Lever Action Recommendations?
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MacAR
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Another vote here for the 336. Mine is JM stamped from 1974, and wears a Williams receiver sight. It's currently undergoing a refinish and tune up, the past years haven't been too kind to it between deer driving, thicket busting, and bouncing around in the front seat of the pickup. But, I can honestly say that despite its rough appearance, its never let me down. My favorite factory load is the old Winchester 170 grain jacketed bullet, and have taken many deer and 'yotes with it. I also hand load a 100 grain speer plinker bullet over a light charge of powder that is positively blue murder on groundhogs, possums, and other medium sized varmints out to +/- 200 yards. I have taken squirrel and rabbit with it, but do not recommend making a habit of doing so for obvious reasons.
I will add that, while I love my 336 I did own a Winchester 1886 in 45-70 some years back, and while it was quite heavy, found it to be a good shooting gun. Recoil was a bit stiff but not like people say; my old '06 kicks harder. So if a Marlin in 45-70 tickles your fancy, I'd say go for it. Especially if you will encounter anything larger than a whitetail deer where you hunt.
Mac
I will add that, while I love my 336 I did own a Winchester 1886 in 45-70 some years back, and while it was quite heavy, found it to be a good shooting gun. Recoil was a bit stiff but not like people say; my old '06 kicks harder. So if a Marlin in 45-70 tickles your fancy, I'd say go for it. Especially if you will encounter anything larger than a whitetail deer where you hunt.
Mac
P5 Guy
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Has anyone brought these up?
https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/blr/current-production.html
https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/blr/current-production.html
Speedo66
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One of the OP criteria was a side loading gate.
40-82
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A 45-70 can be loaded to almost any level you need, including extremely light, with cast bullets. I have no experience with the 30-30, but my 32 Winchester Special works great with cast bullets, and is extremely effective on deer.
A word of warning on cast bullets in rifles: a given load in a given rifle may well only show mediocre or very poor accuracy. Why that happens isn't always possible to determine. There may be nothing wrong with the bullet's hardness or diameter or suitability to your rifle. Just keep experimenting. The next powder may give outstanding accuracy at an almost identical velocity level. I've usually had the best luck with powders like 3031, Reloader 7, and Varget. Once you break 1500 fps, gas checks are probably going to be needed. With the .32 Winchester Special my loads with an RCBS 180 grain bullet run about 2200 fps. and have outstanding accuracy.
A word of warning on cast bullets in rifles: a given load in a given rifle may well only show mediocre or very poor accuracy. Why that happens isn't always possible to determine. There may be nothing wrong with the bullet's hardness or diameter or suitability to your rifle. Just keep experimenting. The next powder may give outstanding accuracy at an almost identical velocity level. I've usually had the best luck with powders like 3031, Reloader 7, and Varget. Once you break 1500 fps, gas checks are probably going to be needed. With the .32 Winchester Special my loads with an RCBS 180 grain bullet run about 2200 fps. and have outstanding accuracy.
Gary W. Strange
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I am a big lever gun fan and own quite a few. I have Winchester model 94’s in 30-30, 357mag, and .375 Winchester. Also a Winchester 1895 in 405 Winchester and a pre 64 model 88, in 308. I have an older Browning blr in 308, a steel frame and Marlins I 45-70 and .444. By far the 444 is my favorite and the .375 second. They are my brush guns for deer hogs or what ever. They both have Williams peep sights mounted on them and work well for their purposes. Ammunition is hard to come by for these calibers but I reload for them and it is just the time involved in it. In time I think a .35 Remington, in an older JM Marlin would be nice to have. It’s a bigger caliber and ammunition is readily available for. I stay away from the new Marlins since Remington bought them out. Also I have read and heard good things about the Henry lever guns, although I would stick with a steel frame, not aluminum. Some of my shooting buddies have them and they are fine well made guns, with very nice wood. I bought one of the Henry single shots a while back and it is a lot of gun for the money. Henry’s look and feel like a lot more gun than what the price suggest. The Henry’s and Brownings now made with aluminum frames just doesn’t appeal to me, nor does the synthetic stocks. All firearms should be walnut and steel. That’s just a personal opinion. I am sure aluminum and synthetic stocks would send bullets out the end of the barrel just fine. I like the bigger calibers in lever guns. Lever guns should be short, handy and have a big thump. I know they will shot longer range but I see and use them as short range guns. No matter what your purpose will be for a lever gun or what you decide on, they are fun to shoot and a real joy to carry on hunt where there is a lot of walking involved. Choose well and wisely for the purpose you want it for and you won’t be disappointed.
I have both a Marlin 1895 (45-70) and a Henry 30-30. You can reload similarly for both - hot loads for hunting and pipsqueak loads for shooting paper. Both calibers can also shoot cast lead. My 1895 I use primarily as a range toy, and load very gentle loads for it that I can literally shoot all day. They are 300 gr. RNFP lead bullets moving around 1,100 fps using Trail Boss powder that are truly fun to shoot. Really a hoot to launch fist sized chunks of lead downrange with the trajectory of a mortar shell! Get's lots of looks too when I pull out my box of reloads and folks realize it ain't a 30-30. By the way, the load mentioned above is easier shooting than your typical 30-30 150 gr. factory round.
My Marlin was bought 3 or 4 years ago, so it's a Remington made Marlin. It has been nothing but reliable. Before purchasing it, I looked it over good and it had good wood to metal fit, straight sights, cycled smooth, etc. I've got north of 350 rounds through it and couldn't be happier. Similar quality to my JM made 1894C in .357. Winchester rifles you mention are beautifully made rifles, a step up from Marlins and have a price that is commensurate.
Neither of mine is high capacity with 4 rounds of 45-70, or 5 rounds of 30-30. A pistol caliber lever action would give you higher capacity.
My Marlin was bought 3 or 4 years ago, so it's a Remington made Marlin. It has been nothing but reliable. Before purchasing it, I looked it over good and it had good wood to metal fit, straight sights, cycled smooth, etc. I've got north of 350 rounds through it and couldn't be happier. Similar quality to my JM made 1894C in .357. Winchester rifles you mention are beautifully made rifles, a step up from Marlins and have a price that is commensurate.
Neither of mine is high capacity with 4 rounds of 45-70, or 5 rounds of 30-30. A pistol caliber lever action would give you higher capacity.
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Texasgrillchef
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I love my Marlin 45-70
Mr. Strange, great post but you said
I am not aware of any centerfire Henry rifles with aluminum frames. The Mossberg 464 30-30 does have a frame made of, I believe, 7075 T6 aluminum alloy but I believe the Henrys are all a Brass alloy or steel.
P5 Guy
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Box magazine trumps a loading gate but to each his own.
Speedo66
Member
I have a BLR and enjoy it, but the loading gate was an original request of the OP.
Mi
I would go with seldom encounteted .307 Winchester. Large selection of .30 cal bullets and not a crowbar to carry like a typical .45-70 lever gun. Local Cabela's had one not long ago for fair price and for some reason I left it in the rack.
I would go with seldom encounteted .307 Winchester. Large selection of .30 cal bullets and not a crowbar to carry like a typical .45-70 lever gun. Local Cabela's had one not long ago for fair price and for some reason I left it in the rack.
Nature Boy
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He could be wrong.
Steveo_1704
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I have a 2 yr old Mossberg 464 in 30-30 (the non tacti-cool one). Takes a scope easily, side loader, can hold 6+1.
Newtosavage
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I've always liked that design. Seems to blend both of the best parts of the '94 Win and 336 Marlin. How does it shoot?
Steveo_1704
Member
shoots quite well, got 2 feral hogs in march with it... i really like how the top eject works w/o hitting the scope. Only problem is the darn loading gate is sharp! I need to sand/polish it so it does not bite so much.
az_imuth
Member
I've had a Winchester 30-30 for a number of years that belonged to my grandfather, but recently purchased a Canadian Centennial with the 26" octagon barrel and crescent buttstock. I always liked the looks of these rifles and it was one of the only commemoratives that didn't have a lot of gaudy gold plating or the coin inserted in the stock. Anyway, I have been able to get groups right at one inch with the factory open sights and am considering getting a tang sight for it since it's shooting so well. I also think the 1886 mentioned in the opening post would be a good choice with the exception of the scope requirement. I have one of the Browning models and it is a fantastic rifle that is built like a tank.
C.R.
Member
Henry is making rifles with a loading gate now . Take a look at their web page and check them out
Speedo66
Member
Try burnishing the sharp edges with the top part of a drill bit, no grit will enter the action.
Worked well for me on a Rossi.
If1HitU
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Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I have a Marlin 336 (older) and a Winchester 94AE Carbine both in 30-30. They are both wonderful shooters and I have put a lot of lead bullets down range with both of them. People used to say not to shoot lead through a micro groove Marlin barrel but it has never been s problem for me.
Just an FYI, I recently bought a Marlin 1894CB in .357 Magnum/.38 Spl and it is a fine rifle. They appear to have gotten their act together. I have over 400 rounds down range with zero issues. I use it for Cowboy Action Shooting. And no, I do not shoot wimp loads.
If I were going to go with your criteria as a choice between my two 30-30s I would go with the Marlin 336.
Just an FYI, I recently bought a Marlin 1894CB in .357 Magnum/.38 Spl and it is a fine rifle. They appear to have gotten their act together. I have over 400 rounds down range with zero issues. I use it for Cowboy Action Shooting. And no, I do not shoot wimp loads.
If I were going to go with your criteria as a choice between my two 30-30s I would go with the Marlin 336.
AmmoMan757
Member
I have a Marlin 1895 GBL in 45/70. It hits all of your requirements.
The only draw back so far is it kicks like a mule! On that note I've never tried to see how light of a load I could make for it. I shot 15 rounds through it this weekend and on the 15th round my shoulder threw in the towel! I use it for large game hunting so I want it to hit hard so I load heavy bullets that pack a punch.
Good luck on your search!
- No handgun calibers, strictly rifle: 45/70 defiantly not a handgun caliber!
- Side loading gate: Yes
- Ability to use cast bullets in reduced loads for plinking: Yes it can use cast bullets, not sure how reduced the loads can go
- High quality and totally reliable: I've had no issues with the one I have, I think it's a 2016 or 2017 production year
- Ability to accept scope without looking ridiculous: Yes
- High capacity a plus: Yes, 6 in the tube
- $$$ not an issue (within reason): I think the MSRP is $795
The only draw back so far is it kicks like a mule! On that note I've never tried to see how light of a load I could make for it. I shot 15 rounds through it this weekend and on the 15th round my shoulder threw in the towel! I use it for large game hunting so I want it to hit hard so I load heavy bullets that pack a punch.
Good luck on your search!
SwampWolf
Member
If a loading gate and quality workmanships are priorities, I'd recommend Miroku's rendition of the Winchester Model 1886 "Extra Lightweight" rifle, chambered in .45-70 (if you can find one). If the op is willing to dispense with the loading gate feature, I'd suggest looking for a Savage Model 99, chambered in .358 Winchester (again, if you can find one).
Mounting a scope on a Winchester Model 1886 would look ridiculous, in my opinion. Putting one on a Savage Model 99, not so much...
Mounting a scope on a Winchester Model 1886 would look ridiculous, in my opinion. Putting one on a Savage Model 99, not so much...
ThomasT
Member
There is no problem with lead bullets from the Micro Groove barrels. You just need to make sure the bullets are large enough to fit the bore and engage the shallow rifling. Marlins shoot lead just fine. Look how well their 22s shoot with MG rifling.
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