound game. We use scopes to prevent that sort of thing.

leverfan · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2004, 09:51:25 AM »

Quote from: jmartinson

Is it considered "bad form" to scope a lever action rifle?

-Jacob

Some of us traditionalist types like to joke about it being "bad form," but use whatever you're comfortable with. I scope my bolt guns and single shots chambered for rounds that travel in excess of 2400 fps. My lever guns tend to end up with open sights or peeps, but that might change as my eyes age.

Also, I never shot a scoped rifle until I was in my early 20s, so I'm used to open sights. If I'd grown up with scoped rifles, I expect I'd prefer them. Scopes do help with precise shot placement, but practice from field positions with any type of sights, and you'll have good shot placement in the field.

HipShot · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2004, 09:54:41 AM »

Quote from: jmartinson

Is it considered "bad form" to scope a lever action rifle?

-Jacob

I prefer peep sights on mine. It's entirely up to you what you do. Levers make good truck rifles; I'd not want to bounce a scope around like that.

HipShot · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2004, 10:04:13 AM »

Quote from: Questor

It's bad form to wound game. We use scopes to prevent that sort of thing.

Placement with open or peep sights is entirely adequate within your range limit. Acquisition is faster and there's certainly less risk of wounding an animal with a well rehearsed open/peep sight rifle than there is with a scope rifle that's been "love tapped" on a branch or hard bounce.

Here in brush country, a 100 yard shot is a long one. Different rules apply out west; a scoped rifle is the only way to go for the long shot.

Wilbe Lead · « **Reply #16 on:** November 01, 2004, 10:02:16 PM »

One more thing I have not seen on this subject.
On leverguns with the side loading gate.
You can load more rounds into the gun and still have one in the chamber.
If you are shooting at game that may eat you if you do not put it down.This could save your bacon.
The only way you could do that with a bolt gun is if it is a clip feed gun.
Just my 2 cents
Later
Wilbe Lead

leverfan · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2004, 10:08:48 PM »

Wilbe Lead-

You can top off a Krag, too.

One of us should get a Krag to goof around with, one of these days. One of my uncles has one, I believe.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2004, 11:05:00 AM »

It is hard to add to what Leverfan said. I own every action but a double rifle and have found that leveractions seem to be the most user friendly guns. Overall, they just seem to carry, shoulder, and get the bullet on target with the least amount of thought and effort of any action.
They were designed at a time when a man carried a gun and used it nearly every day, so he had to have one that became a part of his body. A leveraction is just a good all-around arm. Other actions may be better for a particular application, but, what makes them good for one thing, makes them less useful for a lot of other things. As for bullet choices, most game will be taken at ranges that are well within the abilities of most leveraction cartridges. To give you a field example, I walked up a groundhog at 15 feet while carrying a boltaction with a 3-9x scope. I missed, though the combination was great for the purpose of sending groundhogs to groundhog heaven. With almost any leveraction, he would have been dead meat.

Medbill · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2004, 01:14:22 PM »

I was just shooting my 336sc in .35 Rem today it was made way back in 1954. I bet it shoots as good now as it did then. I shot a 2" group at 100 yards with it. Wouldn't take a shot further than that and I guess it was in bad form to out shoot some of the guys on the line with scopes. :-)

With my scoped Tikka T3 in .308 I was hitting 5/8" price stickers at 100 with clean, cold bore shots. That made me happy, happy and I'd only take a longer shot with a scoped rifle that I was familiar with at all ranges.

Lever guns are just plain fun, cool and they shoot great. I was shooting 200 grain Remington factory ammo. Great rifle and nothing like the sound of a lever action. They're great, quick, easy handling lightweight rifles especially suited for hunting in brush country like up here in the northeast.

Billy

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #20 on:** November 09, 2004, 04:44:19 AM »

Don't forget that they make nice house guns too...my wife is a dead shot, (thats what happens when them Gunny Sargents raise little girls), and can school me big time with any rifle...she'd grab a 16" lever before her shotgun most senarios...
The lever is two motions to chamber the next round...foward, back...a bolt is up, back, foward, down...yes with practice its just as fast, just not as simple...
I like simple...I carry a SBH 44 in the holster, and a 94 trapper in hand...
they shoot everytime...
Living in VA, 100m is a long shot here too...so I'd rather carry a 6lb quick rifle then my 11 pound 30-06...the 06 is a tack driver...but a pain to lug for hours...(':shock:')

one last thing...most ignorent non-shootin' folks are less frightened by them vs those scary black rifles...

DWARREN123 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2004, 04:50:51 AM »

I have a Marlin 1894PG in .44 Rem Mag. It's just a fun gun, first lever gun I have ever owned. It handles pretty good, not as accurate as my CZ 527 Varmint (223) or as fast as my Mini-Thirty and Ranch Rifle but there is something about it that I enjoy as I shoot or even carry it. It's a REAL FUN GUN !!!

Big Paulie · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2004, 07:55:57 AM »

I like both scoped bolt actions and lever guns with peeps.

I can tell you one thing, though, whenever I have to track a wounded deer through the woods (which is not very often), for me or anyone else, the first thing I do is go back to my truck, and get my lever rifle with a ghost peep. If the deer is not truly down, and jumps and runs, the lever gun with peep is the only way you are ever going to get that good put-down shot. With a scoped bolt, even a low 2x scope, you are never going to get him in your sights. Also, the short lever gun is perfect for working through the thicket and weeks, under and over, in tracking.

Big Paulie

TomD · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2004, 03:34:17 AM »

Leverfan.

"minute of venison" accuracy"

That is really good :-D :-D

Mikey · « **Reply #24 on:** November 10, 2004, 04:52:14 AM »

Why leveractions - 'cause they work. They are fast and easy to handle. They come in powerful calibers. They are quick handling and easier to use in the brush and thickets.

I like my bolt actions, and have a number of them - prefer them for open range shooting. But, for most of anything else it is the lever, and a big bore at that. A recent hunt for a 400 lb Russian Boar, with an attitude, re-confirmed for me the effectiveness, utility and capabilities of the lever action. A lever action that can group 5 very heavy custom loads under an inch at 100 yds doesn't take a back seat to anything (at least for me). Just my 2 cents worth. Mikey.

gallatin · « **Reply #25 on:** November 10, 2004, 09:03:14 AM »

My 26" octagon barreled 45-70 c.b. is just plain cool!

bigjeepman · « **Reply #26 on:** November 10, 2004, 11:04:16 AM »

jmartinson ... I think leverfan explained about as well as can be why so many of us love our lever action rifles. Though we have a pretty good size assortment of different rifles/calibers, my son and I chose to use our lever action Marlin 1894 CBC in .45 lc on a boar hunt in Tennessee last winter. What fun we had ...

What you need to do is to find someone who is willing to let you shoot their lever action. I can not imagine you not fully understanding the pleasure of owning one after experiencing it.

leverfan · « **Reply #27 on:** November 10, 2004, 01:31:19 PM »

Quote from: TomD

Leverfan.

"minute of venison" accuracy"

That is really good :-D :-D

Thanks!

I'm a hunter, not a competition shooter. If a gun keeps all it's rounds in a game animal's vitals at the ranges I choose to hunt, and if it does that from field positions, it's a good gun. That means it needs to hit near point of aim every time, give or take an inch or two. If I was a varmint hunter, rather than going after medium/big game, I'd ask for more than that.

The calipers stay with my reloading kit, not my range box.

jd45 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 10, 2004, 02:14:49 PM »

Check the scene in "The Magnificent Seven", in which Charles Bronson fires three quick shots at bandits in a far-off grove of trees from an 1892 Winchester, and you'll know why we love leverguns. jd45.

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #29 on:** November 10, 2004, 02:20:14 PM »

It all started over 60 years ago with my Red Ryder BB gun given to me by William Elliott a cousin of my Dad's and Red Ryder,and Little Beaver --Bobby Blake,then at 17 I got a 300 Savage 99,later a 38/56 Model 92,then a 94 ,then a 308 99,then a 336 and anothe the the 95 M.A horse a Bolt action is to clumsy whereby a Lever is not,except for prone shooting and some spitzer calibers it is used the most.