Lever action caliber recommendations

[Jeremy K]

I won a gun at a gun raffle over the weekend ,we'll I don't want the gun I won and decided to put the gift card towards a lever action of some sort and was wondering your take on the different calibers , I would like to hunt with occasionally. 

[stoneam2006]

45 70 they are fun to shoot I want one bad

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[G-Man]

45_70 I have several, fun to shoot , 30-30 are nice, but there is just someting about a large caliber... if you want to be different .35 rem. 444.marlin,45 long colt, but ammo is easy to find for 45 70 amd 30 30.. 

[MACHINIST]

Ive always wanted a 44 mag lever gun.It can double for a ton of situations.Easy to carry,most hold 9 or 10 rounds if memory serves me right.Nice big bullet,kill deer to 100 yards no problem and I have a ton of ammo/reloading stuff for my 44mag already

[airedale]

I happened to catch a hunting show a couple of days ago on one of the outdoor channels featuring a fellow that took just about every single species of big game in North America with a Winchester model 94 in 30-30. He did not mention the ammo he was using but whatever the brand and bullet it worked very well. Moose, Elk and Bison did not go far after he hit them with well placed shots and neither did any of the other smaller species, I was impressed.

I like lever actions and have 3 Marlins in 357 mag, 44 mag and 45-70, a Winchester 88 284 Winchester and a Savage 99 30-30 all iconic rifles and all will work great on big game with well placed shots using the proper ammo. Go to a well stocked shop and get your hands on some lever actions and get a feel and fit for each maker's rifle, go with the one that you like in looks and the way it shoulders for you.

 

Al

Edited September 22, 2016 by airedale

[ny hunter]

Love to shoot my 44mag lever gun I also own a 357 mag rifle both are great guns. 

[jim335]

I always wanted a Marlin 336C in 35Rem. with 200 gr. bullets.  That's just my thought, my Rem.760 pump in 30-06 always fit the bill so I never bothered.

[ny hunter]

35 is another great caliber lots of knock down .

[Uncle Nicky]

I'd go with .35 Remington.

[Buckmaster7600]

What kind of lever do you want? I would avoid new Marlins, they are terrible quality now! Pistol cartridge carbines have a place in my heart and I have a bunch of them. My favorites being in 44mag and 45 colt. I have rossi's and a couple old Marlins and a new Henry. The rossi's shoot the best. The Henry is the best quality and the Marlins aren't as accurate as the others and not as smooth but the older JM stamped Marlins aren't bad. If you a rifle cartridge I would go with 35 rem or 30-30. 45-70's are cool but are expensive to shoot if you don't reload.


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[slickrockpack]

I'd buy a 22 or 22 mag, 218 bee, or hornet,  the faithful 25-35 and  32 special in that order.

I have a .35  336a bought new in '50 or '51 , home rolled 180grs have taken a ton of game but the rimfires are used much much more

I have owned just about every caliber  a lever comes in and do not care for the pistol bullets, that includes the 444 and 45-70 for my kind of hunting.

if I was hunting long range big game with a lever I'd go with a BLR take down, you choose your favorite flavor.

as I say the rimfires get the most use, they never get taken off the dining room table, always at hand.

another lever I used a massive amount of time growing up was a 2 barrel set savage 99, the 22 high power with a 410 barrel, wish I had that today, but you can find them.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2016 by slickrockpack

[ny hunter]

I have a buddy that has a 22mag lever gun been after him for years to sell it to me.  Real nice gun

[Elmo]

I have the Henry Frontier Lever Action in 22LR.  I initially got it in 22LR because I intended to use the rifle mainly for plinking.  What I don't like about the Henry rimfire design is that to remove the magazine tube you have to unscrew it by the muzzle which means your hand is over the muzzle.  Sure, I keep the receiver open so the hammer is locked but it's just poor practice especially if I intend to let new shooters use the rifle.

"Never ever for any reason put your hand in front of the muzzle!  Okay?  Now put your hand in front of the muzzle and open the magazine tube."

[GreeneHunter]

I still shoot my old Winchester 94 30-30 and have for 40 plus years !  The only thing is its a top eject so no scope , yes I know you can put one on top just further down the barrel . Iron Sights are fine by me !

[MACHINIST]

If the action is open(= no ability to fire),the gun is unloaded and the hammer in the safe position there is no worry.I understand what you're saying but follow the simple rules of gun handling and you're safe

 

http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx

[Jeremy K]

I got a few people saying the mossberg 464 is an excellent choice for a new unit without spending a ton of money.

[stoneam2006]

If the action is open(= no ability to fire),the gun is unloaded and the hammer in the safe position there is no worry.I understand what you're saying but follow the simple rules of gun handling and you're safe

 

http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx

Agreed just like cleaning first and foremost make sure unloaded and unable to fire.

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[NYBowhunter]

Love my Marlin 35 remington has tremendous knock down power, light weight and very compact.

[Jeremy K]

Sounds like I got some research to do after so many recommendations,I appreciate all the feedback so far. 

[MACHINIST]

36 minutes ago, Jeremy K said:

I got a few people saying the mossberg 464 is an excellent choice for a new unit without spending a ton of money.

I personally know 3 people that would tell you to run away from the mossbergs.One was won at a banquet the other 2 were purchase.One very inaccurate,one had ejection problems and another had loading issues the 2 with loading/eject problems were fixed by mossberg though.Besides that I like mossberg for shotguns!

[BKhunter]

One of these days a 45 70 will be mine.....

[Top ramen]

I switched a 30-30 to 38-55 a few years back due to Ohio rifle laws, too weird to explain. Anyways, if I had the opportunity for another lever action it would be .44magnum and never look back,,,,, or too far down a gas line or power line. Keep kills shots at respectable distance and be quite content.

bring out the old 30-06 for sniping from a sitting spot.

[HuntOrBeHunted]

30-30 easy. Gotta be in the top 5 of historic hunting guns. They have tons on knockdown power !! Great guns 

[Jeremy K]

18 hours ago, MACHINIST said:

I personally know 3 people that would tell you to run away from the mossbergs.One was won at a banquet the other 2 were purchase.One very inaccurate,one had ejection problems and another had loading issues the 2 with loading/eject problems were fixed by mossberg though.Besides that I like mossberg for shotguns!

I was able to do some reading last night and came across the same info multiple times . I really think after reading and hearing people's responses that I'm gonna end up with a Henry H010CC in 30 30 .

[ny hunter]

Goodluck have fun.I hear they make a nice rifle let us know how it shoots